Small Dogs Outside Alone

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Hrossen11

All of my dogs go outside unattended, the little guys have cat door to come in and out, while the big ones are outside all day and only in at night. My fence has cinder blocks all around the perimeter so they can't dig out (Aussie was an escape artist), plus fence is 6 ft tall and checked regularly. We live in suburban/country. Very little traffic with creek seasonal creek between mine and neighbors yard. No coyotes, and few birds of prey since my lab scared them away when we first moved in 9 years ago. I think if the human is responsible for their pets and provides proper environment, there is no problem with dogs going outside. Accidents can also happen inside just as well.

I am not a fan of doggie doors -- or dogs living outside. Why have pets if you want to stick them outside all day? Opossums could be lurking. Or something else.

[sugarmamma]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

That's terrible. There are some cases where a doggy door and them being outside is safe. We have a brand new not even year old fence with nothing but grass in the fenced in area no plants no tress nothing. We don't have coyotes and Callie is much to big to be picked up by a bird of pray. The fenced in yard is also in the middle of three acres with no trees around. There are 8 windows and two doors (one door is all glass French doors) that look out to the fenced in area where she is not at for very long periods of time unless she is laying out in the sun. The fence is checked at least once a week for problems sometimes more. The fence can not be seen from the street and even though we are not in an area where there are things stolen there is a lock on the gate. Every situation has to be judge separately. I have only seen deer and bunnys in here so far. Callie is 16 pounds. All our neighbors have dogs.

Taylor, I guess I just don't understand why you are so vocal about other causes that are so dangerous for our pups but think being outside all alone is okay.

I honestly want to understand how you can justify it.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

That's terrible. There are some cases where a doggy door and them being outside is safe. We have a brand new not even year old fence with nothing but grass in the fenced in area no plants no tress nothing. We don't have coyotes and Callie is much to big to be picked up by a bird of pray. The fenced in yard is also in the middle of three acres with no trees around. There are 8 windows and two doors (one door is all glass French doors) that look out to the fenced in area where she is not at for very long periods of time unless she is laying out in the sun. The fence is checked at least once a week for problems sometimes more. The fence can not be seen from the street and even though we are not in an area where there are things stolen there is a lock on the gate. Every situation has to be judge separately. I have only seen deer and bunnys in here so far. Callie is 16 pounds. All our neighbors have dogs.

Originally Posted by Hrossen11

All of my dogs go outside unattended, the little guys have cat door to come in and out, while the big ones are outside all day and only in at night. My fence has cinder blocks all around the perimeter so they can't dig out (Aussie was an escape artist), plus fence is 6 ft tall and checked regularly. We live in suburban/country. Very little traffic with creek seasonal creek between mine and neighbors yard. No coyotes, and few birds of prey since my lab scared them away when we first moved in 9 years ago. I think if the human is responsible for their pets and provides proper environment, there is no problem with dogs going outside. Accidents can also happen inside just as well.

Coyotes are everywhere and their numbers are growing across the country. They are downtown Chicago, in New England (jumped a 6' fence and killed a member's Yorkie), and downtown Beverly Hills. Our neighbor spotted one here in Virginia.

When we had a 85 pound dog in Chicago, we allowed her to spend a lot of time in the yard alone. Today I would be too fearful of wildlife and people with cruel intentions.

[Hrossen11]

This why this is a great forum, we can all give our opinions.

[jeane]

I agree, Morgan is never outside by himself

[Hrossen11]

Coyotes are not stupid though, they are wild animals. they are not going to come into the residential area when there are plenty of easy meals closer to where they live, those who live on larger acres or closer to the orchards have to worry. As long as we don't encroach on their environment they will not encroach on ours, so really depends on where you live and knowing your environment. Be aware not wary. I know my environment and wildlife nearby. Now that being said if I lived somewhere else I would probably do something different.

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

That's terrible. There are some cases where a doggy door and them being outside is safe. We have a brand new not even year old fence with nothing but grass in the fenced in area no plants no tress nothing. We don't have coyotes and Callie is much to big to be picked up by a bird of pray. The fenced in yard is also in the middle of three acres with no trees around. There are 8 windows and two doors (one door is all glass French doors) that look out to the fenced in area where she is not at for very long periods of time unless she is laying out in the sun. The fence is checked at least once a week for problems sometimes more. The fence can not be seen from the street and even though we are not in an area where there are things stolen there is a lock on the gate. Every situation has to be judge separately. I have only seen deer and bunnys in here so far. Callie is 16 pounds. All our neighbors have dogs.

I disagree here. There are many dangers you are not thinking of. If you are standing in the window or door to watch her it you still could not get to her if something happened.

We live in MIAMI... we still have foxes (sad to say I have seen a cat that did not survive a fox attack), Dogs that are semi wild. Frogs, snakes, gators (well.... not in my yard ) and who knows what else. Any of the previous mentioned could cause death even in my 28 lbs shih tzu. I do not leave mine outside.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Hrossen11

Coyotes are not stupid though, they are wild animals. they are not going to come into the residential area when there are plenty of easy meals closer to where they live, those who live on larger acres or closer to the orchards have to worry. As long as we don't encroach on their environment they will not encroach on ours, so really depends on where you live and knowing your environment. Be aware not wary. I know my environment and wildlife nearby. Now that being said if I lived somewhere else I would probably do something different.

They are moving into residential areas. Recent studies show there are over a couple thousand in Chicago -- in the city. Here are two standing in front of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs: Wild coyotes 'kind of chilling' by Wrigley Field

There are two members here on YT who live in residential areas of New England and Beverly Hills, CA who lost their tiny Yorkies to coyotes. The man in Beverly Hills was walking his Yorkie on a leash when the coyote snatched the poor little thing.

I came face to face with a coyote in the parking lot of my college campus in CA.

We even had a bear wander into a major shopping center here.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Hrossen11

Coyotes are not stupid though, they are wild animals. they are not going to come into the residential area when there are plenty of easy meals closer to where they live, those who live on larger acres or closer to the orchards have to worry. As long as we don't encroach on their environment they will not encroach on ours, so really depends on where you live and knowing your environment. Be aware not wary. I know my environment and wildlife nearby. Now that being said if I lived somewhere else I would probably do something different.

This is not a squabble I am going to get into....I stated my feelings on it already.....and true, accidents can happen in the house, but they are usually supervised when in the house........but I have to correct the statement above. I live in a residential area. Typical neighborhood, with our houses spaced within 25 feet of each other......happens to be on a golf course, but I am not on the golf course....yet, I have had a bob cat resting quietly on the top of my 8 foot wooden privacy fence on morning as I left for work. I have seen coyotes running from peoples back yards, on at least 6 different occasions just since the beginning of this year, as I leave the neighborhood for work, early in the morning.....we have snakes, we have "small wildlife", ie raccoons, possoms, squirrels, rats that come from God only knows where......all coming thru yards, eating dog and cat food left outside for the people that leave their dogs outside.....all my neighbors have large outside dogs....chows, german shepards, and we now have a pit bull mix on one side....these big dogs do nothing to frighten off the coyotes, and they certainly had NO effect on that bobcat sitting on my fence.......I figure the law of averages eventually catch up us in situations we often call into questions about safety.......I walk my fence line every day before my babies go outside, because they can cross this yard faster than I can, and if there is a hole burrowed under the fence from overnight visitors, they will be gone thru it before I can get to them. THAT has already happened to me once, and thank God, I do learn from my mistakes, so THAT wont happen to me again! I was tearing boards off that fence, to get to all those dad gum little imps, before they could get to the busy street a block over......I was fortunate it worked out for me THAT time......THANK GOD I was not of the mindset, "I have a new, strong 8 foot wooden fence, and around 3 sides of the yard, I have double fenced with a chain link fence inside the wooden fence, so there is no way MY babies can get out", as I turned them out into the back yard unsupervised........it would have been HOURS before I would have even realized they were gone! The law of averages eventually bites us in the butt......dont be stunned and surprised when it gets any of you.......

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

This is not a squabble I am going to get into....I stated my feelings on it already.....and true, accidents can happen in the house, but they are usually supervised when in the house........but I have to correct the statement above. I live in a residential area. Typical neighborhood, with our houses spaced within 25 feet of each other......happens to be on a golf course, but I am not on the golf course....yet, I have had a bob cat resting quietly on the top of my 8 foot wooden privacy fence on morning as I left for work. I have seen coyotes running from peoples back yards, on at least 6 different occasions just since the beginning of this year, as I leave the neighborhood for work, early in the morning.....we have snakes, we have "small wildlife", ie raccoons, possoms, squirrels, rats that come from God only knows where......all coming thru yards, eating dog and cat food left outside for the people that leave their dogs outside.....all my neighbors have large outside dogs....chows, german shepards, and we now have a pit bull mix on one side....these big dogs do nothing to frighten off the coyotes, and they certainly had NO effect on that bobcat sitting on my fence.......I figure the law of averages eventually catch up us in situations we often call into questions about safety.......I walk my fence line every day before my babies go outside, because they can cross this yard faster than I can, and if there is a hole burrowed under the fence from overnight visitors, they will be gone thru it before I can get to them. THAT has already happened to me once, and thank God, I do learn from my mistakes, so THAT wont happen to me again! I was tearing boards off that fence, to get to all those dad gum little imps, before they could get to the busy street a block over......I was fortunate it worked out for me THAT time......THANK GOD I was not of the mindset, "I have a new, strong 8 foot wooden fence, and around 3 sides of the yard, I have double fenced with a chain link fence inside the wooden fence, so there is no way MY babies can get out", as I turned them out into the back yard unsupervised........it would have been HOURS before I would have even realized they were gone! The law of averages eventually bites us in the butt......dont be stunned and surprised when it gets any of you.......

great post

[Hrossen11]

Exactly, know your environment.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I can't believe you advocate for doggie doors after your own experience with Callie. There's no reason for you to stay inside and have her go alone-- go with her for crying out loud!! There are fisher cats here and a lady had her foot mangled while fighting it off to protect her LARGE dog!

We moved sense the opossum incident and we do not have fisher cats. I also have a very bad allergy to mosquitoes after four bites it becomes where I need a steroid shot and antibiotics. I watch her most of the time from the window and would be there in a second if something was off or wrong I absolutely will not be called a bad owner because of this I never would put her in harms way EVERY situtation is different. I probably do more for my dog then most! She is SAFE. there are much more things people do that can hurt there dogs inside!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by sugarmamma

Again, we have a few that try to justify it - why?!?!?

To those that think it's okay because your dog weighs more or you live in the country blah blah blah. IT IS NOT

That is your opinion but judging EVERY situtation as one is wrong period!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by sugarmamma

Taylor, I guess I just don't understand why you are so vocal about other causes that are so dangerous for our pups but think being outside all alone is okay.

I honestly want to understand how you can justify it.

Because I take massive amounts of precautions and my dog is safe! She is never left home alone so she is being watched just from the door. I have a massive allergic reaction to mosquitoes I physically can not go out there every time she does but SHE IS SAFE! I WOULD NEVER EVER PUT MY DOG IN DANGER EVER! SHE IS MY LIFE!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Coyotes are everywhere and their numbers are growing across the country. They are downtown Chicago, in New England (jumped a 6' fence and killed a member's Yorkie), and downtown Beverly Hills. Our neighbor spotted one here in Virginia.

When we had a 85 pound dog in Chicago, we allowed her to spend a lot of time in the yard alone. Today I would be too fearful of wildlife and people with cruel intentions.

There are no coyotes in my area at least not yet and if the first sighting is seen even sorta close I would get a higher fence with razor wire at the top.