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Great Pyrenees => Great Pyrenees Pictures => : Viking Lady October 26, 2008, 04:43:56 PM

: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 26, 2008, 04:43:56 PM
I am starting to feel guilty that Luke stays outside most of the time. I spend time with him outside just hangin' out, playing whatever game I can come up with, or working in my shop. He comes inside for visits a couple times a day, but sleeps outside.

I wanted to have him sleep inside but I had mentioned in previous posts that he was chewing on every thing while I was asleep. So I was going to wait out the chewing stage and then bring him back in at night. Now I am learning from alot of you that this behavior may last alot longer than I thought. A couple of my friends have made me feel like he needs to come in at night, even if I crate him so he can sleep inside. I guess I always thought he would be just as happy outside if he got attention throughout the day. I thought he was an "outdoor" dog. His parents stayed outside unless we had extreme weather.

I'm really confused. Am I being mean?
: Re: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 26, 2008, 05:05:02 PM
Luke stayed inside until he was about 6 months old (he's 8 months now)and he slept in my bathroom and did beautifully. So I let him sleep in my bedroom, where he did fine for a short time. Then I would wake up to find him getting things off my dresser, or chewing on the walls, or trying to eat my alarm clock. I tried putting everything out of reach and he would still find things. It was almost as if he waited until I was sound asleep to get into mischief. I loved his being inside and he would either sleep on the floor or at the foot of the bed. Now he's too sneaky. I really do want him to end up back in the bedroom, on the floor.
: Re: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 26, 2008, 05:50:27 PM
So do you bring Tobey in at night because of the bonding, etc.? (He is very cute, by the way) I always tried to play and exercise early because I just thought late night exercise would get him all keyed up and he wouldn't want to go to sleep. Maybe I could try that. I do have a kong so that's another idea.

I really appreciate your input. I noticed that Tobey is a 1 1/2 so I have a way to go in maturity but your ideas are encouraging. Thanks for taking the time.......
: Re: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 26, 2008, 06:31:18 PM
I am in Alabama so it isn't too cold yet. But we are about to have some 30 to 40 degree weather at night. I think it would be fine with me if Luke wanted to come in at night and sleep because he looks like such a cuddle-bug. I have had alot of dogs, from collies to miniature pinchers, and he has stolen my heart with his fluffy bulk and his sweet, dopey face. I wouldn't mind a bit if he wanted to crawl into bed to go to sleep. Your words are encouraging, and I will try to give him another chance inside.

As I write this he is peeking in the window. It's kind of hard to resist. I'm glad you were up late. Thanks for your help.
: Re: outdoor doggies
: patrick October 27, 2008, 01:26:55 AM
I have Pyrs too and some of them prefer to sleep outside.  Many is the night that I get up after midnight and let them go outside to sleep= as long as they don't
bark and disturb the neighbors.  As a guard they feel very comfortable being outside so they can keep all the monsters away.  I actually feel guilty by making them sleep inside!  Different story when it rains- then you can't make them go outside!
: Re: outdoor doggies
: Tonda October 27, 2008, 03:14:13 AM
I'll just add another vote for crating. It only took a few nights for the pups to learn to accept them, and now they love them. They hide their favorite toys in them, and take naps in them, and when they're ready for bed before I am they let me know by putting themselves to bed, LOL! I think they'll outgrow their crates around 6-8 months, and then I'm going to try "just" a dog bed . . . and then we'll see how that goes. If they eat the house I'll have to out and buy larger crates  (I have XLs that I already owned, so I know there's still one size up).

All of that said, my mom's dogs mostly prefer to sleep outside. They have the run of the house and a dog door, and 95% of the time (rain, freeze, whatever) we'll find them outside on the porch on their blankie (and we're talking a pit and a Boston here, barely any fur to speak of).

: Re: outdoor doggies
: Binky October 27, 2008, 03:53:31 AM
Binky was also a big "night chewer" until she was about 9 months old.  We crated her in our room and then started leaving the crate door open and gradually she didn't need the crate.  Sophie is STILL a chewer but we also crate her at night.  She doesn't fit in the crate well anymore so we leave her the crate open and gate off the kitchen (with nothing in reach).  She sleeps in the crate with her feet sticking out.  I am not sure where you live, but it makes me nervous to think of any of my dogs outside at night- too many random people and you never know if a kid might open the gate...  Even at our other house in the boonies, we don't keep the dogs out at night b/c of raccoons, etc.  Good luck! 
: Re: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 27, 2008, 04:07:13 AM
I live in Alabama, in a pretty big neighborhood. We have a big yard with a privacy fence. Luke sleeps on the carport at the back of the house on his big dog pillow. Don't have many raccoons around but lots of squirrels. I let him in last night just before I went to bed, brought his big pillow in and he actually did real well. He snooped around at first but I had stuck alot of things in drawers and he finally laid on his pillow and went to sleep. He was awake at 6:30 so I put him out then.

I guess the worry about being out at night is someone letting them loose, or them just getting out? My vet recommended a micro chip but I didn't know if that helped unless he just wondered off and someone WANTED to find his home. A tracking device might be nice......
: Re: outdoor doggies
: lookingfornewf October 27, 2008, 04:55:47 AM
I would 100% recommend microchipping. It is for when the dogs accidently get out or away from you. There are lots of people that find a dog and will take it to the vet or Humane Society and with a microchip they can easily look up the info to call you.  Both my dogs are microchipped.
: Re: outdoor doggies
: AudgePadge October 27, 2008, 05:41:14 AM
Ditto on the crating and microchipping, and putting a lock on your gate, so no one comes in at night and lets him out.

We don't use a "crate" we use the bedroom.  The bedroom is where everyone sleeps, on their own beds, door is closed, no accidents, no chewing.

But my guys spend all day outside, romping and playing around with each other, so they're pretty tuckered out by the time we get home, and inside.

The goat spends ALL day/night outside...sadl y, I haven't found a way to potty train him, and keep him from dumpster diving..so...t o his dismay...he has to stay outside...
: Re: outdoor doggies
: GoofyNewfie October 27, 2008, 06:01:15 AM
I side with everyone else who said to crate train. Honestly, it does miracles.

We have a 4 month old pup, and we had been resisting crate training because we were skeptical. We kept him in our room at night on the floor, and he did fine. The crate that he was shipped in was there, it was being stored in our closet and I kept his toys there, open door so he could access them. Last week, we started noticing that he was spending time in his crate on his own free will!

So 3 nights ago, after a solid month of stellar night-time behavior, he goes and chews up 2 of our wires. He seemed to be in a mischievous mood so we decided to finally try the crate. No problem!! he's on night 3 of crate sleeping, and he's doing fine, and I find I sleep a bit better knowing there's no tazmanian devil torpedoing around my precious personals, lol. There is also so much less rustling around, so he must be getting better nights himself.
: Re: outdoor doggies
: kathryn October 27, 2008, 09:14:27 AM
I am not sure if I ever welcomed you to the board so if not then welcome.

I vote for the microchip and the crate training.  My dogs are crate trained however I put away their crates at the beginning of the year and they don't use them anymore at home.  However, I have had to evacuate from a hurricane and the crates come in handy when you take your pets to a shelter/hotel/etc.  Also, this time around Kaila got loose at a friend's house and was missing for 5 hours before I got her back.  She is microchipped and was wearing her tags.  The only thing I would suggest is make sure that tags and chip have multiple contact numbers.  I realized while Kaila was missing that the contact number on both of their tags is the home number and the home phone was knocked out due to Hurricane Ike. 

Hope that helps.

Kat
: Re: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 27, 2008, 03:36:02 PM
It does help. I appreciate the help from all of you.I am going to TRY just letting him sleep in my room on his bed and see how he does. It's kind of a pain in the neck because I have to "prepare" every night by moving some things out of the way. Right now I can't afford the crate. I also already have a portable crib in the corner of my room for when the grandbabies are here. The skin ones, I think they are called. I guess I could put his pillow down, coax him on it and throw the crib on top, upside down. Just kidding!!!!!!!
: Re: outdoor doggies
: lookingfornewf October 27, 2008, 04:09:24 PM
I got a used crate for really cheap out of the newspaper, there are ads on Kijiji and Craigslist also. I got my crates before that at yard sales, don't think I have ever paid the big bucks for a new one. By the way a large crate makes a very nice side table by the bed. I keep my alarm clock, book, light, etc there.
I agree on what someone said about the tags. A couple of months ago I got new ones that have my home phone and cell. We take the dogs with us when we go 500 miles away to visit my mom. If they got loose it wouldn't do much good to call my home phone.
: Re: outdoor doggies
: AudgePadge October 28, 2008, 07:22:43 AM
I guess the worry about being out at night is someone letting them loose, or them just getting out? My vet recommended a micro chip but I didn't know if that helped unless he just wondered off and someone WANTED to find his home. A tracking device might be nice......

There are lots of companies that do that...it's a little GPS device that you attach to their collars, and it tells you the location of the dog at all times...someth ing like that.
I've never used it, but it seems like a good idea- I think the idea came out originally for hunters who use gun-dogs.

http://dogtracs.com/product.asp
http://www.roameoforpets.com/
: Re: outdoor doggies
: kathryn October 28, 2008, 03:22:15 PM
Those GPS tags look awesome.  I may have to check them out.

I got a couple of the Top Tag Pet ID tags.  They are a usb flash drive that is in a waterproof container that attaches to the collar with the regular tags.  It has all the information on your pet such as diet, exercise needs, meds, vet info and multiple contacts.  You can also put pictures of your pet on it for ID purposes.  Like Kaila has a notch out of her right ear and sometimes you can miss it.  But I have downloaded a picture that shows her ear notch perfectly. 

: Re: outdoor doggies
: Viking Lady October 28, 2008, 03:57:19 PM
Man......I wish I could have had one of those GPS collars 10 years ago when my kids were teenagers. Or maybe I'm glad I didn't have one!!

Whilst I figure out this sleeping indoors thing(Luke came in again last night but kept scratching on the door to go out so he ended up sleeping outside) I do want to get or build a dog house. My dad built a wonderful house for his Golden Retriever years ago, even had a nice plexi glass window in it. Barney wouldn't even get in it. My dad spent more time in it than Barney did, trying to coax him in. A friend of mine said their dogs love their Igloo houses but she didn't know how big they come. I wanted to build one but I thought Luke might eat it. Would he eat plastic, ya think?