For those with kennels/outside runs

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Merlin11

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I would love to get a dog or two but currently I work 3 days and those days I could be away for 10 hours. I live in the country with a large enclosed garden so could easily have a kennell and run. Would it be fair to leave them there for these days ? I would get two for company if I did this. Another option is getting a dog walker. OH could come home at lunchtime for emergencies if no walker available. Would welcome your views. Thanks.
 
Sounds similar to my set up. Dog is walked and trained on either side of work and on other days he is biked, swum, trained, tracked, and very heavily stimulated. He is left with a bone or Kong and my mum is around most days if he needs a change of scenery and he comes in at night.
The older dog lives out 24/7 as he is uncomfortable in the house and has a similar set up but not as much exercise (more short walks) because of a back injury and is retired from competition so no training.
We've always worked and kept dogs outside and none of them have died of it yet, living long, healthy, happy lives. Older dogs would cope better with this set up as baby puppies need a lot of time and attention. More than one dog would also be ideal. Mine are not in together as they don't particularly like each other, but they can see each other.
 
I see no problem with it what so ever, 3 of mine are kenneled, for space really as I have alot of dogs, I have a little shaggy scruff boy kenneled with a bully lurcher and my akita lives next dor to them (the akita) will not live indoors she is long coated and cannot bear the heat so prefers to live on the lawn and actually is not fussed weather a kennel is provided or not:D but I leave her kennel open.

Mine are walked twice every day and the kennels are open when we are home for them to have the run of the garden (big garden) or akitas kennel is left open all the time.

Im sure 2 rescue dogs would love to live with you;) and would be fine living kenneled 3 days. We rehome to people who have informed us the dog would be kenned on work days, a greyhound was one on a huge farm, as the owner felt mean leaving her in on the 2 days she worked.
 
Thanks for replies - looks like it may be possible. I would like a puppy but appreciate prob too much when I am working. How old do you think a dog would have to be to cope with a kennel? Am also thinking about breeds - they need to get on with the horses so was thinking labs are prob a good bet. Also considered rescue greyhounds as they sleep a lot but not sure how they would be with the horses. Should keep the rabbits down tho! :)
 
With small puppies you need to be 'on them' a lot more for house training, socialisation, manners - even outside dogs need to learn how to behave in a house IMO. When I got the young dog at 14 weeks he had a lot of groundwork done with him, was house trained and clicker trained but still needed a lot of 1-2-1 stuff, I was working five days a week at that stage and it was bloody hard, a baby pup would be even harder. He was going out during the day for short periods but my mum was there to vary it.Ours are out all day from about five or six months old.
Mine are GSDs.
 
All of my dogs have been born and raised out doors in kennels/runs on working farms. They lived like that very happily until they were 4 and 6 months when they came to us.
They adapted easily to being house dogs and greatly enjoyed home comforts but equally, have been happy outdoors.
Don't think it matters too much where they are, company and stimulation are more important. A dog left all day is the same whether indoors or in a run. Bored.
Someone popping in during the day at some point is a good idea.
 
I think both labs and greys are a good choice to be fair, greys are usually pretty laid back a few have them on here with horses, just watch they dont get stood on, you will probably find them snuggled in the feed shed on a horse blanket or hidden in a pile of straw.
Labs are well just crackers:D I just rehome a rescue lab to a girl with horses, she has never been around them b4 but is not phased at all, very well behaved around them, I guess it would depend on the dog but if you went rescue root the good ones would allow a trail period or bring dogs to meet horses (I/we would):)
 
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A sammy being checked with horses prior to rehoming. Most breed rescues do everything they can to make sure a dog and home fit well.
 
I wouldn't not coming into winter and not all rescues will rehome if they know that the dog is going to be left for more than 4 hours per day. You might find some where that has older dogs that are already used to being kennel kept spaniel breeds? ex workers maybe.

I'd wait the right time and the right dog will come up.
 
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