To ask how much time your dog spends in the garden?

[user1477282676]

It's because our dog wants to be outside all day...he's a Maremma and we have a very big garden so it's not an issue..he's only 1 and a bit and we had some issues with him barking when he was younger, but this has improved drastically since we moved to a quieter area...and due to an intense period of us working with him.

Maremmas are a type of Italian sheepdog and they are known barkers...we ended up with him by default as he was living in a tiny pen in the middle of nowhere because the farmer who owned his Mother had sold all his brothers and this one was left because he was a bit small.

We came across him sitting surrounded by his own poo, dirty and sad...so we talked to himt rhough the fence and then the farmer came along and said "You can have him if you like. I don't want him"

Anyway...that's me explaining how we ended up with what is essentially a working dog.

He's beautiful, affectionate and playful...but BIG and he loves to be outdoors. He comes in only if it gets too hot (we're in Oz) or if I make him come in.

I read an article the other day where a Maremma owner said he never lets his out all day as they're not to be "wild" in that way or they get out of control.

Ours still has the odd bark but not excessively and I NEVER let it go beyond two or three barks...I go out and ask him what it is and he is happy with that...I think he feels he's done his job if I come and check...so he barks on average about 5 times a day but only in a short burst.

My question is...is this excessive? Is 5 times a day or so too many times?

It's literally "Woof! Woof!" and then I nip out the back and shout "What's wrong?"

And it's usually a person walking past or something....or the post man and when I've seen what it is, he's happy and goes back to his business. digging holes

Should I keep him in more? We've had no complaints but I don't want any! He sleeps inside at night after spending a bit of time sitting with us. The picture isn't our dog but that's what they look like.

I just accidentally left my dog (tiny Chi x, she's half the size of our cat) outside when I got in the shower.

You'd have thought she was being murdered. For such a small pooch she has the loudest bark!

She really only goes in the garden for a wee and an occasional mad blat.

I have a pointer. He only really pops in the garden briefly for a wee. Two decent walks a day are enough for him. He never barks in the garden though, only in the house when he sees somebody on or near our drive.

He's gorgeous - I have a Golden Retriever so he's like that but there's even more of him to love!!
I remember you posting about rescuing him and I'm glad he's doing well.
Anyway, to answer your question my boy doesn't too much time in the garden unless I do. He prefers to be with people than on his own but that's the breed.

I don't know anything about your type of dog but the barking doesn't sound excessive. We have a working collie who loves to be outside even when just mooching about and I do think generally that must be good for all animals, and humans!

But be careful he doesn't get nicked! Handsome unusual dogs like that would be at risk I would think. Our collie is very handsome and I am paranoid about him being stolen

Our dog spends a lot of the summer sunbathing in the garden but he's inside sleeping most of the winter. He is quite well behaved but gets very cross with the jays and crows that like to bug him, so can be a bit noisy from time to time.

There is a Maremma fairly close to us who spends most of the time dozing in his owners front yard. He pads over to say hello to me and ddog when we walk by but he doesn't seem hugely territorial (and is I think quite old). He's a great big shaggy thing :)

Sounds like you have your dog well trained and he is having a happy life. I'd not worry too much.

Tabitha nobody would be able to nick him unless they shot him with a tranquiliser gun! Most Maremmas are very aloof to all but their own...he'd never talk to or approach a stranger....even one with food.

That's another thing. They're not food driven at all. I could offer him a lamb shank and sometimes he will just go...meh!

Interesting chacteristics op! That is good though, our boy is so friendly he would get in a car with anybody.

What a beautiful dog. He sounds like my golden retriever. He is friendly enough to strangers, but quite suspicious. People have tried to give him treats and he politely takes them and lets them slide out of the side of his mouth! He was a bugger to train because he isn't that interested in food (apart from toast and marmalade - his favourite!). At dog training I was wildly waving bits of sausage at him but he was careering round the village hall. I could have been a giant steak and he'd not have taken the blindest bit of notice.

My dog likes the sun but is not the brightest in that he sees it's sunny, does a short "woof" to go out, sits in his "thinking spot" and then has to "woof" to come back in again because it's cold. On a sunny day this can happen 150 times . When it is warm I leave the patio door open so he wanders in and out at will.

The barking your dog does sounds fine. I'd like someone to invent some kind of paw entry system so dog could let himself in and out without woofing!

They don't. They go out for a wee and straight back in. They can't be trusted out there alone. They do have 2 long walks a day though with off lead time.