When Donna first came home, she was followed us everywhere like a little busybody. But Mr P and I already agreed that she would not have access to all the rooms. So the Donna zone covered only the balcony (when someone is at home), the living room, the kitchen and the common corridor along all the rooms. The kitchen was barred only after Donna ran in and peed on the kitchen rug once too many times. We secured it with a child gate. All the other room doors were also closed all the time.
Of course, at the start Donna still wanted to follow us everywhere. When we entered the bedroom and shut the door, she would be outside snorting loudly demanding to come in. Sometimes we can hear scratches and bumps and wonder exactly what was she doing outside.
We sometimes work in the study for long stretches of time, so we leave the door open. But, the minute she sticks one paw in, it was one of us saying “Out!” and getting up and backing her out the door. There are times we had to do this repeatedly when she thought it was a great game to run in and out, in and out until we got tired of getting up to shoo her out. And when no one responds to her antics, she will get bold and clatter all the way in, reminding us that we need to be consistent ourselves if we want her to abide by the rules. We treat her when she backs out by herself. But mostly we treat her if she stays outside by the door, without coming in.
And when she lies quietly or falls asleep on the floor outside, I go “Yes! Dead dog! Good job!” and treat her again. Actually I was hoping that the “dead dog” will stick in her subconsciousness as time goes by :P But all it accomplished, really, was a laze-about dog that loitered in the corridor waiting for treats xD
Sometimes, she’d curl up on her pillow for a nap. Because yes, the pillow is another treat zone since I was trying to help her to love the pillow.
And after a while, Donna stopped insisting to enter any of the rooms. She would stop outside even if we left the door open when we went in.
Donna can usually be found with her entire body just piak on the floor dozing off, unlike her adopted young cousin Doudou who falls asleep in all sorts of adorable contortions half on and half off furniture. So I was surprised and amused to find her in a new sleeping position when I got up from my study desk yesterday for a break.
Although, how comfortable can a door frame pillow be for a dog’s head is beyond me.
She was obviously too comfortable or lazy enough to just follow me with her eyes as I walked around snapping pictures :P
Today, Donna has piak herself outside the kitchen instead because I ran out of treats in the study a few days ago. That dog is not stupid at all.
P/s: We are not dog trainers and most of what we do is trial and error and may not be the best for your dog. A lot of times, we may also do what is most effective for us at that point in time but it may not be best practice. However, we will never harm our dog.
