I Need Help, Not Judgement...?

Question

Ok I have a dog, he's a German Shepherd and Mastiff mix and he's about 4-5 years old. I saved him from being put in the pound this passed August 2007.

When I picked him up I talked with his previous owner for a good 20 minutes and she insured me that he was an outside dog (since that's what I was looking for) who just has too much energy and since she was going through a bad divorce she's couldn't keep him.

So he came home and the first month went by smoothly, but ever since its just been terrible! He whines, yelps, scratches at the back door just cuz he wants to get inside the house and he CAN'T come in. He's way too big to be an indoor dog.

In October 2007 he ran away 4 times and I ended up having to pay to get him out of the pound one of those four times. He ran away yesterday, but thank goodness I put tags on him and my neighbor alerted me that he was in they're yard.

I walk him at least 3 times a week and I play with him everyday, but that doesn't stop his whining.

He's well fed, well groomed, and well kept. Our backyard is huge and he isn't chained up and he's allowed to sleep in the garage.

I'm at my wits end with this dog, but I can't bring myself to give him away because I'm attached to him.

I need help. What can I do to stop his unhappiness?

I've just started my winter break (one month off) so I'll be walking him more often.

HE CANNOT COME INTO THE HOUSE. He can't be an indoor dog. That is not an option.

Even walking him everyday results in him whining and scratching at the door all day and night long.

He can't come in because everyone is allergic to dogs.

My dad had to rebuild the back fence (which is made out of wood) going onto 5 times now.

I've never heard of any dog being an indoor dog. Any dog I've had in the past stayed outside and didn't care to be in the house too much. Anyone I know keeps they're dog outdoors and the dog is content.

Next time I'll think twice about getting a dog this old because re-training them is diffucult.

Answer 1

I am allergic to dogs, I have FOUR of them in my house. Three of them are BIG dogs. ANY dog can be an inside dog, and nearly ALL dogs SHOULD be. The issues you describe come from the dog being lonely, bored, frustrated, and untrained. My recommendations:
*****Hire a trainer to help you with these issues (they're not very expensive and well worth the investment).
*****Contact an allergist about how someone allergic to dogs can live with them. My allergist never suggested I give my dogs up or toss them outdoors...she told me that people with dog allergies can easily live with dogs, and that keeping a clean house is the most important thing to do (she is right). An allergist can give you a complete list of what you can do to reduce allergens in your home, as well as talk to you about desensitizing shots.
***If you're not willing or able to commit to giving this dog a better life, check out akc.org for some breed rescues for Mastiffs and German Shepherds in your area and ask for help in finding a better home for your dog where he can be happy.

Walks and play are a great start, but training and companionship are also important...there is NO WAY an outside dog is having it's needs met physically or mentally.

Answer 2

All dogs want to be indoors, and plenty of people keep large dogs inside, so that is no excuse. You "rescued" a dog and stuck him outside as a lawn ornament. I suggest you find a better home for him, with someone who doesn't mind bringing him indoors with the family. I knew a family with a fairly small house and 3 Irish Wolfhounds, which stand over 3 feet tall at the shoulder and can pluck food off counters with all four feet on the ground. That's a lot of dog, but they made it work, because dogs are part of the FAMILY. If that's not an option, you keeping that dog is not an option- his unhappiness won't stop until he has a REAL life, inside, where he belongs.

EDIT: Then you and the people you know are ignorant and cruel. NO DOG should have to live it's life outside. There shouldn't BE a next time, because you shouldn't be allowed to own pets with that attitude!!

Answer 3

You obviously can not provide what this dog needs. You should find him someone who can. At the very least make room for a kennel in a corner of the house where he could come in at night so he feels like part of the family.

Also make sure he has adequate living quarters outside. You say he can go into the garage, is it heated? Just having 4 walls surrounding him is not enough warmth especially being a short coated dog. He should still have a dog house lined with straw for warmth.

To help with bonding if you insist on keeping this dog....enroll in an obedience class or an agility class. This will strentghen your bond plus stimulate his mind and body.

Answer 4

Please don't get another dog. You're trying, I'll give you that, but he just is NOT happy. He's bored. He needs something to do other than a little bit of playtime per day and 3 walks a week. German Shepherds and Mastiffs are herding/working dogs. They NEED something to do, they NEED a family, or pack, or herd to take care of, they NEED a job.

And you can stick a puppy out there because they're 'easier to train' if you want, but you'll just end up in the same situation. Just because a dog is USED to the situation he lives in, doesn't mean he's going to like it..

Honestly, your parents have to be getting pretty tired of him, what with him running away and your dad having to fix the fence...so they're probably going to want to get rid of him.
Please find him a home where he is welcome to be with the family..since you say you've never heard of having a dog i nthe house and no one you know has one inside, than maybe you have family in another town that could help or something.
If you look online you can probably find either a German Shepherd or Mastiff or general large breed rescue group in your area..something like http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/

Bottom line: he's not happy, you're not happy, your family's not happy...find him a new home and find another kind of pet that you can have inside and take care of properly.

Answer 5

Try getting another dog as his companion that way he won't be outside by himself. My dogs are indoor dogs but when we leave them outside they're fine because they have eachother. I think that he has an issue with being alone. A copanion should solve the problem. And don't put him to sleep just because of that, that's horrible you need to solve the problem not take away the dogs life. If the companion doesn't help try contacting a proffessional dog trainer to help you or your veterinarian. And if nothing else works try finding a home for him where they will allow him indoors.

Answer 6

I have a purebred English Mastiff and I cant say anything about the German Shepherd part of your mix but my mastiff would never be able to deal with being separated from us the way you are describing. it would really break his spirit. He wants to be in whatever room we are in ALL the time. He does fine when we crate him to go run errands or whatever but his preference Im sure would be to be with us and I am positive that most mastiffs are very much this way. And they are al huge so you cant change that. That being said, I live in a 2 br apt in the city and he isnt too big for me because I would miss him if he werent around.
I know you dont want him in the house but I think you have a mixed breed that wont do well in the situation you are willing to offer. My advice is to find him another home ASAP or change your views on having him inside.
Big dogs do beautifully inside homes when their owners take the time to train and be with them so dont think it cant be done.

Edit: MISA! wth? She should just put a 4-5 yr old dog down because she wont change her mind about bringing him inside? Do you know how many people would LOVE to have that dog? Why punish him? And if you are trying to tell her something and punish her or make her think something by suggesting she should put him down - this is misguided and you could be killing her dog rather than making her think twice. Really, poor advice. Rehome the dog, dont kill it for goodness sake.

Answer 7

Look, this isn't a judgment, but it is a fact, dogs are pack animals and you are the leader of the pack.
Your dog is miserable because he needs company, he needs a pack.
You leave him alone all day long and he wants to know where his pack leader is.
He is very unhappy with the present situation, he is bored, and bored dogs get into trouble.
And they run away.
No dog is truly an outdoor dog, oh you may be keeping him outdoors, but even sled dogs have their pack, your dog doesn't and he finds that unnatural.
If you love him you want the best for him, and the best for him is for you to find someone who can be with him, or someone who at least has a bigger home. Hes not too big to be an indoor dog, he is too big for you to want him in your home. Get a smaller dog, one you feel comfortable with in your home.

In your present situation you cannot own a dog.
I assume you live in the south, where dogs have reasons for being, like hunting and guarding, and they are not always considered pets, but working animals. This isn't the case here, this is a pet, and bringing him 'home' to your yard isn't working for him. If you want a dog to love on, wait till you have a home of your own. Don't make another dog equally unhappy.

Answer 8

If he is not happy as an outdoor dog and you are unwilling to let him in the house, then you need to find a new home for him. Obviously his needs aren't being met as an outdoor dog if he is whining and crying all day, so do the right thing for the dog and think about his happiness rather than just "I've grown too attached and don't want to let him go."

Unless you live in a mousehole, no dog is too big to live in the house. I have 3 big dogs living in my house and we are just fine. If you can't have a big dog living indoors, you should have thought about that and not gotten such a big dog.

WAIT: You have a dog that EVERYONE is allergic to? So just how much attention does this poor dog get? Everyone is allergic to it so no wonder it whines and cries all day. If everyone in your house is allergic DON"T GET ANOTHER DOG!

Answer 9

You need to just skip owning dogs. NO dog should be outside 24/7. That is a HUGE risk for their health and their life. Walking him 3 times a week isn't enough exercise, playing with him doesn't train him and honestly after answering the question you wrote after this one, I'm thinking you should stick with stuffed animals and Neopets. If you can't handle a dog you sure as he** can't handle a young dog. Your dog is trying to come inside because isolation is NOT natural for him and it upsets him. Re-Home him and don't get another one.

Answer 10

I too agree that the dog wants to be a part of the family. A very close part. I'm wondering why him being an inside dog is not an option. I have Dobermans & they are inside dogs. No problems or issues at all. If dogs are trained properly they make excellent pets in side a home.
Good luck!!