Well I'm going to throw a wrench in here. I have never confined a puppy and certainly can't imagine confining one to an exercise pen for months, never mind an entire year. I do put them in one room where there is nothing they can get into or hurt themselves if I have to go somewhere and I can't take them but I'd never put them in a pen.
My dogs are usually house trained within a matter of weeks unless it is an adult rescue dog who has never had any training. I am consistent with feeding times, take them out every half hour, pick up their water dish several hours before bed time. They sleep on my bed from day one and I've never crushed one yet.
Nor have I ever had a dog digest something harmful, break any bones or destroy any furniture. There's been the odd pair of shoes that have been altered over the years.
One gal I had really loved shoes, anybody's shoes. So I went out and bought her a pair of baby shoes, told her they were her shoes. For the next 11 years she got a new pair of shoes on her birthday and christmas. She never once touched anybody else's from that day forward.
I think a little common sense goes a long way in raising pets. |