Can you leave your dog loose in the house?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yes this is what I think about... How devastating it would be to have a fire or something in the house and Jax being locked up and not able to get far away from it. . Also, as far as burglary goes, Jackson will not let anyone near him, he would go run under my bed (as he's done when strangers to him have come in our house before when I'm not home). One time my grandma stopped in who he loves and she tried to pick him up which he doesn't like so he ran and hid under the bed until I got home. He will alert bark very loudly though but the moment someone comes in or tries to approach him he will hide. If he were confined to a crate someone would be able to grab him against his will.

Dang...this is one time where I wish I could teach them to run and hide if encountering a stranger ....that would be a great trick in the case of a burglar.

The point about the fire is a good one too. I had these custom stickers made and have them on like 10 windows on our first floor (I KNOW, excessive! )....bc I too am so scared they'd be caught in a fire.

[Anny Mendoza]

Originally Posted by Britster

??I'm confused... lol I am not asking He's been free since 5 1/2 months old. Just asking a general question for the forum.

LOL, I misunderstood
Nena used to roam free but since we got Rufus they both stay in the doggie-room

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yes this is what I think about... How devastating it would be to have a fire or something in the house and Jax being locked up and not able to get far away from it. . Also, as far as burglary goes, Jackson will not let anyone near him, he would go run under my bed (as he's done when strangers to him have come in our house before when I'm not home). One time my grandma stopped in who he loves and she tried to pick him up which he doesn't like so he ran and hid under the bed until I got home. He will alert bark very loudly though but the moment someone comes in or tries to approach him he will hide. If he were confined to a crate someone would be able to grab him against his will.

Sounds like Tibbe and Jackson are a lot alike. Tibbe loves people and will let anyone and everyone approach him when I'm around and giving friendly signals to him but if he's apart from me or out in the very back of the yard by the fence and a person comes along and tries to call him or pet him, he runs away fast. My subcontractor told me once when he came in to fix something in the house when I wasn't here, Tibbe ran off and hid. Still, a burglar that could follow him under the bed or back into the hobby room could take him if they persisted but ADT, deadbolts plus regular locks on all doors and window locks are all that I can do to safeguard him in that regard. Plus I live on a very busy neighborhood with so much coming and going and neighbors out about, you can't even nick out in your robe and no make-up to take out the trash or get the mail without someone seeing you and waving or wanting to start a convo!

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Ours don't roam. Even when we're home, we'll usually have certain areas closed to them - like the upstairs or whatnot.

Also, here's a weird story....about 5 years ago when we weren't home, someone tried to break into our house in our kitchen nook - they got the screen off and the window up. As soon as that window went up, our alarm went off and it looked like he took off immediately. Luckily, our dogs were kept in our Master area. IF the dogs had been loose, I know they would've ran over to the window to say "hi" to the new stranger...and my fear is that the burglar would've snatched one of them up to sell. Scary thought, but so easily could've happened if they'd been loose.

Of course - here's a completely opposite side to this story.....

Harry used to have a pup-sitter called Paul, who looked after the pups in his own home.

One day, he had to pop out for an hour, and crated the 2 pups he was looking after at the time.

Unfortunately, his house must have been being watched....burglars broke in, took what they wanted (including his passport and holiday cash for the following week) - and then stole both the pups, in their crates....because they were so easy to lift, and easy pickings.....

I truly think there are pros and cons for both sides, unfortunately. Sally + Harry x

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Of course - here's a completely opposite side to this story.....

Harry used to have a pup-sitter called Paul, who looked after the pups in his own home.

One day, he had to pop out for an hour, and crated the 2 pups he was looking after at the time.

Unfortunately, his house must have been being watched....burglars broke in, took what they wanted (including his passport and holiday cash for the following week) - and then stole both the pups, in their crates....because they were so easy to lift, and easy pickings.....

I truly think there are pros and cons for both sides, unfortunately. Sally + Harry x

Yep...for every good side to the story, there is always someone where it turned out the opposite, sadly . Gosh, that's just devastating for those people whose pups were stolen. We don't crate ours, but still, they're so friendly that someone could just scoop them right up! Part of me is glad they like strangers, but part of me is wishing they'd be more wary, ya know?

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Of course - here's a completely opposite side to this story.....

Harry used to have a pup-sitter called Paul, who looked after the pups in his own home.

One day, he had to pop out for an hour, and crated the 2 pups he was looking after at the time.

Unfortunately, his house must have been being watched....burglars broke in, took what they wanted (including his passport and holiday cash for the following week) - and then stole both the pups, in their crates....because they were so easy to lift, and easy pickings.....

I truly think there are pros and cons for both sides, unfortunately. Sally + Harry x

So true. Good reasons to do either.

[Anny Mendoza]

So many stories and so many sides.
It's very educating actually.
We've never had a break-in or heard of one in our neighborhood (knock on wood!)
So we've been pretty lucky so far.
I personally don't like crating because you never know how long you'll be away, what we did was turn the spare room into the doggie-room and that's were they are when we are out.
If something were to happen, I'd be more scared for Nena than for Rufus.
Rufus doesn't like strangers and he barks and growls until I tell him that it's ok.
Nena on the other hand, will just run towards strangers and let them pick her etc.

[pinkpatty]

Keno, like Jackson has had free run of both houses since he has been 5 to 6 months old. I did crate train him and he was potty trained to outside by the time he was 5 and half months old. Still crated him for a couple of weeks when we left, but it really was no necessary. Like Jackson, he was more likely to get into things when we were there. If we were gone, he just gets in bed and waits for us to return. His favorite place is our bed.

[ironmike86]

Fire makes sense. But with my dog the whole house would need to be baby proof. More change of him getting hurt everyday vs a fire. But he rarely left home alone either for more then an hour .

[wemple2]

The fire reasoning makes sense, but I have to add a not so favorable outcome for this. I have a friend that has 2 boxers which she always crates when left alone and 1 Jack Russell that had free roam of the house. They unfortunately did have an electrical fire that started downstairs in the kitchen, the boxers were saved as the firemen were easily able to locate them, the Jack Russell did not, he ran from the fire upstairs and was found "hiding" in the closet...but it was too late, they tried but could not save him from smoke inhalation.

So yeah, there is for sure 2 sides to every story. Sometimes the story has a tragic ending, so sad.

[CouversMom]

Originally Posted by wemple2

The fire reasoning makes sense, but I have to add a not so favorable outcome for this. I have a friend that has 2 boxers which she always crates when left alone and 1 Jack Russell that had free roam of the house. They unfortunately did have an electrical fire that started downstairs in the kitchen, the boxers were saved as the firemen were easily able to locate them, the Jack Russell did not, he ran from the fire upstairs and was found "hiding" in the closet...but it was too late, they tried but could not save him from smoke inhalation.

So yeah, there is for sure 2 sides to every story. Sometimes the story has a tragic ending, so sad.

This scares me... SO much. My grandparents left for breakfast one morning and locked their cat in the bedroom upstairs. They got a phone call at breakfast that their house was completely engulfed in flames. My heart breaks for their pets. They lost the kitty and two parrots. I think about what their last moments were like I can't help but cry. I know I would run into a burning building to save my pets, but by the time you get there, it could be too late. It makes me want to take mine everywhere with me... But then I have a fear of driving into the river with them strapped in their seat and not being able to get them unstrapped in time! lol. So no matter what I do... I'm a neurotic mess

[JasmineNoelle]

Prissy, our poodle, house trained extremely quick. She has always been allowed to free roam whether we are home or not.

Jasmine, our five yr old yorkie, is not allowed to free roam. She stays in the den and only comes out with someone is able to watch her. She does extremelynwell here. She does very well with her house training in that room, but seems to get confused when her area is broadened.

Maggie, 1 yr old yorkie, does very well as a free roamer during the day, but not as well after we go to bed.

None of the girls have any chewing issues, just love their toys.

[wemple2]

Originally Posted by CouversMom

This scares me... SO much. My grandparents left for breakfast one morning and locked their cat in the bedroom upstairs. They got a phone call at breakfast that their house was completely engulfed in flames. My heart breaks for their pets. They lost the kitty and two parrots. I think about what their last moments were like I can't help but cry. I know I would run into a burning building to save my pets, but by the time you get there, it could be too late. It makes me want to take mine everywhere with me... But then I have a fear of driving into the river with them strapped in their seat and not being able to get them unstrapped in time! lol. So no matter what I do... I'm a neurotic mess

I know...scares me too. I do have the decals on all 3 doors, ""In Case Of Fire, Please Save My Pet" It tells where he is located in the house when alone, his name and breed. I have to have faith that should there be a fire...he will be saved.

[CouversMom]

Originally Posted by wemple2

I know...scares me too. I do have the decals on all 3 doors, ""In Case Of Fire, Please Save My Pet" It tells where he is located in the house when alone, his name and breed. I have to have faith that should there be a fire...he will be saved.

The thing that scares me about that is it tells thieves where they are. I guess no matter what, there are risks.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by CouversMom

The thing that scares me about that is it tells thieves where they are. I guess no matter what, there are risks.

Ain't that the truth!