Multi-Outdoor Dogs

puppylover1 · 10-05-2010

Hi there!

I recently had a litter and I am in love with all 5 of them so I now have 6 dogs. It is my dream to go live in a rural area with my dogs and let them run free. My concern is they might run away or worse. Has anyone done this before or have any recommendations?

cigwyllt · 10-05-2010

Not wanting to quash your dream but - you say it is your dream to live in a rural area. What are your plans? How soon will that happen? Realistically do you have the time, space and resources to care for 6 dogs right now? I take it they will all be neutered? Brother/sister/mother relationships will mean nothing to them and they will want to breed so you are looking at several hundred dollars in the next few months for vaccinations, worming, neutering - and that is without considering food and a contingency fund for vet bills. Is that within your means?

As for letting them run free - that is beyond my comprehension as town dwelling Brit LOL! Even farm dogs here in the UK have boundaries. The fields are fenced and the dogs are trained to stay within a confined area. There would be no point in a valuable sheep dog or working terrier being allowed to wander at will over a farm. He/she needs to be at hand to work.

When you say you want them to run free what do you mean? Will you just be turning them loose to fend for themselves on your property or what?

It should be quite possible to train them all to recall if you take them out but if you have acres of land and they are allowed free through all of it I would think the chances of keeping them from wandering would be quite slim. Six dogs together would form a formidable pack. If they get the scent of something they would be off and you may never see them again.

If you really think that keeping six dogs is an option for you where you are now, not just some pipe dream 3/5/10 years down the line then you need to invest a serious amount of time with each dog individually so that they bond with you and not just with each other. Recall and obedience will be vital. How well trained is the mother? How did she become pregnant? Did you plan to breed her or was it an accident? What breed are they? There are lots and lots of factors to consider.

puppylover1 · 10-07-2010

like i was saying I am interested in more information about how people have done this in the past. or have any recommendations on how to do it. sounds like cigwyllt just has an opinion and no real advice. I have considered what cig is saying and that is why I am looking for REAL advice.

let me be more specific, i am looking for the land now. I don't just plan on letting the dogs become wolves. they are mixed breed dogs and the mother is well trained.

does anyone actually have dogs that run around their property?

i was thinking to have a invisible fence and take my pack for walks on a daily basis for a couple of hours. 2 feedings a day. and we currently practice obedience everyday. right now the pups are 3 months old they sit and wait for their meals and they play gently with people and eachother. my husband and i take all our dogs for walks everyday.

I am aware the dogs will breed with each other if allowed lol.. really? do people not know this?

love is blind but yes we are vaccinating, spaying and neutering. DUH

I know it may seem silly for other people to consider this but really is it that strange? other people go to work everyday for at least 8 hours and leave their dog locked up in what is basically a prison. what i would like to provide my dogs is a little sanctuary for them to be dogs but also well trained and taken care of..

if anyone has any real advice let me know

thanks

cigwyllt · 10-07-2010

I am sorry you are offended - that was not my intention. As you so rightly surmise I have no experience in these things but I do have experience of forums and trying to help pick up the pieces when unknowing dog owners take on dogs that they can not care for. You would may be surprised at some of the posts that appear on dog forums and the general level of ignorance that some people display. I have read posts from a man who claimed he kept his dog in a box, another who was surprised that her 8 week puppy would be able to walk and people who assume that because there is a blood relationship between a dog and a bitch they will not mate.

Obviously you have everything under control.

Lunareclipse · 10-07-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

I am sorry you are offended - that was not my intention. As you so rightly surmise I have no experience in these things but I do have experience of forums and trying to help pick up the pieces when unknowing dog owners take on dogs that they can not care for. You would may be surprised at some of the posts that appear on dog forums and the general level of ignorance that some people display. I have read posts from a man who claimed he kept his dog in a box, another who was surprised that her 8 week puppy would be able to walk and people who assume that because there is a blood relationship between a dog and a bitch they will not mate.

Obviously you have everything under control.

I know he didn't mean any offense. You have no idea how many people post on here that don't know some of this info.

lange · 10-07-2010

I have no experience in owning a large piece of land but you can often find me day dreaming of having one, along with having a bigger pack myself...not to mention, a couple horses!

I was looking forward to reading the replies you would get. I actually thought Cig's post was well thought out. Some points may come across seeming elementary but it can be difficult getting a feel for where a new member is coming from. You can run across people with a lack of basic canine knowledge and unless they follow up with more posts you're left grasping at straws. That can apply for any forum. Because of that some of the more thoughtful posters, like Cig imo, seem to keep all their bases covered.
Hey, I don't want to beat a dead horse here; this is all just my own view of things. And I'd like to add, there's a thin line between advice & opinion anyway.

I do have a friend who owns acreage and keeps an outdoor dog. She free walks with him (and her indoor dogs) throughout the property. But when she is not with him she will keep him in his fenced area; which is still pretty big.

puppylover1 · 10-08-2010

that sounds about right.. would you ask your friend if there is anything she would suggest or any problems she has run into?

margie · 10-08-2010

well we live on a salt water lake and have a nice large piece of property .My two labs are free when we are with them everyday as well as my two cats .But they are never aloud to run free without us ,because there are coyotes in the woods and they may start to chase deer or other wildlife .So I don't think your pack should be out alone .My two girls have a great life and we are always with them
.Good luck on your dream hope it works out.