Chihuahua containment - suggestions

[equisusan]

I am going to spend the summer at my friends horse farm where she has a large dog door for her large dogs to come and go as they please. I will have my two chihuahuas with me and I don’t want them to have free access to the outside as they have a tendency to wander off and of course the trucks, trailers and horses everywhere,

Here are a few thoughts I had about containing them:

1. Invisible fence around a grassy area outside the dog door so they can partially participate with the other dogs. Will this fence work on little dogs safely? Will this fence work if only two of six dogs are being contained while the others can freely run through it?
2. A dog run with kennel. Fully enclosed on all sides. With or without dog door into house? Climate controlled?

Anyone got any innovative ideas to make this work?

[jetsmom]

[QUOTE=equisusan;7471078]
I am going to spend the summer at my friends horse farm where she has a large dog door for her large dogs to come and go as they please. I will have my two chihuahuas with me and I don’t want them to have free access to the outside as they have a tendency to wander off and of course the trucks, trailers and horses everywhere,

Here are a few thoughts I had about containing them:

1. Invisible fence around a grassy area outside the dog door so they can partially participate with the other dogs. Will this fence work on little dogs safely? Will this fence work if only two of six dogs are being contained while the others can freely run through it?
2. Invisible fence inside so my two dogs can only get out when I take them.
3. A dog run with kennel. Fully enclosed on all sides. With or without dog door into house? Climate controlled?

Anyone got any innovative ideas to make this work?[/QUOTE]

A dog run. I wouldn’t trust an invisible fence for a dog not trained to one, or for a little dog with 2 big dogs not on an elect fence. Also, wouldn’t trust a chih unsupervised with 2 big dogs that it didn’t live with (already, long term and have proven they could be trusted). It’s too easy for prey drive to kick in. A zap from an elect fence that triggers a yelp from the chih, can trigger prey drive from the larger dogs. Also, since it is a new area, there could be stray dogs, coyotes, birds of prey, etc.

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=jetsmom;7471080]
A dog run. I wouldn’t trust an invisible fence for a dog not trained to one, or for a little dog with 2 big dogs not on an elect fence. Also, wouldn’t trust a chih unsupervised with 2 big dogs that it didn’t live with (already, long term and have proven they could be trusted). It’s too easy for prey drive to kick in. A zap from an elect fence that triggers a yelp from the chih, can trigger prey drive from the larger dogs. Also, since it is a new area, there could be stray dogs, coyotes, birds of prey, etc.[/QUOTE]

Thank you. My dogs know all these dogs already. We spent last summer there as well but I wasn’t satisfied with the situation. I do like the dog run for protection from coyotes, etc. They are mostly with me so they won’t be left out there for long periods of time but when I ride or go to the store or other outings I want to be sure they are safe. I’ve never used invisible fencing before so I wasn’t sure about how it worked for little dogs or whether having some dogs in it and others free would be an issue. I figured it might not be good.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=equisusan;7471137]
They are mostly with me so they won’t be left out there for long periods of time but when I ride or go to the store or other outings I want to be sure they are safe.[/QUOTE]

If they won’t be left out for long periods, why do you need climate control and coyote protection? When you ride, can you put them in a stall?

Can you leave them inside, separate from the big dogs, when you cannot supervise them for a long period of time ie riding, errands, etc?

Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving the property to go to the store or other outings with my two Chis outdoors unless they were in a roofed run. When I had a ~19lber in Malibu, he was stalled when I rode out and in my apt when I was away from the property. Coyotes were the biggest concern, plus people, hawks, owls, & skunks.

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;7471192]
If they won’t be left out for long periods, why do you need climate control and coyote protection? When you ride, can you put them in a stall?

Can you leave them inside, separate from the big dogs, when you cannot supervise them for a long period of time ie riding, errands, etc?

Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving the property to go to the store or other outings with my two Chis outdoors unless they were in a roofed run. When I had a ~19lber in Malibu, he was stalled when I rode out and in my apt when I was away from the property. Coyotes were the biggest concern, plus people, hawks, owls, & skunks.[/QUOTE]

It will be a roofed run. I don’t know if I need climate control but I’d rather they are always comfortable. There are lots of people going in and out of the house during the summer so leaving them inside in anything other than a crate is not a guarantee that they’ll stay inside.

I was thinking of a run like these: http://www.thedogkennelcollection.com/splash.php

[Casey09]

For short periods of time like this, I’d get a large crate and stick them in there with little beds and toys. Because of their size, it would be similar to a dog run but more portable. Safety is a big thing for any dog, and I think a sturdy crate would be the safest option. With anything open I’d also worry about birds of prey.

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=Casey09;7471244]
For short periods of time like this, I’d get a large crate and stick them in there with little beds and toys. Because of their size, it would be similar to a dog run but more portable. Safety is a big thing for any dog, and I think a sturdy crate would be the safest option. With anything open I’d also worry about birds of prey.[/QUOTE]

The crate doesn’t give them enough freedom. I could be out riding for quite a few hours or away in town for an entire day. Although not the norm for me to be away that long it does happen. Another concern I have is when I go to horse shows and leave them at the farm with the woman who takes care of the dogs and horses. I want to be sure she has a place to put them where they are safe. If you look at the link I posted these dog runs are not open. I agree safety is very important.

[Mao]

[QUOTE=equisusan;7471208]
It will be a roofed run. I don’t know if I need climate control but I’d rather they are always comfortable. There are lots of people going in and out of the house during the summer so leaving them inside in anything other than a crate is not a guarantee that they’ll stay inside.

I was thinking of a run like these: http://www.thedogkennelcollection.com/splash.php[/QUOTE]

I think the dog kennel in your link would be a wonderful solution. Lucky little Chihuahuas…

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=Mao;7471684]
I think the dog kennel in your link would be a wonderful solution. Lucky little Chihuahuas… :-)[/QUOTE]

Thanks Mao. Anything for their safety.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=equisusan;7471208]
I was thinking of a run like these: http://www.thedogkennelcollection.com/splash.php[/QUOTE]

Lucky little dogs, indeed!:yes:

[GraceLikeRain]

For short periods of unsupervision a few x-pens can be connected to make a nice play area but I think a roofed enclosure is definitely best if you plan on leaving the property or are going to be away for several hours.

[equisusan]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;7472173]
For short periods of unsupervision a few x-pens can be connected to make a nice play area but I think a roofed enclosure is definitely best if you plan on leaving the property or are going to be away for several hours.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Grace. You would be amazed what those little brats can get out of. Ha ha. It’s well worth the investment for the roofed enclosure as we’ll be there every summer until I build my new house.

[moonriverfarm]

As mom to eight little oputdoorsy chihuahuas, the run looks fabulous! Mine would freak out in a crate because they have always had freedom, but when we lived on a farm I was alwasy watching for coyotes and hawks. Your dogs should love the run!

[independentlyawesome]

I like the run idea, but I don’t see anywhere for her to go potty in it?

So she’d still need to be let out every few hours.

[Bluey]

That is a Taj-Mahal for two chis.:lol:

I too was thinking about one or two large x-pens, like we use at dog shows, some have tops to them and you can make it large enough to stick a crate without a door for them to rest out of the weather.

That big dog house you linked to would be wonderful too and they can go inside if they choose and someone else can keep an eye on them in there with ease.