A friend of mine breeds bullmastiffs and has an 18 month big boy bullmastiff, who is in a kennel all day and night, dosen't get walked much and I just feel it is unfair and such a waist. I would really like to give him a home an my friend is quite happy with this. Now I am not a great believer of dogs being kept on their own all day but if I were to have him he would have to be alone from 8:30 - 4:30 in our fairly large garden with a large shed/kennel. He is used to being out on his own all day and night so I feel that if I give him a home that he will have a far better live than he has now and that he will have two walks a day and would be with my partner and I from 4:30 on and at weekends.

I just wanted someones opionin on keeping him outside on his own in the day?

If the dog is already used to being kenneled all the time, then he is not going to have a problem with being left between the hours you mentioned :-) Maybe I am not reading your post correctly but are you planning on letting him have free access to your garden when you are not in residence? If you are, then I would advise against this. You need to find some way of containing him, not just for his own protection and safety but to protect other people should he go walkabout :-)

Something else to think about: How well has this dog been socialised?

Our garden is not that large and we were going to re fence the whole garden to ensure he can't get out. Also he is well socialised.

What are your thougts?

Sounds like a sweetie, imo :) It would be an improvement on where he's at presently.
Perhaps you might be able to provide a companion of sorts, eventually -- like a friendly tomcat? :)
If you do decide to do this, perhaps you can work some halfdays, or swing by your house every so often or even have a neighbor/dog walker come in and check on him to see if he's settling in properly.
Staying home for two weeks straight and then suddenly switching back to work might be confusing for him.
good luck,
toodles

Dont think the problem is so much the dog getting out as others getting in .....dog thieves are around in most areas

As far as I know , if you let the dog free access in your garden whilst you are out ..and someone gets over the fence ..YOU will be held responsible if the dog bites them. I know that it seems harsh and the person shouldn't BE in the garden ..but the law doesnt see it like that.

We have a 6' fence around our garden but I *know* people can get over it if they want to.

Not suggesting for one moment that the dog is liable to bite by the way , but if surprised or cornered it always has to be considered :(

Melody

Welcome to the forum Soppy :-)

My thoughts ...

Obviously you know how big your garden is, but I would be thinking along the lines of more access ~ more trouble/mischief to get into :D Even if your fencing is secure enough to stop the dog getting out, either over or under the fencing, is your garden *dog friendly*?
Do you have lots of edible/poisonous plants, stones/gravel/pond etc?
Do you have close neighbours or public paths around or passing your property?
Have you considered how you will cope if the dog becomes noisy? I am not saying that he will be :-) But if he is being taken from a kennel/closed enviroment and then given *free access* .. you may find that he becomes bored and noisy?

I am with Mel on the theft aspect too. I think this would be a major concern if you intend to leave the dog with free access to your garden. Dogs get stolen from back garden kennels too, but at least you can secure them as best you can, if not to stop the theft altogether, then to *slow* the thieves down.

Hope this helps :-)

If he has been kenneled all his life, has he been house trained, a dog that size will produce a lot of waste. :)

Hi Leigh, you have bothered me slightly :) - do you mean Kennels as in boarding kennels and dogs being stolen - I think you probably did? I never thought of that and wondered if the risk was high as I was thinking of boarding my two next year but I would rather not if there were a chance they could be stolen. I'd never live with myself :)

Thanks Gina

I think Leigh means a home kennel ....in the garden , rather than having the dog running free

Melody

Thank gawd for that Melody. Had me worried for a mo :D The capital K did it :)
Gina

Leigh might turn up in a moment and say the exact opposite of course Gina :D

;)

Mel

Ooopps :D :D

Sorry Gina, yes I meant kennels in your garden and not commercial kennels. Commercial kennels tend to have someone on the premises at all times and although 'theft' does happen, I think you will find that it is extremely rare :-)

Oh that's alright then :)
Gina

Hi Soppy, Jackie has already mentioned the quantity of waste if he isn't house trained, and I promise you that its a LOT :-). My young bully boy has had house training, but hasn't quite got the idea properly yet, and there are times when I feel as if I should be using a shovel to muck out the kitchen :D. Also remember that if he hasn't been indoors, his 'indoors manners' regarding food theft and chewing may not be very good and he may also find being indoors quite disorientating for a bit. I have one elderly male (not a bully) who has only ever been kennelled when the bitches are in season, but he likes his kennel and it always takes a while to persuade him to move back indoors. Agree with everyone else about allowing unsupervised access to the garden. With the best precautions in the world, something may still go wrong. All that said, bullys are a lovely breed, and if you take the time and trouble to help this boy adjust I think both you and he will soon be delighted with the new arrangement.

Thank you for all your advise, I am still concerned and worried as I work in London and live in Herts. so there is no way I can pop in to see him or take half days and the same goes for my boyf. There is the option of dog walking but I am not sure if I can afford it (if I have to I will find the cash). I am now also really worried about the steeling thing as stupidly I didn't think about that. This is what my plan is/was just so you all know:

We will be moving in to our new home next march is which is when we would get Albert (the bully). We would have him in at night down stairs, then from 8 - 4/5 he would be on his own with a short walk in the morning before we go to work(which I can't quite come to terms with as I have never left my dogs on their own). My boyf would be back at 4/5ish and walk him I would be back at 7:30 and give him lots of cuddles and kisses (sloppy kisses I am sure). Then we would be with him all weekend. At the moment our garden consist of decking, grass one flower bed with plants I need to check to see if there are dangerous or not, I don't think they are but I want to double check. Then we have a large new shed with double glazing windows and a door.

I do now agree that we may have to section off part of the garden as he might get carried away and too excited with the whole space. I could get a dog walker to take him out a couple times a week, but is this still enough? I really don’t want him to get depressed being on his own. I mean he is quite used to it but he is surrounded by other kennels with dogs. Getting a cat to keep him company has entered my mind but he isn't used to cats, but am worried he might try and play with it etc - has anyone got a bully and a cat?????

I just want to make sure he will be happy and ok before I get him.

More advise would be really appreciated

Sophie x

I just wanted to say Sophie, that I'm so delighted you are here trying to sort things out for Albert long before you actually have to cope :) :) :)

Sure, things go out the window concerning specific plans, but it does help to have at least a framework to go by :D :D :D

Have you thought of permanently attaching some type of "outside fencing" to the shed to create an indoor/outdoor kennel run? That might be more secure in the long run, esp. if you then fence off your entire yard to prevent accidental escapes/ intruders.
regards,
toodles

Thank you - well I am very experienced with dogs but I have always had gun dogs even though I have helped breed train and whelp etc bull mastiffs, staffies, bull dogs as my family breed them, but I have never owned one and I have never had to leave a dog on their own. I could section part of the garden off. What do you think about getting a cat for a bit of company, I was planning to anyway.

I just threw that in as a thought :) I used to live next door to German barn cats and occasionally I'd see one sleeping next to the Rottie that lived there :) I've never had cats, but I've always liked the vision of one curled up with a big dog :rolleyes: :)

I think pretty much anything is possible if you work hard enough to make it work :Rolleyes: ;) :D :)
toodles

I would be extremely wary of introducing a cat to a dog that has had no or little contact with them. Especially, as you will not be around to supervise *play* :-)

yes well thats what I thought - I just don't know If he should stay where he is or if he would be better off with me.

If only I won the lottery and stayed at home with him all day and then the problem would be resolved!!!!!!!!!

One question :-) If you took on the dog and it didn't work out, will the present owner take the dog back?

yes but it would brake my heart and maybe his - but I know what your saying if it really didn't work out then he could always go back.

I am sure it will all work out and we will have lots of fun together, I just wanted as much advise and as many opinions as possible.

I hope everything works out for you and the dog :-)

Thank you I shall let yo all know what happens.

Hi Soppy,

When he's left just now is he on his own or with other dogs? I think you've got nothing to lose as long as you have a very secure enclosure/kennel for him. It sounds as if he'd enjoy the company he'd have when you get home from work.

How about getting a smaller dog for company for him?
Hope it all goes well.
Dot

Dot
He is in on his own but has dogs around him which is what is making me think he may get lonley. Getting another dog could be an option.

Thanks for you advise

Sophie