Back Yard - How Small Is Too Small?

[samoyedman]

I currently have an averaged sized 3.5 year old samoyed in a large-ish yard.

I'm looking at buying a new place with a substantially smaller yard...about 9 meters by 4 meters wide.

I plan to have a dog-door so he can go into the house whenever he wants during storms or heat waves. Near the new place are lots of walkways and he will get two walks every day, play time/toys and lots of human company at night and on weekends (he is alone during the day of working weeks).

On the downside he is used to his larger yard and buries things, digs and has sleeps etc. in the garden. He is a good dog and well behaved at home (no separation issues or excessive barking). All he seems to do during the day is sleep.

Do you think in light of the above information a drastic change in outdoor space like this might have adverse consequences? I'd hate to see him with behavioural issues because of this reduction in yard space.

Any experiences here?

Edited March 7, 2010 by samoyedman

[blacklabrador]

I think that is far too small for a big dog. It will also turn to mush because the grass won't grow with him peeing and pooing on it. Mud pit/dust bowl doesn't sound like too much fun with a white fluffy dog. If it's paved then I think that's pretty horrible too.

Plenty of people do raise their dogs in tiny spaces like this though - I guess it depends on the temperament of your boy as to how he copes. I don't know anything about typical Samoyed nature so I'll leave that to somebody else.

[samoyedman]

I think that is far too small for a big dog. It will also turn to mush because the grass won't grow with him peeing and pooing on it. Mud pit/dust bowl doesn't sound like too much fun with a white fluffy dog. If it's paved then I think that's pretty horrible too.

Plenty of people do raise their dogs in tiny spaces like this though - I guess it depends on the temperament of your boy as to how he copes. I don't know anything about typical Samoyed nature so I'll leave that to somebody else.

Thanks Pointee.

By the way, I forgot to mention the current owner has 2 small dogs (about schnauzer size) in the yard and the grass is 100% perfect.

[Swizzlestick]

I don't think a yard that size is too much of an issue at all. You've said he will be walked twice daily, and as he sleeps most of the day anyway, I think he should cope.

I believe too much emphasis is placed on yard size sometimes. As long as a dog is mentally and physically active every day, the yard he is kept in shouldn't play a big part.

[GeckoTree]

I dont thik it will be a problem, dogs adapt pretty easily and so long as he is exercised and given mental stimulation he should be fine. Perhaps put in a small sand pit area for digging.

[Jake-K9]

So long as he gets enough excercise and mental stimulation he should be fine.

I have an average sized yard but my mal just about knocks me down to get into his crate inside when we get home of a morning :/ I have to kick him out again so he will go relieve himself and then if I leave him out for more than about 10mins he either snuffles at the door wanting to get in, or goes and barks at the neighbours >_<

I don't think he would even care if we didn't have a yard as he gets enough excercise

[juice]

i have a small yard ,( due to the fact i stuck a huge pool on it ), with 3 dogs, and they are fine.

mine get walked twice aday, and sleep most of the time during the day.

you could get 2 clams, one with sand one with water?

i also have astro turf on mine as grass didn't grow much.

Edited March 7, 2010 by juice

[Crazy Daisy]

I don't think it's much different to dogs being put in a dog run when owners are out. I am on 1.5 acres but when we are out my dogs go in their run which is a little bigger than your backyard (mine is 20 x 3m). I am at home most of the time but with all this rain we've been having my dogs have been in the run all week, except for two long walks a day and just coming inside and siting on a mat and they have been fine. I think with lots of activity when you are at home your dog will be fine.

[woodbyne]

My dogs have a 5 acres house paddock to run in and i still have to take them out for a walk each day or they will sit at the door and sleep all day.... my waslks are all off lead running through paddocks so as long as you are prepared to clean up after your dog and don't expect the grass to remain intact and happy to exercise him EVERY day i think it would be ok.

[SmoothieGirl]

SM I have a small yard, probably about the size you have described. My girl grew up here though, so isn't use to a large yard, she has had access to indoors unsupervised via a dog door since about 8 months. She is just fine, I really don't know that she would use a large yard much unless I was out there with her.

She is walked twice a day, goes to dog day care one day a week, gets a loose walk/run about three or four days a week and we attend formal training one to two days a week. I'm planning on introducing another dog at the end of the year and I don't think this will be an issue. Btw, my grass is in great nick, she has a sand pit to dig in now, although did try to dig the lawn as a little pup. That was easy fixed though, I put down one of those Bunnings wire compost panels over the hole, filled it with garden soil and let the grass grow over.

I think it really depends on your dog. I would enjoy having a larger more active dog, but I'm not prepare to take the risk that my yard is too small for a gundog or something like that. For my Collie girl it is fine.

Edit - Wrote too quick and made mistakes. Jeez, just had to edit the edit note.

Edited March 7, 2010 by SmoothieGirl

[Clyde]

I don't think a yard that size is too much of an issue at all.

I agree. My dogs pretty much only go out to the yard to toilet. I clean up straight after them and look after the garden so the grass is fine.

[W Sibs]

So long as he gets enough excercise and mental stimulation he should be fine.

+ 1

[blacklabrador]

Can you take your dog to the park a few times per week? I really think that dogs need to run as well as being walked. I know my dogs use the yard for running and silly games/zoomies etc.

[samoyedman]

Can you take your dog to the park a few times per week? I really think that dogs need to run as well as being walked. I know my dogs use the yard for running and silly games/zoomies etc.

Yep, already doing that now.

There's a dedicated fenced dog park within 10 minutes walk of this place.

[dee lee]

My yard is TINY, but Honey rarely goes out there and even wont toilet there unless she is absolutely desperate.

We adopted her late last year and Im sure previously she would have lived in a much larger yard. She is 3 now and doesnt seem to miss the extra space as long as she gets time with us.

I just make sure Honey is worn out (physically and mentally) everyday. I take her for an hours jog or offlead walk/fetch session at the parklands every morning. She is taken on our morning "chores' (school drop off/coffee) then she is left inside the house sleeping til someone gets home that afternoon. Then we go for a short walk to a little nearby park, a later toilet walk and her day is done. We do dog training on sundays with practice during the week. She is a very happy pup.

I would love more space but we all cope. Im sure your dog will be fine SM.

[whippets]

I don't think it matters the size of the yard as long as the owner is prepared to take the dog to a fenced free run area. All breeds of dogs live in apartments in Manhatten, in New York, and thrive.

I would even recommend a whippet to live in an apartment as long as the owner had access to a fenced galloping area and was prepared to exercise the dog regularly.

[sas]

My dogs go into the yard to toilet and that is about it LOL

I do walk them regardless of the weather though everyday, if it's to hot then we go out later.

[Dame Aussie]

When we've talked about buying a place the first thing we think of is the size of the yard (spoilt rotten dogs), having said that though, if the dog is walked and mentally stimulated I think he'll be fine.

To me, it's more about the time you spend with the dog than the size of the yard.

[Starkehre]

I don't believe that the size of a yard reflects whether or not a dog/dogs can be happily/healthily kept in it or even the breed or size of dog.

It all depends on what you do with the dog when you are around. And like you said, you plan to do a lot of exercise, so that is fine IMO.

We have a small yard, and we have had from 2-5 large breeds in it any any one time. They have always been well rounded and well behaved dogs.

I know many people that have big properties, yet choose to lock their dogs in the house or in a run, and feel they are good owners because they live on a big property, even though the dogs maybe go onto the property once or twice a day to empty and that is it. I don't have an issue with that either, but people should not be judgemental. (btw, this is not anyone on DOL) Sorry, drifted OT for a moment there

Yard time is quiet time for my dogs. I only encourage play in the yard when interacting with me. The rest of their exercise time is done when we take them out each day, and that is how I prefer it. I do not expect my dogs to exercise themselves in the yard, nor would they. I want them to be resting and quiet whilst in the yard, as it keeps the neighbours happy.

I have always found that most dogs tend to rest during the day when yarded, and even more so when yarded alone.

[cointreau]

I currently have an averaged sized 3.5 year old samoyed in a large-ish yard.

I'm looking at buying a new place with a substantially smaller yard...about 9 meters by 4 meters wide.

I plan to have a dog-door so he can go into the house whenever he wants during storms or heat waves. Near the new place are lots of walkways and he will get two walks every day, play time/toys and lots of human company at night and on weekends (he is alone during the day of working weeks).

On the downside he is used to his larger yard and buries things, digs and has sleeps etc. in the garden. He is a good dog and well behaved at home (no separation issues or excessive barking). All he seems to do during the day is sleep.

Do you think in light of the above information a drastic change in outdoor space like this might have adverse consequences? I'd hate to see him with behavioural issues because of this reduction in yard space.

Any experiences here?

i don't think it is too small a yard, your dog isn't going to be stuck in the yard all day and night. You said two walks a day would be taken and the dog will be able to go inside when it likes and also have lots of human contact. Provided your dog gets out and about and human contact chances are you will find he won't want to be out in the yard that much except to dig. My dog is left alone when I am at work and has access to inside and out - my neighbour rarely sees or hears her when I am at work. Dogs adjust well make sure his favorite toys are there to play with and I am sure he will settle into his new home very soon.