What's new
Mastiff Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • Welcome back!

    We decided to spruce things up and fix some things under the hood. If you notice any issues, feel free to contact us as we're sure there are a few things here or there that we might have missed in our upgrade.

What age do you trust your cane outside

I'm getting way ahead of myself as I know this is a ways down the road, but I was just wondering what age you started trusting your dog to be outside on his own. I have a very large fully fenced in yard, and I also have a 5x8 dog house I built for my dog that has heat and air conditioning(yes I might be crazy). I was considering this time just installing a dog door in my house to give him access whenever he wants. Maybe this is more of a maturity than age thing, just hoping for some opinions.
 

floulou

Well-Known Member
Not sure if there is a set rule on this one, others may have more insight. But i would say base it on behavior. My CC is 4 months old and I would leave him outside if I had a solid fence. I already know that although he puts random objects from the ground in his mouth now and again, he never chews or swallows them. What's the worst that can happen if you remove hazards from the yard? He digs a hole? Just make sure it's not too hot or not too cold obviously, provide some shade from the sun, some toys for entertainment and plenty of water. Backup water bowls are a good idea because they get knocked over. Try it out for an hour or two at first and work up to more time.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Great advice, floulou! I agree, it depends on the dog. Also, be aware of people who steal dogs. I do not know where you live, but if dog fighting is prevalent in your area, be aware.

That is cool that you have a dog house with heat and AC!
 

khplaw

Well-Known Member
As for the water source, try using an automatic horse waterer. They are large, flat bottomed and flat sided and refill automatically.
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
ooo air conditioning! Our girl is 8 months and crated. I would love to leave her outside, but I worry about her getting too bored and destroying the plants and digging. Plus I am worried about if we decide to bring her back to the crate during the day she freaks out more. We also live in vegas where during most the year its too hot to leave her outside, but an air conditioned dog house would be nice, good idea!
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
When I'm home, Denna could be outside by herself pretty early... i.e. 4 months or so... she loves just laying out and napping in the sun.
But... while I trust HER outside alone, we don't ever leave her outside when we're not home.

I don't want her barking at the neighbors (which she does when they come out to BBQ or do yard work and make strange noises), and I don't want any weirdos teasing her or tossing her items that she shouldn't have.. i.e. I don't trust "other" people.

Plus... she's a big house-dog, and if she sees us out in the front yard like we're leaving, and she's out back, she starts whining and barking for us to come back... if she's inside, she just sits on the couch and watches quietly from the front window. So, I don't think she'd do well outside alone when we're not home, anyway.
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
yeah thats a big thing for me too, I know she might bark all day while we are gone, as she barks only once or twice at noises, but she is very "barky" when she hears anything in the backyard....
 

MJR

Well-Known Member
My 11 month old male is like my shadow. We play outside and when I walk to the door, he walks to the door. If I go inside and leave him out, he sits at the door and barks to come in. If we don't respond, he jumps on the door and shakes the whole thing. I would love for him to play a bit more by himself, but he is very attached to our family.
 
Ya, it's gonna be a while before I can trust him outside. He loves it out there, but also loves putting everything in his mouth! Another question I have about it that I forgot to mention is the back door of my house that leads to the back yard requires going down a bunch of steps. I'm still carrying him up and down, but thinking about installing a ramp to prevent joint damage as I won't be able to Cary him much longer. Would you guys recommend this?
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Ramp is good but you can also assist the walk up the stairs with a leash. If the stairs are bare, nice and easy is key.
 

BlackShadowCaneCorso

Super Moderator
Staff member
We get some pretty cold temps and have various temperaments in our house. We have runs off the garage that have houses into it... if it is nice enough I put some out in the morning and come home and switch them up at lunch. When home and it is nice we have a large fenced yard and we usually have everyone out, alternating who is in the fenced yard. Otherwise we have crates in the house as the dogs do not get to be loose in the house, with two kids there are too many things that aren't picked up or put away that need to be watched for.
 

cblond1121

Well-Known Member
My hubby and I are disputing over a related topic.

He wants to leave our now 17 month old Corso outside alone sometimes during the day while we are at work for 8 hours. I don't want to for many reasons 1) excessive barking he barks when the neighbors first come outside, when people walk by, etc. 2) I am afraid someone might steal him - even though we have a 6ft tall privacy fence and a lockable gate 3) I am afraid someone might torment or poison him (throw tainted food over the fence) 4) I think he's safer in the climate controlled house

Though this doesn't apply because I am talking about when we're not home. I read somewhere a while ago that dogs can develop aggression if they live outside. Dogs are social animals and need interaction with humans. I think this is especially important with CC because of how closely they bond with their family. There are some people in my neighborhood whose dogs live outside. It really chaps my hide.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
There are many opinions regarding keeping a dog outside either all the time or some of the time. You are correct, mastiffs need to be near their families. Secondly, mastiffs overheat rather quickly due to their short muzzle.

I agree, CC's are a sought after breed and I, too, would be afraid of someone stealing him. Think "dog bait". :(

I agree excessive barking would lead to a call to the local PD which in turn would call the AC.

Too many "could happens" in this scenario.

I hope you win!
 

Time_1

Well-Known Member
My hubby and I are disputing over a related topic.

He wants to leave our now 17 month old Corso outside alone sometimes during the day while we are at work for 8 hours. I don't want to for many reasons 1) excessive barking he barks when the neighbors first come outside, when people walk by, etc. 2) I am afraid someone might steal him - even though we have a 6ft tall privacy fence and a lockable gate 3) I am afraid someone might torment or poison him (throw tainted food over the fence) 4) I think he's safer in the climate controlled house

Though this doesn't apply because I am talking about when we're not home. I read somewhere a while ago that dogs can develop aggression if they live outside. Dogs are social animals and need interaction with humans. I think this is especially important with CC because of how closely they bond with their family. There are some people in my neighborhood whose dogs live outside. It really chaps my hide.


Why not get an outdoor kennel/run that you can put him in that has a locking door? Once my pup is a lil older and I build a dog house for him thats what I plan on doing. I have a 6'x12' kennel that is shaded and on the side of my house.
 

season

Well-Known Member
Trust doesn't come with an "age requirement". Trust is earned through action, repetition and good training.