Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:27 am Post subject: Where do you keep your Labs?
Hello, I'm new here and I'm collecting some information.
I'd like to know where you keep your dogs. Do they sleep inside, where? Does anyone have the outdoor kennel? In spring I'm getting a new lab puppy and he would sleep inside, but in daytime (when I work) I was thinking to have him outside in an outdoor kennel. Fresh air, much going on, more space than in a crate etc. 8m2 fence with roof and a dog house.
What do you think? We don't have a fence around our yard, so this is the only option.
Does anyone have the dog constantly outside, even at night?
Thank you all
Well, I work from 8 AM to 4 PM, 7 km's from home.
In the morning we would go for a walk, at least 30 minutes, and in those 8 hours when I'm gone my mother would take him for another walk - minimum 30 minutes, mostly more. My parents are home most of the time, they are retired, so the dog wouldn't be alone much.
After my work a long walk and tricks and dog-school, about 2 hours, then being with me around the house (usually outside) or going somewhere until evening. Short evening walk and then time to sleep.
I've been practising that with my former dog and I think it was good, but now when I'm seeking a new pup breeders have contracts that I have to have dog inside all the time. I don't see the point if nobody's home or are outside.
To answer your thread question, I keep all my dogs inside. They live in the home, they sleep in the sitting room or upstairs or in the kitchen if they choose to.
If you are looking to buy a puppy, please remember you won't be able to give them anywhere near the exercise you mention, for the first year of their life. Many people on here recommend following the five minute rule (guide) which would mean at 12 weeks of age, for example, your puppy would have 15 minutes of forced exercise per DAY.
I'm a bit confused by your post as you say you'll be out for eight hours a day (which I feel is far too long to leave a dog), but that your parents will be around most of the day (which is great) but then that you would want to keep the dog outside alone during the day?
If your parents are around during the day to help you look after the dog, can't the dog just be inside with them and then perhaps look into having a crate for the dog if they need to go out for an hour or two. I wouldn't want to crate a dog all day but it sounds as though there would be someone home a lot of the time anyway?
I know some people do kennel their dogs outside, but generally these dogs would have other dogs for company. I don't personally like the idea of kennelling a single pet dog outside - and also in the UK (and I don't know what the situation is like where you live) there is a pretty big problem with dog theft and I often read of dogs being stolen from gardens, vehicles and sometimes "secure" kennels.
I see the exercise things has already been mentioned so I won`t add to that, another thing about keeping the dog outside is the risk of it being stolen, especially as you say your yard isn`t fenced.
Labs are people dogs, they crave company and to be crated for any length of time is not good for them, would your parents not be happy to have the dog inside with them?.
Obviously if the people who live in the house are in the yard then of course have the dog there with you, again because the yard isn`t fenced you`d need to be sure s/he doesn`t wander off.
Both my dogs live inside all the time, they both have crates in the kitchen and sleep there at night, thats only because the cats have the upstairs for sleeping or they`d probably be with me at night
When having a puppy walks would be a lot shorter and more often, of course. Also in those 8 hours when I'm at work, I can count on my parents.
The thing is that my dog would be inside at night and when I'm home, my parents are not keen of the idea of having him inside with them when I'm not around. And we do have a lot of stairs I don't want him to walk up and down all day.
Outdoor kennel is a solution for us all, only for those 8 hours when I'm at work. Or when doing something when he can't be with me. As little time as possible.
And in winter time he would be downstairs in a garage in daytime, it's a bit colder there than upstairs, so going out (-15 degrees) wouldn't be such a shock.
I live in a secure village/small town, but still I have a lock on the kennel, just to be sure.
I can see that most things have been said. I would add a couple of things:
Firstly, we have a puppy (14 weeks) and he sleeps really a lot of the day - probably most of it except a couple of 30min-1hr play sessions (although he does come alive at night!!! - from 6 til 9 he is full of mischief then out like a light again!). Hence, being outside in a run/kennel with lots going on in my opinion isn't so important. For a puppy it would probably be better to have him inside with your parents for company.
Secondly, I would echo the others in leaving him outside on his own for a full day with only one 30 minute break seems a long time. Perhaps an alternative (if you are really keen on the outside idea) is that he is only outside for half the day and the other half inside with your parents? We leave Bertie (our pup) for 3 hours max in his crate - we have built up to that over time and he is very happy with that.
I am sure you can find a workable solution as you seem to have a lot of support. Puppies are so much fun - enjoy!
Best wishes
Shelley
EDITED TO ADD: we also use 2 x Lindams play pens joined together. They are actually for small children and are v safe. This is a very useful indoor playpen for the puppy - it may be worth looking into - we put Bertie in there at times when we are doing things in the house and don't want him underfoot - it may be useful if the puppy is in with your parents as they may want a break time to time. It is just an alternative to the crate really - we use both. It was actually recommended by another LFer and is a great idea
Last edited by ShelleyandBertie on Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm getting a puppy in spring (hopefully), but after I was refering to my former dog and how our day was going.
Of course the puppy would be with my parents most of the time when I'm gone, inside or outside, where they'll be. Since it'll be warm then they will be outside, working around the house and so on.
But when he's older he would be outside for those 8 hours with at least one walk in that time. So, 2x for less than 4 hours "alone" at once.
People leave their dogs inside in a crate for full 8 hours and they think that's okay. I don't agree with that, but want me to do so as well.
When having a puppy walks would be a lot shorter and more often, of course. Also in those 8 hours when I'm at work, I can count on my parents.
The thing is that my dog would be inside at night and when I'm home, my parents are not keen of the idea of having him inside with them when I'm not around. And we do have a lot of stairs I don't want him to walk up and down all day.
Outdoor kennel is a solution for us all, only for those 8 hours when I'm at work. Or when doing something when he can't be with me. As little time as possible.
And in winter time he would be downstairs in a garage in daytime, it's a bit colder there than upstairs, so going out (-15 degrees) wouldn't be such a shock.
I live in a secure village/small town, but still I have a lock on the kennel, just to be sure.
Sorry, I'm still confused as you say that you can count on your parents when you're out working for eight hours a day but then that they are not keen on the idea of having him inside when you're not home. So I'm still reading this as your puppy/dog will spend about eight hours a day alone outside while you're at work and then in winter he will be shut in a garage for those eight hours instead? Is that correct?
I can see that the outdoor kennel would be a solution for you and your parents but I don't feel it's a good solution for a new dog (puppy or otherwise). It's a big chunk of the day to be alone for any dog. I appreciate others may not share my views, but it's not a way of keeping a dog that I agree with.
Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm getting a puppy in spring (hopefully), but after I was refering to my former dog and how our day was going.
Of course the puppy would be with my parents most of the time when I'm gone, inside or outside, where they'll be. Since it'll be warm then they will be outside, working around the house and so on.
But when he's older he would be outside for those 8 hours with at least one walk in that time. So, 2x for less than 4 hours "alone" at once.
People leave their dogs inside in a crate for full 8 hours and they think that's okay. I don't agree with that, but want me to do so as well.
Sorry, we crossposted. I wouldn't leave a dog in a crate for eight hours either, so we agree on that bit
From your last post, I understand that the puppy will be with your parents in/out while pup is growing up and that your parents are happy with that?
Could they not just continue with that when the dog is fully grown? A well trained adult dog will need less supervision than a young pup. My dogs just chill out around the house and are no trouble at all
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