Hi,

I've been reading alot on this website and it's been very helpful. I have 3 male shepherds who are in the back yard together while I am at work which is all day 7:00 am to 5:00 pm monday - friday (they are 7yrs, 2yrs & 8 months-all fixed but 8 month old one)
I'm starting to get the idea from what I've been reading that this may not be a really good idea. They get along fine but dogs are dogs and things could change at any time. Should I invest in some kennels for the back yard and keep them separated during the day? I have one kennel already but would need at least one more for it to work- I have crates in the house but I dont know if its fair to leave them in there all day without potty breaks, etc. I dont come into town during lunch only a couple days a week so they would be in there all day. Another thing, my 8 month old has developed some fear aggression recently, I took him to obedience class a few weeks ago and he freaked out now it seems everything is making him nervous (took him to the park last night and he was very concerned about everything going on) I wonder if its because he is with my other dogs all day and when I take him by himself he feels scared without them? maybe he is not seeing my as the leader? Or maybe I'm reading too much into everything thing?

Kathy, I can't answer your first question but I also had a fearful puppy. He was with his littermates until 4 months of age and then I had 2 other dogs he grew up with. It was suggested to me that he was fearful because he was bonded with the other dogs and not with me. When I, who was basically only a food source, took my puppy away from his pack, he lost all confidence.

The solution for me was to separate my puppy 100% from the other dogs so he could bond with me, which even though he was born in my home, he was not bonded with me.

Now he will be 6 months old this week and he is MUCH more confident now when I take him out. He trusts ME, as opposed to only the other dogs.

HTH

Not only could the getting-along part change, but I'd have other reasons for not allowing my three dogs, including a puppy, to be left on their own as a pack for the whole day, day after day.

Good job, to be re-thinking it.

What exactly does "freaked out" and "nervous" mean? Hackling, barking, hiding, what?

Kathy, good for you for doing your research and I agree w/Connie. I would probably do some setup with like sheltered dog runs or kennels. That way, they can still have fresh air, shelter and have the comfor of each other, but not be able to do any harm to each other, property or another person.

Connie,

When I took him to the first class it was really over crowded. I was there for about 10 min waiting for class to start, I went to pet him and he was shaking bad. We started with healing- some dogs started barking at him and then eventually he started barking back, whining, trying to escape when we went by doors, fast panting, nipping and jumping at me, just really fearful. We've been to 2 other classes since then and its not any better- they finally broke up the class into 2 so its not so crowded but I dont think its going to make a difference. Its when were trying to heel that hes like this. tries to hide behind me too but barks at the same time. As far as the park, he just seemed very nervous, there were a couple kids with their parents playing on the slides and he low barked a couple times when we went by them (not very close even)and kept trying to look at them and there was a skateboarder on a ramp that he barked at several times -maybe because of the noise it made on the metal? If hackles are the hairs on his back -yes they were up at the skateboarder along with his tail- and it seemed the longer we were there the more I could see him getting stressed out. When we went over to some picinic tables he was trying to climb them but not like he was playing more like trying to get away if that makes sense? I tried some sits and downs and alittle playing but figured he had enough so finally left after about 15/20 minutes.
I also noticed at home when they are out and someone walks by the fence the older 2 dogs run out and bark but he will stay back

If you have space for kennel runs then that's a good way to go. You could crate, but if they are used to running free in the yard then the runs will give them more freedom. Some dogs like to bark their heads off in kennels, so I would see how your dogs react to it to avoid issues with neighbors. Dogs barking for 8 hours straight tends to annoy them

Ok, I have decided to get another kennel. I feel this is a good move not only for my dogs safety but possibly helping Sampsons confidence and helping keep my yard from getting destroyed Now my question is what kind of toys, etc do people use to keep them occupied during the day when their dogs are in a outdoor kennel? I see Ed sells some treat ball thingys but would those be something you could leave in there while at work? Or would they chew them up?

Hey Kathy, I think a good choice would be to get some regular kongs (the red kind). They will hold up very well, and are usually around $8-10 for a large. You can stuff them with yogurt or cream cheese and freeze them overnight, then in the AM when you leave, give each one to your dog as they go in their kennel.

My dog is a so-so chewer and after 2 years, she has done minimal damage to her kong. They also sell the black kongs for the "hard core" chewers, but they are really stiff. I'd try the red kong first.

I had a dog killed several years ago when I let them all run free in the yard when I was not home. They had not had issues with each other for several years and then one day they all ganged up on and killed one.

you nver know when the dogs are all running free in the same area.

i was at dog training course this past weekend.
the trainer there has all his dogs on chains attached to a dog house, of course they dont interfere with each other, but they get worked daily - he told us dogs are better off that way then locked in a run/kennel.i tend to agree.
it is ok to be in a large fenced in area where there are other structurs such as a house or garage, but in kennels most dogs just fence run.we used to breed belgians, they were bred mainly for show,some lived in kennels and they did fence run, but at nite we let them run in groups of 2 or 3 depending who got along wth who.we had 50 acres. never unsupervised were they left alone together.

nice if you live rural of course.
i had my new dog - dutch shepherd- in the fenced in back yard with pet door access to a large double garage when i was away at work ( it was a rural property,but i had chain link fence at the back of the house)she now is with me all the time since i work from home.

when i grew up in europe lot of the farm dogs were chained at nite, and running with the farmer during the day.
most people however have no choice but to kennel, as long as they get excersise.