PUPPY IN GARAGE

[JasperBoo]

My nephew and his wife are keeping their new puppy in the garage, because they don't believe that dogs should be allowed in living areas.

The garage is at the end of the garden, not attached to the house, and currently contains all the usual rubbish you fill your garage with.

The plan is to empty it, add heating etc, and make it into an office space with the dog in, rather than a dumping ground, but they've been saying that for years.

They say that he will always live outside, and that they will get someone in to train him as a guard dog.

I am really upset at the thought of this puppy being left alone and scared, in a cold, dark, garage, when he could be living inside with the family.

The family will be with him outside when they have time, but they have 2 young kids, 2 cats, and a busy online "influencer" business.

(They have time to use him for their Instagram posts mind you!)

I have sent them info about the RSPCA campaign to change the law so dogs can't be kept outside. I have flagged the risk of getting someone in to train the dog to be a guard dog, rather than taking time themselves to train him to just be a loving family dog. (He's a doberman type).

But right now, I'm mostly just in bits that there is a little puppy being left outside on his own in the garage when he could be having a loving life inside with the family.

They bought him to be a guard dog, and an Instagram tool.

It breaks my heart.

My sister and mum have completely turned on me, because I put a message on their Instagram post of the puppy, asking for a photo of the garage he was living in, and asking why he couldn't live in the house. My sister went as far as to say I'm no longer part of her family if I'm "going for" her son like that.

I did ask them on a private what's app message when i first heard they had a puppy, and they outright lied to me saying he wouldn't be left outside, when this is what they had planned all along apparently. (I live 3 hours from them, it was my sister, his mum, that told me initially, then I saw messages on the Instagram post confirming he wasn't allowed in the house)

Am I being unreasonable to be so worried about this puppy? I honestly am not sure what to do next.

They also tend not to live alone. There are other dogs outside too. That said, they still love being brought into th house to be an indoor dog. My aunt brought in a working dog when her husband (a farmer) died. The dog made a delightful companion and spent the rest of her life snoozing next to the aga.

I'd ask them why they are happy to neglect an animal. If they say they aren't, I'd ask them why they are upset about your post on social media if they believe they are doing nothing wrong.

Do they have children?

Can you speak to his parent? Is it your sibling? I’d be appalled at this, mine are the focus of our day if we’re home.

I would be very sure of your facts first.
Lots of working dogs are kept in a kennel environment without issues BUT there’s often more than one so they have company.
Growing up our dog was allowed into the hallway but that was it. He loved being outside and was never settled indoors. He had a comfortable warm kennel which was completely weatherproof but more often than not he would prefer being outside, Plus he had free run of about an acre of garden. As a teenager I spent ages with him each day training him, walking him and doing agility activities.
I think you have to look at the whole picture, but a dog stuck in a garage with minimal interaction isn’t acceptable.

So you want to share their socials ?
I more than happy to take these animal abusers down

Adult working dogs (plural!) can successfully live outside, plenty of working farm dogs do.

Expecting a young puppy who’s just been removed from its family to live in an unheated garage on its own is pure cruelty.

I’d go and steal it.

I think the dog thing has gone mad. Coats for dogs, groomers, play dates and so on.
Probably a dog on a farm would be fine but to deliberately put a puppy in a garage is horrible.

My Sri Lankan colleague recently lost his family dog back home in a very remote village. The dog was 18 and had never seen the indoors. For 18 years he protected the crops so they would eat, bravely saw off monkeys to protect the family children, slept at the door and lived on the food scraps. He was given a village funeral ceremony and buried with family members in their plot. No vets within hours bus rides yet died a dignified death with the utmost respect. That's an outdoor life for a dog who came from many generations of outdoor dogs in a place where it's the norm.

But in Sri Lanka it is rarely below 25°c. He was a working dog who would have spent the day with his owner being working and having company. Very different situation to this dog.

Have they posted on their Instagram that they’re cruelly keeping this poor little pup alone in the garage? If they have, I’d been screengrabbing that and, using junk accounts set up especially, posting it on every UK dog lover social media group I could find. They can then kiss their ‘influencer’ careers goodbye.
In the meantime, contact their local council dog warden and see what they advise. We’re getting to the fag end of October and it’s been fairly mild so far, but if, as you say, they’ve done nothing towards this poor pups comfort with winter rapidly approaching, this could be considered cruelty and neglect.

People on here are insane. Theres nothing at all wrong with a dog living outside. Especially not in a heated garage.

My friend has dogs.
Some come with in the house some don't.

One dog hates being inside and will continually pace in the house if inside - so they leave it outside (has big kennel and garden. )

@Candaceowens it is in a. junk filled garage not a heated kennel, a very young pup.

But if the SM posts were "dog is living in our outdoor doghouse" people might think Oh , lovely heated garden office room not cold concrete floored garage full of boxes and a lawnmower .
I bet the photos are of the DC cuddling the dopey eyed pup not their garage !

I lived in a country where dogs were never kept inside. I inherited two dogs with a house I rented. They never wanted to be inside because they didn’t like being trapped in. They slept in the open garage and were completely free to roam anywhere as the garden wasn’t fenced in. I think they had a pretty happy life. They were very chilled out and friendly.

However, dogs are pack animals and don’t like being alone. I would never lock one in by themselves. Although I’m not sure it is any different to people who leave their dogs at home alone or in crates by themselves.

I personally don’t see the point in having a dog if you’re not going to even live with it.

I also think there needs to be much stricter rules on pet ownership.

But many dogs live outside.

In most countries it’s normal for dogs to live in the garage.

In this country it’s normal for working dogs to live in barns or kennels.

I guess if it’s a guard dog then it would be classed as a working dog and not a pet.

Contact the RSPCA to alert them to the situation.

Under section nine of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, all domestic animals have the legal right to live in a suitable environment, eat a suitable diet and exhibit normal behaviour patterns.

A dark, unheated garage is not a suitable environment for a puppy. They need company, interaction, and exposure to the outside world to have a chance of developing normally.
Puppies raised in isolation grow up fearful and do not make good pets or guard dogs.

English winter isn't he weather dogs who live outside live in.

they've been saying for years they're going to convert the garage & still haven't ... and the puppy is in there NOW.

so no, it's not like kennels.

@billybear

for insta & guarding.

they didn't want a pet.

bastards

This is cruel. Dogs are pack animals. The poor little thing crying on its own without any stimulation or company.

This is also storing up trouble. Animals need to be socialized or they become aggressive. Then what?

A gentleman in town had an Akita puppy and he purposely asked people including those with DC if the dog with his management could approach them.

Diwali in less than 2 weeks then Guy Fawkes and of course we know the fireworks extend well after and before these dates .
Someone in my neighborhood was letting off fireworks last night .

So this poor little creature will have the stress of his first experience of fireworks locked in a garage . They'll probably say it;s good training for his Guard Dog Duties.

Do they live in an area where they need a guard dog ? Or their lifestyle means they need protected?
Will their DC know that the dog is not a pet ?

Have they got someone on board to do the training (I'm assuming they aren't experienced in this themselves )

Are they going to be complying with The Guard Dog Act 1975 - if the puppy is to be trained as a guard dog ?

what sort of business is the family running from the home to need a guard dog ?
or is the family so famous that they need that kind of protection ?
how many bars of gold bullion are kept in the garage ?

OP not been back?

Share the Instagram account on here, she will regret the day she did this to that poor pups.

Also, could you find out who the breeder is and let them know?