plshrk
Rattie
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| 08/09/2007 10:26 AM |
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Alright I dont want you to think I just want to throw little Wilson outside every chance I get. Just wondering if he is to young (10 weeks) to leave outside for 3-4 hour periods at a time. We have a backyard that is fully privacy fenced. I just hate to put him in his crate for 3-4 hour spurts through out the day but maby its not such a bad thing? I reason I am nervous about leaving him out is because I worry about him digging out or getting stolen. I need some advice  |
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ClareClaymore
Newbie
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| 08/09/2007 10:40 AM |
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| heya I would not leave him out side by himself like that due to what you said about being stolen or digging out. Plus the worry and turmoil you will cause your own self worried if he did get stolen and/or freed himself. we don't crate Opel what we do is have a open empty closet with a baby gate for now she can't clear it yet and she has a bed and her toys in there she has survived 3 hours with no potty's in there hope that helps our chi he love sthe bathroom and wants his bed in there when Opel is older she will probably sleep in there also. we ha dto really puppy proof the bathroom its not the best choice I know but he picked it. |
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plshrk
Rattie
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| 08/09/2007 10:45 AM |
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| See I grew up on a farm and it was never a problem but Wilson likes to dig... |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 08/09/2007 10:46 AM |
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I think common sense must prevail here...
When you have to be away, (do you work all day? How much time are you gone at a time?) you will need an alternate plan that is consistent with the training that you are establishing. With exception of overnight, puppies the age of yours should never be confined to a kennel for periods longer than 2-hours.
Leaving puppies/dogs alone in a backyard can be a disaster. There is no way to prevent digging, chewing or barking. Barking can cause problem aggression. Puppies/dogs can escape, be teased, abused, injured or stolen. Better options include having a friend or pet sitter come by to pinch hit for you or arranging for day care with a willing friend or good doggy daycare.
Your puppy will quickly learn what is expected by the reward of short-term freedom and attention after a successful trip outside and short-term confinement to a crate.
You'll also learn when what went in, has to come out.
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Paul
Feisty
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| 08/09/2007 10:48 AM |
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Just MY opinion here but I think 10 weeks old is way too young to leave outside for that long a time. Not only is there a chance that someone could easily steal "such a cute little puppy", but if Wilson has a lot of time without anything constructive to do, he might just invent his own "games" to play--which could include digging under the fence. Dogs dig when they are bored. Maybe just lengthen the time he's outside by a little bit at a time, and definitely keep a close eye on him. |
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"Train now, or forever hold your leash"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doberdad/ |
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Apollo's Mommy
Feisty
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| 08/09/2007 10:50 AM |
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| JMO... but leaving Wilson in a crate for a few hours is a lot better than outside by himself. For the reasons you stated as well, as for weather reasons. (Sorry I'm not sure where you are located.) But crating him would iliminate you from worrying if he digs out and gets lost or stolen. You can always give him something to do while he is crated. Kongs are GREAT to use for crating. My pups aren't crated very often but when they are I give them Kongs with peanut butter. I sometime put pieces of other treats in there with the peanut butter ( like the chicken chips or milkbone ). I also never give them Kongs unless they are going in their crates... that way it's like they have something to look forward to and they understand that being crated isn't a bad thing. They know when I'm preparing their Kongs that they are about to go into their crates. Apollo will actually go and wait in his crate and I just bring the Kong to him and shut the door. And he never realizes that I leave. Plus, Kongs are safe. At least safer than a toy that they could tear up and end up eating all the stuffing out of or an eye off of or something. |
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"You can't fix stupid." - Ron White
~ Jolene ~
Mommy to Apollo, Emma, & Indie
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 08/09/2007 11:05 AM |
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Obviously, I agree with the above posts - Wilson is much to young to be outside unsupervised for any length of time in my opinion. I would crate him or otherwise confine him to a small area where there's nothing for him to destroy - either by chewing or making a mess by pooping/peeing. At 10 weeks of age, he "should" be able to hold his bowel and bladder movements for approximately 3 hours (1 hour for each month of age + one hour) - this is, of course, dependent upon his feeding scheduling and his being taken out to eliminate enough times, including right before being crated - as well as dependent upon you having created the right size crate (it should only be large enough for him to turn around and lie down, no larger or he will potty in one area and lay in another).
Personally, my Daisy is the first dog I have ever trained to the crate. Again in my opinion only, it is the best route possible if you can find the time and courage to do it correctly. Whether or not you "believe in" crating a dog, most all dogs at some point in time will need to be crated (at the vet's, a kennel, for travel, etc.) and if they are used to it and see it as "their place", it's all that much more easier on the dog. Once the dog is old enough and is well behaved enough, it doesn't need to be an often used method of securing the dog. And, (IMO) it is the surest and safest way to adjust to your puppy becoming a proper member of the household - both in teaching it to eliminate outside only and preventing typical puppy destructive behavior of chewing, getting into garbage, etc., until they are old enough to have outgrown some of those things.
Ha ha ha...rambling on here....but bottom line is: I would NOT advise on leaving him outside while you are not home. At 10 weeks of age, I wouldn't advise letting him outside without your actually having him in your eyesight at all. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 08/09/2007 11:25 AM |
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| I agree with everything said above. Myself, I wouldn't leave any rattie outside (regardless of age). Too much can go wrong (that's been listed in the prior posts) PLUS they are just so attached to their people. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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plshrk
Rattie
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| 08/09/2007 11:27 AM |
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| Yeh thats what I figured, I was just wondering. I think if I were to leave him out I would be going home every hour. Right now I leave for work at 9 and come home at 12 and spend till 1:30 with him then home at 4:30 then he is with us ALL night . I really appreciate all the advice this is a GREAT forum. I am on a lot of car forums and this is by FAR the best forum I have ever been on. |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 08/09/2007 11:35 AM |
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| I agree with the crating. Especially if he is only in there for 2-3 hours tops. He should do well if you are consistant. Leaving him otside is just a recipe for disaster. Good Luck!!! |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 08/09/2007 11:41 AM |
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| I think that he will be fine from 9 - 12 and 1:30 - 4:30. I don't see any problem with that at all. Are you crating him at night at all or is he sleeping with you. I only ask because - and this is just IMO (ha ha ha, always with the caveat) but I would also crate him occasionally while you ARE home for short periods of time and practice his being quiet and happy with doing so, mostly for the fact that you do not want him to associate the crate with your departure. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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plshrk
Rattie
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| 08/09/2007 11:54 AM |
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| He does sleep in his crate and at night when we put him to bed he doesn't make a peep. We will put him in his crate periodically if we are working on the house for 30 mins at a time or if I am working in the back yard he comes out with me ( and gets in the way haha ) . |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 08/09/2007 11:55 AM |
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| Sounds like you are doing a great job Glad to hear he's adjusting and doing well. Keep us posted!!! |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 08/09/2007 11:58 AM |
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| Sounds like you are on the right track!! |
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