It is our firm belief that, unless you bought a puppy to exhibit at dog shows, every pet is happier and healthier when spayed or neutered. Additionally, the responsibilities that come with owning an unaltered dog are tremendous. Please feel free to call us for more information and definitely spend some time talking with your veterinarian on the topic. While the tips below say puppy, please note that these methods and tips apply to newly adopted adult dogs too. No dog should be an outside only dog unless you can truly commit to spending a great deal of time out with the dog AND provide good shelter.
Dogs are pack animals that thrive on companionship.
When you do the math, you quickly find that an outside only dog is often lucky to have attention for 15 minutes to one hour a day. Spend plenty of time with your dog by letting it stay in the house with you as a part of your family. A puppy can only learn the rules if you are there to teach it. If you can t watch your puppy, it should be confined in a safe area where it can t chew anything up. Plus, puppies aren t born knowing where it s O.K. to potty and where it s not.