How much time do you spend with your dog?

[gsdlover91]

Originally Posted by MichaelE

Lisl waits on the throw rug in front of the tub for me to finish showering in the morning. Sometimes she pokes her head around the curtain to make sure I'm still in there and I have to tell her to lay down.

I think if I let her she'd probably jump in the tub with me.

Haha! Berlin does the same exact thing, except he actually DOES come in the shower/bath. Doesn't matter what I say.. He loves to 'dig' in the tub lmfao. hahaha i love how they have to check on us, even in the shower! They love us so much

[marshies]

Sounds like how I felt a while back. Tether her to you while you do chores so she can't misbehave?

[llombardo]

I'm with mine whenever I'm not working. I get excited when I'm almost home at the end of the day...I know when I pull up I will see three heads in the window waiting for me. They have each other and I can get everything done in the house without any problems, they really aren't a problem. They are so good that I can't wait to get my fourth dog

[Verivus]

OP, sounds more like you inadvertently let your dog train you. I spend all my time outside of work with the dogs unless I'm running an errand where they can't come along. Kaiser will be 2 in April (so I guess that makes him what, 21 months?) and he is a very good boy in the house. He does like to follow me if I leave his sight, but he does not beg for attention and is rarely a nuisance. He also does fine if I let him out in the backyard for a potty break alone; there is no scratching at the door or whining.

[katdog5911]

Apparently Stella has trained me well... But I feel like she needs me to do stuff with her because I can't run or jog to give her the exercise she needs. When I read about the amount of exercise a lot of dogs on this forum get, I feel like such a couch potato. I can walk with her but even that has turned into a chore as she is very dog reactive. (we are working on this forever it seems) It just feels like I am on call all day long unless I am at work. I have thought about tethering her to me. Never did that before so not sure what to expect.

[MichaelE]

All dogs have different personalities. A training method that works well with one dog may not work as well with another.

I know some trainers never vary in their methods, but I think variations or different methods altogether for different dogs makes life easier on the dog and the owner/trainer.

I think it is very important to get inside your dogs head and try to think as she/he thinks and find out what motivates her/him, and what they will respond to. This is as important to me as the training itself.

That is a part of getting to know your dog, and they getting to know you.

I'm not directing this at you, but too many people buy a dog thinking it will train and practically take care of itself and they won't have to do hardly anything. They then become disappointed when (if) they learn that a GSD is more like adopting a new family member that MUST be trained, and have time spent with it just like a small child.

People with busy lifestyles and many outside activities are not ready for this level of commitment it takes to raise and train these dogs, or any dog for that matter. The worst part of all of it is that it's the dog that suffers.

[MikeyMerciless]

Umm well if you add it all up, probably 2 hours of play time, 1 hour of hanging out at night, and a full night's sleep since we're roommates haha. So maybe around 9 hours, give or take.

[lennoxbradley88]

I used to work from 9-5, but I changed my hours to 7-3 so I have more time in the evenings to hangout with my dogs. When I am home I try to spend as much time as I can. If I am reading Schatzi is next to me being a bum and If my other dog Cudi is outside she goes outside with him. On weekends I clean early in the morning while they are outside taking care of their business and eating and once I am done cleaning I go outside with them and play with them, then train them individually for 20 mins and then together for another 20, then I take either Schatzi or Cudi for a hike and by the time I am back half of the day is gone

[Angelina03]

This one is easy.... TOO MUCH TIME!!! LOL! Just kidding. I'm with Rocco always while at home and sometimes while I'm not, if I can take him along. I spend most of my time (off work) with him. Love him to death, but I know how you feel. I get worn out too. Yesterday morning I told Hubby, "I've had enough of him, you take him for a while." Of course, that only lasted about an hour. Rocco can't help himself, he loves his mama!

[katdog5911]

Originally Posted by Angelina03

Love him to death, but I know how you feel. I get worn out too. Yesterday morning I told Hubby, "I've had enough of him, you take him for a while." Of course, that only lasted about an hour. Rocco can't help himself, he loves his mama!

If only my dh would do that...even for just an hour! As far as my dh is concerned Stella is MY dog. Oh well. I will just use the doggie day care when I need a break. I am no good to Stella or anyone when I am feeling worn out and frustrated. Might drop one of the training classes to save some $$ to put towards the daycare.