[charlie]

Hi all, I am getting a new puppy this week, all of my other dogs have happily stayed outside in their kennel, well insulated, dry and draft free however I have had them all as older dogs.  Can anyone tell me at what age it is ok to have them outside?  He will be 12 weeks when I get him.

[doganjo]

Are you at home - or someone else - during most of the day? You can't put him in with an adult dog, he may get hurt.  But if he is in a run alongside another one he should be fine.  Just make sure he has a good meal before you go, is warm and dry, has a water bowl he can't tip over and extra food if you are leaving him longer than a few hours.  All just common sense really. Personally I don't sell pups to people who are all out at work all day.

[Jackie]

I have put litters of pups outside at 6 to 7 weeks as long as their kennel is draft proof and dry.

 Low ambient temps dont usually kill the pups its the drafts that do so make absolutley sure there is NO drafts. Make sure the door is shut to keep in any warmth it generates.

At 12 weeks you can use a deep straw bed for the pup to bury itself in. Try and make the bed off the floor.

As Annie said make sure the pup has a full belly before bedtime as he/she will convert the food to heat.

[geebee]

If 'puppy' is going to be living outside it's best to start from day 1 otherwise it may not settle so well later on, leaving a radio on during the day will help, it won't feel so alone, and make sure there are no chewable items within reach!

[charlie]

Thanks for the helpful replies, it is useful to know others experiences.  He will not be left alone at all during the day, I wouldn't
have a dog if this was the case. I am lucky enough to work in an outdoor environment where he can be with me.  He will be in his kennel
and run once we get home. The kennel has a bed off floor height and is certainly draft proof so it looks like he should be fine.  Thanks again.

[littlemisspiggy!]

our pups have lived outside since they were 4 months old.......theyre 9 months old now and have been fine, as long as the kennel is well insulated there should be no probs...

[kingnigel]

we had two of our three litters born outside, always in a drought proof kennel, both litters have done very well.
but they are siberian huskies and there puppy fluff is amazing.
kn

[CarraghsBorderCollies]

my pups go outside with mum from 2-4wks depending on the time of year, in a well insulated kennel, they are working terriers and working sheepdog pups though.

[Hardfeather]

When I used to keep lots of dogs in kennels, I used those tube heaters fixed under the raised box beds. The cables were all out of the way and the heater lived in a false floor type affair so the dogs couldn't get to it. They give off a constant gentle heat and keep dogs warm in the worst weather.

[stu222art]

be careful when you introduce pup, when we bred dogs for showing we imported an americian dog and not one of our 26dogs would accept it, all attacked it dogs and bitchs  and also had a lurcher that tried to kill my terriers pups in the garden they see it as a threat some dogs are fine best not leave alone until your sure all is ok