Dog escape

[Allen Crisp]

We have a young dog which is reasonably well behaved but circumstances mean that it has to be left in the house for a few hours each day. It copes OK with this (doesn't howl or act destructively) but the missis has suggested enlarging our cat flap into a dog flap so it can go outside when it wants.

 

How likely is it to try and escape (I'm sure it could jump over the wall if it made a determined effort)? Do dogs (or rather bitches) stay on their own territory or are they roaming animals at heart? What about when it's in season?

[keen2learn]

It'll depend on the dog' s character, but in general this is probably a risky strategy, and your dog is likely to roam and get lost or into trouble. Is it possible to make an enclosed outside run with warm shelter for when you're out? I gather this is a bitch; if she's outside in season you'll probably discover that every dog in the district is a secret showjumper.

[PurplePixie]

I would never recommend installing a dog flap. My friend has one for her dog & it means that the dog has never learnt to indicate that it needs to go outside & pee....fine when its at home...but she can't take it anywhere as it just doesn't know to let her know it is needing a pee until too late. It also has never experienced holding on & seems to have a bladder the size of a pea!!

Also from a security point of view, a dog flap is easy entry for an intruder (even if your dog would eat him!)

[woofgang]

Before our area got targetted by burgl;ars, I used to leave a patio door open for my dog to come and go when i was out of the house...this is a few years ago now and i wouldn't dream now of doing anything  else wbut keep the house locked up tight. Never had a problem with bladder holding or housetraining, but dog was housetrained before ever being left alone. My girl gets left alone for 3 to 5 hours every weekday but she gets a long walk off the lead first and loads of attention when we are home. She tends to sleep when I am not here (My mum comes to stay and she tells me what happens). This is the third weimaraner that I have had. All have been brought up the same and had the same regime and no problems. IMHO bottom line is if your dog is well taken care of a dog door is not necessary and, as Purple Pixie says, can allow intruders in. Did you know that if you are burgled and the intruders did not force an entry ie got in through open door, window dog flap, then youre insurance company can refuse to pay out!!