For Those Of You With Acreage

[Gharrissc]

Do you allow your dog(s) to roam the majority of it or do you have certain areas fenced off for their safety? We had a 'neighbor' (if you want to call 5 miles a neighbor) who allowed his dogs access to their whole 130 acre property,because they always stayed close. They didn't know that they had an alligator in one of their ponds until they saw their dog struggling to free her head from it's mouth.

We only have 42 acres,but I don't give the dogs free access to everything unless I am out side with them. They have 3 acres of fencing around the house that keeps them from following all of the smells that come through.

[Felix's Proud Mammy]

I allow Felix and the foster Reba to run freely on our 7 acres but they both stay close and it's a half mile off the road. There are also acres and acres of dairy cows on either side of us (used to be a railroad that ran through it) so there's really nothing they can get into. I also make sure that I'm out there or can see them from the window if I'm not.

[Lauri & The Gang]

We only have 3 acres but even if we had 300 I would still have a section fenced for the dogs.

Not only does it keep them from getting into trouble (like chasing livestock, running onto roads, etc.) but it also keeps OTHER animals from getting to them!

Remember - if you live in an area where there are livestock , those that own the livestock are allowed to shoot your dog if they are harassing the animals (or even if they THINK your dog might be harssing or going to harass their animals).

Many people with livestock follow the SSS method - Shoot (kill the dog), Shovel (bury the dog) and Shut up (don't mention the dog).

Not worth the risk to my dogs, IMHO.
.

[Shade]

My parents have 23 acres, when we visit I'll take both of mine off leash hiking and to play. But use their one acres fenced dog run when I can't be out watching them 24/7

There's lots of hunters, bears, wolves, coyotes and other animals which could harm them. Not to mention lots of deliveries so large trucks pulling up. We don't take chances

[N Smith]

We have 3 acres. On it we have a 1/2 acre pen out front, and a fenced 1/2 acre in the back for us all to use. Then we also have two 10'x10' pens out back that my Shepherds use in lieu of crate time when we are busy.

I agree with Lauri - no matter how many acres, my dogs are never going to be without some protection. We have been lucky in that my Leonberger pretty much keeps any and all wildlife off the property.

In 5 years we have only seen one fox and 2 coyotes, but still. 2 summers ago, 2 houses down had a massive grizzley bear taking a bath in their kiddie pool out back. The bear destroyed the pool, the garden and the swing set before moving on.

[ponyfarm]

Free access only if I am with them. In the "olden days" my parents let the dogs roam.. a few got hit on the road. One got struck in the head by a deer. Never again.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

There are so many things that can happen - I thought the alligator was something - wow.

Here is an interesting one I found the other day looking up MDR1 stuff:
From C.A.Sharpe http://www.ashgi. org

I was recently contacted by someone asking whether a dog could have an MDR1
reaction due to eating feces from Ivermectin-treated livestock. I wasn't
sure about that, so I checked with Dr. Katrina Mealy at Washington State
University. Dr. Mealey is the scientist who discovered the MDR1 gene.

She told me that Ivermectin and the related drug, selamectin, were shed in
feces of treated animals in active form. She went on to say that .they have
had a number of reports on dogs that had ingested enough feces to have
serious to fatal MDR1 reactions.

If you have Aussies or dogs of any other MDR1 breed who are prone to poop
eating and may have access to excrement from livestock, it would be wise to
do whatever you can to prevent them from doing so.

busteralert.org

Cows around here probably have a lot of other crap in their crap! Never even thought of that for farm dogs.

[Felix's Proud Mammy]

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

There are so many things that can happen - I thought the alligator was something - wow.

Here is an interesting one I found the other day looking up MDR1 stuff:
From C.A.Sharpe http://www.ashgi. org

I was recently contacted by someone asking whether a dog could have an MDR1

reaction due to eating feces from Ivermectin-treated livestock. I wasn't
sure about that, so I checked with Dr. Katrina Mealy at Washington State
University. Dr. Mealey is the scientist who discovered the MDR1 gene.

She told me that Ivermectin and the related drug, selamectin, were shed in
feces of treated animals in active form. She went on to say that .they have
had a number of reports on dogs that had ingested enough feces to have
serious to fatal MDR1 reactions.

If you have Aussies or dogs of any other MDR1 breed who are prone to poop
eating and may have access to excrement from livestock, it would be wise to
do whatever you can to prevent them from doing so.

busteralert.org

Cows around here probably have a lot of other crap in their crap! Never even thought of that for farm dogs.

Neither of the dogs ever go into the fence with the cows. They understand where they are and are not allowed to be and respect those bounderies. Now, the cows are a different sotry. They get into our yard all the time with no apologies or anything from the farmer (he doesn't live there just shows up to feed them and leaves) and half the time doesn't even know they've been out. Neither dog eats feces either. Like I said, I am out there with them and if I'm not, I can see them through the window and it's not for long that I am gone. BUT, thank you for the advice.

[1sttimeforgsd]

We have 3 1/2 acres that is entirely fenced, first thing of the morning when they go out for potty I go with them and give the fencing a quick look over to make sure it is in place and that they are safe. During the day when they want out, they are able to go on their own but they can be observed from my porch or windows.

[Whiteshepherds]

We have 5 acres with a smaller fenced in area. The dogs are allowed off leash out in the woods but only if we're with them.