Am i doing a bad job looking after my dog or is my neighbour just being a nosey so and so?

[Marne]

My neighbour keeps asking me questions about my dog, she seems to think i shut her outside all day and that i never walk her.

I have a lively young staffy, when i go out (for around 1-3 hours max) i leave her in the garden (if the weathers ok), she has access to the conservatory where her food and water is, i can't leave her in the house as she chews things up. She is happy sitting in the sun or playing with her toys in the garden and as soon as i get home she comes into the house. The only other time i shut her outside is when we eat or if we have children over. She doesn't bark or cry in the garden and i think she would rather be out there than shut in the house. She gets walked most days in the field behind our house.

Does this sound ok or am i being mean shutting her in the garden?

My neighbour can see our garden from her window and says she always see's our dog sat in the garden and asked me if she comes into the house.

Nosy sod
As long as the dogs happy bugger what norah batty says

You also do it when children come over.
That means you are responsible.

Tell her to keep her beak out of your business IMO

My other neighbour told me that she has never heard her bark. I have heard my dog bark (ever) .

My neighbour is very nosy she also commented on not seeing my mother around for a while (she doesn't visit as much)

Actually off topic this is probably a misguided attempt at getting to know you.. maybe she's lonely.. don't know the situation.
Maybe ask her to dogsit for you If she's stuck in the house all day or something lol
Kind heart going into overload here

You say you have a lively young staff that gets walked most days.

I would say that a staff would need at least one good walk per day.

Chewing is often a sign of lack of stimulation, a staff is an intelligent dog that needs good education (training) and someting to do or will probably become destructive.

I agree, you need to walk her every day. But what if you found a dog-walker once or twice a week? It's tough for you if you work.

I've found my terrier is much happier now we have another dog. They're pack animals after all. Mind, if they were left outside together they'd set off hunting rabbits and who knows what else!

Nothing has made me feel more exposed to public comment than my dogs. Not children, or the car I drive or how loudly I play my radio.

leaving the dog outside in a garden she can't escape from, with access to a conservatory is ideal - she would still need toys to keep her amused though - kongs or hide chews, and a comfy place to lie down in the conservatory. and she might still be lonely - ask the neighbour if she barks or whines. also agree that she should have a walk every day.

Ask your neighbour to walk her......!

Nice one, frosty

If she just asked you once if she goes in the house then I think that is quite reasonable. If she was under the impression that she didn't and was surprised by that then it is ok to ask.

If she asks you every time you see her then she clearly has a different view to dog care than you do - which is also ok.

If it is the former then I think you need to cut her some slak and if it is the latter then you need to do the "smile sweetly and nod in approprite places" technique you will probably have used when people offer you parenting advice!

I wouldn't be happy with a dog being left in a garden and conservatory, but I know that the chewing things is very annoying. Is there not an area inside (the kitchen?) where the dog can be left when you are out, with lots of toys and things to keep him amused.
And a walk every day is a must. Staffies don't need a marathon everyday but the walk stimulates them mentally, as well as wearing them out physically, which will help him to rest.
You could try leaving the radio on too. My dogs seem to like Radio 2

I can't always walk her because i cant get both dd's into the fields as dd2 has ASD and runs off if not in a pushchair (i can't get the pushchair into the fields and there is nowhere else to walk her) , most days i can take her when dh gets home from work, once the clocks change it will be light enough do do this every evening. Our garden is dog proof and she has a large selection of toys (kongs, rope toys) and will spend hours playing by herself (running around the garden), she also gets to play with my other neighbours Staff a couple times a week (she has a better social life than me).

She's fine when indoors and follows dd2 around for most of the day, as i say she's only shut out if we are out or we have visitors, she is happier sat outside in the sun than being shut in the house. We can't put her in the kitchen as it is open plan.

We chose a Staff because they don't need as much walking as a Lab. She's a lovely dog but is very much a people dog and hates being left in the house on her own, i think when she's outside she can hear the neighbours outside etc which she likes.

She's only 1 so still a bit of a puppy, the chewing has improved apart from the odd thing when i leave her on her own indoors.

That's why I have staffs too

Have you tried filling a Kong with food (something soft-ish, like peanut butter) - keeps them amused for hours.

sounds like your dog has a nice life on the whole, I'd worry about dog theft though

Thanks wotulookinat, i will try that, she loves those filled bones but seems to finish them in 5 minutes. .

I do worry about theft but it is very hard to get to our garden, we have very high fences and a solid gate but i suppose it would still be possible.

Is she microchipped?

She's chipped and tagged.

That's about all you can do with regard to theft. Keep a collar with a tag on her at all times - just in case she escapes from your garden. Staffies can develop the most impressive jumping skills!

There's nothing wrong with leaving your dog out in the yard. Plenty of water and games are essential - Kongs are fab.

As for dog theft; if your dog can't be seen from the road, you should be OK.

As for the conservatory, it's better to get your dog a kennel where it can retire and feel safe. This is not about having an area you cannot go - as the owner and pack leader you can go anywhere- but one where the animal's privacy is acknowledged.

Here in Oz I was shocked at first to see that almost all dogs are kennelled at night, and in the day when the owners are at work, but it works. The cold is not an issue, and it DOES get cold in winter here - pad the kennel with fleece cut-offs.

By the way, you're doing your dog proud. Some people find it hard to accept that a dog does not need to be indoors 24/7. They'd love to, of course, but the dog's life yours is leading seems a good one.

I agree with echt. we don;t leave our dog outside when we're out (tha garden's not really safe enough, and there's no way of leaving him access to any cover) but often he wonders into teh garden when we're in and he loves mooching around, sniffing at everything, chasing leaves in the wind. If your dog is outside, with access to the conservatory in case of rain/cold/desire to sleep, and with toys, then I think he's much better off than being left inside.