Opinions on living area.... - Page 2

Your pen looks very nice!  I wish I could put river rock down in my dogs pen, but they eat rocks! 

        Bob, ,I see your concern about boredom, I am not sure what his tendencies are as he has not spent that much time out there in the past. Mostly to use the bathroom and watch me mow the lawn......There is nothing dangerous in the garage that I can think of....shoes, and soda cans is about it....I am concerned about fence jumping, ???????....What did you put on the top of your run?????

        vomzellmer.....I had a rock eater...lol...this guy does not eat rocks thankfully......                  

I know you carefully picked up all his toys so he would focus on you.  The right thing to do at the time.  However, if it was me........ I would give him a couple somethings to play with to help keep from being too bored.  A couple of mine like the Egges.  I like Kim's idea of a kennel portion inside the garage also.  Gives him access yet keeps him out of possible trouble or harm while inside of it.  In all my kennels, I have at least a portion covered so they can be outside yet still not in the rain (or snow).

Nice set-up for him.

It's a really nice pen, much fancier than mine at home, but about the same size. We'll talk about getting a good in/out schedule for him. :)

Very, very nice set up. He needs a shade area where he can lay to get out of the sun. But more important, I never leave a dog in a crate,  kennel, or fended in area with a collar on. Collars always come off at good,commercial boarding facilities before the dog goes in the run.

Beardog

Nice is nice but not practical.

1. gravel will stink eventually. ( Very much!). Best surface is concrete and in winter I would put on wood area for the dog to get off frozen or cold wet concrete.)
2. if the run faces south then there is no shade.
3. if you get a lot of snow then the dog after major snow fall will get out over the top. (Solution:Chainlink fencing on top or roof)
4. dog will probably mess eventually with the garbage cans.
5. if the ground is dirt then the dog can dig out or dig generally . (Solution :Concrete)
6. public access !!! public can access your dog. That is very bad!. They can get bitten through the fence, mess with your dog or steal him. ( unless the area has additional fence around your property. )
This is what you can almost count on!
(Solution: Another perimeter fence.)

7. Final suggestion. Keep the dog with you as much as possible.There are rare occasions when personal dog needs to go into the kennel. But  50% of the time in the kennel for personal dog is too much.  Putting the dog away when visitors arrive may not be good idea (unless allergies). 
                                           a/ protection dog can not protect you if he is in the kennel Most people if attack in their house are attacked by people who were let into the house under friendly pretenses or were friends.
                                           b/ if the dog is a nuisance he will not learn not to be nuisance if he is in the kennel. Teach the dog "place' command when you have visitors who do not like dogs.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

ups double post

        Prager,,,Thanks for the post,,,#3 is a very important suggestion, I did not think of the snow piling up during a heavy snow fall, and I can tell you it does pile up in that area. ...You think that 50% of the time is too much ???,,,,I thought I was just me being too sensitive. I will consider that decision....Also, you are right about the place command, the dog run should not be used in place of proper obedience....

 JustK9s....We are considering building a smaller space inside the garage area...

 animules,,, My boy is at a trainer and that is why it looks so empty, he will have toys to play with when he gets home,,,,

    Kelly,,,,Sounds great,,,you are the Best....

   Bear Dog,,, I almost lost a dog from a collar issue, thanks for the reminder....

          Lots to think about ...Thank you....

                       Deanna...: )