I have a medium (about 40 lb) dog and during the day I am at work from about 8-5:30. During this time she has the entire back yard (which is completely fenced), and she has a little pet door which allows her to get into the garage if it rains. I thought it was a pretty good set-up for the dog but some people say it is bad to let a dog roam in your yard unattended. What is your opinion?
2007-05-07 08:04:08 · 19 answers · asked by Sounds of Ed's football game 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
There are so many factors involved in this that I just can't say, "yes, it's great" or "no, it's horrible."
Where is your yard located? Are you close to a major road? Do you have neighbors on either side? How big is your yard? How tall is your fence? What kind of fence do you have? Are there a lot of kids / teenagers in your neighborhood? Does your dog bark when you're away? Do your neighbors have dogs that might bark or fence-fight with your dog?
The list goes on.
What I would say is, if your yard is located away from a busy road, you don't have neighbors (especially neighbors with dogs) on either side (or have a large lot so they're not very close), and you have a tall privacy fence, then it's a much better situation than if you have neighbors (with dogs) on both sides, are on a busy road, and only have a 6 ft chainlink fence.
What you need to consider is, when your dog is out unsupervised, she is at the mercy of those around her. Kids sometimes like to pick on dogs that are outside alone - throw rocks, poke them with sticks, cut through the yard, let their dogs run up to the fence to incite your dog and get her to bark, etc. Neighbors often don't like it when people leave dogs out unsupervised because boredom can cause nuisance barking. Other dogs may cause her to bark, which may keep your neighbors from letting their dogs out for fear that they will cause fence fighting, etc.
I would look at the situation very carefully and weigh the risks against the positive. Talk to your neighbors and ask how they feel about you leaving her out? Is she barking? Is she a nuisance? etc.
I think it's great that she has access to the garage. Have you considered building her a kennel run? You could partition off part of the garage for the inside portion of the kennel, and build a kennel area with a tall fence, closed on top for her to play in. That way she wouldn't have all of the yard, but still have room to exercise / play / lay out in the sun. Also make sure to leave her things to do - a puzzle ball, a kong, etc.
2007-05-07 08:16:46 · answer #1 · answered by Abby K9 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have 3 dogs and I go away for a few hours and I leave a door open so they can come in or stay out. Food and water are provided . The Yard is enclosed by a 61/2 foot cedar fence. I have never gotten a report from my neighbors that anything was out of the ordinary. These setups beat having a dog penned up inside all day. I have seen nothing bad happen. I don't have anything in the back yard but the dog toys they like outside. I have a gate the same height as the fence with no way to open it from the outside. Ask yourself what in these places the dog can go may harm them, fix that and they are safe.
2007-05-07 15:26:27 · answer #2 · answered by redd headd 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its debatable because other animals could get in to the yard or the dog could find a way out and become hurt. Also people steal animals for resale to labs or other owners. Children are another issue, they could harrass or otherwise harm your pet, or become harmed themselves and blame your pet. If your house is off the beaten path and its unlikely that kids or strangers will bother the dog (if the fence is too high, locked, pointy etc...) and you make sure the pet door is in good condition and the garage has the right environment it should be fine. But dogs are tricky, so make sure to check for loose fencing or the beginings of any holes. My neighbors dog managed to escape a locked, chain-link enclosed kennel while she was at work.
2007-05-07 15:19:43 · answer #3 · answered by Sugarshots 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see a problem... your dog has a way to get in out of the rain.
You'd probably want to leave a filled water dish somewhere... in the garage for your dog. Also, might as well throw a doggie bed in the garage for her so she's not on the cold concrete.
Can she jump over or climb the fence? If she gets too bored she may try to go roaming but hopping the fence or digging under the fence.
2007-05-07 15:12:35 · answer #4 · answered by Dave C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm going to second abby_k9 on this one. Not all set ups work for all dogs. If what you've been doing is working for you and you know you live in a good neighborhood and that the kind of people who would be a threat to your dog aren't likely to be passing by, then it should be fine. Personally I wouldn't do it, but then again I do not live in a an area where it would be a good idea. I have two large dogs, a short chain link fence, live in a neighborhood with other dogs, live on a corner one block away from two busy streets, live in an area where children/teens will be passing by when I am gone, and I live within a few blocks of the "bad" part of town (not that any part of my town is all that bad, but a few blocks east the crime rate is higher and the crimes do tend to be more serious). All of those factors considered, I'm not willing to risk that someone would let my dogs out or steal them, or that my dogs would let themselves out, or that someone with nothing better to do would harm my dogs (sticks, rocks, poison, etc). Plus there are too many factors that are likely to make my dogs nuisance barkers.
2007-05-07 16:33:44 · answer #5 · answered by ainawgsd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello..I think you're doing great ( what isn't good is when people leave their dogs to roam acres or land ( not a regular backyard - geesh ) also check things once in awhile... in case he's digging to get out ..& fair warning, what the dog uses to go in & out of the house, so can other things..like skunks - yikes, our dogs became buds with the skunk & he figured he could come in as well...so if you can try to keep him in a more contained area of the house, like if you have a porch...but your doing nothing wrong, unless you have hateful neighbors ..etc ..Take Care :) By the way..done right dog crates or spaces are NEVER BAD, IF trained right to them !!!!!!!
2007-05-07 15:54:58 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't like it, but it is OK..
If the dog can get in the garage when it rains or it is cold, thats is cool...
you must put food and water down for the dog too..
My dog has her own room...I have a 75llb blk Lab and I put her in a bed room when at work...she loves it...
Just think when it comes to dogs...you say " would I want to live like this " and if you answer no..then it is most likly wrong for the dog too.
2007-05-07 15:14:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are a very responsible pet owner...your dog has food water and shelter what more could you give it. In addition you have your yard fenced in so it won't be roaming the neighborhood. Its perfectly fine.
2007-05-07 15:32:02 · answer #8 · answered by shorty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's fine if your gate is locked (especially from the inside if your dog is a purebred and popular and could be stolen) and there's nothing in your yard that is toxic to her or would lead to her either escaping or damaging herself.
And it's a plus that she can go inside if it rains. So I think it's okay.
2007-05-07 15:12:29 · answer #9 · answered by TR. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its fine, it shld only not run out, from any where make sure d place is completely fenced and der is no place 4 her 2 get out no, i guess der is no probs 2 let d dogs roam unatteneded in d back yard. only thing make sure u give her food, water and stuff like dat. also make sure of d weather, so she does not fall sick
2007-05-07 15:15:26 · answer #10 · answered by Princess_K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋