Originally Posted by MyTrixie143  All of mine are kept in the house with me, they are my babies and spoiled rightly so. Each dog has their own bed, bowls, toys, wardrobe, etc. I think of them first and foremost as my spoiled babies.
I could NEVER have an outside dog or dogs kept in a separate building. I love being with them every moment as do they. I really can't understand people who have outside dogs or keep them in a separate building. I am not saying there is anything wrong with it, it just isn't for me and not something I would ever do or really understand why someone would want to.
I do not use kennels, mine have free roam of the house. I do keep the puppies in a expen which is in the family room with us until they are old enough to safely be out all the time with the other dogs. I do have what I call the puppy room, it is the dog's room. It has beds, toys, pads, clothes in it, it is basically their own room. But the don't stay in there except for when we leave to go somewhere or we have company over that isn't fond of dogs. The only other time they will go in there is when I have to separate the males from the females. It isn't as nice as Brenda's yorkie room but we plan on spicing it up next year.
I do have expens and whelping boxes for the pregnant moms. When they get close to their due date I will put them in their boxes which is enclosed by the expen. The expens are placed throughout the house, usually in my bedroom, living room and family room. I tried putting one in the puppy room but it felt too far away for me as I want to keep a close eye on them every minute I can. When Destiny had her pups I slept in the same room so I could stay close by and keep an eye on everything. I plan to do this with every litter. So for the first few weeks of the puppy's lives I don't get much sleep. You can say I am an over protective mom but I wouldn't want it any other way.
As for females and males, I have 3 breeding males (2 yorkies and 1 maltese) and 4 breeding females (2 yorkies and 2 maltese). I may get another female yorkie sometime but that will be it for now. The rest of my babies (3) are just pets.
I won't lie, it is a lot of work having 10 dogs. I sweep and clean every day, pads are washed everyday, dogs are bathed once every week except for my 3 pets, they get bathed once every month because their hair is different and they don't need it. Toys and beds are cleaned every two weeks. Dog bowls are cleaned and sterilized every day.
I am very picky about having everything clean and sterilized. I can't stand dogs kept in unsanitary or unclean conditions.
It seems like a lot to most people but honestly I have gotten into a routine that I am so use to it that it doesn't seem like much work. Except on those really long tiring days, lol.
And I must say that in order for me to have 10 dogs in one house, they all have to get along. They are all socialized at an early age and are taught to get along with one another, this is very very important. If I didn't have well behaved dogs I don't know how I would do it. I have never yet had any of them fight.
Sorry for rambling on, I am a bit bored right now,lol. |