Leaving my dog in the yard when I work?

[bigboychief]

I am always scared to put Chief in the back yard. He is too smart to be fenced in, he will figure out a way to get out. I'm not worried about him running off, he wouldn't go any further than my front porch...but I'm afraid someone will see how beautiful he is and try to take him!

And..Chief likes to eat my flowers, so he is not allowed in the backyard unsupervised anymore! I'm still trying to get my yard back in tact from when we first brought him home...2 YEARS AGO!

The crate worked beautifully for us. He goes in there every day while we are at work. I try to come home during lunch as often as I can to give him a break.

 

[auntthelm]

we have put the dog house outside in the 16FTX16FT roof, so he sleep in the dog house during night, and day time, he just walk around do whatever he wants to do. The thing is that he start digging,start hiding our shoes and killing our flowers, and he konws that is wrong, when we get home, he feel guilty about those things he have did, just laying there and pray us for not beat him( of course we never beat him). about the fence, he will never get over it, it's very high.

A 6 month old puppy does not feel guilty for entertaining himself while he is alone. It is up to you to teach him what is acceptable. He needs to be crated or kept in a safe confined area indoors so does not get into trouble. Puppies dig holes, chew shoes, kill flowers - sometimes they are bored and need real exercise beyond running around a yard by themselves, and other times they are just acting on instinct or entertaining themselves. Boxers especially puppies need lots of exercise, lots of mental stimulation and lots of human interaction.

I doubt on this board that you will get very many to agree with you about leaving this baby outside all night and then for 9 hours during the day. Boxers are indoor dogs. You have invited this puppy to be a member of your family, bring him indoors and let him enjoy being with his family.

 

[neecy911]

I personally would not leave any of my babies in the yard while at work. Partly because I am a 911/police/fire dispatcher have dealt with bad things that can happen when animals escape their yards.
We crate Annabelle because she is a furniture chewer, and leave Falko loose in the house because he is just a really good boy. 9 hours is a long time, and right now I am fortunate enough that my DH and I have our shifts overlap a bit so they are only unattended for about 4 hours during our work days.

And, after a bit of time being in the crate, they learn to LOVE it. Annabelle goes in her crate when she wants peace and quiet from the other 2 in the house. There are so many great suggestions here, good luck to you!

 

[bucca]

my feelings would not change because i don't believe any dog should be left outside alone for such a long period of time. even with a big, private yard.........it's not the right thing to do, in my opinion.
our dogs, especially our boxers, should be in the house....living with us.

i agree with you 100%!! i know im going to be jumped on for this but if you cant or dont have the time for a dog then you shouldnt get one, im not saying kazjimmy personally im saying all people, dogs need to be around people not caged up or left alone outside you wouldnt do it to a family member why to the dog, who is in my opion one of the lead players in a family, i do realize people work, in that case you should provide someone to look after your dog, let him out, play with him etc while you arent home. but if you cant do that i think its pretty inconsiderate to your dog. just my feelings..

 

[jsmueles]

Not a good idea

I am going to chime in again only because everyone is making VERY good points that your baby should not be outside not only all night but then all day. Like everyone has pointed out Boxers are INDOOR Dogs and not meant to be outside. I just feel like you have made up your mind and you are going to leave him out no matter what advice you are getting on the matter. You wanted advice and I think you got great advice and that EVERYONE agrees that your dog should not be left outside. It breaks my heart to think that you are leaving him out at night and during the day. Have you given any thought to getting a kennel and leaving him in there at night and when you are away during the day. A dog house outside is not the answer. This is probably wrong to say but if you wanted to get a dog that was to remain outside all day then the boxer was not the best bet, any dog for that matter. I do not think dogs should be "outdoor" dogs and have never understood why people get them to leave them outside. He will not destroy your house with proper training and kenneling when you are away.
Like I said my friend's dog was killed when she hung herself trying to jump the fence. You never know when something like that can happen when you leave a dog alone with no supervision.

 

[jamkaywill]

I am going to chime in again only because everyone is making VERY good points that your baby should not be outside not only all night but then all day. Like everyone has pointed out Boxers are INDOOR Dogs and not meant to be outside. I just feel like you have made up your mind and you are going to leave him out no matter what advice you are getting on the matter. You wanted advice and I think you got great advice and that EVERYONE agrees that your dog should not be left outside. It breaks my heart to think that you are leaving him out at night and during the day. Have you given any thought to getting a kennel and leaving him in there at night and when you are away during the day. A dog house outside is not the answer. This is probably wrong to say but if you wanted to get a dog that was to remain outside all day then the boxer was not the best bet, any dog for that matter. I do not think dogs should be "outdoor" dogs and have never understood why people get them to leave them outside. He will not destroy your house with proper training and kenneling when you are away.
Like I said my friend's dog was killed when she hung herself trying to jump the fence. You never know when something like that can happen when you leave a dog alone with no supervision.

I agree I have never understood why people get dogs and leave them outside all day and night. What is the purpose of having a dog. If he is messing up your home and yard that much. He is bored. If you had no companionship 24/7 you would try to entertain your self with whatever you could.

 

[liamsmom]

you have a young boxer. he does not realize that hiding your shoes and digging up flowers is wrong. he cannot rationalize between right and wrong. he must be taught what is acceptable behavior and what isn't...in a very kind way. he is doing these things because he is bored and alone too long. he is a young dog.
he looks guilty when you come home because he can sense your disappointment in him and isn't sure what is wrong. and that isn't fair to him.
Would you want to be left alone....outside in the heat and/or cold....all day? Left alone in the dark at night? with bugs biting you? I think your answer to those questions would be NO. Then why leave your boxer outside all day and night. It simply is not fair to the dog.
leaving any dog outside all night is not the right thing to do. and leaving any dog outside all day isn't the right thing to do either. you need to find a way to bring your dog into the house where he will live with you and your family and be loved the way he deserves to be loved. leaving any dog outside as much as you are doing...is not fair to the dog.
if you need to hire a pet sitter to come into your home and let the dog out to go potty and a trainer to help you deal with the issues you are concerned with and a crate and/or gates to block off an indoor area for your Boxer......that's what you need to do. many of us here on Boxerworld have pet sitters and trainers and crates and gates and many more things to help us care for our Boxers.
I don't know of any breed of dog, Boxers especially, that benefit from being left outside alone for extended periods of time. And, from what you've said, your Boxer is being left outside way too long!!!!!
While you are away from home, your dog is already finding things to do....digging up flowers, etc. He is bored and such behaviors will only get worse. Leaving him outside does not help him learn how to behave. It will only cause him to develop bad habits such as digging and barking excessively. and leaving him outside...he will never learn how to behave indoors without you teaching him...KINDLY.
Boxers CRAVE attention from their owners. They are VERY people oriented and want nothing more than to be inside with their family.
Boxers and all dogs for that matter require effort and responsibility. They need to be looked after. They need to be cared for. They need to be fed and given fresh water. They need regular check-ups at the vet. They need heartworm medication. They need to be bathed. Most of all they need love. They absolutely need more than a life outside. They need a responsible person that is willing to do all these things for them.
Boxers do not ask to be born....
They do not ask to come live with you...
They do not have a choice in who decides to bring them home.
They DO deserve a happy, healthly secure life and it's up to you to provide that for your Boxer.
If your Boxer is spending as much time outside as you say he is......Please contact a Boxer rescue in your area and ask them to find a new home for him. There is also a rescue forum here at Boxerworld. Re-homing him would be the best situation for him since your lifestyle doesn't really allow you to properly care for him. Most Boxer rescue organizations would easily rehome a Boxer as young as yours. There are many people waiting to adopt a Boxer that have the time to provide the love and attention he deserves.

 

[Sepra]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I feel really sorry for this puppy's lifestyle.

 

[neecy911]

The more I read this, the more sad I become. I didn't realize that you also kept your sweet baby outside all night too! That really bothers me, so to make sure I understand correctly...Your puppy stays in the yard from before 8am until after 5pm, and may come inside for an hour or 2 in the evening, then back outside to sleep by himself all night?
I am sorry, but that is just not OK to do to your puppy/dog, boxer or not. We are all obviously boxer lovers here, so I will focus on the boxer here. These little guys and gals have such wonderful temperments, personalities, qualities, and love to give you and they can't possibly give that to you that if they are left outside all the time bored to tears. All animals need our companionship, our love, our company, and should not be left out to be seen when you want to see them.

Solution: Go buy yourself a nice crate that is big enough for your baby to stand up in without hunching over, and to turn around in. Teach him that his crate is his safe place, his den, his private place all to him or herself. Find someone, a family member, a neighbor, a kid from down the street, someone to come over once or twice during your work day to let him out for a potty and stretch break, it only takes 10-15 minutes. Is your job close enough to home that you can drive home really quick to give him a break yourself?

Then, go buy yourself a nice big dog bed and put it next to your bed. Let your little guy sleep in the house with you next to your bed, or in the hallway or even in that nice big crate. Even if you have to get up in the middle of the night a few times to give him or her a potty break, it is the committment you made the day you brought that puppy home.
By spending so much more time with your puppy, you two will learn to respect and love each other more than ever thought possible. Also get him/her a lot of toys, hide your shoes, close bathroom doors, block off areas you dont want him/her, puppr proof your whole house, push food items to the back of the counters to prevent counter surfing, ...Everyday will get better and better.

 

[Lou.ise]

I agree with all the above. This topic is so sad.
What are your reasons for getting a boxer?
How much exercise does the little one get?
Wouldn't it be better to re-home your boxer to someone who can give him the time,love and training that you can't?