eyeopener

Some examples of where the dogs are when not in their runs.....

Very similar to our set up although instead of runs they get devided between paddocks, house yards n home made kennel run areas when not with me etc.

Yes, the dogs aren't in the runs too much. Some days or weeks hardly at all. I find them extremely useful though and wouldn't be without them.

Yep I agree fully hubby like why do you make me build things you will likely hardly ever use, lol... But when they are needed they are needed n what I have now I am not happy with it dose the job just.

Some examples of where the dogs are when not in their runs.....

Very similar to our set up although instead of runs they get devided between paddocks, house yards n home made kennel run areas when not with me etc.

This is when we were putting the runs in. Each run has a shed area of approx 3 m wide and 1.5m deep.

We used a product called 'bodpave' for the surface.

The runs are gravel (we use crusher dust - cheap and easy to replace and easy on the dogs feet) but can't be dug up by the dogs and have very good drainage.

That bod pave is a great idea will look into that. Thanks heaps.

Their runs are a big paddock divided into 2 :)

Yeah well atm I have no really secure runs as mine run supervised n unsupervised about the farm but I have need for a secure run at times so we are re doing everything over Xmas hopefully. I have ex large kennel run type of situation instead but it would be great to secure a few acres off for free running those that can't be trusted off lead at certain times.Atm I just end up joining lunging lines to give them( generally visiting dogs new rescues etc) a little more freedom if I can trust them off lead yet.

I'm afraid we have those that 'shouldn't be allowed' but here are progress photos

The blank runs

The 'boxes' are their kennels - they have a flap so it keeps them warm inside plus they have blankets

They now also have benches infront of their boxes which they can lie on if they get too hot.

They also have big grass runs.............

why should they not be allowed? Not what would work for mine but as long as they get enough daily exercise n mental stimulation n are not constantly confined to a cement stab I see no issues with it. They be easy to clean too.

I'm afraid we have those that 'shouldn't be allowed' but here are progress photos

The blank runs

The 'boxes' are their kennels - they have a flap so it keeps them warm inside plus they have blankets

They now also have benches infront of their boxes which they can lie on if they get too hot.

They also have big grass runs.............

why should they not be allowed? Not what would work for mine but as long as they get enough daily exercise n mental stimulation n are not constantly confined to a cement stab I see no issues with it. They be easy to clean too.

We've just come back from a 5+ week holiday to our home and dogs that had been looked after by house sitters. The dogs were happy, although a bit chubbier than when we left them. The house was not up to our standards of cleanliness, but we were prepared to overlook that as the dogs were so comfortable with them and they with them. However, I did discover that they ignored two of our rules, not to walk the dogs down the main street as Jindi is scared of strangers and we have worked really hard to get her to the point of being comfortable with people walking past, and that they are not to go out the front of the house without a lead on, as we live on a main road and our gate does not close properly.

When we were doing the hand over, they mentioned how the lady had tripped over on the main street while trying to console Jindi. I tried to remain calm as I knew that they had gone above and beyond to bond with the dogs, especially the female. It was revealed that they took her down to the main street when they did their shopping and even let people approach the dogs. They said they thought she was getting better at being on the main street, even though they reported that she often did not want to go for a walk and they would either tie her to a post and leave her for a minute while they walked off or would leave her at home and then return for her where she would then show an interest in joining them.

The fact that they blatantly ignored my instruction that she not be walked down the street due to her fear, really annoyed me. However, I was also prepared to let this pass as they also advised they watched her tail to see what her mood was and they went at quiet periods.

However, my friend who lives up our street advised that she often went pass and the front door was wide open and the dogs were out the front, either lying in the sun, sitting at the gate watching people going past or sitting in the doorway. This, I am not happy with. Had they been out the front doing something, then that would be forgivable, but my friend reported that the dogs were out there for hours. Not only do we have lots of traffic, both cars and people and anyone could have opened the gate, we have quite a number of aggressive strays who have gone for our dogs before and the front fencing would not protect the dogs from an attack as it is has an 'open' style.

Combined with them taking her down the main street, I am really pissed me off. What right is it of them to ignore the two most important rules that were advised in writing and verbalized? Did they think they knew better, or is it a generation thing (they are in their 60s), whereby they just do their one thing?

We are going away for 2 weeks next November and I am not happy about getting them back. I am happy to try another set of house sitters as the husband does not want them in a kennel; don't suppose any of you could recommend a reliable person/s?

Where abouts do you live. I am blessed to have a friend who ownss a pet sitting/walking/feeding & basic training business & also have 2 very close friends who know my dogs n livestock etc well too. It's horrible when you leave instructions & they are ignored specially when it's because the sitter wants to fix an issue or thinks they know better how to deal with your dogs issues etc. I won't use kennels as last time a left an older bitch in 1 with strict instructions about her care & that she was an escape artist to the max. Well the day I arrive to pick her up low n behold here is my 56 kg older bitch on the roofing running along the kennels n having goes at the guys in the work shop next door. When I say OMG why is she up there the owner of the kennels says well I just can't keep her in n she is happiest if she allowed her to do as she pleased of a day n was taking her to bed with her of a night. I left a good solid crate n said she should be crated inside the kennel of night so she doesn't break out , howl or rip her last few teeth out on the weld mesh n that of a day she should use 1 of their secure greyhound runs as I didn't think the boarding kennel runs would contain her. Anyway the women went on to say she would follow my instructions to just blatantly do as she pleased as soon as I left it seems.

Glad to know I am not the only 1 who allows their dogs on their bed, lol... Some of mine would be heart broken if I had then anywhere else of a night, lol. I have a belly warmer(likes to b under covers n all, a back of kness dog n hubby has 1 at his feet plus we have a little knok at the head of our bed n Jack sleeps there with his paw touching my head, lol.. Then a big dog at each side n 1 at the foot of bed on their own beds. So we have a full bedroom n wouldn't have it any other way.

We decided to make a dog run about 3 years ago, It really hasn't been used once but in Winter we use it as the dog only area and for the dogs to do their business. The rest of the yard is blocked off as we get some flooding, if we have nice days they have access to the whole yard, I just open the gate and they can run riot. they don't though unless i am outside with them, they are either sitting on their beds at the back door or inside with us.

the run with a treated pine decking and sides, lazer light over part of the decked area, with huge crate and kennel underneath. (the cat is so far the only one to have used the kennel which we have had for 5 years.) :laugh:

The run pictures with the rest of the yard.

This is the scene while we at work, via doggy cam, they are not very interesting to spy on. :laugh:

This is where they would all like to sleep, and do for a cuddle before retiring to thier own beds on the floor, except the girls who take it in turns sleeping on the bed. The youngest still sleeps in his crate (hes 4)

My side

OH's side

so thats my dog run and my set up, so realistically we didn't need the dog run but it has served a purpose. We have never used the crate but it might just come in handy one day who knows. and the kennel well the cat enjoys it! Seems the favorite place for all of our family is the bed!!

Love it, great set up for a suburban yard too. We are the same as in the runs sit empty whilst the big guys sleep around people's beds n little 1s are all in bed with me n hubby. But I do use them when I go into town etc.

Very similar to what I want but with platforms n some dirt mounds so they can see across the paddocks. What housing do they have?

We have 4 Goldstein kennels in our single garage for overnight kennelling. For day time, they have runs we made ourselves - there is a thread here

Thanks heaps.

I'm one of these people who keeps Greyhounds in cruel and unkind condtions

Well it's only cruel n unusual if they spend all today everyday with very little attention n no daily exercise. Surely while your home they are out playing in your backyard etc I see nothing wrong with that. It's when they only get out of a weekend n maybe 1 mid wk run that I think it's very wrong n that's just my opinion not fact n it dose not mean I think I am better in anyway either.

I would love a database world wide for each breeds health results n pedigrees to be kept on.

I just do not see the difference between and backyard breeder and a registered breeder who does not show but breeds untested dogs

No neither do I. I think it's a great tool n any breeder no matter what sort should jump at the chance to add another tool to their tool kits.

My dogs eat rabbit I just keep our worming up to date.

Guys not once said I NEVER confine my dogs nothing of the sort I said crates are over used & so are dog runs at times also. Just to clarify I have 2 females n 1 male who have total acces to houses n entire farm of a day n sleep inside of a night. The rest bar 1 follow me about as I do my jobs n I swap n switch as needed so all get plenty of free run. I have 1 dog who is only run under strict supervision. There is only 1 dog put of a night n that's his job to be n I will let out a second if needed. The rest sleep inside 1 of the homes bar 1 who sleep in the front yard her choice n 1 who is in a dog run. There is 2 families on this farm so 2 sets of dogs.

nothing flash , used for one day while we had the guy here to demolish the garden .

Goldstein Run screwed to a 2nd hand garden shed bricks laid instead of cement.

Thanks.

Please guys so far Sway is the only set up I have seen. If you not game to put pics up how about some descriptions?

So you can tell us how mean we are for putting our dogs in them as per your other thread?

You really need to read my first n every post after that mi state I use them just my dogs are not confined to them all the time or even very often at all in some cases.

I have a quarter of my yard sectioned off with cyclone fencing and a big garden shed for shelter as a dog pen... but the dogs are in the house... go figure...

T.

Same here a lot of the time, lol..... But I only really need them for when I go into town or new dogs, sick dogs etc etc... I have 2 trips coming up though n I would like to have a better set up done by then to make it easier on my dog sitters.

mine are on concrete and you don't want that

I would prefer not to but may have too I did not say I never would n only the flooring is concrete I may still get plenty of ideas about design from them.

Everyone bar 1 dog is locked up if I go to town etc & that's a perfect set up for me really specially for the days we go into our reginal big town.

OP:

my dogs come n go in n out of the house n some have full access to the entire farm

So they don't have access to the entire farm then unless you are there?

I don't genuinely see this as much different from what folk who leave their homes every day do.

Read my first post I said I have some dogs that have full access n most get heaps free time bar 1. I only let my older bitches have total freedom but as I stated of a night they come inside also( they sleep beside their individual family members bed).

Please guys so far Sway is the only set up I have seen. If you not game to put pics up how about some descriptions?

Hallo everyone and sorry if this is in the wrong spot if so please feel free to move it.

in the future i wish to breed English cocker spaniels, but i don't do conformation showing im in to the agility and rally-o competitions, Does that matter?

do you have to do conformation shows to breed?

my pups would be from my best agility/rally-o bitch/dog with great temperaments they would be health tested and i wouldn't be breeding all the time maybe only 1 litter it would be to continue that line from that great dog/bitch NOT for profit, and off course with the breeders okay but they would be informed about this and hopefully would be able to help me along the way.

anyway as breeding is a big commitment im only thinking for the future.

thanks :)

I'm just loving my cockers amazing ability and he is doing so well and im enjoying it as well that i can never see me stopping now :D

I think that's fine but some may not. I judge a breeder on health testing, lifestyles their dogs live & their ability to take back any dog they have breed not on show titles. Many reg breeders don't show or very very rarely. I prefer a dog temperament health n work ability to be top priorities not ribbons won one even type.

Thanks so much that is perfect. I only have separation issues when new dogs come in or due to bitch being on heat etc but there are some that are only allowed together supervised. I am lucky to be on a property with 2 separate human housing so 2 yards plus I have 2 good size runs. Everyone bar 1 dog is locked up if I go to town etc & that's a perfect set up for me really specially for the days we go into our reginal big town.

They are not an overly active pup, they like to have a play dawn n dusk but n maybe a swim during day buts about as active as they get spec when it's warm.