Is it alright to let my dog roam around the house at night and during the day?

Question

I brought my male Siberian Husky inside because it is so hot outside and also because he has been sick. The vet is still trying to rule things out, but she thinks that he may have Addisons Disease. Anyways, I have had him in the kitchen since it is the only room besides the bathroom that has tile, but he keeps grabbing onto the baby gate in the doorway with his teeth and pulling it down so he can come lay down in the living room. He usually lays by my feet under the computer or by the couch and doesn't get into stuff. He has not (amazingly) peed or pooped in the floor. He prefers laying in the living room for some reason, even though I got him a bed made up in the kitchen. Would it be alright to let him stay in the living room at night and during the day when we are at work? He usually pulls down the baby gate anyways, but if it isn't a good idea I could always find another way to close off the kitchen. Any ideas?

Answer 1

If he doesnt seem destructive you may want to try letting him out for the day.....to see what happens.. chances are he's been pulling that gate off the second you leave anyways.

Answer 2

My husband and I have 2 Siberian Huskies, both females, and I will be the first to admit they are extremely spoiled. I would say let your dog be wherever he is most comfortable, especially since he hasn't been feeling well. However, until he is feeling better, maybe some place quiet, away from the kids would suit him better. Our dogs have been spending alot of time indoors lately since it has been so hot outside. My husband works outside the home, and I run a medical transcription business out of our home, so I am able to be home with the dogs a lot. Usually they will want to be wherever I am which is usually at the computer, so they will normally lay on the floor, right next to my chair. They each sleep on their own blanket on the the floor right next to our bed at night, and will usually sleep through the night without getting into anything or roaming through the house in the middle of the night. However, I do not leave them alone in the house for extended periods during the day - for some reason, that is when they are more apt to get into things. I guess during the night they are too busy sleeping to be up roaming around, getting into mischief! A baby gate wouldn't stop either one of my huskies - one weighs 75 pounds and would just plow her way through(she's too fat to jump very high!) the baby gate and knock it down; my other husky is slimmer and has longer legs and would simply jump over the gate. Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

You know your dog better than anybody else. If he isn't destructive, then he should be ok left in the house. I would start him out slow to make sure he won't destroy anything while you are gone.

The majority of the time while owners are away they sleep. My German Shepard has the run of the house while we are home. He doesn't get into anything at all. When I do errands he is left in the house, but is put into a crate. He actually goes and lays down in the crate when we are at home. The door is left open for him to get in if he wants to. Which he does all the time.

Dogs in the wild have dens, so the crate is like a den to them. If it is made into a positive experience there is no problems. As for night time, you shouldn't have a problem, because he will probably sleep all night long.
Good luck!!

Answer 4

You have a really amazing breed of dog. I would do what it takes to make him feel comfortable - it seems that he has a lot ot put up with at the moment, poor thing. Hope the Vet can treat him. If he hasn't destroyed anything when you've allowed him the roam of the house then it is unlikely he will do so when you aren't there. He needs room to move around and it will distress him if he can't.

Answer 5

Tile floors are often scary to larger breeds because they feel slick under his feet. If he hasn't messed in the house and you don't mind any shedding he does there is no reason he shouldn't be allowed to sleep and stay in the living room. I hope he gets better soon.

Answer 6

Do you spend a lot of time in the livingroom? Dogs when they are sick tend to cling to their owners like a ill child. He/she may feel more comfortable there because that is where you usually are. If your dog is not having any accidents or getting into things, there should not be a problem of him/her staying in the livingroom. When they are very ill, I believe to leave them where they are most comfortable at instead of in an area that may bring on more stress.

Answer 7

I agree totally with Katnap.
It is not cruel to cage the animal. I see it is an outside dog, keep it outside when the temp improves. But as the boss and leader of the pack you need to make sure it knows when it is inside it abides by your rules or it is outside. trying to convert a roaming outside dog to a Kennel can be tough.

Answer 8

it is o.k to let him stay in the living room he probemly just likes laying on the carpet and that room feels more like home; he just wants to be close to u.if u let him out to do his buisness before u go to work maybe he wont go again until u get home. u can always vacume if he sheds hair.good luck.

Answer 9

if he is being good then sure. makes a good watch dog. if he gets into things get him a creat for sleeping and when your gone. leaving the door open except at bed time and empty house times. put it in the living room.

Answer 10

Sounds he only wants to be where you guys are
when your home.......maybe crate him in kitchen while your gone, they say they will never mess where they sleep well they haven't met my dog, or put him on a leach in part of the kitchen that is what I have to do and mine is just a tea-cup poodle (big bad dog)