New Puppy

[momomo]

We have just got a new puppy 8 week old terrior, he's in a proper dog house with a run and we let him out in the morning when feeding him first and let him run round in the pen and then at bout 2 we take hime out of pen when giving him his lunch let him run round for bout hour and put him into the pen then bout 4.30 take him out and usually leave him out of run usually inside or outside (but with someone) till bout 7 or 7.30 when we give him his supper and when we give him his supper usally give it to him and fasten him into his house for the night. Will he learn to get out of his bed at night and not go to the toilet in his bed (is a big house and would be room so as not to be wetting etc his bed). We have him a couple of days now and would like to know if we are doing the right things as above. He shouldn't be cold in his house as he has a lovely fleesy basket two blankets and some teddy's to play with we were told to put in some teddy's because he was with his two brothers and one sister and might be a bit lonely, he usually lets a few barks out of him in the morning and when he sees someone walking round is this just to get attention how do we know if there is something actually wrong with him. In general is a quite puppy and loves to be cuddled just hope we're not doing anything to upset it.

[ursula62]

Is it normal to put such a young puppy in an outdoor kennel?

In the UK most people keep their pets indoors, unless they are working guard dogs.

[Jeandelta30]

I'm just so shocked at this question, you should not be allowed to keep the puppy if you are going to treat the poor little thing in such a cold, cruel way. The weather is freezing, you should try staying in the pen for a night or two and let the puppy inside, see how you like it!

The puppy should be taken into the garden etc., before you settle down for bed, and keep a flat box with newspaper in the house, the puppy will soon learn to use it if he should need it in the night, and with a nice warm basket in the house for the puppy.

[Wisebird]

You may mean well, but what you are doing is cruel.  The puppy is only 8 weeks old, a baby!!  Take advice from the other postings.  I am truly upset by what you are doing.

[natalie_1982]

I'm afraid I agree with the previous posts, dogs (assuming you are in the UK) are usually kept in the house, and I feel, although I am not a professional, that the weather we are having particularly at the moment is too cold for an 8 week old puppy to be sleeping in, whether he has blankets or not, the air is cold and damp. 

Puppies are generally easy to house train so that shouldn't put you off letting him in the house with you.

Can I just ask why you decided to keep him outside and not indoors?

[woofgang]

here her, my first thought was when do you spend time with the puppy, when do you teach it???. If you don't interract and teach him that he is a member of your pack, why would he care to behave himself how you want (bad english i know but you know what I mean) and WHO told you that this was a good way to raise a dog????

[smudge]

Your puppy is only eight weeks old!

It has only just left its siblings & therefore needs love, cuddles, care & attention - not placed outside in a pen!.

Perhaps you should have looked into what the responsibilites were going to be before you brought it to your house, or pen should I say! Poor little thing.

[ursula62]

I'm glad people agreed with me - I thought maybe I didn't know enough about dogs to comment... but I keep thinking - would anyone treat an 8 week old baby like that?

[smudge]

No - you're spot on ursula!

[Rubydoo]

I have to say that I agree with the other posts. It isn't right to keep an eight week old pup outside in a run. Whilst most young dogs will endeavour not to soil their own sleeping quarters, please remember that at this age, pups need regular "toilet trips" as they can't hold themselves! Try looking online for toilet training tips, better yet buy a book on owning a puppy. And please remember, a dog is a pack animal and a sociable one too, at this age he needs to interact with his pack ie you and your family in order to find out where he fits in. You have to teach him what you want him to learn! One of the worst things you can do to a dog is shut them away from his pack, so please get informed about how to raise your pup and get him inside so he can get warm and learn about his new family.  Good luck.

[barender]

Totally agree with aforegoing. My neighbour acquired a dog around 3 months ago and it lives in a large 'shed' like kennel outside most of the time. When I am at home at weekends, it does nothing but bark every time they go out. This I can put up with, but I am concerned about the welfare of the dog. Do you think I should do anything about it. I don't want to upset my neighbour, but feel it's cruel and want to ask them why they got the dog if it's just left outside all the time.

[natalie_1982]

No harm calling the RSPCA who will check the dog's welfare, or even Environmental Health at the local Council.  I can't understand (apart from guard purposes - but then what use is a guard dog if inside a cage?) why anybody would get a dog to keep it outside anyway?

[Rubydoo]

Hi Barender, Natalie's advice sounds good to me. RSPCA may check on the dogs' welfare (though this may take some time), also maybe worth a try is your local council dog warden? Perhaps if a 3rd party like these had a tactful word with them about the situation, it could be resolved without any unpleasantness. Some people just shouldn't have animals.  Hope it all works out, anyway!

[inferno]

Just for the benefit of the last two posters - the person asking the question is the one keeping the dog in a kennel so they are unlikely to be reporting themselves to the RSPCA! They are asking if they are doing the right thing and I imagine they have got the message by now.

[ursula62]

aha Inferno, but the last posters were giving advice to barender about his neighbour's dog who is also kept in a kennel.

[butter1]

I agree with all the postings.  I can not understand why you would want a puppy/dog if you are going to keep it outside in a pen?  If you are not socializing with the puppy, then whats the point?  A puppy needs love, care and lots of cuddles.  Bring your puppy inside - it doesn't take long to house train and if your concerns about the puppy jumping on the furniture, teach it not to!  You could always keep the puppy downstairs and not allowing it upstairs if that is the reason why you don't want it in the house.  I think its very cruel and pointless having a puppy/dog if you are going to treat it like that.  WHAT IS THE POINT?  Give your puppy to someone who will spend more time with it and give it the loves that it deserves!

[homealoneand]

firstly ...why get an 8 week old puppy if all you can do is leave him in the dog house whats the point of having a dog and 2ndly you wont know if something is wrong with him if hes out side.still roll on the bad weather thats expected...i bet hes really looking forward to that or may be you stay a night or 2 in the dog house and see what you feel....