Which is better for a dog?

Question

I have a pit/chow. I am wanting to put him outside while I am at work but I dont know if I should go with a fence/kennell or a dog house and chain. If you know a good brand let me know!

Answer 1

No chain..anything thing is better and safer.

Answer 2

NO to the chain! Chains are really bad and can make a normal dog neurotic and crazy in no time, I have seen it happen.

A large kennel is a slightly better option (with a dog house IN IT) but how would YOU feel bring trapped in a tiny room all day?

If you do not have a fenced in yard, which would of course be preferable, then at least construct a large enough kennel so that your dog does not become overly neurotic. For a large dog no less than 8ftX8ft, larger if possible.

Am curious, is your dog inside during the day, with the run of the house?? If so is there a specific reason you are looking to put him outside? Also, if you are in an area where weather is an issue, perhaps you should reconsider the move until after the winter.

Good luck to you and your dog. :)

Answer 3

If you go with a fence/kennel you are suppose to have a cover on the top so the dog can not climb out and children can not climb in, there was a situation some years ago where a child climbed into a dog kennel with the dog, was not there dog, strangers dog and the child was killed by the dog in the kennel, the people who owned the dog were held accountable for it because there kennel had no cover to prevent someone from climbing over, just a suggestion.

Answer 4

A fenced-in dog run and a dog house would probably be safest and healthiest for your dog since you can't supervise him while you're at work. The fence will help prevent attacks by other animals or people, although that's not 100% by any means. And the kennel would provide protection against the elements: provided that the water supply doesn't freeze over, the dog should be OK.

Do line the dog house with straw, though, since the floor can get very cold. It's not healthy for the animal to rest on a cold surface all day.

Answer 5

I don't keep my dogs outside unsupervised.

Just think of it this way... if your dog gets loose and attacks a child, you'll be the one it comes back on. It might not sound plausible, but it's happened before. Even if your dog were to just knock someone down accidentally, it's still enough to give you a world of trouble.

Have you considered crate-training? If you don't want to go that route, is there a small, dog-proof room in your house you could dedicate to him during the day?

If you're worried about him eliminating inside while you're gone, don't be. If you keep your dog on a schedule, feeding and offering bathroom breaks at the same time each day, he'll eventually regulate his bladder to your schedule. Both of my dogs stay inside during the day, and haven't had any "accidents."

If you're allowed a lunch break at work, come home and let the dog outside then.

I'm sorry... I just hate to see any dog living outside unsupervised. I realize that they're animals, but times have changed... everyone's lawsuit happy, and besides, it's getting quite cold out. I don't know where you live, but it's well below freezing here, and my dogs don't like to be outside any longer than it takes them to eliminate, and when they come inside, they run right to the furnace registers.

If, for some reason, this is impossible, the only thing I can suggest is a kennel with a cement base and a closed top, so that it's absolutely impossible for the dog to get out or other dogs to get in. I've seen a male dog climb a six-foot kennel fence to get to a female dog who was in heat, and he got her, too.

You'll need to provide an insulated dog house as well.

But, please, whatever you do, don't leave your dog outside on a chain every day. It's not any sort of life, and besides, all it takes is one irritated neighbor to complain about his barking, cry "neglect," and you could have your dog taken away.

Just a few thoughts, I hope this helped.

Answer 6

Fence/Kennel defiantly. If you use a doghouse and chain, you will be leaving the dog exposed and venerable to any other animal or person that comes by which could cause serious injury the dog. Plus, may cities now have legislation where you cannot leave a dog chained for more that a certain period of time (where I live it is 45 minutes)

Answer 7

If he isn't use to being on a chain then a fence or kennel would probably be best. Unless it's a covered kennel you should also get the dog house to put in the area as well that way if it rains or the sun is beaming down on him he'll have a place to go that will keep him cool and dry.

Answer 8

I think if gave the dog a choice he'd choose a kennel and fence. The more room and freedom he has the happier he'll be. If you were him, would you want to be chained to something? I think he'd be best off with a cement floor also because you can use a hose to clean it off. He needs good warm bedding inside the house part and lots of clean fresh water. Make sure it's not iced over in winter too.

Answer 9

Fence/Kennel. Dogs can get tied up in chains and severely injure themselves. Make sure you keep a big water bowl out for him (one that he can't tip over) so he doesn't get dehydrated. Also, if the weather is rough, make sure he has some place he can go to get out of the rain/cold, even if it's just by covering part of the kennel with a tarp.

Answer 10

Why is the only option putting him outside while you're at work? Why can't you crate him inside? We have 3 mini Eskies and an Australian Shepherd and have NEVER left our dogs outside alone unattended, let alone all day while we're not home. Not to frighten you, but...our neighbors had a pit/mastiff mix dog (he was very large and mean looking but was so sweet). They let him outside in their fenced in BACK yard while they were getting ready to go to work, and someone took him. They ended up finding him that afternoon...with his neck ripped open from another dog. After a week-long investigation, the animal control and police found out someone had taken him from their fenced in back yard and used him to help 'train' their dog to fight.

As this dog's owner, it's your responsibility to keep him safe. By leaving him outside while you're not home, you're not offering him any protection and are not keeping him safe.

A good crate is much cheaper than a fence/kennel or a dog house and chain. Please check out www.dogsdeservebetter.com too...and read what can happen to dog's who are chained. Not only bad things can happen to the dog, but to children who may wander into the dog's 'territory' etc. Please rethink your options....hope this info helps you.

Answer 11

If you use a kennel,,have a large one for for your type of breed is large,,be sure that he cant get out under it,,use cinder blocks if nessessary. He will need a doghouse with straw either way. If he is leashed,,be sure to buy a chain from the hardware store (other chains are junk & break easily.)Be sure to use swivel clips on each end of the chain so it does not tangle.Be sure that the chained dog is not near a fence or anything that he can hang & die.Be sure there are no trees or brush that he can get tangled in.Concider a run.