anti-bark 'thingy' - updated - built run instead *pics*

     That is one NICE looking run & very well set up I agree with you about allowing the dogs lots of outside time! Mine need to get acclimated to the weather, but more than that, they do nothing in the house but sleep. It makes for very inactive, out of condition dogs. It's not just keeping them thin, but getting them to remain well muscled that's mor eimportant, and that just doesn't happen from laying on a couch all day. Since I probably spend more time outdoors than in, it works out well. I think that most of the people against outdoor runs just do not spend any time outdoors & don't realize that when the dogs are in the runs, they are closer to us then if they were kept in the house! lol
     I also work part time, and while some of the dogs remain in the house, the younger, more active ones are kenneled. They're well behaved in there because they DO get a hefty amount of exercize & stimulation on a daily basis. I'd rather have them out there, with room to stretch and the freedom to run around & play than have them crated in the house all day.
     Again, nice job on that kennel!

HoundMusic

     That is one NICE looking run & very well set up I agree with you about allowing the dogs lots of outside time! Mine need to get acclimated to the weather, but more than that, they do nothing in the house but sleep. It makes for very inactive, out of condition dogs. It's not just keeping them thin, but getting them to remain well muscled that's mor eimportant, and that just doesn't happen from laying on a couch all day. Since I probably spend more time outdoors than in, it works out well. I think that most of the people against outdoor runs just do not spend any time outdoors & don't realize that when the dogs are in the runs, they are closer to us then if they were kept in the house! lol
     I also work part time, and while some of the dogs remain in the house, the younger, more active ones are kenneled. They're well behaved in there because they DO get a hefty amount of exercize & stimulation on a daily basis. I'd rather have them out there, with room to stretch and the freedom to run around & play than have them crated in the house all day.
     Again, nice job on that kennel!

thanks, my dogs do sleep the majority of the time.  My neighbors are just rambunctious - peeling out with their trucks - over revving their motorcycles, yelling at their own dogs - on a regular basis  - every morning you can hear the guy out there yelling ( loudly ) 'heel ***** HEEL!!' at his own dogs.

so it drives my dogs nuts.  they can still see out front, but they're not directly across from those neighbors anymore - thankfully I really have only one neighbor - directly across the street, everywhere else around my house is fields.

btw I wasn't saying ALL indoor only dogs were fat & ill mannered, just the ones I've met.  right now it isn't too hot so they're ok for now, when it does get warmer they will be coming indoors for sure. 

The only time my lab will do anything outside with our other dog is if one of us is outside with him.  If it is just the two dogs, he'll run and play for about a half hour--a bit longer if we have the pool filled, and then come porch and lay there until we either come out or come get him....... 

I think your run is great! Personally I agree with dogs being outside more than in. Nothing to really back it up other than I it just seems natural to me, seeing as they are animals. As long as the dog is safe, has water and shelter, totally secure and the weather is appropriate, I think it is much better than sitting in the house of worse in a crate in the house. How boring. Maybe that's why they tend to sleep so much.

I love the summer because I can leave my back door open (I'm at home during the day) and Kobi can come and go all day as he likes. On nice days he certainly spends more time on the back porch. This weekend was so hot Kobi actually moved inside for the most part. He loves those cool tiles!

 I'm not a fan of those shock collars at all. Ugh....my brother and I tried them and they hurt like HELL!! Even on the absolute lowest setting, they hurt a whole lot.

denise m

I think your run is great! Personally I agree with dogs being outside more than in. Nothing to really back it up other than I it just seems natural to me, seeing as they are animals. As long as the dog is safe, has water and shelter, totally secure and the weather is appropriate, I think it is much better than sitting in the house of worse in a crate in the house. How boring. Maybe that's why they tend to sleep so much.

I agree and perhaps different dogs prefer different environments. Mine seem to feel that they're missing something outside when they're inside. When we're home, rarely will they want to stay in for more than an hour or so. They probably don't care that it's a really nice yard with a pool and nice grass and plants, but they just seem to enjoy exploring periodically outside. I get a bit defensive when folks start insinuating it's inhumane to leave them outside when we're at work. I love my dogs as much as anyone else and if I thought for one minute that they were unhappy being out there, I'd let them stay in the house. In a perfect world, they'd come in and go out as they please, but I don't have the ability to do that. They do have access to a nice 3 car garage and quite a bit of nice shady area on hotter days and seem to be quite happy with their life.

I think the run looks nice.  It looks very large, has shade, dog houses, pebbles for drainage.... 

I think the indoor/outdoor debate really boils down to the individual dog and the owner's motivations.  I can't allow my dogs to be outdoors unsupervised because 1) I rent, 2) I don't have a fence 3) the neighborhood kids like to pester my dogs and 4) there are other loose dogs and wild animals in my yard constantly.  If I had a fully fenced in (and covered) dog run like that, you bet I'd let them go in/out on their own and spend more time outdoors at their choosing.  Right now, Coke likes to sit on the screened in porch, how is going out a dog-door and sitting in a yard any different?  That said, my dogs are very fit and lean, especially Kenya, and she has conformation and sport titles to prove she is not a lazy indoor dog that never gets any stimulation. Oh and I can now say my dogs DO sleep all day when I'm gone.  I'm taking a vacation day to get caught up on things around the house, and both dogs have been sleeping ALL day.  Coke is either on the porch or under my desk and Kenya has been on her dog bed in our bedroom since I got up....I am pleased to know that they must be getting enough exercise and training.

cakana

I agree and perhaps different dogs prefer different environments.

Definitely true. Cherokee can't stand to be "trapped" outside at all. If I shut the back door behind her when she goes out to pee, she MAY pee real quick, but then she comes right back to the door and does this pathetic "aaarrrrooof!" every 5 seconds until I let her back in. If the door's open, she moseys around the yard a bit..sometimes she does a little sunbathing..but even with access to the yard 99% of the time, she chooses to be inside 97% of the time. Even if I'm out there, she'll only stay out with me for a little bit. I think she had enough outside time in her first year (when she was a 100% outside dog) to last her a lifetime. I would never leave her stuck outside while I left.

I would not have mentioned this if you had not brought up the matter of overweight dogs, but your black and tan dog really should lose some weight too. You sound like someone who really wants their dogs to be fit and healthy, so I am opening my big mouth.  

From the back, the area over her waist is too filled in, some saddle bags going on there.

Hope you don't take offense, none was intended. Since I show dogs, I am not as used to seeing overweight dogs as most of the general pet owning public. And I see how it negatively affects their movement in the ring, so I am pretty focused in on the subject.

akyramoto82

 I think dogs should be outside it least part of the day - all the 'house' dogs I have ever met are worse behaved than mine & overweight.   here they are playing in their new 'yard'

 

 

Sheba actually is at her correct weight - she looks alot different if you're looking straight down at her, she weighs 100lbs & is rottie & dobie. As per our vet she is a healthy weight for her age /breed.

i should post a pic of my friend's indoor dog - she is sooo fat!!

our little amber is overweight also, but we've only had her for about 2 weeks - it'll be coming off soon.

we also installed a mister system this weekend.  Bella was being funny & was trying to bite the mist in the air! 

like people - those pics of Sheba aren't her best angle. lol.

here's some other ones of her.

I like to see a bit more tuck on dogs like that - esp. with hd being suck a problem in older dogs. Casey is a 100% inside dog - never alone outside when I'm not home. When I'm home, he prefers to be inside - WITH ME. He's my companion dog, therefore he is where I am. He is far from overweight, soild muscle. That comes with exercise and activity. Just because a dog is outside more does not mean he will magically become fit and healthy. They to need to be walked and exercised. I've heard way too many horror stories to ever be comfortable with leaving my pets outside alone.

mudpuppy

a dog who is properly exercised will happily sleep all day. Dogs, like most animals, are naturally active at dawn and dusk. If your dogs aren't passed out most of the day I would suggest you're not meeting their physical and mental needs. Running a dog on a treadmill or by a bike does exercise the body but not the mind.

 I'm very curious about this response - so joggin by the bike, going for a walk, playing fetch in the yard, or running on the treadmill does nothing mentally?

akyramoto82

I'm very curious about this response - so joggin by the bike, going for a walk, playing fetch in the yard, or running on the treadmill does nothing mentally?

Going for a walk does, because they get to sniff around and generally have to pay attention to you and be obedient. Playing fetch does. But a treadmill or running next to a bike? Nah, that's pure physical.

akyramoto82

mudpuppy

a dog who is properly exercised will happily sleep all day. Dogs, like most animals, are naturally active at dawn and dusk. If your dogs aren't passed out most of the day I would suggest you're not meeting their physical and mental needs. Running a dog on a treadmill or by a bike does exercise the body but not the mind.

 

 

 I'm very curious about this response - so joggin by the bike, going for a walk, playing fetch in the yard, or running on the treadmill does nothing mentally?

 

 

I would argue that those activities are not the most mentally stimulating.  If you allow them to sniff or meet people/dogs during a walk it is good, but just running on a treadmill or going next to a bike does not require the dog to use his brain much.  I actually don't think that just plain old fetch without something else thrown in does a whole lot either.  My lab, who does have decent retrieval instinct, also craves mental stimulation and finds plain old fetch to be boring after about 5 minutes.  His attention is kept longer when he is doing water retrieves though.

i guess i don't really have the opportunity to have my dogs play with other dogs on a daily basis - if thats what you mean by socializing. they have their doggy 'friends' but we don't get to see them every week 

there's also not many people out & about when I'm walking them..........