WHERE TO KEEP/HOUSE YOUR DOG
I prefer dogs in the house. Since they are a member of the family it is only fair to house them with the rest of the family. If you want a loving and devoted family companion than treat them as family. Here are some housing problems people run into.
1. Dog on a chain. This is very dangerous. I will not get into the sad stories I have heard from dogs strangling themselves. If you have small children around it is very dangerous to keep dogs on chains. The child can get the dog chain or rope around their neck and get seriously hurt or worse. Dogs can become very hyper on a chain and jump on everyone that comes near them. They can not help it. They are starved for attention and love.
2. Dog runs. Dogs can dig their way out or bend the chain fencing to get out. People sometimes get the idea that they will also chain the dog in the dog run. The dog can jump up, catch the chain on the side of the run and strangle to death. They can jump on the dog house than jump over the side and strangle themselves. Never and I mean never chain a dog inside a dog run. Not even for 5 minutes. Dog runs are great to give your dog some exercise if you do not have a fenced in yard. Just make sure it is large enough for them to run around in and not walk through their own mess.
a) Important if keeping your dog in a dog run. Make sure they can escape the direct sun no matter what time of day it is. Check the dog run throughout the day to make sure that your dog always has shade no matter where the sun is. Keep water and feed bowls clean. If you wouldn't eat or drink out of them don't expect your pet to. Water should be changed daily. If it is very hot outside than change the water 2 or 3 times a day so that they may have cool but not real cold water to drink. If the water freezes than you need to change it several times a day in the winter as well. No, they do not get enough water from eating snow. Snow is very cold which makes it hard for them to keep themselves warm.
b) Never allow your dog to become over heated than left in a dog run in the winter. Your pet can very well freeze to death come morning. If you pet was out running in the yard playing with you, take them in the garage to completely cool down which should be several hours before placing them back in the dog run. Don't think their dog house will be enough. If they are hot and sweaty, their dog house will not keep them warm. They keep warm by generating their own body heat inside the dog house. If they are cold and shivering they can not generate body heat to keep warm.
c) Make sure they can escape the wind and snow. If you have to, crawl inside their dog house to see if it is warm enough and to make sure your dog can escape the harsh wind. Get straw to put around the dog house and inside the dog house. Put up some plywood on the outside of the dog run where the wind is coming in if you have to. Remember, your pet looks to you to keep him safe and warm. It is your responsibility.
3. Never leave your dog unattended in the yard. That is like leaving a small child alone in your yard. You can never completely teach a dog to stay in his yard. They are no different than a 2 or 3 year old child. If there is something very tempting in the next yard, they will forget all about the fact that they are not to leave their yard. If a squirrel, rabbit or other small animal runs through the yard, you can bet they are going to chase it. When a dog is chasing something they see nothing but what they are chasing. They will not stop at the road to look for cars. They will run across the road right into a car. Remember, they only see what they are chasing. They focus on nothing else.
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 Thunder Hill
Great Dane Rescue TM
All rights reserved. No part of this website, either text or image may be used
for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification,
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or otherwise including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system, for any other
than personal use, is strictly prohibited. It is illegal for individuals, other
websites, publications, or organizations to copy any or all of the information
contained within this site without the written permission of the Authors. Please
report unauthorized use and other inquiries to the webmaster
at [email protected]