curious

My dogs will live outside in a nee built run next month but im worried about the cold weather here in ireland also with lexy onky 16 months and diesel 16 weeks will it be safe

why will they be living outside?

Well sleeping and most of the time outside but in inside when snow etc arrives

yes but any reason why they can't stay in the house?

Its a small 2.bedroom house and diesel stays in a small backroom and lexy in tge kitchen but locking a dog up is cruel in my eyes esp when we both work the will have 12x12 ft of space outside new built kennel aswell

Two dogs being so new to each other would be a concern. I keep my dogs in a crate but as soon as they get used to it its just like a bed to them, nights are getting colder so a run might not be the safest place for them if they get too cold. For the winter I would suggest crate and after when its warm and the dogs are used to each other the run might be a good idea but would they bark a lot? I know mine do when they are playing!

Well im out side most of the day with them playing so they are used tp bein outside

Rocky would sulk and fall out with me big time if I left him outside for more than 5 minutes  

I'm not overly keen on staffords being kennelled outside. They have very short coats - they really aren't outside dogs. 

Im not for it but we also in the middle of renevating our home too .. we will obviously let them sleep inside wen weather is bad etc. My back garden is ove 100ft long and 40ft wide so plenty of space to play. The kennel will also be insulated too

I agree that I would be wary about leaving the two outside alone together. Play can very quickly turn into trouble, I personally wouldn't risk it.

I might have got the wrong impression here Daryll; if so, please forgive me.

But as I read it, you've got two puppies - when you're at work one is shut in a bedroom and the other in the kitchen. Presumably, when you are home both puppies are with you in the evening, and then go to their separate rooms to sleep?

Now you want to give them more freedom to play when you're at work, (good, if they get along together) but because you are also having house renovations done the puppies will also be sleeping in a (well-insulated) kennel at night as well.

Have I understood the situation correctly?

I would not let a 16 week pup sleep outside. My girl lives outside and in winter she has a coat on and in when it really cold. Her kennel is carpeted and has a duvet nailed over the outside and it's also inside an outhouse so no wind or rain gets near it. She didn't start staying outside until the summer of being 1 yo. I wouldn't start to let them sleep outside in winter cause they won't be used to it and their won't have time to get a coat suitable.

Ok hayley thanks alot uve been good help

Alot of dogs are capable of living outside but thats not necessarily the best place for them. Even the chuckchi tribes brought there sibes into there tents for warmth and they can take some extreme cold. As for a staff I wouldnt keep em outside as they have a single coat. If that gets wet, cold will set in very quickly. So weighing up the odds, staying indoors dry and warm will outweigh being out in the garden

Thanks nathan just the guy i bought my first pup iffbhas 6 staffs and an anerican bully and they all live outside day and night except bad wether

I would freeze in our bed without my 2 hot water bottles ( OH is as cold as ice  )

Lol im warm blooded dave haha always warm. Kinda pisses me off haha

I will also add that I make sure to feed a good diet, I let her get a little tubby coming into winter and she gets the full fat wainwrights instead of the low fat that she gets in summer. Yes Staffords were intended to be an indoor dog but with the right care they are perfectly fine outside.

Low/ full fat wainwrights ... Didn know there was a difference lmao

Dave wrote:I would freeze in our bed without my 2 hot water bottles ( OH is as cold as ice  )

Same mate. Couldnt get to sleep without them fereting about and then bedding down. Marley sleeps under the covers with me while laska sleeps on my head....

Hahaha typical dogs lmao

16 weeks seems far too young to be living outside, just a baby! Would it be possible for them to sleep indoors?

They do at the moment cesca as i mentioned before ill have a new fully insolated kennel and heat lamp and carpeted so they would always be warm andd i would have them outside in the snow

It all just seems a little rushed. You have two dogs that don't currently sleep in the same room, one of which is a pup. Then you plan to put them out in time for the bad weather hitting, what if one of them wants some space? You won't hear any problems from inside if they're outside.

Please think about over wintering them in the house then maybe try your kennel out when both are a little older, used to each other and kinder weather

I think what it comes down to is that if you're worried about the bad weather, don't put them outside. 

Thanks caryll .. was mainly outta curiosity and ppls views on it not to mention what i could offer them outside ... But thanks

Well i would never keep a single coated dog breed outside in winter regardless of how bad the weather is.

I got my boys to be part of the family and that means living in doors 365 days a year and to be with us.

My gsds were long coated and to get them used to being outside both were 2yrs old and they first spent the summer outside so their coats would get used to the weather as it slowly got colder. They both came in when they were 9 yrs they both loved sitting out in the snow
I however would not put my staffies outside esp starting them off in the colder months

I don't like the idea of keeping dogs outside. Staffys are people dogs and love to be around their owners. Mia follows me everywhere lol. Also what is your security like? I would be worried that they would get stolen. Personally I can't see the point in having a dog if it is kept outside . Just my opinion.

debs0109 wrote:Personally I can't see the point in having a dog if it is kept outside .  Just my opinion.

Same here.

I disagree but ah well can't have everything

Trouble is, I know you & Lexi have a good relationship & she lives outside, but a stafford really isn't an outside dog. Never has been.

A stafford was bred to be a house dog, living inside with the family when not fighting (as nasty as that sounds). Their coat is ultra short and they crave human companionship - that's what makes them such a good family dog.

I'm not saying they can't live outside, in the right conditions, but I don't think they should.