Keep inside or outside during the day?
I was leaving max the run of my screened in porch (over 300 sq feet) with access to outside via doggy door. But that was not working, because he was going in and out all day, and dragging mud all over my ceramic tile, and just making a mess of things. So then I started leaving him out all day (from 8 til 5), and off course he now loves to dig! In my new sod, in my garden, digs up my hostas, etc. I know he digs to get into the cool soil, but scolding and saying no is not working. So for the past 2 days I have left him in the porch with no access to outside. He seems okay with it, especially since its been warm and its cool in there. I know on the weekends when it has been hot, he likes to lay in there on the cool tile preferrably to outside. My question is does any one have any experiece here? And also what do you all do all day if your not home? I have friends who have suggested crating, but I cant get my self to do that. Any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated!! |
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| Shelly, how old is your dog? Has he ever been crated? I am not comfortable leaving my dogs outside alone when I'm not there. But..that's just me! I'm sure many others do it! I would keep him in the porch if he can't harm himself or get out - as long as he can't get overheated. Does he go in the house at night??
He's just trying to find something to keep him busy - so make sure he has lots of things to do whereever he's left - give him toys - bones (that he can't choke on), etc. With regards to digging, someone suggested putting hot pepper in the dirt to discourage them from digging. |
That sounds familiar! LOL My first OES was a digger, I have pics of her laying in the yard beside or in the biggest holes, so proud of her piles of dirt in my lawn and gardens. Micaela would dig a hole 2 feet deep in minutes, so any time she had to be left outside I'd come home to a new hole and a very muddy sheepdog. After about 3 years I realized I would never be able to train her out of the digging habit, so I built her a huge sandbox. I trained her that it was ok to dig in her sandbox, but no where else. Sand is much easier to comb out of their coat, doesn't make quite as much of a mess, and saved my lawn and flowerbeds. And Mickey was happy  Every 2 or 3 years I had to go buy another couple bags of sand, as much of it was lost due to her flinging it out the sides...lol...
I don't think I would ever leave Dancer outside. I'd be too afraid of someone stealing her. When I had Mickey the neighboorhood I was in had friendlier people whom I knew well, and a few homes nearby with stay-at-home moms so I knew mic would have at least one eye out for her. Now however I wouldn't leave anything outside, much less my beloved baby girl. |
| Hi,
I crate my boys and would highly recommend it. I have had 6 sheepdogs and these are the only 3 that I have crate raised. I do it partly for their safety (they're not getting into anything they shouldn't) and for the safety of the house (especially when they are puppies!). I wouldn't hesitate for a minute -- my pups LOVE their crates.  It is their own little house where they can stretch out and take some alone time. When they sense it is getting near the time when we are going to leave, they go down to their crates and wait inside for us to give them their treats and shut the door. I do buy the extra large ones so they have adequate room to stand without hitting the top and fully stretch out on their sides. They spend anywhere from 6-8 hrs. daily during the workweek in them. You can buy furry rugs to put in the bottom and put a toy or two in them if you want. I find the rugs end up in balls in the corner and the toys really are ignored. You might want to reconsider a crate. I would never leave them outside as stealing is a real concern. I never realized how prevalent it was until we went to an animal shelter to look at their dogs and they made us complete the application process and then had a very difficult time approving us because we sometimes left our last doggie out on our patio if we ran out for a meal or shopping. I had NO IDEA that stealing was a concern.  Now I will never leave them out unless we are home. Good luck.
Sandy, Oliver, Winston and baby Bentley |
| For years, I left the back sliding door open so that Shaggy and Blue had the freedom to go in and out whenever they wished. I realized I was taking chances but as my backyard is surrounded by a high 8 ft fence I felt secure no one was going to break in or walk in...lol. My older son worked nights and I only work aprox 4 hrs and a few blocks away so someone was always in the house.
Last year, someone did come into my home as when I returned home from lunch one day my younger son was outside waiting for me, saying the police just left as our house was broken into to. My older son had errands to run that day and someone had walked in and stolen a variety of electronics and some jewelery. I raced in the door my heart pounding...checked to make sure Shaggy, Blue and the cats were okay. Suddenly laughing as they were what I cared for the most. The other stuff was replaceable and they weren't. I'm suprised someone actually walked in with two dogs in the house but they were so aged that I think neither would have woken up. Blue is 14 and is used to staying in the house for long periods (well 4.5 hours max is how long I leave them for) and Merlin is also fine. Panda the new dog I leave outside but am considering getting a dog door for the basement. I think if the dogs are used to being crated that may be an option, or a porch. It also comes into play whether the backyard can be viewed by others and if there is a likelyhood that a dog would be stolen. My backgate now has a lock on it to prevent anyone from entering and my son placed these spikey things on the fence to prevent anyone climbing over. I discontinued the habit of leaving my sliding door open when I wasn't home which was probably a silly habit anyway but as I've said most of the time my older son was in the house as he works evenings. Another option you may want to look into is doggie daycare a few times a week as Lil Walty's mom will tell you it's wonderful for making sure your pet is well looked after and has buddies to play with all day. They come home completely exhausted! Another option is to hire someone whom you trust to visit and perhaps walk your buddy. Good luck with finding a solution! Oh and I agree...about the toys ...they seem to get destructive when bored..Kongs were recommended to me to prevent boredom and I found success with them using peanut butter and other treats stuffed inside them. |
Thanks for all the great suggestions and support. My fence is 8 feet high and I have neighbors next door that are home a majority of the day (retired), plus where I live is pretty safe (No outlet area). I know it is not 100%, and I do worry occassionally. When I leave him in porch area he does not have access to the house so the house is all locked up, and no one can get in porch because that too is locked. It will get hot down here in the summer and on those hot muggy days he will stay inside in the airconditioning, but for now, its very pleasant out, plus the porch has ceiling fans. I think I will try keeping him in porch for a week or so and see how that goes. Its very safe, and nothing for him to get into, the only thing I have out there is a fridge, tv, wicker furniture, table and chairs and plants, etc. Okay, he is enjoing the wicker furniture now and again.  . If he continues to chew at it I may have to crate him............Thanks again. |
| Marianne> My house was borken into last march, before I got Dancer, a LOT of stuff was stolen, but the first thing I checked was my four leggeds! As soon as I saw that Winston was still in the house and fine I was in tears, then came worrying about everything else, but I was so relieved that the cats and my daughters' hamster were ok. It happened in broad daylight, after my husband and I had sent the kids off to school and left for work. A neighbor called me and said my door was open so I asked her to go check and make sure everything was okay and to shut the door, I had thought maybe we didn't shut it tight and it just blew open, but that wasn't the case. It really is a horrible experience, and i still worry every day that it may happen again, and still my biggest worry and fear is that someone will either take or hurt the animals, or that they will get lose.... nightmare thoughts.... |
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