Hi Just a bit of advice really!!

Has anyone got Dog Flaps? I have an 18 week old puppy and we are in the middle of moving.

We are moving to a house with a concealed garden and I can see no gaps etc.  Now until my partner changes jobs which could be up to three months away we are going to leave him at a friends during the day,which I feel is a little unfair on not only JD but my friend. A few of my friends have suggested dog flaps which their dogs use so he can run in and out all day.

I do like this idea but in all honesty at first it would worry me to death. I was concerned that what if he digs his way out (not sure if he is a digger yet) he will be running around the street. Also if he starts barking all day long (although he is not yappy thus far at all) and I would not know until my new neighbours are about to strangle me.

Any comments, past experiences all welcome it would really help me make a good decision on what is best for my little pup.

Importantly, check out your house insurance as it may not be valid if you install one :)

Daisy

A friend of mine used a dog flap without any problems for years. But then her dog was neither an escapologist nor a digger and he wasn't left for a whole day.  What breed is your dog though?

He is a Jack russell cross but has def not got the  yapping trate he is very quiet not sure on the digging just yet.

Yes we have had one for a good few years now and would highly recommend them :)

They are good but Daisy is right about the insurance :) We have it in our conservatory wall but have the rest of the house secured by an external bifolding doors which are secured by a double lock and two dead locks on alternate doors which is ok for our insurance. Anything in the conservatory is not covered though :)

We have one on our utility room door but the rest of the house cannot be accessed from the utility room. It was very useful when we first got our boy as he had lived outside 24/7 at his previous home. It is rarely used now as both dogs seem to prefer their kennels in the garden to being inside during the day but it gives them access to the house if they need it, in very bad weather or if they want to take refuge from something outside like the scary scaffolding which upset my boy terribly when the neighbours were having some building work done :rolleyes:

You will need to make very sure that there are no gaps through which he can escape, or, if in doubt, erect some chicken/sheepwire fencing just inside whatever fencing there is currently and sink it a couple of feet into the ground.

Personally, I don't like the idea. Dog flaps are fine in themselves, but I personally would not use one for this purpose. There's too much potential for disaster, leaving a puppy loose with free, unsupervised access outside. Digging or chewing his way out of your garden, barking and annoying neighbours, getting posioned, getting stuck somewhere, somebody stealing him - the list goes on.

He'd be much better off with your friend, because at 18 weeks, he's probably going to need a meal while you are gone if the timescale warrants you leaving him with your friend. Leaving him with your friend is much fairer for him as he will have company (not to mention for you as hopefully, she'll help housetrain him or stop it sliding if he's good already).

Completly agree with Phoebe. He is better off with company all day, as pups shouldn't be left on their own all day without supervision.

Also, there are loads of dognappings. I personally know of a lady who had a dog flap and her pup got stolen just 3 weeks after having her. Thankfully the pup managed to escape and slip its collar and found by one of her neighbours. So a happy ending, but it could have not been so!

All the best,
Patty

Good point I woould as any dog lover be heart broken if someone stole him. It does seem like the best option to leave with the friend it is only for a short period of time two months maximum.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

We have one, but when both my dogs were pups I supervised every trip outside they had regardless.  Your garden must be secure of course!  You can get little wire picket fences to go round flowerbeds if you're worried about the little tyke munching plants.

The only problem we have with the flaps is that they break very quickly - something to do with 3 dogs weighing in at 27, 28 and 35 kilos smashing through the flap at high speed chasing cat noises :D hopefully this won't be an issue for your pup - but so long as you keep the guarantee it's okay, you can get a free replacement!!  My dobe's breeder had the same problem - in two years they went through 3 flaps, but only ever paid for the first one!

As for the neighbours, I'd go round before you put the flap in, tell them you're going to do it, and ask them to let you know if he does atrt barking madly - in theory, that should avoid potential nastiness between you and them, should any problems arise.

We are the same with the doors :D :D

We've got one and it's very useful - not only do I not worry about wees when I'm at work (I come home at lunchtime for cuddles!), but on the one or two days in the year when we have to be out all day, I know that they are physically comfortable even if a little lonely. Unfortunately now the 2 boys don't get on someone has to wait for me to come home and lunchtime to swap the dogs round so he can get outside. :-(