RandyB Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Our 2 year old BC Lizzie can stay in the house now when we are gone and is very good. She doesn't chew anything up any more and no going potty in the house. If she absolutly has to she will go on the basement floor which is fine with me, allot better then a rug or carpet. We have taken the kennel down in the basement that I made for her now. What I'm wondering is can she ever be trusted to stay home outside if we left her? She has never run away from our place since we got her at 4 months old. I don't know how we could even test her on this. When we aren't playing with her she keeps herself occupied outside pretty good by herself. We have quite a few farms around us with cattle, horses, and sheep and I'm afraid she might be tempted to go do some herding on her own. Have any of you trained your BC to stay home by itself when your gone? Just curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I wouldn't do it. The way your post reads it sounds like you don't have fences, or a way to contain her outside. It is possible that she might take it upon herself to harrass someone else's stock (which might result in her demise), not to mention any other bad things that could happen (being run over by a car, attacked by a bear or coyote, etc.). Nope, I personally wouldn't risk it. Is there some reason why she can't continue to stay inside when you're gone? My dogs are crated/contained when I am not home - ages 7-1/2 weeks, 3 years, 6 years, 8 years, and 12 years. It is for their safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Not to mention that your dog could be stolen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyB Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I guess I would like her to be outside on a nice day and not cooped up. I have a pretty big outdoor kennel for her its 17 x 24 feet, but she can't run in it. I was just wondering if a BC could be trained to stay home or if their herding instinct is so strong that it would over rule it. My wife will be retiring in two years and then it won't be a problem anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I dont care how trained my dog is, if I didnt have fences (not even an underground)I wouldnt let her outside unsupervised. She could be stolen, hit by a car, teased, take of chasing something and be hurt... who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I have Invisible Fence and I still monitor my dog when he is outside. I don't want him to bark and disturb my neighbors; he would rather have us out there with him anyway. We have sudden thunderstorms that can pop up in no time here in the South and I would hate for my poor dog to be outside in one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyB Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I always leave our BC inside to if its raining or a thunderstorm is coming. I have never left our BC outside on her own. I was just asking if they could be trained to be, but from what I'm reading they can't. I didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Hornet's nest?? You asked a question, and we are answering as to our experiences and thoughts. I'm sorry if we're not telling you what you hoped/expected to hear. The bottom line is we cannot tell you what your dog can and cannot be trained to do. However, we can tell you that in our experience not only border collies but dogs in general have a tendency to meet up with trouble when they are left outside, alone, un-contained. Even if you can train your dog not to roam, you still have no control about other dogs or creatures coming onto your property. All I can say is personally if I wanted to leave her outside on a nice day while I'm gone, I'd put her in the kennel. If I wanted her to have a run, I'd take her for one myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leahluvsherpups Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 What's wrong with the kennel run? She can't run in the house/basement either so why not just put her in it? My dogs stay in a kennel run while we're at work. It's covered, has dog houses, and plenty of water and toys for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 There's no way I would ever leave our three BC's loose at home. I like to know they are safe inside - I'd worry too much if they were free to roam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie_Girl Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Ask your self if you would trust a 4yr old out side with no containment alone. No matter how well they may be trained, sometimes things happen that can not be resisted! Even when they know better, they won't always do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painted_ponies Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Originally posted by RandyB:We have quite a few farms around us with cattle, horses, and sheep and I'm afraid she might be tempted to go do some herding on her own. Your instincts are correct, odds are she'd be off herding the neighbor's stock. And in that situation, unlike passing a football, three things can happen and ALL of them are bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malvie Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Consider if you left your dog outside, and somebody else came along... A few threads up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melody Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 My choice would be keep her inside safe and sound How long was you thinking she would be cooped up for? she will have a lovely "settle" time and sleep whilst your gone with no worry what she might be up to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailrider Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 And what is to stop a wandering dog from coming in to your dog loose in the yard - bear bait for anything that comes along, including a pack of dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Anne Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 How bout a doggy door leading out to a fenced in portion of your yard. That way she can decide, inside or outside. Like someone else said, she can't run in the house either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.