Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girlfriend and I recently moved into a new home with our two dogs. One 60 pound pointer/boxer cross and one 4 and 1/2 month old wolf/husky cross. The wolfsky only weights about 30 lbs right now, but should be 80 or more when full grown.

The problem we are having is that this house has large glass sliding doors that open directly into the backyard. The dogs stay outside when we are not home and when we need them out of the house. The puppy can be a handful sometimes. So when we put them outside sometimes, they will throw themselves against the glass door trying to get our attention.

My worst fear is that the glass will break and injure them, and also I am worried about the cost of fixing a broken door. Does anyone have any suggestions on keeping them from jumping on the glass like that?

We have tried some organic spray that keeps dogs away from things, but of course that did no good. I have a hot wire running a long the bottom of the fence and they have learned to respect that. We have been toying around with the idea of running a cold wire across the door way for a while to see if it does any good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You might get some good advise from the 'outside dogs' board. Maybe someone else has dealt with an similar situation.
Sounds like you've got a couple of cuties! Would love to see pics!

Here are some pics of Angel (4 yr old pointer/boxer mix) and Kyo (4 and 1/2 month old wolf/husky mix). Hope you like!
Link

Such an adorable pair! Good luck with your glass doors!

>>My girlfriend and I recently moved into a new home with our two dogs. One 60 pound pointer/boxer cross and one 4 and 1/2 month old wolf/husky cross. The wolfsky only weights about 30 lbs right now, but should be 80 or more when full grown.
>>
>>The problem we are having is that this house has large glass sliding doors that open directly into the backyard. The dogs stay outside when we are not home and when we need them out of the house. The puppy can be a handful sometimes. So when we put them outside sometimes, they will throw themselves against the glass door trying to get our attention.
>>
>>My worst fear is that the glass will break and injure them, and also I am worried about the cost of fixing a broken door. Does anyone have any suggestions on keeping them from jumping on the glass like that?
>>
>>We have tried some organic spray that keeps dogs away from things, but of course that did no good. I have a hot wire running a long the bottom of the fence and they have learned to respect that. We have been toying around with the idea of running a cold wire across the door way for a while to see if it does any good.
>>
>>Any help would be greatly appreciated.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

At my house we avoid door problems by leaving the sliding glass door open when the dogs are outside. We have heavy vinyl drapes we can pull across the opening that the dogs can push through to go in and out, but the cold and hot air zones stay where they belong on the opposite sides of the drapes.

So much can happen to dogs outdoors, I don't want them out there without being able to hear them and supervise them. If we're not home, they're inside. You could use a crate to keep your pup safely out of trouble until older. Both of these breeds are going to be high risk for leaving a yard and roaming.

To just stop the dogs from breaking the glass, you could protect it with an ornamental metal guard, like the bars on windows, on the outside. I think, though, that fixing that problem will only be a bandaid, as a whole lot of other problems can develop with the dogs spending unsupervised time outdoors when no one is home. Really terrible things can happen.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I like the idea of the drapes. Right now we just have vertical blinds over that door. I am always nervous leaving them outside. I am just afraid that if we leave them in the house all day they won't be getting enough exercise.

I have the hot fence to discourage digging around the bottom of the fence. It's about a 6 to 7 foot privacy fence. I know that huskies are infamous for their ability to jump barriers such as wooden fences. Right now he is too small, but I would hate to find out the hard way that he had grown big enough sooner than expected. I can trust Angel in the house as long as we have something laying on the leather couch that is. Kyo on the other hand does have to be crated. Hmmm...leaving them inside is a thought I have toyed with, but my s.o. isn't too keen on the idea.

How long during the day would the dogs be inside while you're not home? And how old is the puppy again? Neither dog should be left alone for more than 4 hours, and less than that if the puppy is under 6 months old.
I would seriously consider keeping the dogs inside when you're not home, and then when you ARE home, they can spend as much time as they want outside, and that should be plenty of excersise, as long as they get daily walks along with yard time. I have to say the one good thing I have found with NOT having a fensed in yard, is that I am always outside with her and since training a puppy is a CONSTANT on going job, it makes it easier to teach them what is acceptable and unacceptable outside, such as digging, and you avoid having to buy expensive corrective things such as hot wires and invisible fenses.
If you don't mind me asking, why does your s.o. not want them in the house when you're not home? If the pup is crate trained, there shouldn't be any problems. There are a lot more problems that can occur outside than inside.
I wish you the best of luck! Your babies are gorgeous! Hope all goes well!

Hi there
This is the S.O. and the reason I don't want to crate Kyo all day is because of the lack of exercise, and just overall boredom. I don't like the idea of having him cooped all day in a crate with nothing to do, it seems cruel. However when he does get older I know this is what I will have to do cause there is a chance he might jump the fence. We come home at 5pm and barely have enough time to make dinner and play with them before we have to do homework and then head to bed. Maybe I'm being silly in thinking that he will feel punished or less loved when he gets caged...I don't know.

Hello there and welcome! You're babies are beautiful
I would like to say that after doing lots of research about crate training, when we got our puppy, in my opinion it's the best way to train a dog. You're eliminating any problems, a lot more serious than boredom. Dogs usually take to the crate as it's safe haven, and enjoy being in it. I suggest looking up some info online about crate training before you completely make up your mind. What time do you leave in the morning? Are the dogs alone all day? Maybe a dog walker or a doggy daycare would solve your excercise dilema.
Good luck and hope everything works out!

leaving any dog crated for long periods is not advised. the crate training should always leave the dog loving the crate & there are ways to do this.

one idea (already suggested?) is to have a pet sitter come over mid day to let dogs out for a good play/exercise session.or a family friend that you trust. I'd do some pre-sessions for adjustments.

Perhaps some of your vet's staff or local hum soc can make a referral. I'd want someone with really good credentials & you might luck up & find one who'd do some training too.

about the dogs inside/you might restrict access to some areas & really puppy-proof 'their' area. This change would only be temporary until pup adjusts. Leave kongs stuffed with frozen cheese/celery/carrots.

some dogs can really be hyper-destructive inside/but most do best when they learn to respect/consider all things inside as part of their domain to be protected. Your older dog could even help train the pup.

how about some free idea's? We don't have the money for a pet sitter or anything of the sort. Puppy proofing is something that we tried at the old apt., but I guess should be visited upon now. They are only locked up for 4 hours at a time anyway...from 8am to 12pm and then from 1pm to 5pm. When we gated Kyo in the kitchen when he was only 2 months old he just lifted the gate and went underneath it, so a child proof gate wasn't enough for him. any other ideas? Also what is a good spray to use to keep the dogs from hitting the glass door, or bitting things they shouldn't? We got this no dig stuff, which doesn't work at all, in fact I think Kyo actually like its...so yeah, any recommendations?
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We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.

M. Acklam

If you are home mid day, and the dogs will only be crated for four hours, I highly, highly suggest crate training. Kathy I am sure has some good articles on the matter that will be a helpful guide, it really is not cruel or punishment in any way as long as it is done properly.
As for a deterrant spray, the one I've used is Bitter Apple, but it's mainly for chewing/licking/playing with things they're not supposed to, I don't know how well it would work on the door, but you could give it a shot. It has worked wonders for me.

Most people can't afford a petsitter, so some other suggests that don't cost anything:

A retired neighbor, or a teenager who loves dogs might be a solution. They could come over, take the dogs for a walk, play with them at some point of the day. Perhaps a retired neighbor for the morning and a teenager for after school?
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Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog

My furkids:
Shadow, Jadzia and Lyta.
Kira waiting at the bridge.

Dogs come into our lives, and too quickly go leaving pawprints on our hearts, and we will never be quite the same again.

4 hours isn't bad. Once again, its often hard to explain every detail of what you 'are' doing so its easy to get off on a misunderstanding - so

I've had good results with bitter apple using it to spray a small area in & out of our fence when our 2 small hounds go crazy over the scent of some critter in the adjacent woods.

I've seen in Fosters Smith those 'snap' things that folks will put on a sofa under a newspaper that when the pet jumps up, it goes off to startle them

also I have good results when I've just sort of propped a gate up & if the dog realizes that it is going to fall, they skeedadle. you might 'safely' rig up something that isn't steady, outside the glass & give a tug as the dog approaches

I can see where some dogs might get too spooked or others might not be phazed after the first couple of times - just ideas to try - you aren't wanting to get the dog so freaked he becomes fearful

lots of 'wait' & 'ok' training to go along with the other methods that you can practice at times when you are home & the glass is open, could help over time.

Thanks for all the advice guys! It is greatly appreciated. This Monday we are going to start leaving them inside all day and see how it goes. We live in South East Texas, so the heat is so bad they are surely better off in the air-conditioned house anyway.

This town is nice enough to have provided a brand new doggy park for its citizens to utilize. It's really nice and when it gets cooler we are going to try to make it a routine to give them some long exercise times at the dog park at least four times a week, but right now it is so hot outside that Angel (the pointer/boxer) overheats quite often.

The main issue we have had with leaving them inside all day is that Kyo stays so full of energy he is still tearing around the house at 10 pm when we need to be settling down for bed. We leave just before 8 every morning by the way, i think someone asked that earlier. Then we have a lunch break from noon to 1 and are through at 5.

I think they will be okay being inside. It would save me a lot of worries. Angel used to dig out when she stayed with my parents. They lived in a small town where everyone knew who she belonged to, but now we are in a much bigger place. We'll post how it goes.

Thanks again!

That's great! I really think that keeping them inside, especially with the texas heat, is your best bet. And that's great that you have a dog park! My town has been pushing for one for a while, but no such luck yet.
As for Kyo's energy, it takes time for them to learn when it's play time, eating time, bed time, etc. As long as you stick to a strict routine, I think she'll get better about it. Just make sure she gets plenty of excercise when you get home. She is a girl, isn't she? I can't remember, and I am so used to saying "She" that I could be wrong. Sorry if I am.
Good luck with the new routine!

>>Thanks for all the advice guys! It is greatly appreciated. This Monday we are going to start leaving them inside all day and see how it goes. We live in South East Texas, so the heat is so bad they are surely better off in the air-conditioned house anyway.
>>
>>This town is nice enough to have provided a brand new doggy park for its citizens to utilize. It's really nice and when it gets cooler we are going to try to make it a routine to give them some long exercise times at the dog park at least four times a week, but right now it is so hot outside that Angel (the pointer/boxer) overheats quite often.
>>
>>The main issue we have had with leaving them inside all day is that Kyo stays so full of energy he is still tearing around the house at 10 pm when we need to be settling down for bed. We leave just before 8 every morning by the way, i think someone asked that earlier. Then we have a lunch break from noon to 1 and are through at 5.
>>
>>I think they will be okay being inside. It would save me a lot of worries. Angel used to dig out when she stayed with my parents. They lived in a small town where everyone knew who she belonged to, but now we are in a much bigger place. We'll post how it goes.
>>
>>Thanks again!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Good for you! Let me add that if your older dog is okay loose in the house, it is not necessary to crate her just because the pup needs crating. That doesn't create any special jealousy, and it allows each dog to have special chew items if you want, things they might fight over if they were left together.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47