Big Dogs

[ade100]

I need some advice on where our Golden Retriever should live during the rainy season.

Normally she lives outside the house and has some garden run around in, a large covered, tiled area to sleep on. She seems happier outside and we are also quite happy not to have our furniture chewed up and mud brought into the house. However, it is now the rainy season in Phuket. Mosquitoes are everywhere, we have seen snakes in the garden and she seems to spend a lot of time getting wet.

I am worried about her health and safety and thinking of bringing her in at nights. What does everyone think? Is this a sensible idea? From what I have seen in Thailand, most folk seem to keep larger dogs outside all year round. Also I have heard it said you shouldn't send mixed messages to a dog. Either it should be allowed inside or not allowed at all.

[Mobi]

Well I'm not an expert, but I do have a Golden Retriever who stays outside for most of the time. The only room she is allowed in is my office when I stay there during hottest part the day.

I have large covered terrace where she spends most of her time if she is not running around the garden or chasing dogs away from the front gate.

Whenever it rains, she invariably gets soaking wet. If I'm around I'll give her a towelling down to get off the worst of the water. But she will just sit on the terrace and dry herself in front of the fans that I have outside for her.

I have had her since a pup, and she never gets ill and is always the picture of health, so the soakings don't seem to have any ill effects.

Don't forget that Goldens are natural swimmers and were bred to jump in rivers and ponds to retrieve game. Their coats are designed for water.

[elfe]

should not be a problem but i recommend to shower your golden with antifungusshampoo once in a while and dry her completely after. if the dog is constantly wet it is bad for skin and health, so a bit of additional work in rainy season

my goldens stay outside all the time and it isn't a problem, only that the hair gets tangled and fungus likes to settle on the constant wet parts of the skin like the throat and inside the legs. this is helped by antifungusshampoo easily.

[Nienke]

Dogs can learn to come in ONLY after you invite the dog, that is only on command.

You can also do as Mobi does and allow your dog in one room, while the rest of the house is restricted area.

Another option is that you buy a cage/dog house, where your dog sleeps in the night. The cage you can then cover with a mosquito net. It is also a bit from the ground, usually about 20 cm.

As for the snakes, there seem to be plants (such as lemon grass and lemon trees) that snakes don't like. You may put some pots with these plants around the cage.

Elfe makes a sensible point about the risk of fungal infection on dogs that are wet a lot. On the other hand, when the dog's immune system is strong it'll keep that in check. When there is case of fungal infection, then you should question what is wrong with its immune system.

Just some thoughts.

Nienke

[elfe]

the immunsystem of my goldens is good. they are constantly wet, from bathing in their basins to cool off, from rain, from lying in mudholes. there skin is not infected but if you come really close you can smell a mushroom like odour and the parts which never dry out like the throat hav a light brownish colour sometimes which disappears after shampooing.

i would make sure to keep the dog off wind at night. if wet and cool wind is not good, especially in the first 6 months i would recommend to bring the dog in at night if bad weather. if you have the possiblity then do like nienke suggested, train the dog to a certain area in the house. am a bit against crates as i don't like locked up dogs should be feasable to train your golden to ly at his place in the house and not wander around at night and destroy things. if she is still a puppy it would maybe be better to leave her in a separate room with some toys or chewies so she does not get bored and cannot destroy any furniture.

[ade100]

Thanks everyone! Some excellent advice here. I'm going to look into these suggestions.

[cmsally]

My Golden likes outdoors daytime but has slept indoors at night since a puppy.

Consequently she knows around 10pm is bedtime and will be waiting outside my office door (that is where she sleeps). We played a trick on her once to see what she would do if she had to sleep outside for the night. We switched off the lights and pretended we had all gone to bed. She immediately went to the office door (separate building but close to the house). First she tried knocking on the door, then when that didn't work she figured there was no one in there to let her in, so she barked and barked and barked. Which of course had the desired result - human is well trained and comes over from house to let her in!

So answer is my dog would never stay out at night, for a start she hates the mozzies and she would spend all night catching them. But outside is also not her assigned place and she very much knows it.

[KKK]

My Golden spends most of the time inside sleeping/resting at my feet in my study during the day and on the carpet in my bedroom at night. She only goes out when she needs to "do her business" or is taken for a walk or to the beach. She has free roam of the house accept the kitchen which she knows is out of bounds but does sometimes get into.

Goldens are social dogs and need interaction with humans. They are not good guard dogs and will willingly carry your precious belongings to a waiting thief.

So my vote would be to keep your Golden inside except during exercise and poop time. If it chews the furniture make sure that his/her favourite toy or ball is at hand and teach your dog to chew that instead.

[elfe]

My Golden spends most of the time inside sleeping/resting at my feet in my study during the day and on the carpet in my bedroom at night. She only goes out when she needs to "do her business" or is taken for a walk or to the beach. She has free roam of the house accept the kitchen which she knows is out of bounds but does sometimes get into.

Goldens are social dogs and need interaction with humans. They are not good guard dogs and will willingly carry your precious belongings to a waiting thief.

So my vote would be to keep your Golden inside except during exercise and poop time. If it chews the furniture make sure that his/her favourite toy or ball is at hand and teach your dog to chew that instead.

that is the best and i fully agree with you!