Allstar Canine Solutions

The Confinement Challenge

You've heard it many times; prepare for the new dog before it comes home. It's so easy to fall in love at a pet store or the pound and bring a needy pup home before you are ready. Calls come in every week with those who buy a dog living in a Condo or a place who won't take the dog then they give it to mom or a friend to watch it until they get a house. Then that falls through. Then they will call us desperate as to what to do. Please prepare before you buy for the dogs sake.

If your new dog destroys the house and the family works all day then the most safest and secure method of confinement is a garage and you can bet your last dollar that a dog under two years of age will probably destroy a lot. Crates are too small for an 8 hour day and can turn a sweet dog into a frustrated, angry one and back yards are very risky when they are left to do whatever they want while you are at work. Invisible fencing is a huge risk and should barely be trusted when you are home let alone when you're gone. When a dog is highly motivated they will go right through those. If you do not have a garage then let's look at fencing. A wood or chain link fence can be totally useless if it just sits on dirt below which is so common. They climb or dig in seconds. Cement at the bottom is good but it does not stop the climbing and even the dogs who show you for months or a year that they have no desire to jump or climb can still surprise you when you least expect it.

An outside kennel should preferably be built on concrete. Some gravel around the perimeter helps as you will end up washing the floor down. Concrete is very expensive so you can use concrete blocks with 2x6 floor boards with 1/4" spacing (no more) in-between them. Connect them underneath with 2x4's and resting real close to the concrete blocks so the floor doesn't have much chance of moving. This is a real easy floor because when the dogs dig and try to rip their way out you can easily replace a 2x6. Any opening in the entire kennel must not be open more than 6" and it doesn't come that way from the store. Figure on about 9 blocks for a 12x6 area. Always put a roof on the kennel. It is great for shade along with keeping them safe. The larger the kennel the more the dog can pace and entertain himself. Think of yourself living in a bathroom for 10 hours everyday of your life... whew! If you don't want them going nuts try to entertain them. Change the toys every few days. Branches, sticks, wood, a wood broom handle, a garbage lid, plastic bottles, blankets, towels, old footballs or basketballs (not baseballs, mitts, tennis balls or things with tons of string), hard plastic dumbbells, soft cedar fencing etc. You don't need to spend a ton of money on toys. Look at what animals play with in the wild. If he likes stuffed animals get them at a thrift store and cut the eyes and nose off & let him rip and tear & make all the mess he wants to especially if he's under two years old. They need to do that. Domesticating dogs goes against everything that they naturally are. They are made to hunt, roam, chew, tear, dig, climb and play. The more we can help them do those things the happier they are. They will eventually settle down and stop destroying the garage or the kennel or the house and be very happy just hanging out waiting for you.

There are dogs who when let out will just sit in a yard and not want to run. Not Siberians and they are not happy with a romp around the block - they want to cross the country. Their prey drive is huge so small critters like cats, squirrels, hamsters, etc., are food to them. Training is vitally important as they really take over the pack if you let them. Their coat seems impervious to dirt. They need tons of brushing but very little baths.