Housebreaking a puppy...

Honestly, no. I have not noticed a decline in societies morals. I think people have always tried to get away with things when they can. 50 years ago just as much as today.

Who says your morals are any better than those of a day care provider??? I would not send my child to a daycare that isn't in tune with my morals. Most people wouldn't, I think.

because children only need their parents on certain days of the week or during daytime? YOu lost me here.... (ok I am just being difficult, but what you say makes no sense). I can also see the advantage of having a whole family together on weekends or evenings, vs. having one parent be at work at all times.

LOL!!!


Whether it is dogs, children, or cultures, people are very judgmental and righteous when it comes to different ideas. People think what they are used to is the only right way, when in reality there are many right ways. Too bad not more people are open minded enough to try to understand other views and to admit that there are more than one way to skin a cat. But then, such is life.

I can see what you are saying. However i do think that a child mind still doesnt have the same thought for that child as a parent would do . they couldnt . its flesh and blood we're talking about. yes you can love another child alot but not as much as your own. its human nature.
as for moral decline. are you serious? haveyou not seen the rise in crime figures? yes people 50 years ago were no saints but the level of crime now far out weighs the level of crime back then.
child ren need guidenence all the time at a very early age , thats normal.

OK, I didn't mean to start a huge argument here! I got some good ideas out of you guys. Thank you for the advice. I will definitely keep treats with her leash to take with me when she goes out. I am going to get my rugs cleaned and start from scratch. I already use the enzyme stuff to clean up after her...but I am just going to clean them anyway and start over. I do watch her closely, that's why I am frustrated. She'll just get up and go pee without any warning. As I said, if she was giving us signs and we were ignoring her, I wouldn't have posted this thread. As for crate training, we all have our own opinions about things here...I am willing to respect people's opinions even if they don't respect mine. I used to think crate training was cruel too...but I did a lot of research, talked to a lot of people (including my veteranarian) and found that it can be useful when used properly. Many people abuse the use of crates. Jersey only stays confined in hers for short periods of time when we are not home. Mike goes to work very early (4 am), so he is home very early. Her blanket and toys are in it and it's a very comfortable place for her. She will go in there willingly to nap or if something is scaring her, but I don't confine her to it unless I am not home (which outside of work, isn't that often...I have no life). That is the whole idea of a crate...it plays on a dogs natural instict to be in a den. It's her safe place. Otherwise, if we are home, she's with us.

I think the kennel thing is a good idea. My mate got a puppy earlier this year and it was just giddy beyond control. She took it to a dog school and they said the best thing she could have done was have "caged" the dog or whatever you want to call it to calm it down.

Thank God you said it Spunky. It would be lovely to stay home, but have you checked out the cost of living lately Russ? I am not talking about paying for a fancy house, but a great deal of middle class families have to work just to make ends meet. With gas going up and heating prices skyrocketing, I would rather work to pay the bills then live in a cold shitbox eating spaghetti every night. I want to spend quality time with my child, but I also want them to live as comfortable a life as possible. Honestly, a lot of parents have to work today in order to just survive. Besides, my single mom worked full time with me, and I think I turned out just fine.

So if you could you would stay at home? Well its tight for us for Clare to stay at home .However i do understand your situation that you have to go to work

Oh, I see it's not about dogs anymore

No, I wouldn't want to be a mom who stays at home all the time. I need my work, I need to have a place in which I can also be 'Alex' instead of 'mom'. I need to have intellectual challenges, I need to make my own money. Besides, if I'd give up my job, that would decrease my career oppurtunities if I wanted to go back to work once my son is a little older, because of the gap it would create in my curriculum vitae - if employers can choose between a person who has worked one period with no gaps in between (and thus remained in the process of working and learning new things about that job) or between a person with a gap of a few years and has to find her way in that process again, I'm pretty sure who they would choose.

Apart from that: if I'd have to sit at home 24/7, doing nothing more than going to playgrounds, entertaining my son, changing diapers or go shopping, then I would go nuts. I'm just a better and definitely more pleasant mom when I still have my work.

Right on Alex. And I can add to that if the male "wage earner" dies and you haven't been working you can lose your house or apartment, all your credit history and even your car. I say this from experience as it happened to me and my Mom when my Dad died. I was 17 and remember it all quite clearly. My Mother was in effect a non-person after my father died. That taught me a lesson I never forgot. I took some time off when my kids were very young but even then I kept up with part time work through my business.

Kathleen

That's exactly the reason why I need to make my own money, Kathleen. I would never, never, *never* want to be dependent on another person.

I think if i had to stay at home looking after kids i would go crazy . Personnaly i love work , it gives a sence of purpose but there are those that love staying at home but its not for me personnaly .Thats why i said Mums can still look after their kids and have a job aswell, like part time or something?