Kennels vs Yard

[B.L.B 0]

Just interested in where people keep there dogs and if they think it has any effects on their attitude and how they hunt.

For example alot of guys here keep there dogs kenneled or chained up most of the time and just let them out when their going for a hunt or to exercise.(some guys rarely exercise their dogs). Whereas i keep my dogs in seperate kennels at night and when im not home, and let them out to exercise in a run approx. 50 metres by 10 when i am (3 dogs are in the run together and so they chase and play fight) and will still take them for a couple of mile run when i can. Obviously the dogs will be fitter but do you think they might get a bit too relaxed and not as keen when they do go for a hunt because its Not the only run they get? I hope this makes sense, I spose what im saying is that do you think a dog thats kept a bit more like a pet will be as hard and focused as a dog that is only let out of its kennel to hunt? I think i know what most people will say but just have a think about what the two different dogs would be like.

[shaun v 3]

ive got a similar set up but not on that scale, ive got a block of 3 block built kennels with 2 metre covered run and also a 10 by 5 metre dayime run, before i only had the block of kennels, i think with having the additional run the dogs have more room to mess about see whats going on around them and they stay alot sharper and they are better off mentally, there is nothing worse than seeing a dog locked up 24/7 in a dark kennel, it will be like us doing solitary confinement in prison

[lamper12 30]

my lurcher pup is 6 1/2 months old and he runs loose in our bigish garden with the terrier pup 5 months oldand the there keen as could be so i dont think it could affect the hunting side but with dogs i had in the past chained and kenneld up even with plenty of exersise go a bit scatty.

[skycat 6,173]

I must admit I was surprised to see how many Ozzy dogs live chained up. In my opinion it does them no good at all: at least in a run they get a chance to run and play and exercise a bit. As far as not exercising a dog except when it's hunting: well. words fail me! How the hell can a dog work properly if it is unfit: a bit like an athlete going in for a race with no fitness training before hand!

I wonder how many dogs keel over or severely damage their lungs, muscles, heart etc by hunting hard when they are not fit, especially in that heat.

All my dogs get a minumum of an hour's exercise, mostly free running, every day of the year and even then I don't consider the lurchers to be fit for a hard lamping season unless they've done a few weeks of running beside the bicycle for 7 miles at a time immediately before the season starts.

As for making them less keen if they are in a run? What a load of bullsh*t! A dog that is exercised and stimulated mentally makes a far better hunter than one that sits on the end of a chain all day twiddling its paws. And I don't care what type of dog is involved, terrier, lurcher, whatever.

The keeness should come from good breeding, rearing and entering: not from being frustrated out of their minds cos it's the only time they get to move about! Rant over!

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

Skycat couldnt have said it better!

Minimum 1 hour a day running/playing. I take mine out twice/three times a day sometimes. They need open space to move/excercise. I personally keep mine in the house. No problems. You just have to know how to handle them. I find they are more relaxed and dont bark or howl.

[Neal 1,862]

I keep all three of my kelpies (8 years, 4 years and 12 weeks) together in a covered run overnight and while I'm at work. The rest of the time they are inside with me with free access to a decent sized garden (or the log fire).

Edited October 2, 2007 by Neal

[MikeTheDog 153]

Well said Skycat..

[Guest mush]

Whereas i keep my dogs in seperate kennels at night and when im not home, and let them out to exercise in a run approx. 50 metres by 10 when i am (3 dogs are in the run together and so they chase and play fight) and will still take them for a couple of mile run when i can.

sounds good to me, but after coming home two find 2 dogs raging what was left of the 3rd dog and the best one of the lot I would never keep three to gether again even if I was at home.

 

Obviously the dogs will be fitter but do you think they might get a bit too relaxed and not as keen when they do go for a hunt because its Not the only run they get? I hope this makes sense, I spose what im saying is that do you think a dog thats kept a bit more like a pet will be as hard and focused as a dog that is only let out of its kennel to hunt? I think i know what most people will say but just have a think about what the two different dogs would be like.

mine seem to no when their going hunting and when their just out for a walk. If the preydrive dont kick in when their going out hunting just because they do a bit of running at home then you would have the wrong dogs.

[allgame 0]

my dogs stay on the chain for all but 2 hrs of the day where they get to run around the back yard i only trian my dogs how they hunt i wont let my dogs run 7 miles because thats not how they hunt there trianing should be specific to the hunt so i dont mind walking them a hundred meters throwing a ball they get it and retrieve it then repeat with the same amount of times u would run them for a hunt theres no piont in trianing them a different way of how u hunt them but by the time i do that i usally just go for a hunt anyway my dogs are always calm relaxed and never make a noise (exept for my GSP) and are more then keen to go for a hunt also i never run my dogs more then two or three times a week because there muscles after a good run are sore and need time to recover just like a person it also keeps them keen

[mad al 146]

Good thread B.L.B, I have three dogs that live permanently outdoors. A Springer in a kennel and a run of about 12'X6' and the two others, a Rottie and a Bull cross live in part of my workshop that I have sectioned off, this is a brick built building that I have made their own entrance into. These two have the whole of our farm yard as their run 24hrs a day whether there is anyone at home or not. The yard must be about 50mX100, flat in places with a mixture of surfaces, grass, gravel, concrete and one bit has quite a steep bank.

My other two dogs live indoors spending time in the yard and in the house and I find that all will play/play fight as long and as often as they like. The Bull cross has the area to get some leg stretching runs in and quite a few obstacles for her to jump over, so this I have noticed is really bringing her on quickly.

What I find with this mix, is that they are all just as keen to get out on the land, but the Spaniel takes a hell of a long time to find his platform to work from, running blind everywhere. I have put this down to two things. It may be boredom in the run, but the one I favour is that he is absolutely feckin thick!!!. I never take all the dogs out together, all are pretty good, but the Bull cross is outstanding. I could walk her in the daytime with the rifle and apart from praise I wouldn't really have to say a word.

I think that with all dogs though, it's routine and the fact that they thrive on it. You only get back what you put in and if there is little or no input you get one seriously messed up Mutt, whether they live in/out/kennel/ run/yard or whatever................Al

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

my dogs have a 14 x 10 brick garage full of straw, bed boxes etc with permenant access to a 10 x 6 run.....

 

 

Were out from 6 - 8 am every morning and an hour at night - sometimes longer if we are hunting.

 

The rest of the time they are in the garage / run......and they are happy.....do not bark, and are extremely well behaved dogs

[B.L.B 0]

Thanks alot for all the replies, Just the kind of comments i was hoping to hear.

[holy grail 0]

I must admit I was surprised to see how many Ozzy dogs live chained up. In my opinion it does them no good at all: at least in a run they get a chance to run and play and exercise a bit. As far as not exercising a dog except when it's hunting: well. words fail me! How the hell can a dog work properly if it is unfit: a bit like an athlete going in for a race with no fitness training before hand!

I wonder how many dogs keel over or severely damage their lungs, muscles, heart etc by hunting hard when they are not fit, especially in that heat.

All my dogs get a minumum of an hour's exercise, mostly free running, every day of the year and even then I don't consider the lurchers to be fit for a hard lamping season unless they've done a few weeks of running beside the bicycle for 7 miles at a time immediately before the season starts.

As for making them less keen if they are in a run? What a load of bullsh*t! A dog that is exercised and stimulated mentally makes a far better hunter than one that sits on the end of a chain all day twiddling its paws. And I don't care what type of dog is involved, terrier, lurcher, whatever.

The keeness should come from good breeding, rearing and entering: not from being frustrated out of their minds cos it's the only time they get to move about! Rant over!

you are damn right Skycat. ive 2 dogs, whom were never locked up at all until 1 morning they werent present. they'd gone down to the neighbours whom had a Lab bitch on heat. since then they are locked in our large run ONLY AT NIGHT, and are let out 1st thing of a morning. they are out all day every day to hang around the house and go cool of in the Lake on the edge of our property. dogs shouldnt be chained up. if the need to be detained at all... a Run is the best thing.

[allgame 0]

how can u say dogs shouldnt be chained up when uv admitted your dogs run around freely u oviusly live on a farm which is fine so they have plenty of room to muck around without getting into to much trouble but it would be the last straw for me if my dogs ran of to root, also if i saw some dogs sniffing my bitch if she was on heat like most farmers theyd put a bulliet in its head so id reckomed putting your dogs on the chian all day as smart as lurchers are there not kelpies and seem to want to find some fun where ever it is what if on a hot day a few roos ran past while your at work and the dogs take off and ethier one of the dogs get cut up in the middle of nowhere and u cant find them or just chase till they overheat burnout and die in sure you'll start chaining or dogs up then