what do you do with your dogs when you are away from the house?

[Former Actuarial]

Originally Posted by whisper

Few thoughts:

1.) The dogs are going to need access to water. This is really important, especially in the summer. So, you're going to have to figure out some means to provide them water that won't be depleted in the summer and freeze in the winter.

2.) Dog house is a must.

3.) If the dogs are bored, they're going to look for entertainment. People walking by, cars driving by, etc. can be a form of entertainment. If you already have a barker, the best option is to keep them from seeing everything. You may want to enclose a part of the yard to put them in away from the road, and possibly block their view in this section by a fence or shrubs. Make sure there is enough entertainment for them in the yard.

1. no problem on the water. will have a few water bowls outside and will put ice in them with water in the morning.
2. well, yeah...dog shed = dog house
3. im in a townhouse with neighbors on each side, no one behind me. no road to worry about. 6 foot fence all around. the dogs can't see anything. but they can hear. the entertainment is the key.

[BallaActuary]

If you leave them in back, make sure to dog proof everything. My puppy got up on my patio table, ripped a whole in our umbrella, and got stuck in the hole she made (it got tied around her chest). It was funny because I saw it before I left and got her out, but it ended up being >100 degrees outside that day.

Fortunately, the side of the our house has shade all throughout the day. So, we leave them outside with plenty of water and dog food during the day. If I know the temperature is going to be really hot, I leave the puppy in her crate and the other dog in the house with the AC on. You might want to consider having crates for days it's really rainy/hot outside and leave them outside for the rest of the day.

[Mayor Adam West]

My dogs stay in my utility room in the basement...it stays about 60 degrees down there year round, and I've nailed plywood up and put up a barrier to block them from anything dangerous they could get into. They pretty much just sleep all day long, or chew on bones. And they're old and smart enough not to take a leak inside the house. I suspect this isn't really a solution for you though.

[Schnook]

Originally Posted by whisper

Non-destructible soft toys:
http://vipproducts.com/retail/files/...FQyfnAodSTKYTQ


Non-destructible balls:
http://www.kongcompany.com/worlds_best.html

Kongs with treats are also good distraction.

I get my dog one of those balls (they also have cubes, but he's too dumb to figure it out) that you put small treats or pieces of kibble in. Then he can roll it around for a while.

Kongs are good, I agree (besides treats, you can also put peanut butter in there)

As for toys, I get my dog squeaky fleece toys with no stuffing. I don't really mind if he rips them apart (which only happens when we play tug with them), but I couldn't stand the stuffing all over the place.

And you mentioned keeping enough water for them? OP could get a Le Bistro (the large ones hold 1-2 gallons of water). My parents also have a heated dish they use in the winter to keep water from freezing.

[glassjaws]

As an unwed person without children, I announce my intentions to never own a dog in my adult life. I'll probably crumble like a French army, but I figured I'd grandstand while I've got time.

[justkay]

Originally Posted by Former Actuarial

samantha, that is essentially my set up, except since the dog door is in the dining room (not by choice, but forced to b/c of house design), they can be in the dining room and kitchen.

i feel guilty having them outside all day in either the seering heat or the freezing cold. so it looks like i either just deal with the mess every day in the kitchen and dining room, vacuuming and mopping nightly, or invest a little money into making the shed more like a dog house.

I would think if you replace the dirt with grass, they wouldn't make this much of a mess.

[Gary Wright]

Originally Posted by glassjaws

As an unwed person without children, I announce my intentions to never own a dog in my adult life. I'll probably crumble like a French army, but I figured I'd grandstand while I've got time.

Yeah - you'll choose other battles when they present themselves and settle on the animal one. being on the other side of the fence - wanting dogs and a cat, but having a wife who doesn't - I cede that decision to her and choose to spend my "argument points" on other things.

[glassjaws]

Originally Posted by Gary Wright

Yeah - you'll choose other battles when they present themselves and settle on the animal one. being on the other side of the fence - wanting dogs and a cat, but having a wife who doesn't - I cede that decision to her and choose to spend my "argument points" on other things.

The way it's looking for me is I'll have to deny the kiddies if anyone, and I'm sure I'll crumble.

[Former Actuarial]

Originally Posted by justkay

I would think if you replace the dirt with grass, they wouldn't make this much of a mess.

grass isn't a good option b/c a) i dont want to deal with mowing the lawn. plus, i am not a fan of watering down the poop into soil. i am used to curbing my dogs, so i will continue to curb them in my backyard.
b) i have almost 24/7 shade over more than half my yard. the patio and the about another 25% of the yard gets a couple hours a day maybe. front yard is pretty much the same story. prior owner told me she tried growing grass to no avail...in the front yard, it's pretty much plants, weeds and mossy looking 'grass' (i have plans to do nice landscaping in the front...once i get other things in order)

[Gary Wright]

The way it's looking for me is I'll have to deny the kiddies if anyone, and I'm sure I'll crumble.

Marriage strikes like a bolt. At 28, I thought I was probably never going to be married. Just getting out of one bad relationship, and all of the sudden, I was married a year later - completely out of the blue.

It'll happen to you, too, as long as you don't disappear from the world, have ridiculous standards or purposely spurn off relationships. It just happens. Most of us on here live in or near cities - there are just too many people to avoid it forever.