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Housing my dog outside? |
I have a five-month-old LhasaPoo, who's 10 lbs. FOr those of you who donno what one looks like, here's a photo of a similar sized one, except mine's black: http://puppydogweb.com/gallery/lhasapoos... We've got a kennel that's pretty big, and then inside of it is a tiny round thing that he can climb into. it's surrounded by coats, and it's got one on the outside blocking the wind. We are going to start potty-training tomorrow, but we don't know if we want to keep him inside right away because my Mom is a very light sleeper, and his rare yips are VERY loud.. They'd wake her up. Is it okay for him to sleep outside the nights? UNTIL we get him potty-trained? I don't want to hear any "THATS INHUMANE" because he's a dog.. I just want to know if h e's old enough or if th' house is warm enough. Yes, he is old enough. The kennel may be warm enough, depending on where you live. If the dog is comfortable (not shivering) and seems happy outside, he is fine. The problem with smaller dogs outside is that very few of them can get a good enough coat on them for winter if you are planning on making him an outside dog, make sure he is outside for most of the day when it starts getting colder (meaning now) so he can start to grow a coat. Our dogs (husky, collie and pitbull mutt) get excellent coats and are happy outside up to about 20 below with windchill (we have insulated shelters they hate- prefer to sleep in the snow unless really cold) and heated water bowls. Anything under 20 below with wind and they come inside- and usually scratch open the door trying to go back outside to play in the snow, lol. As for dogs outside being inhumane....I just don't get it. If they were left outside without water or shelter, I could see, but a happy healthy dog that prefers to be outside? Not sure how that is inhumane. We have never had inside dogs, but we are a farm family and you rarely find inside dogs on farms. That dog is going to get mistaken for a rabbit. Use pee pee pads for your dog and keep him in your room. Have your mom use a sound machine to go to sleep, it will help her get used to noise and sleep a little heavier. I think five months old is plenty old enough to stay out, depending on where you live. Where we live it is still 60-65 degrees at night. Very comfortable. Just watch your temps on the weather channel. If the dog is not used to being out you need to make sure a really low drop in temp is not going to occur during the night. Wind protection is the big thing because that makes a temp feel even colder when it hits you! Good luck! If it's cold outside, I wouldn't leave him out there. He's not very big and he might not be big enough to withstand a lot of cold weather. Also other bad things can happen to him, like escaping or getting stolen. Eventually you're planning to bring him inside, so he's going to have to learn to be inside sometime. Maybe you can put him in a playpen or crate at night. Even a garage would be better. uhhhh..why not buy a smaller kennel and kennel him at night in the house? If the kennel is too large, one corner of it is going to be his "potty'. Take him out to potty before bed. At five months he should beable to go all night with out having to go out. Take him out first thing in morning. I think the dog is old enough to be outside, protected in a kennel from other wandering dogs, but I'm not sure I understand the dog house. Is it one of those igloos? If so, those keep dogs very warm, we've used them for outside dogs during the winter during snow, freeze, ect. and they were very warm and dry. If you intend for the dog to be a house dog though...I would suggest that's what you make him into! Try "kenneling" the dog at night in a dog crate. If you start him as a pup, he'll be so trained when he's older and it will be the place he feels most secure to sleep. Makes traveling more secure feeling for him too! Good luck...Oh, and those puppy pads work great too! I'm NEVER for leaving puppies (or dogs) outside...period. We have goldens. We "crate trained" them indoors. Or, try building an indoor comfort area near his doggie door (if you have a doggie door) so that he can go out to do his "business"....and then is able to return indoors where is is warm, safe, secure, and comfortable for him. Your description of his present arrangement sounds eerie and cold...and distant, to me. Hold his little face into your hands and look into his little eyes.....they don't ask for much other than love, patience, and attention. I wouldn't want to be stuck out in basically a "shack" that is dark, chilly and all alone and away from everyone.............would you? |
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