Need insight on indoor & outdoor dogs.
Hi guys, I have a 6 month (going on 7) adorable little corgi named Gimli. This is my first dog, (always had cats) so I'm not too experienced with training. It's definitely starting to show, as he is still not 100% housebroken.
We got him when he was 4 months old, and at the time, my husband was at home with him all day while I was at work. We thought this was great, because we thought we could use that time to get him all trained up.
He's really good about going outside... if we take him outside, he'll go potty outside. He just doesn't get that going inside is not the same as going outside. He'll go inside when we're not looking. We try to keep our eyes on him 100% of the time when he's inside, but the times we aren't looking, he'll go inside.
We've left him out of his crate a few times mistakenly, and he jumped up and peed on our couch. Twice.
Now my husband is working about the same hours I am, (8 hours a day) and I don't want to keep my poor Gimli cooped up in his crate that long.
Yesterday I suggested we hire a professional dog training company to give us some training lessons for Gimli, but my husband refused. He suggested we keep Gimli outside during the 8 hours we are both working.
We live in South Florida. It gets hot (especially during the summer) and it rains a lot. We're moving to a new house this upcoming week that doesn't have a screen-room, or any trees out in the back for shade. My husband said he would build him a dog house so that he can get some shade, but I'm still very hesitant about leaving him in the yard for 8 hours a day.
Would he be alright for 8 hours a day outside? Would he get lonely/bored? Heeeeeelp! lol
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Karen, what you're going through is normal, read and re-read the FAQ on potty training. DO NOT leave your corgi outside, not in Florida, not anywhere.
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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
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Take him to trianing classes. Group obedience classes are quite cheap, will help teach you how to train him, and will also be able to give you some guidance on housebreaking. I'm with sam, don't leave him out all day. If you can, purchase an exercise pen or babygate him in a room so he has more space than a crate but still can't get into trouble. Also, if you are buying the house, maybe think about installing a dog door so he has access to inside and outside, I rent but have sliding glass doors so was able to install a panel that is a dog door in the sliding glass door.. Is he neutered? If not, do it, it may help with marking but at this point it will be harder to curb that behavior. I really would suggest group obedience classes though as they can help you with a lot of these puppy issues. Corgis are VERY smart, if he catches on that this is your first time training, he will end up training you
Also, there are many dogs who live perfectly happy, healthy lives crated while their owners are at work. It seems harsh but if he can't be trusted than its your safest option. He is still quite young, give him time.
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Permalink Reply by Karen B on
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We bought a nice baby gate to keep Gimli away from the cat's litter box and food, so that's a good alternative. I'll just baby-gate him so that he has access to limited parts of the house while I'm gone.
He is scheduled to be neutered on Nov. 13th. Would've been sooner, but the place I am taking him to was all booked. (I booked the appt. about a month back.)
I'll suggest the group- training to my husband. I know at PetSmart it's like $100 for 6 sessions or something like that. The place I had looked into did the training in your home with an unlimited number of sessions for $750. They had a "lifetime" guarantee contract so that they would come out and work with your pet if he "developed" a bad habit later on or something. That sounded great to me, but my husband wasn't happy about the cost. LOL
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Permalink Reply by Marcie on
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Check with local dog clubs and dog daycares for classes as well. Often local shelters will sponsor classes and be a little cheaper. I have spent $85 to $120 for 6 sessions for Becca's classes. The cheapest was beginner obedience through a local dog club. Make sure you find one with positive training methods. When I recently switched to a different training facility I asked to watch a class before signing up.
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I had to crate Becca while I was at work from 8 months when I got her to 12 months. She was potty trained but destructive. I did hire a dog walker so she wasn't confined the whole time. Even now I still have the dog walker come. Would a dog walker be a possibility? I was lucky and able to hire a trustworthy neighbor. Most professionals are bonded and safe though. Doggie daycare would not necessarily help with the potty training, but would keep him safe during the day as well.
I would follow Sam's advice with the potty training. The FAQs have some great information. Your breeder may also be able to give you some tips. Becca's breeder has been great when I have had problems. I would not leave him outside.
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Thanks for the tip! I think I will keep him confined to a certain area of the house with a baby gate while I'm gone.
Also, my husband is a very "hard facts" type of person. What are some good reasons for not leaving my corgi outside? I gave him my stand last night, which was- "It's too hot for him, it'll rain, someone might steal him, he'll eat his poo all day..." but he rebutted all of them. Are there any other reasons I missed?
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Permalink Reply by Jenny, Tucker, & Zoey on
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Cons to outdoor dogs:
- they get hotter/dirtier = smellier
- develop nuisance behaviors such as barking and digging
- have a tendency to tear up the yard
- possibility of being stolen
- possibility of being antagonized/poisoned/whatever by people walking by
- some say indoor dogs live longer
- more exposure to fleas/mosquitos/wasps/snakes/whatever
- while Corgis are hearty, they are really designed for a cooler climate
My dogs are crated during the day while I work. They both have a 36" crate. They just sleep while I'm gone.. no worse for the wear. I live in North Texas and it's HOT during the summer and pretty cold during the winter. There's no way -I- would want to live outside.
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Permalink Reply by Lora and Tobi on
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I agree totally with containing either via Baby Gate or Exercise Pen. We have Tobi in an exercise pen when we are off to work or can't keep an eye on him. Aside from a couple mishaps (He gets over excited and when he has a full bladder, he forgets to hold it in), Tobi has done great ... but he has a knack for getting into things. My husband and I's flipped work schedules have him on his own for about 7 hours. At 6 months, he's doing pretty good at holding his bladder. As long as he's got his water and plenty of toys, he stays content.
Best of luck to you and little Gimli. You may have some pushback from the little guy just because his routine has changed. He will get used to the new digs and the new habits. Hang in there!
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Permalink Reply by Tomahawk and Fences on
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I would never consider leaving my dogs outside. The risk of someone taking them, or having them escape is just too big a risk in my opinion. Potty training is never fun, but being consistent and knowing his potty signs really do help. It took a while to potty train Tomahawk, but once he understood what it is I wanted from him, he was more than happy to oblige.
I live in west Texas, and it can be unbearably hot during the summer, and cold in the winter. I know I wouldn't want to be left out by myself. Talk to your husband, there are so many things a puppy can get into inside, just imagine if he had free reign in the yard without supervision.
I crate my dogs when I'm not here and honestly, after a while, they are more than happy to hop on in and relax in their little cave.
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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Use the crate, or get an xpen or babygates to keep him confined. I would never, ever leave my dog outside. I don't care if the weather is perfect. What if someone stole him out of the yard? Or the neighbor kids threw a chocolate bar over the fence? Or he got stung by a bee and had an allergic reaction? If he barks all day, who is going to correct him? I'm sorry to sound mean but I just think leaving a dog outside is cruel, especially when it's training related and not really the dog's fault.
If he's getting neutered soon I'd also ask the vet to make sure he's clear of any signs of a UTI. Jumping up and peeing on the couch is a little odd to me.
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Permalink Reply by Julia on
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I personally knew three dogs who ended up dead from being left outside, all three from different reasons. One hung himself, one drowned. The third was probably let loose by a neighbor who was annoyed by his barking, and got into a scuffle with another dog. A kid tried to "save" her dog, ended up with a small bite, and the town had the dog euthanized.
Yes, your dog would be lonely/bored. Which could lead to being taken by animal control or death. Even here in WI, my corgi easily becomes overheated. The only dog I know that died here from heat was a bulldog whose owner left him in the shade of a tree with water (he said) while the owner was fishing.
Sorry to be harsh. Jenny gave you a very good list of reasons. But if your husband isn't convinced by those, maybe a harsher reality might help your cause.
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