Dog Flaps

[Mikey]

No I'm not being rude, I have a field English springer spanial, (though don't tell him he's English, it will only confuse him he only responds to Welsh). Its getting to that time of year when leaving the back door wide open is less appealing.

I've looked at getting a dog flap and drilling a hole in the wall, unfortunately I don't have a door he can go through. Does anyone have a dog flap and do their dogs use them? I know you have one VC, it was you that gave me the idea. Do they make them for medium dogs?

[veggiechicken]

They come in all sizes Mikey. Make sure you get one for a wall, rather than a door.
Thoroughly recommended - your dog will soon learn to use it. You can lock them too if you want him to stay in for any reason.

[Hazel at the Hill]

You might want to get one that's chip activated, in order to stop anything else wandering in if the fancy takes them.

[Mikey]

Cool I like the sound of that Hazel.

[Bill HH]

If you put a dog flap into a wall dont you need a lintel to support the wall?

My only experience with dog flaps was a tragic one, A dog in our village was left in the kitchen of a house while the owners went out. He decided to spend a few hours worrying my neighbours sheep, did a lot of damage. The farmer followed him back to their house and found him in the kitchen, he banged on the door but no one was in. You have to understand he was beside himself with anger, he knelt down and shot the dog with a 12 bore in their kitchen! Quite a shock to come home to.

[Dorothy rouse]

If you put a dog flap into a wall dont you need a lintel to support the wall?

My only experience with dog flaps was a tragic one, A dog in our village was left in the kitchen of a house while the owners went out. He decided to spend a few hours worrying my neighbours sheep, did a lot of damage. The farmer followed him back to their house and found him in the kitchen, he banged on the door but no one was in. You have to understand he was beside himself with anger, he knelt down and shot the dog with a 12 bore in their kitchen! Quite a shock to come home to.

Goodness me Bill, that's horrible! You do seem to have a lot of things 'happen to you', well not exactly 'to you' , but events around you,if you see what I mean!

DottyR

[Bill HH]

Goodness me Bill, that's horrible! You do seem to have a lot of things 'happen to you', well not exactly 'to you' , but events around you,if you see what I mean!

DottyR

Well the longer you live the more things happen around you I suppose lol. My wife says I should write a book " It shouldnt happen to a farmer, mechanic, care home proprietor, pensioner" I had some very bizzare incidents during our Care Home days, Like the morning I came down into the kitchen of the care home still only half awake and answered the phone, it was a relative asking about her mother. "Oh she's doing really well I told her" Then I noticed our senior carer giving me the thumbs down sign and mouthing the words "She's dead" If we had had a linen basket I would have jumped into it like John Cleese in faulty towers.

[Dorothy rouse]

Well the longer you live the more things happen around you I suppose lol. My wife says I should write a book " It shouldnt happen to a farmer, mechanic, care home proprietor, pensioner" I had some very bizzare incidents during our Care Home days, Like the morning I came down into the kitchen of the care home still only half awake and answered the phone, it was a relative asking about her mother. "Oh she's doing really well I told her" Then I noticed our senior carer giving me the thumbs down sign and mouthing the words "She's dead" If we had had a linen basket I would have jumped into it like John Cleese in faulty towers.

Bill, I'm only a year younger than you! But you are right, my life has been 'very eventful' , also but different to yours, happy now tho.

[Dorothy rouse]

Whoops, sorry, just realised this is supposed to be about dog flaps.

[veggiechicken]

Mikey is one of the best at tangentising a thread. I learnt it from him
It seems I'm a year older than Bill I don't think my life has been particularly eventful but I have enjoyed every minute of it

[Dorothy rouse]

Mikey is one of the best at tangentising a thread. I learnt it from him
It seems I'm a year older than Bill I don't think my life has been particularly eventful but I have enjoyed every minute of it

You never know what's round the corner! Funny thing 'age', don't really agree with birthdays, don't know what an alternative cud be tho? Mmmmmmmmmmmm brain ache now

[Two_Sheds]

At the risk of making myself unpopular (again), can I say that I don't like dog flaps, or cat flaps.

If animals are left to come and go as they wish, they get up to mischief. Cats out all night are hunting our wildlife, and dogs are going to be digging or barking.

I don't believe dogs (as pack animals) should be allowed to come & go as they wish: they should be let out by their pack leader, when the pack leader decides.
If the pack leader just CBA to get up to let the dog out ...



*puts tin hat on and ducks*

[Mikey]

Oohhh Debate TS.

I can see your point of view, so here's my scenario.

I work from home and for most of the day the dog gives me a little whine from the other room if he wants to go out. He has the freedom to be with me in my office but prefers the sofa to a bean bag. Some days though I have to visit clients and can be gone for 3-5 hours, on these odd occasions I don't want to leave him outside for the duration as he spends most of his day lazing on the sofa and I have no desire to change his routine. Our back garden is very secure, and while I'm sure if he put his mind to it he could get out by hurdling a 6ft gate, as yet he's shown no inclination.

What I don't like the idea of is leaving a dog stuck inside if he needs the loo, and I'm out. For most of the summer our back door has been open, and he has wandered in and out as he pleases sometimes sunning himself on the patio as opposed to the sofa. He has a very nice life and is unbelievably well behaved for a puppy, at 6 months old he has yet to chew anything other than a few plants from the garden.

I want to ensure that through the winter he can have a similar amount of freedom around the back garden. I've asked both of my neighbours to keep an ear out for him when I go out and let me know if he whines or barks, but he's not an anxious dog and just chills when I'm out.

Just to make it clear he's fully aware who the pack leader is and where his place in the family is, and as he has 2-3 hours of field play over the course of a day he has little inclination for mischief.

Now give me that tin hat back..... and go and grab a hammer.

[veggiechicken]

I agree with you Mikey . I've always had cat/dog flaps for the convenience of being able to leave them for some hours and knowing that I'm not coming back to dogs with crossed legs, or worse.
The flaps can be closed at night to keep them in, and when we had a cat, I used to do this, mainly so they would be safe from traffic and foxes.
Perhaps its something to do with being a placid dozey sort of person, but I've never had a yappy dog or one that digs holes. Like me, they're content to laze the day away

[Catseyes]

Just to put my two pence in, it's not a bad idea for the dog to be able to go and relieve when needed. If the dog holds themselves for too long, it can lead to infection from what a vet once told me...


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