Am I being cruel to this dog? (Full Version)

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MariaB -> Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:14:47 AM)

The collie dog that comes to visit me every day doesn't belong to me. He is whats known as the village dog, 'chien de village' and his name is Weekend. He once belonged to a man who became a drunk and forgot he had a dog and because the village liked the dog they adopted him.
He's a real character but incredibly well behaved. Sometimes at night he hears the wolves in the mountains and he howls back to them. Sometimes my husband takes him to work with him because he loves a ride in the van but he sticks like glue to my husbands side until its time to leave.
The problem is at night. He is used to sleeping outside but its now minus 20 during the dark hours. I made him up a special bed off the ground with a polystyrene base and a wool blanket but I just don't think that its warm enough.
Last night I took him out a hot drink just before going to bed and he could hardly get up because he was so stiff. He's only 5 years old so not an old dog but already he's showing signs of arthritis.
I just couldn't bring myself to leave him outside last night and so put his blanket down in the kitchen. He didn't move all night, not a single murmur. I can continue doing this but on Saturday I am going to England for ten days. Now I'm worried that I have started something. My neighbor told me off this morning and said I will make him soft but I think if he continues to sleep outside in up to minus 30 he's just not going to survive the winter.
I don't know what to do other than cancel going to the UK and I don't think my family will be too pleased about that.
Any ideas?



lizi -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:19:22 AM)

Is there anyone that can take over giving him a warm place to sleep until your return. Anyone at all?



MariaB -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:26:11 AM)

Nobody seems to want to do that lizi. The problem is, because he's an outside dog he's a bit smelly!
I'm wondering about insulation materials to make him a really warm bed.



needlesandpins -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:29:03 AM)

can he not have a kennel with lots of blankets?

i know what it's like though. my old collie was used to living outside with constant access to a kennel in my garage. in his last winters i felt awful when he was out in the cold, but even with the choice he wouldn't come in. when it snowed he dug himself a hole and laid in it outside, and got covered with snow even though he could go in. he'd dig a hole in my flower beds and lay in those when it rained rather than go in.

DrG tried bringing him in the house and found out that he acted as though he was being told off. i also gave him lots of beds outside but he destroyed them all, and would only sleep on a pallet in his kennel. he just didn't want to be in. before last winter set in i had him put to sleep as he wasn't in the best of health, and i couldn't watch him stay outside anymore.

if you give him a kennel with lots of blankets (others may also donate for him) then at least he would be warmer in there while you are away. the neighbour could also keep an eye on him too. it is a little.....erm....not exactly cruel, but he will get used to the warm and then have to go back out....maybe unfair?

difficult for you.

needles



lizi -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:31:59 AM)

I see. Well, I know some people with outdoor pets that live in colder climates use heated pads. Obviously this would means there would have to be access to electricity somewhere leading to where he would sleep outdoors. Otherwise I think that putting his blankets and bedding into somewhere that was sheltered out of the wind like a traditional doghouse type of arrangement could help.



culareD -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:41:13 AM)

I just adopted a dog that is 10 years old and was completely an outdoor dog...I decided to make him an indoor dog, and he has done great! That being said, if I need him to be outside he does fine too. My thoughts are though if you can't find anyone to help you, then get his shots up to date, take him for a good shampoo and then find a boarding place for him. Alternatively, I believe he will be fine outside...I don't think you are being cruel at all. I applaud your efforts...



mnottertail -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:43:08 AM)

You have straw?   a couple bales or so, or you can build a little 4 square hut out of them and straw on the bottom.  So he can nest, or evergreen boughs work fine. Thing is about polystyrene uncovered and unheated is it also keeps cold in.

 



Just0Plain0Mike -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:43:59 AM)

We had a situation like this. We lived in NJ and had adopted some feral cats, a mother and her kittens. We fed them every day, put out a small house on the front porch, even put a dog-bed heater in there when it got cold. A few years later, we were moving out of state and decided that after taking care of them for so long we couldn't just leave them. So we put out have a heart traps and eventually caught them. The plan was for them to become outside cats again once we moved, but by the time they became acclimated to being in a new area, they decided that they wanted nothing to do with the outdoors. It's pretty amazing, but at this point they've become real lap-cats.

The dog-bed heater we used was very low wattage, under 50 watts I believe, and we just ran an extension cord out a basement window to accommodate it.



ServosCor -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 6:51:28 AM)

A dog house w/ a heated bed would be my first choice.  (easiest way:  get an igloo type, drill a hole in the back and put a heated pad MADE FOR DOGS in there........also think ebay for the pad if time allows, used igloo perhaps advertised in your local paper or somewhere like craigslist in the UK? or where ever you are)
]
If this is not an option perhaps a local kennel could board him for you while you are gone.  Yes, it would be an expense but you would have peace of  mind while you were away knowing he was fed and out of the cold.  btw.... your neighbor is very wrong.  Kudos to you for your big heart!  :)



Rule -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 7:26:42 AM)

Won't his hair fall out if he is provided with heat and protection? That would make him vulnerable to the cold if he moved away from the heat and protection.



MariaB -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 7:36:37 AM)

Thanks everyone. His shots won't be up to date and because it takes 3 weeks in between each vaccination, kennels/boarding is out I'm afraid. The silly thing is, even if I had got the shots for him and booked him into a doggy hotel, the villagers here wouldn't of been overly happy.
They are mostly farmers round here and they are pretty tough on the dogs. Lots of pups get drowned at birth and lots of dogs end up as strays. As far as these people are concerned a dogs a dog and should live outside on scraps. The fact that this dog has done so well from the village is because he's got such a sweet and loving character (clever boy!)

I have a cave which runs under the house and is used for storing wood. I can move the wood to where he's sleeping at the moment. I'm going to take peoples advice and put a bed inside the cave. I can get Steve to drill through from the utility room so we have some electric and I will get him a heat mat.
Straw is a good idea too but its messy and ends up sticking to the dog. Its certainly warmer than blankets though and so if I can't get a heat pad in time I will get a bail of straw. I didn't know that about polystyrene :(



mnottertail -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 7:37:45 AM)

They dont get like a sauna, he will not lose all his guard hair.  Even inside alot they still grow some decent guard hairs.



Aynne88 -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 7:40:11 AM)



Ron's right he won't lost his hair at all.

Thank you for taking care of this sweet boy. Hay, straw, an igloo or tent, anything like what you are planning will be a vast improvement to being exposed to the elements. You are awesome.



MariaB -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 8:31:36 AM)

Shows how much I know. I had to get the wiki definition of what guard hair is! Well thats good news.
Aynne it breaks my heart to see any animal suffering.
My husband has always been a bit phobic with dogs because he was savaged by an Alsatian when he was a child and still carries the scars. Weekend has taught my husband that dogs are and can be really nice animals. Its been really lovely watching the relationship build between Steve and Weekend and Steve's trust in dogs is getting stronger every day.

The good news is, Steve has been working on a house extension today and has come home with a load of insulation materials!



AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 10:40:22 AM)

I don't know anything about dogs to advise, but you have such a kind heart Maria.



absolutchocolat -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 10:42:07 AM)

See if there is a kennel service near you. There are lots of places that house dogs and cats for a fee while their owners are traveling.



mnottertail -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 10:44:51 AM)

the poly will be good stuff with a heatpad, cuz then it will retain heat longer.

But who cares about some straw sticking to his fur?  It will wipe off as he goes about his bidness.......(I have a joke about shit sticking to fur, but thats another day.....)



MariaB -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 11:58:46 AM)

mnottertil he already looks like a scarecrow!!
Thanks Athena but I'm certain you would be doing the same.
He's not my dog absolutchocolat and he's used to roaming around the village at his own will. Even if I did get him to a kennels he hasn't had his jabs and so they wouldn't accept him.



Level -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 12:04:51 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: mnottertail

You have straw?   a couple bales or so, or you can build a little 4 square hut out of them and straw on the bottom.  So he can nest, or evergreen boughs work fine. Thing is about polystyrene uncovered and unheated is it also keeps cold in.

 


Ron's right. Make him a cozy place to stay, and if you.can get someone to at least drop by and feed him, he'll be good.



kdsub -> RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? (12/12/2012 12:46:24 PM)

If you can provide a wind break or as stated above a dog house then hay would be better than straw. If he is acclimated to outdoors I think he will do just fine with a windbreak and some bedding material. I would worry more about fresh water.

Butch



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