Outside Puppy

[kaywoman68]

I think your sister should get a puppy when she can get some time off work to spend some time with the dog.

It would also be best for the puppy to be kept inside. It is winter and it is fairly cold during the day, not to mention with rain as

well lately. I'm sure it's perfectly fine for a puppy to be outside provided adequate bedding and shelter but its best to keep inside while he's getting used to his new home. Is there an area like the bathroom/laundry your sister can fence off for the puppy? I had a baby gate to keep Orson in the bathroom and had the whole floor covered with newspaper. I would go home in my lunch breaks to feed him and make sure he's ok. I've also been fortunate enough to take him to work a few times with me.

I agree with poodlefan though. Your sister shouldn't rely on the neighbour to feed the puppy. If your sister wants a puppy, it should be her responsibility.

Whatever your sister's decision is, I hope she makes the right one for her and good luck!

[Miranda]

Is there an area like the bathroom/laundry your sister can fence off for the puppy? I had a baby gate to keep Orson in the bathroom and had the whole floor covered with newspaper.

And how much warmer will the puppy be in a bathroom or laundry than outside? Bathrooms and laundries are the coldest rooms in the house and the puppy will still be alone. And what about boredom? A puppy kept outside will get a lot more stimulation and will be much happier than a puppy locked in one small room for eight hours a day. I think people tend to forget that dogs are animals. I agree that leaving a single puppy outside while one's at work isn't the ideal situation, but it's infinitely preferable to leaving it confined in a crate or a room.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

[

I would just like to point out that working and not being able to get time off/bring puppy to work is a problem faced by many people who obtain puppies... I was lucky my mum lives near me, but my sister isn't as lucky. She works in the city and I work 40 minutes drive from my home. Not easy get around this issue... I know about the whole considering an adult thing too... but she wants a puppy...

And there lies the problem with today's society - everyone gets what they want - and this is especially true of pets, whether or not they are doing the best for the pet concerned.

I waited many, many years before I was in a position to get a dog. I could have gotten a puppy - very easy isn't it? But because I was going to be away for working all day (going home at lunchtime) I thought it best to get an older dog that would be happy and would sleep while I was out. I then moved to a house further away from work and was going to be away for about 11 hours a day so I got him a companion - again, not a puppy but a dog close to his own age for companionship and similar requirements. I would not consider myself a suitable owner for a puppy and even as a temporary foster carer, I've found that my lifestyle isn't great for dogs under 2 years of age or very active breeds and that is even though they've got companions to play with and long walks before I go to work.

[SparkyTansy]

... I am well aware that this isn't an ideal situation for a puppy, and I know that people who work and come home to find their house or garden destroyed because their pup is lonely tend to give up on their pets without much thought. which is probably one of the many factors of dumpage of dogs, but I also know that my sister is not like that. Yes, it isn't ideal, but she is responsible in every other way, and if she wasn't I would kick her up the backside.

[Mjosa]

As a breeder of many years, none of my puppies are sold to a household that both people work, there must be someone home full time.

I would be concerned leaving an 8 week old puppy outside to fend for itself all day, even if the neighbour is coming over to check on the baby, for that is what it is, you would not leave a human baby outside unattended, anything could happen during the time the neighbour is not there, like bee and insect stings that can cause death.

Sorry but I think your sister should wait until she is home fulltime before contemplating a puppy. Simple as that.

[shoemonster]

When we brought Eddie home at 8 weeks we brouht him home on friday night

I had mon tues and wed off work and he was in his run with a cubby house and a cushy bed whilst I was at work

The first 2 days i came home at lunch and from the next week on he was out by himself

He has no sep anxiety and is very well adjusted, we just made sure the time at home that we spent with him was quality time

We were the first people that his breeder had ever sold a dog to that worked full time

I can understand peoples issues with leaving them, but to say that someone who works full time should not have a dog is not fair either

If someone is going to mistreat their dogs it will happen whether or not they work IMO (and it is only MO nothing more)

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I don't think anyone is saying you can't have a dog because you work full time but for a puppy that will be a very difficult lifestyle. Some people work fulltime and are only out 7 hours or so because they work close to home. Others have to travel and it ends up being 11-12 hours which is quite a difference.

My recommendation in this person's situation is for a dog of 4+ years. Many people insist on puppies because:

1. They want to bond with them

2. They want to train them

3. They don't want to face death soon

I have fostered 30-40 dogs over the last 3 years. I have not had a problem with training most of them although 1 exception took 2 months to housetrain but was an abuse case that I mentioned above, she must have been locked up somewhere due to her behaviours. As for bonding, there's probably only been a couple that I didn't particularly like but they were fine with me! I have 5 dogs and a foster, 5 out of the 6 were over 4 years old when I adopted them. They are very loving and I adore them, as I have done most of my fosters.

As for point 3 above, there are no guarantees in life but I would rather have dogs of 4 + and provide them with happy lives for 10 years than a puppy who may be miserable until he gets to 4. Obviously there can be exceptions but would you like to be on your own for 12 hours, 5 days a week?

Edited July 6, 2006 by dogmad

[BrunoBella]

Hello,

im also getting my rottweiler pup soon, and was just thinking. Rottweilers become fairly big when full grown, so if i was to buy and large crate so that it can be used when the dog is fully grown, would i be able to use the crate when the dog is a pup. Or am i better of, buying a small one then upsizing later.

Groomey

You got ignored! Get a big crate at the start. When the pup is small you can set up bed and play area.

There is heaps of info on crate training in the puppy forum.

Have fun

[Leema]

im also getting my rottweiler pup soon, and was just thinking. Rottweilers become fairly big when full grown, so if i was to buy and large crate so that it can be used when the dog is fully grown, would i be able to use the crate when the dog is a pup. Or am i better of, buying a small one then upsizing later.

You could get a big crate and board is up, so the pup only has a small section. For me, I had a smaller size difference (between pup and adult dog), but we still had a smaller crate for the puppy... This was also so that chewing didn't matter on the small crate! It was a cheap and nasty thing from Cheap As Chips/Kmart/Bunnings or something - but he loved it. Hope that gives you some ideas.

[Tia]

We got Sam (goldy) as a 10 week old pup and he was placed outside from the start. I was home all day though so he got to spend time inside and plenty of play sessions etc during the day.

Health wise if a pup has a safe yard and adequate shelter it will be fine. It's the boredom/ stimulation side I'd worry about, that then comes into play whether the dog is inside or outside.

[curlyking]

quote name='Miranda' date='4th Jul 2006 - 04:15 PM' post='1098374']

The puppy will be quite healthy outside provided it has somewhere warm and comfortable to sleep and is fed three times daily. At eight weeks it is perfectly able to regulate its temperature and it's highly unlikely that it will pick up anything from the dogs next door. The puppy will whinge and cry to start with but will soon get used to the routine. I put my puppies outside at four weeks of age and have never had a problem. It would be a good idea if she checks her yard thoroughly for poisonous plants, holes in the fence or anything that she thinks may pose a danger to the dog.

I agree with this Miranda. My pups are whelped outside in a very well insulated building with a run attached and as they grow they just spread themselves further.

If we are talking about a reasonable sized dog here I would leave it outside BUT, only in an enclosed area of the yard. Can your sister put up even a temporary yard/pen which will give the pup shelter and space with the added benefit that it will not be able to get into things which may be harmful to itself or your house/garden etc?.

The neighbour is going to come and feed the pup and no doubt play with it some and presumably the owners will spend plenty of time with it when they are home.

While this situation may not be the ideal, it is certainly possible and many people have and will do it in the future with no ill affects to the pup..

When will some people stop tinking every dog/pup that is not raised as they think it should be has been neglected and will end up in the pound by the age of 2. Many may but it is not because the owner chooses to manage their dogs differently than others, but because the owner chose not to manage the dog at all..

[shoemonster]

When will some people stop tinking every dog/pup that is not raised as they think it should be has been neglected and will end up in the pound by the age of 2. Many may but it is not because the owner chooses to manage their dogs differently than others, but because the owner chose not to manage the dog at all..

That was my point but you worded it much better than I did!

[ReXy]

IMHO its not a good idea,puppies need a lot of socialisation/comfort your sister doesnt want to end up with a dog with seperation anxiety/distructive tendancies maybe she needs to ask herself why she is getting a puppy and maybe she is more suited to an older dog

i agree 100 %... personaly i wouldnt , just because i think they need more company and socialisation at that age.,. this is when they start to learn so many valuable things.. also can learn some not so great habbits.. puppies need to bond and be part of the family,, just MHO tho.. i also dont think its safe.. there could be any number of things a young pup can get in to if left to own devises..

that is not to say she shouldnt.. there may be ways around it,. such as a small pen or yard perhaps with nise cosy bedding etc.. also depends on the breed i think..

Edited July 9, 2006 by ReXy

[MrsD]

When will some people stop tinking every dog/pup that is not raised as they think it should be has been neglected

That would be when hell freezes over .......

[BrunoBella]

Or when the sun turns blue

[Fit for a King]

When will some people stop tinking every dog/pup that is not raised as they think it should be has been neglected and will end up in the pound by the age of 2. Many may but it is not because the owner chooses to manage their dogs differently than others, but because the owner chose not to manage the dog at all..

Who said that? We were asked our opinions about the suggested course the new owner was intending to take...far from ideal in some people's minds...but noone said anything about the dog ending up at the pound....if you choose to put words in other people's mouths CK then YOU are the one with the issue....

[shoemonster]

It was said here

I work for a rescue group and we do not rehome puppies or usually dogs under 3-4 years where someone is out for this length of time, Monday to Friday. Why are so many dogs aged under 2 in pounds? I think 8 weeks is very young to be separated from it's mother and siblings.

[SparkyTansy]

Thank you for all your opinions. I appreciate everyone has a different point of view on this matter and I have taken away what I could to fit my sisters situation. All your comments have been helpful. I cannot wait to post some pictures of my sisters puppy when he gets here.

Just so you all know, I have convinced my sister to allow the pup in an area of the house which is quite large but is tiled and easily blocked off for the first few weeks. I have also encouraged her to purchase a crate and have given her some useful information on Crate Training. She is well prepared and has quite a few chew toys and warm bedding for the puppy when he arrives. Thanks for your help everyone!

[shoemonster]

Sounds like you have both thought it through and will make a happy and safe home for the pup :D

We will hold you to the pics of the pup so don't forget :thumbsup: :D

[leopuppy04]

if I get a new pup at 8 weeks into the house I take time off and acclimatise them and over time leave them for short periods then longer periods - but I am talking over the ensuing 3 - 4 weeks and mine have other dogs for company.

How long do you take off work for a new pup???? Just curious.