larseyfarsey

OK, thanks for the tips.

Yes, he has free choice to come and go into or out of the garage. His bed in the garage is on one of those Kennel Decks, which keeps it up off the floor. He has a nice 3" foam bed on top of that, which he normally loves. But nothing can compete with snow I guess. I know he is happy in the cold; it is me who has to get used to the idea that he's out there alone all night. My biggest fear is someone messing with him, even though I have no reason to think someone would. This is still going to take some getting used to on my part . . . . . I hope to pick up a couple bales of hay this weekend and spread it in the spots that he lays in. Thank you everyone for your input.

I want him inside, too, but I don't have a choice. He stayed outside last night for the first time and he is so happy this morning! And his toenails aren't bleeding anymore. He has the entire garage to come into, food and water in there, and his soft bed. Thank you.

He has at least a 1/2 dozen places in the yard he rotates between, depending on the weather. He's a smart boy! When the west wind isn't blowing, he lays on the grass in the corner of the privacy fence. When it is snowy and blowing, he lays in the garden beneath a tall decorative grass, or next to the house in the mulch behind a bush, or under the three 40' tall blue spruce trees. I'm going to spread some hay/straw in those places to make it more comfortable for him I think. Thanks!

Billy is quite the divo. He won't "go inside" something like a dog house or a crate. He hates being confined. Believe me, I have tried. Before I found him, I believe he was a 24/7 outside dog, probably chained in a yard. I don't think he ever saw the inside of a house. He is afraid of stairs and other odd things. He does have a nice soft bed in the garage if he gets tired of lying on the ground. I think I am going to get some hay or straw and place it in the places he lays in the yard. I have a friend who, unfortunately, keeps her Husky on a chain 24/7 outside. She spreads hay for Maggie and says she loves it.

Just as soon as I say there's no way for him to escape, he'll find a way. But yes, I'm 99% certain he can't escape. I'm less certain about someone stealing him because no matter how secure you make something, if someone wants to get in, they will find a way. The only way for someone to steal him is to cut the chain link fence. The only people who know he's back in the yard are my neighbors, and although I don't get along with one of them, I don't think he can see that the dog is out all night, as he's about 1/8 mile away in the back. The fence facing the road is a wood privacy fence, so people passing cannot see the dog. The other two sides are chain link and they face my neighbors next door that I am friends with.

Hello, I guess I just need some reassurance and advice. In the past six months, Billy has shown his age. He's about 10 (not sure, as he was a stray). He's now on Rimadyl for weakness in his back legs, and since he has been taking it, he is much better. But he still scrapes his back toenails a little when walking. It hasn't been a problem until it got cold here. See, because I have cats indoors and Billy likes to pounce on cats, he sleeps in the garage. During the day, he has the run of the fully fenced 1/2 acre yard during the day. But now that it's cold, he wants to be outside at all hours of the night. Generally, I bring him in the garage to sleep about 9 pm, and although he barks to be let out during the night sometimes and early in the morning, I don't let him out until I get up, about 6-7. Lately, since it has become "Husky weather," he has been pacing in the garage, and because he drags his foot, his toenail is worn down to the quick. This morning, there was spots of blood all over the garage floor from him pacing! I was horrified, although he doesn't act like his toenail hurts. Because its the weekend, we didn't go to the vet and he isn't gushing blood. In fact, the cold snow has helped it to stop. But if it isn't stopped altogether tomorrow, I may have to take him to the vet tomorrow to get it covered and bandaged (which will be a whole new story, I'm sure). But in the mean time, I cannot lock him in the garage until it heals, and maybe not ever again if this is what he's going to do. Last year, this wasn't a problem. Yes, he probably paced, but he didn't drag his toenails like he is this year, with more age. So, I need some advice and maybe reassurance about allowing him to stay out all night. I live out in the country and have never had a problem with theft or vandalism or anything. He doesn't dig and he can't jump. The gate has a padlock on it and the yard is secure, although you can never protect yourself from someone who really wants to get in. I tend to worry about him, and I'm just praying I'll be able to sleep, knowing he's out there. He is perfectly happy curled up in the snow, and he has the garage to go into if he wants and to sleep on his bed in there if he wants, as I'll leave the out side passage door open. I think the only mischief he could get into is if a cat jumps in the yard over the fence (God forbid). He can't see too well and he can't hear too well anymore, but he can still smell things a mile away! Any advice/reassurance would ease my mind, I think. Thanks for any help. I'm a worry wart, but the time has come to deal.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and answers. To answer some of your questions: Billy is probably 8-10 years old. I don't know because he was a stray when I found him. I have a "skid" -- it is as you described, but made of plastic. He used to have no problem with it, but now, he seems uncomfortable with it. I don't know if it is because he thinks he is now going to trip on it? I was also thinking that maybe the garage reminds him of the kennel. When I first got him home, he wouldn't eat in the garage like he used to do. I had to feed him outside. Now, he is back to eating in the garage. Yes, fall is here, and he loves this weather, so I'm sure a part of it is he would rather be outside. But in the evening, sometime I used to sit in the garage with him and read; last night, I tried that, and he acted like he wanted to be there with me. He circled his (about 2" thick about 3' x 4') bed a couple of times, wobbled very slightly, then walked away. I took the bed away and put just a thin foam bed. He circled it a few times, and walked away. I replaced that with a rubber-backed throw rug. He circled it a few times, and walked away. I can't quite figure it out. And no, when I put his bed on the grass, he still won't lay on it. I have used the kennel before and they do let them out in the yard several times a day to exercise and potty. The woman who owns it is the supervisor of the 4-H dog show at our county fair, owns a farm, and raises white GSDs, and I do trust her. I just think, being a Husky, he is uber sensitive, and because he's getting older, even more so, so that's why he paced and was nervous and eventually hurt himself. We had bloodwork and xrays done before putting him on the Rimadyl and Tramadol, and no problems there. Yes, the Tramadol makes him sleepy which is good right now so that he rests his leg. I've been walking him slowly about 1/2 mile a day, because as you know, they get very demanding when they don't get their exercise. But he doesn't realize he still has to take it easy. Yes, maybe once this episode is over he'll feel more comfortable. When he is outside, he does have access to the garage. I worry about him outside 24/7 because I'm paranoid. I'm always worried that someone is either going to steal him or hurt him somehow, even though I have privacy fence on the street side and chain link on all other sides. I do have one neighbor who is an @#$hole, so I'm never too sure about him. He was off his food when painful, but now, he is eating well and the vet recommended a grain free diet to prevent inflammation, so that's what I have him on. Nature's Variety frozen raw food, Merrick canned, and Taste of the Wild dry. He loves all of it, and that figures, because it is pretty pricey. I am looking into making a raw food grain free diet for him myself to save a little bit on cost. Yes, in the future, I will not kennel him. I am currently looking for someone who can either stay here and take care of him, or someone who can stop in a couple times a day to care for him. Any other insight or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you again for all your comments -- you have helped.

Hi, I'm new. My husky, Billy, was recently kenneled, and when I went to get him, he could barely use his back legs. Apparently he paced and wore himself out. He's now on Rimadyl and Tramadol until he can recuperate. My problem is this: Billy used to sleep in the garage at night on a nice cushioned bed. Now, he wants to sleep outside in the grass. I cannot get him in the garage and/or on his bed. I am uncomfortable with him being outside all night. What do members think? Is he not using his bed in the garage because a) the garage reminds him of the kennel, his bed is now too soft for him and he feels unstable on it, or c) a little of both? I have put the bed outside, and he won't use it there, either. Also, at first, when he came home, he would not eat in the garage, either, like he used to do. Now that he is feeling a little better, he will eat in the garage. Tonight I put a throw rug with a rubber bottom where his bed used to be, and he came in a circled on it for a few seconds, then left again. What can I do to get him to lay down in the garage? Thank you for your help.