I agree that crate training is a very good thing when done properly. Like the dog whisperer says, "There are no bad dogs, just bad owners." I agree. I don't entirely agree w/ what the ppl that JCLE is talking about are doing, however, I have to add that I had a Choc. Lab. & after I got him familiar w/ his crate he enjoyed being in it much more than being loose in the house while I was gone. I only work part time, but sometimes I would have to leave him in his crate from 7 am to noon then again from 1 pm to 4 pm & he was totally content. Again, I only work part time, so this wasn't an every day occurence, but... Sometimes I would leave him loose in the house when I just had to run out for a few minutes & he would go crazy from the time I left until the time I returned, barking & tearing up stuff. That's the thing, I did train him not to chew stuff & he didn't *while I was around*, but as soon as he knew I was gone it was almost like he had seperation anxiety and that being in his crate made him feel safer & more secure. When I would come home when he was crated, he would, 95% of the time, be sleeping and if he wasn't, he would be calmly chewing on a toy or treat. BUT, my dogs do get lots of inside & outside play time, so exercise & interaction was not an issue. So, like I said, yes, I agree that 12 straight hrs. is not good, but maybe the dog actually would prefer that to being left loose in the house. I have heard of several dogs that have sep. anx. I'm not in anyway trying to take up for them or excuse what they are doing, just trying to get you to see the other side. Believe me, nothing angers me worse than ppl who get dogs & then don't love them like they need to be loved! Also, to whoever said being left outside doesn't help w/ house training a puppy, I have to disagree. When we got our Choc. Lab. it was warm outside & we knew that he was going to be an inside/outside dog (our other one is too), so when we did have to be gone for a few hrs. & couldn't take him w/ us, we tied him outside w/ my other dog (next to a doghouse of course). I honestly think this got him to pick his "spot" quicker & that's where he wanted to go when he had to & where he went until the day he died. We recently got a new puppy & since it's been so cold here & he's so tiny there's no way I'm going to leave him outside, so he's crated when he can't go w/ us & he has not caught onto training nearly as fast as our lab did, even though I'm training him the exact same way. Yes, I know that each dog is different & each will learn in it's own time, but I truly believe that being outside does help. Sorry to ramble, just wanted to add my 2 cents. :)

I remember reading that...but it's still just as funny.... I am completely surprised that I didn't find a post from me on there...My DH has done a few things during our 42 years that I tell on him every now and then. patti

We have wood floor with a large rug underneath desk. also use a mat to protect rug from chair casters. Dogs watch DH do his work, not a problem. If/when dogs are sick we limit their home areas to 1-2 spots so we can control accidents. Roaming throughout house is out. Lots of cabinetry. Lots of lights, including under cabinet lighting. Electrical outlets in standard locations and a couple of desk level locations to cut down on cording bundles.

I think that your room can handle it, since it's not uptight and reads a very authentic room. I usually dislike just about any thing that's purely functional(yep, vehicles, refregirators, electrical outlets lol, you name it)-but so what, they still make life easier. I'm also thinking about the pool-but it seems it'd be 50K with the features I want(and we didn't touch basic hardscaping yet-still tired from remodel), and I don't want to spend much space of the backyard, want a smaller pool..and it seems also a buldozer that should get there to dig must have 5 feet clearance minimum to drive through-frankly I'm not sure we have these 5 feet. But it's a huge consideration to me since it's about only exercise I might be able to handle these days. And pools that come with the gyms, I'm hesitant to use already. I feel very unsafe in showers, etc. Also harder to get there. Minimizes one's chances of keeping to the routine At this point of my life, I highly envy anyone that can exercise, you know. Where an elliptycal stands, with all my aesthetical preferences-that's really secondary. I do like screens, theoretically-I've never had one. Everything I really like is really expensive (we looked into it-sometimes we have many guests and some have to sleep in the family room which has no door-so a screen would give them more sense of privacy) In some other room, would go for a screen. Here-I don't know..it might be that screen wil end up being too big, more obtrusive than helpful. In short I'd put up with it too..if drives me crazy with time, then I'd think whether to change anything. But I support your priorities more than I can ever express.