Can you leave your Sheltie unattended outside?

[BarbV]

I hear you Kelly!

But even though OP may not have logged on for over a year, at least a few of us still thought this topical and of use to others, otherwise we would not have bothered to respond to the resurrection of the thread by "dblock".

My tuppence worth.

 

[Calliesmom]

I thought this thread was locked

 

[Diana]

My childhood Sheltie Abigail was once lost for 2 days and 1 night in the middle of winter because she was outside unattended on a long leash. The leash clip froze open and she decided to wander. It was scary - we almost lost her forever, and I still don't know how she survived that night. It was near zero degrees once the sun set. A stranger found her wandering in a park the next day and she had crossed several busy streets to get there.

Even if you have the perfect dog (which Abby was - she was very well-behaved) I don't think it's a good idea to risk it. It's not that much effort to stand there while the dog does its business.

 

[missjenneygirl]

I can't even read most of this thread.
Things happen, even when we are diligent. A year of reading the Forums will show you that. Let's not stack the deck against our dogs. Our dogs need us to make the responsible decisions for their safety and welfare. Just one "Gee, he never did that before" is all it takes. How fair is that for the dog?

 

[dawns2shelties]

I can't even read most of this thread.
Things happen, even when we are diligent. A year of reading the Forums will show you that. Let's not stack the deck against our dogs. Our dogs need us to make the responsible decisions for their safety and welfare. Just one "Gee, he never did that before" is all it takes. How fair is that for the dog?

I totally agree. Well said.

 

[BarbV]

Jenny Girl,

In the history of the forum, this is actually one of the shorter threads. Only 5 pages - compared to some that have extended into the high double digits.

I don't see anything wrong with resurrecting a thread if its relevant. Better that, than starting a new thread a rehashing what might have already been bandied about.

My tuppence worth.

 

[Ann]

Jenny Girl,

In the history of the forum, this is actually one of the shorter threads. Only 5 pages - compared to some that have extended into the high double digits.

My tuppence worth.

Actually, if you read MJG's post, you will realize that the reason she can't read the whole thread is not because it's long...it's because the stories about what can and does happen to dogs left unattended outside is too upsetting.

And her point sums up the answer to the question posed in the thread title perfectly.

 

[missjenneygirl]

Ann, that is absolutely correct...I guess I wasn't explicit in my post. I found some of the posts bizarre at best, and naive at the least.
Please take this in the right spirit, but most of you have had one or two shelties over 10 or 12 years, I've raised probably 40+ shelties in 22 years, and have seen all temperaments.

 

[Sumac3890]

Even though we have a fenced yard I never leave them out side alone. They could get into some thing I may not want them too. I have a friend who when she had a fenced yard would leave her out side for hours at a time and once on of them got very sick, she never figured out if it was something she ate outside or what but she was lucky.
Snakes or what ever could wander into the yard and it is not always safe. Plus a gate could be left open or blown open and off they go.

 

[Barney's Mom]

Snakes or what ever could wander into the yard and it is not always safe. Plus a gate could be left open or blown open and off they go.

I am very careful with my dogs. They rarely ever go outside without me - and never go out where there is no fence if I am not right there (and they are on leash). However, my husband has the habit of putting them out in our fenced backyard 30 minutes or so before I get home from work.

I came home one day and my Barney was in front of my house by in the middle of the street. Fortunately, he was okay but I was terrified. He could have just as easily (1) been hit by a car, (2) gotten lost, or (3) been stolen.

He got out of the yard because the yard people left a gate unlatched. It was out of character for him to go anywhere without his big "sister," Cotton, but this time she was still in the backyard and he was not... Still gives me a queasy stomach to remember it ... and it happened months ago!