Doggy Door or Not for the first month?

[Frances S]

Hi,

I'm new to this site I came across today..We have a puppy goldendoodle that came home this weekend at 8 weeks.  She is crate trained..When do you think we should invest in a doggy door? Thank You..

[Ginny Nightingale]

www.doodlecountry.com--a great site and a DK member!

By the way, I agree with all of the above. If you have a stranger come to the door or even a friend, you have to deal with the dog running over to the doggie door and OUT when you don't want him to jump all over someone --you need control! That said, some people have doggie doors that go out to a kennel--I can't see why that would be an issue when the dog is older. 

[Frances S]

Thanks Ginny,

I think we will look into a doggy bell that we can teach her to use during the day.

[Adina P]

There's poochiebells.com (I think--if it doesn't pop up then search for "Poochie Bells" on google), you can also make your own from supplies at the craft store. And what we actually use for bells is a small wind chime instead of bells--but I haven't found one as narrow and easy to hang by a door.

 

Lots of people have doggie doors and love them and their dogs enjoy going in and out as they please.  As long as you keep an eye on them and that your fence is secure he will most likely be fine.  BUT--if there is ever anything in your yard that puppy can destroy...chances are a puppy will take that chance to try it.  Digging can be a fun habit for a pup and young dog too.  So for a pup it's probably better to give some level of supervision--PLUS you want to go out with them to encourage and confirm that outside is THE place to go. 

 

But even assuming 100% safety outdoors, a young pup needs to be supervised IN the house all the time.  Then you know for sure they are not having accidents in the house and you know what they're getting into in the house.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What about drinking from puddles and standing water? What about any wild animals that may be out there, even in a fenced area? We've heard many stories about toads and other wildlife that can hurt a dog, especially a puppy. What about eating mulch, rocks, bark, mushrooms, and other items, some of them dangerous or poisonous?

It's not just the things the dog can destroy, it's the things that can hurt him, too.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

OMD Caitlin, you just reminded me when we were at the dog park last week this hawk kept doing circles and getting lower and lower.  I really think he might have been after Bandit so I held him close until it went away.  It was unnerving to say the least!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Bandit is WAY to big for the Hawks.   No worries.

But I have seen them go after a 3lb puppy.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Well, it was strange because we were the only dogs at the park, he moved from over the nearby river to the dog park and Bandit is black as night and it was a big hawk.... it made me nervous... I had visions of him being carried off to some never never land.... 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

The hawks swoop down even when we are walking on a leash! Very scary!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

So true.

[Adina P]

Sure!  I'm not sure puddles everywhere are an issue.  Does giardia just spring up out of nowhere in every tiny puddle, though?  Everything can be dangerous, and even Natalie might dip her finger in a puddle and maybe put it in her mouth.  I can't prevent every germ in the world from reaching my dogs. 

Anyway I wasn't promoting the doggy door.  I'm just saying plenty of people have good results but it is probably a bad idea for a young pup even if one would assume 100% safety outdoors (that includes safety for the dog and the STUFF that's outdoors) because for someone to rely on a doggy door that same dog would need to be fully in charge of its in and out time which would lead me to believe it is being unsupervised.  I always worry about gates being accidentally open when dogs go out--so we always do a visual check each time we open the back door.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Giardia comes from the feces of infected animals.  But infective cysts can be persistent, with or without puddles. Good news, it can be treated but it's a pain in ...There is only so much protecting one can do, a reasonable balance is needed.

[Adina P]

That feces can be left on grass or dirt too, could it not?  The chances a raccoon is gonna choose to poo in a puddle seems slim.  And that puddle would be gone in a few hours.   But if it pooped in my yard it could poop anywhere, no?  Same with cats, right?  Anyway, I am too easily tempted by tangents.  You can only do so much protecting.  You take care of the big stuff and do what's reasonable for you and your family.