My wife and I just adopted a 14 week old Yellow Lab. She is great, already following commands and house broken in 2 days!
I would like to train her to come with me to the workshop everyday and was wondering if anyone has any advice on the subject?
I’ m thinking to build a sound proof dog house with a double door for her so if she wants to get away from any of the loud work she could have a place to go. My shops about 750Sq/ft so I’ll try to put it furthesest away from my loud tools.
I thank you for any advice in advance. I hope she’ll be my shop assistant for years to come.
Ron
Boston, MA.
Replies
Hi Ron
I've a Golden Retriever and a Maltese. They wander in-and-out as they choose. There are too many other things around the house and garden to interest them in my shop for too long. They join me when they want to be near me. It is not about noise as I mostly use handtools. I would suggest that bonding with your new family member is going to be crucial.
Oh, I also recall building a kennel/dog house when the Golden Retriever was a pup. He did not like being in it and eventually I gave it away.
Regards from Perth
Derek
I have had two Goldens.. Such wonderful loving dogs for little children and even for me... Both Goldens died of cancer so I never got another. I think that they are the best dog ever born.. They are truely a goofie and sweet animal. My children just loved to play with them... To bad the breaders messed them up with cancer traits.... And my sister-in-law has a little black/white Maltese.. He is so funny and such a well behaved dog as long as you do not get him excited!
As to my Goldens,, None would go outside to do 'their job' if it was raining outside....?? And if I brought them to anyplace with water that they could swim in or at least run through, a very different story.. They went nuts with water IF it was not rain?
May need encouragement...
You may need to take the initiative when it comes to getting away from the noise. Not all dogs avoid it willingly, and you're right to be concerned about the effects on her hearing. A big, BIG, BIG caution is keep Gorilla glue away from her! Dogs have been known to seek it out and eat it, it expands, and bye-bye doggie.
Our dogs, in the house, tend to sneak up and lie down where we're most likely to trip over them, so be aware she could evolve into a tripping hazard. Neither of our dogs (Collie, Golden Retriever) likes being in my shop particularly, but some really do like it.
The labs I have been around tend not to be the sharpest crayons in the box. We had a dachshund (das badger hunting dog ) in the machine shop and he was fine. Having many canine like tendencies I feel qualified to respond though I am not without my inter-species prejudices .
this person took the pic not me
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.greatdogsite.com/admin/uploaded_files/thumbnails/dachshund336x_1190779212500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://chocolatedogblog.com/2008/02/27/looking-for-a-cool-dog-try-a-dachshund/&usg=__38Eo53CRwns0Rm5zOhvWOu5cJGo=&h=336&w=500&sz=168&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Xk9HG6adYd7fFM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddachshund%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1
PS: there were no badgers to be found any where near the shop so he must have been living up to his name sake.
My dog does not like the shop and will not enter unless called. This is fine with me because a shop environment could be dangerous for the animal and a distraction for the human. After many years of having "shop dogs and cats", I am now firmly against it. Just my 00.02.
Enjoy your new friend. The older I get, the more I find that I like dogs better that I like most people!
WOOF!!
-Jerry
PS: My avatar pic is "Mr. Banjo", a 3 year old border collie - springer mix. He is a rescue and was abused in his former home. A sweet dog. His major fears include shop vacs, which keeps him away from my dust-free workshop....
"I've a Golden Retriever and a Maltese"
Derek,
Purely out of curiosity is the Maltese a smallish hairy one or a sleek one with short hair? (In Maltese: "Kelb tal-Fenek" = Rabbit Hunter)
The owner has a Maltese were I work. I always call it the sled dog. Part Samoyed and part polar bear. Visious animal ! A born hunter !
All the shaking and trembling is just to lure you in. Then . . . WHAMO ! . . . just like a crocodile. Take your leg off he will.
Dogs in the shop are OK but I draw the line at snakes and horses.
Bret
>draw the line at snakes and horses<
Ha, ha, ha, aaahhhh, Ha, ha, ha, ha
Shop dog
I've planned for a shop dog (even have name picked out - Router) for since the day i built the shop (double car garage size - with 6'x8' office). I've done research on types of dogs and their temperments, traits, etc. Contacted AKA for suggestions and they echo the prior Posts comments about sound, ease of finding a more comfortable place, keeping food and open containers in check and having the ability to 'lock the dog out' when you don't want them in the shop. So I have a doggie door on the entrance door and a swinging door going into shop that can latched open - that way I can get air circulation, let dog wonder around shop when i'm not there, make it easier to move product in and out. Raised food and water with a comfortable bed and LOTS of thinking with your friend for bonding. Tim
Can you stuff an Airedale in a hard top MG ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airedale_Terrier
Planning for a shop dog. When I first saw an Airedale I fell in love. Brilliant dog ! Then I thought the Irish terrier was very cool until I learned they just can't help fighting every thing it sees. Not a joke.
Once I tried to imagine stuffing a poor full grown Airedale into the MG hard top I started looking at Welshie Terriers.
Now I can hardly afford to feed myself let alone a dog.
: )
Well that's as far as I got really. The very cool Airedale that I used to see every day in a bed and breakfast front yard has since passed away. That was the coolest dog I ever saw in my life. He would take his evening stroll outside his fence on the sidewalk , usually by him self ( no chain/ no leash I half expected to see a tobacco pipe in his mouth) he wouldn't even show interest in a passing cyclist though I am sure he was fully aware of my presence. If there was another dog a block away on that side walk I have heard him give a woof that would rattle windows.
Brilliant dog ! I used to look for him every day.
Round
Ron,
I prefer round dogs. They are very useful to me at the bench and never go anywhere and don't require feeding or shots.
bench dogs
FWIW, my impression is that Goldies, in general, tend to be more "social" than some breeds, meaning they often like to just be around their humans. Some are almost "klingy" in their attachments to the human members of their family. Thus, a "sound refuge" may not work well. But, I agree with the comments about structuring the shop doors such that the dog can exercise its own options, moods, and preferences. Unless, you ended up with a chewer or an overly-adventurous explorer.
Getting the dog to wear ear-muff style hearing protection (or a plaid shirt) may be a challenge. ;-)
There are a zillion other hazards in the shop besides noise. Drop a bit of varnish on the floor... the dog steps in it and absorbs some in thru his pad. Then he tries to lick the paw clean.... You get the idea. Dogs live close to the ground/floor. Its rather a dirty area generally and particularly so in a workshop. So be mindful of this.
That said, I've had a dog in my shop for the past twelve years and wouldn't have it any other way. Sophie used to want to lay under my feet but would readily "go to your bed." Maxx would just as soon keep out of the way. Especially when I pick up anything that will make noise, he leaves the area.
The worst thing about having a dog around all the time is enduring the sad, "Can't we go out for a walk now?" face.
> a bit of varnish on the floor... the dog steps in it and absorbs some in thru his pad. Then he tries to lick the paw clean.... You get the idea.<
So you are saying I should stop liking the varnish off the bottoms of my feet ? Why didn't some body mention this sooner ?
( : }
I've always had dogs hanging around. They each have their own style and favorite spots. I keep a jar of treats in there for training / tricks time. They will hang around but really like your full attention every so often. re: safety. It's critical; to not have the dog hanging around your feet or dropping balls / sticks. Be clear that ball / stick ONLY happens at the door or outside. As far as hanging around your feet, all you have to do is act rather clumsy and bump them , step on their feet, generally ignore them and walk right through them.... all very gently of course. They pick up that you aren't all that bright and give you a nice wide berth and only come close when they have your attention. This is very important as you cannot be tripping over them or their stuff.
As long as the dog gets enough exercise, occasional food, and theres a spot to get comfy, they all like hanging around whatever is going on.
Shop pigs are a whole nother story....
A Lellow Lab is mostly a sweet loving dog. But they need to be near their so called Master.. (I have had three in my lifetime). I think my very old Yellow Lab just lets me be the master... He is nutered so, maybe extra gental and very frustrated?
He will only go into my shop after I leave it and will smell around for awhile and I have no idea what he is smelling for. He does not seem to be bothered by the sounds in the shop, but then again, I do not think he hears well.. Not sure.
My dog likes being under my feet so I would think NOT a good idea while working in a shop with razor sharp things spinning around...
He just lays by the door untill I am finished in the shop. Every other dog I have had wanted nothing to do with my shop.... And probably me.. NO... I NEVER hurt or hit my dogs. I had a Golden that just loved my workshop but he was so goofie I had to lock him out while I worked.
Not a Vet, but I cannot think a shop is good for a dogs lungs or ears.... OR what they like to eat. My Yellow Lab will eat ANYTHING except red grapes! I have fun with him.. I throw a red grape to him.. He catches it.. And then spits it out.. LOL...
Thank you all
Thanks for all the advice, funny stories and beautiful pics of all your pups!
Today will be the first day in the shop with her. Simple day, just assemblying some base cabs so the biggest noise will be the compressor and some Led Zepplin from the shop speakers. She is like many of you stated, close to me. She follows me everywhere. My shop is not a part of my home, I didn't mention that in the original post. So I really hope that she'll adapt and take a liking to being there, because I don't want to leave her home. I have been debating to section off part of my shop to build a finishing room. Maybe she's the motivation I need and I'll just put a doggy door in. Well I'll let you know how she comes along. She's the best thing to happen since I opened my shop last year.
Thanks
Ron
Boston, MA.
In my shop I play ZZ-Tops, Blondie and 1940's Swing.... Sometimes very old Cajun songs.. I even listen to Opera! My favorite is Joan Sutherland singing 'The Flower Song'. I play Opera and ZZ-Tops while using my limited hand planes....
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