| Indoor barrier question!!!!
I posted this on the welcome board for new members & thought I'd swing it by here, too!
I have two dogs -- a grey-muzzled retriever/lab mix, Puzzle, who adopted us two years ago -- and a near 3-month-old puppy, Linus, deposited at probably 5-6 weeks in our driveway. He's been more of a challenge to raise, as he can be more "assertive" (read: growl & snap when taken away from something he wants -- like grass!). I've done lots of training w/him, lots of trial & error. I use clicker training & positive reinforcements as ANY "punishments" (alpha shake, pop on nose, holding the muzzle), for him, makes matters worse & only escalates the behaviors. He's getting better, but it's sometimes hard on my older dog, who Linus wants to treat like a littermate.
QUESTION: School starts back soon for us -- for my teenager, the first week in August, for teachers, July 31st. I do not wish to crate Linus for 9 hours as that's simply too much for him. I was looking at gates but our house is more open-floor & the barrier from dining area to living area isn't a straight line & would require quite a cumbersome gate. I could gate him in the sewing room, much smaller, but my monster treadmill takes us a lot of room. Plus there are CORDS!!! So, I saw an ad about the indoor barrier deals -- he wears a little collar, gets a beep then a mild "stimulus" if he nears the red zone. Have any of you used these ONLY FOR THE INDOORS during the day? I was thinking about using one where I would've put a gate that would basically have to stay up all the time. Someone said that might confuse Linus, as he'd be able to cross as long as someone was home.
I need to start whatever program for him next week as I want a chance to get him accustomed to a daytime arrangement (he hates it when we're not here)
Thanks for any input! | 
