Are dog flaps for big dogs a security risk at home?

puddy

thanks everyone, my boyffriend has now unhelpfully suggested that a burglar will coax the dog out with a bit of meat and whop him over the head.

i wondered if it would be cruel to keep the dog confined to the utility room while we are out tho. i plan to get a dog walker for lunctimes and work from home a couple of days a week but the rest of the time we'll be out

marshallka

jenner wrote: »

thanks everyone, my boyffriend has now unhelpfully suggested that a burglar will coax the dog out with a bit of meat and whop him over the head.

i wondered if it would be cruel to keep the dog confined to the utility room while we are out tho. i plan to get a dog walker for lunctimes and work from home a couple of days a week but the rest of the time we'll be out

I would love to have a ultility room for mine. (with the dog flap on there too and the other doors left bolted). Some leave them caged even:eek:. Ours have the run of the house but would love to be able to do what you have as a choice. (just as long as the garden is well fenced though too).

puddy

well the garden is totally enclosed, with walls, i think we could get some higher fencing on top tho.

we had the dog almost forced on us really, its a long story, but if im going to be a dog owner, then i want to do it right. ive just thought tho, he wouldnt be restricted to the utility room he would also have access to the garden too.

the utility room is 16 x 5, long and narrow

marshallka

jenner wrote: »

well the garden is totally enclosed, with walls, i think we could get some higher fencing on top tho.

we had the dog almost forced on us really, its a long story, but if im going to be a dog owner, then i want to do it right. ive just thought tho, he wouldnt be restricted to the utility room he would also have access to the garden too.

the utility room is 16 x 5, long and narrow

Yeah, the garden and utility would be fine in my view. I would do it if its safely fenced/walled. You should be fine and enjoy your little furry friend. I have a collie also (border!!).

Kavanne

jenner wrote: »

well the garden is totally enclosed, with walls, i think we could get some higher fencing on top tho.

we had the dog almost forced on us really, its a long story, but if im going to be a dog owner, then i want to do it right. ive just thought tho, he wouldnt be restricted to the utility room he would also have access to the garden too.

the utility room is 16 x 5, long and narrow

That's not too bad. Does he like being in the garden or prefer indoors. If he likes the garden then I can't see that arrangement being a problem provided he has bed + water inside. And some toys

ailuro2

You could have a kennel/ shelter built for him in the garden if your garden is big enough.

Pick up an old kids playhouse on freecycle and cut a dog flap in the door.

foxy-lady

We have a medium dog flap for our staffy and our daughter (12) wriggles through it when she forgets to take her key to school!
The dog licks her face as she does it as she is so excited to see her LOL
Dont think daughter will be able to fit through for too much longer though.
xx

ailuro2

forgot to add - we had a big catflap for our last cat- it doubles as a small dog door, our DD managed to get out of it when she was about 7 months old - how she managed it I'll never know, we had checked it and thought it was far too small for her. I had gone outside and closed the door behind me, heard her crying thinking it was because I was out of sight and came back from the wheelie bin to find her lying screaming on the paving slab OUTSIDE the flap!!:eek::eek::eek:

We recently replaced it with an electromagnetic flap as other neghbourhood cats were coming into the house, it works very well against other cats, but would be easily overcome by a burglar. For this reason we keep our keys on hooks in hard to fish for places.