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When it snows...HELP!!! Hi there! I have a question. When it snows, would you recommend that we leave the doggy door open and let Rex have free reign, or would you recommend that we close it during the day when we aren't here? He just loves the snow, and I get worried that he will stay outside too long, and freeze to death get really sick or get stuck in the snow (the snow here in Colorado is really, really heavy during the fall months, and sometimes Rex gets his little legs temporarily stuck in the heavy, wet snow). I don't know what to do. I really don't like leaving him in the house all day while we are at work b/c I don't want him pooping and peeing all over the place. Any suggestions are welcome - I'm at a loss... |
I wouldn't trust Eddie with a doggy door in winter. He likes the snow, too, and I'd be afraid of him staying out longer than he should. Plus, he always comes back in with clumps of snow on his fur, and I could just see the mess he'd leave in the house when it melted. I stop short of giving you a definite "no" only because I've never had a doggy door and don't know how smart Yorkies are when it comes to being out in the elements unattended. Let us know what you decide and how it works. |
I dont think that I would leave it for "free use". I would be worried that he might somehow get accidently get trapped outside, this would be so sad for him. I would just do the fun in the snow when you are there with him. Anything could happen, thats why it's called an accident...just my thoughts. :) |
I don't think I would leave the door open, Gosh anything could happen. Leave his romping for when you get home! |
I wouldn't do that in a million years. Why? Kacee has never seen a winter, but Muffin saw many of them. We never let her out in the snow unattended, because she would get out in some deep snow and "get stuck" so to speak. She would suddenly get so cold she couldn't move. I always went with her and was always there to go get her when she got too cold. They don't realize when they are getting too cold. It happens all of a sudden. |
I would say no to leaving the doggie door open...too much can happen while you're gone. We almost lost Boog one night in the snow and it scared me half to death...I was bawlling so hard...it wasn't pretty! We were outside with him during high winds and heavy snow, he got tricked out of the yard by a rabbit and in an instant he disappeared. We searched for about 45 minutes before we found him and it was pure luck...I caught something out of the corner of my eye and it turned out to be him. In our neighborhood we all had 1 acre yards...the neighbor 2 doors down drove his tractor out that day and left ruts in the snow...Boog got down in a tire rut and couldn't see, or jump high enough, to get out. That's what I saw...his little ears bobbing up and down in the snow. Also, the heat from the inside of your home can cause condensation on the door and it can freeze shut. Is there some way you can train him to use wee-wee pads while you're gone? Ours are trained to go outside and use pads inside if neccessary. |
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Thank you so much you guys! Do you think he will be okay inside for our nine hour days? If he has been used to having the doggy door to come and go as he pleases, will he have more accidents in the house? Sorry for all the questions, but my husband and I just started working days, and we just had our first snowfall this fall, and I am just a worrywart! I apprecitate all your replies! |
That is something to think about - he never liked those wee wee pads, though. He didn't do good with them when we were potty training, and I'm sure he wouldn't do good with them now. But I will for sure try that out! |
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I understand the worrying. I've done plenty of that over the years myself! :D Do you have an attached garage? If so, you could put a doggie door going into there with pads down for when you are gone. Is he pad trained at all? Without the garage or pad training, I can't think of anything else. It would be nice if you had a nice big area of your home that wasn't carpeted! ;) |
Actually, this is a good time for everyone who hasn't thought about what they would do to think about it. Think now what you would do if you had a blizzard with two or three feet of snow or more. :D |
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Good luck. I feel for you. I'm in the same boat for a couple months. We've arranged for people to let him out if he's ever alone for 4 hours. It's a lot of work, but it's been possible. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19363 |
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We do have an attached garage, but what happens when we come home? He will hear the garage door open and run outside to greet us, and then what if he darts out into the street? I guess we could just do a little extra work and go through the front door, and *then* park our cars in the garage. We have hardwood upstairs, but really no way to barracade him in certain rooms, unless we put him in the bathroom. We have had him almost 2 years, and he has never been confined, so I don't know if I could do that. |
A couple of ideas here...do you have one of the fold up doggie playpens? If so you could put that around the garage door from the house or doggie door into the garage (with the pad inside of it) and then he couldn't run out when you come home. Also...some males (including Jo) don't like to squat to go pee so they don't like to use the pads...you have to give them a 'target'...a water or pop bottle filled with water works well. Boog used to have a small, red fire hydrant on his pad. :) |
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Thanks, Jo-Jo! I don't know what we are going to do yet, but I will definately let everyone know. I don't mind coming home on my lunch break, but it really doesn't give me a "break" - the commute is about 25 mins each way. But then - anything to make my little Yorkie happy! (And anything to keep him from peeing and pooping all over the place!) |
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