How big is your working dog's pen?

[DieselRob]

Just curiosity on the subject really, does it make much of a difference to their behaviour.

Before I got my first collie the dogs here used to be on a 10ft ish chain from their kennel, the 2 I've had are in pens instead, 1 pen is about 8ft square with a kennel in the corner, the other is a little bit smaller.

About to pick up a new pup tomorrow and wondering if I should alter what I've done in the past.

What do you do with yours?

 

[Al R]

Mine are in a 4x4 kennel with a 6x4 run out the front, their mesh with wooden frames, wouldn’t have wood again as it always looks green days after power washing and turns their water buckets green quick. Had them around 16-18 years though and at the time 4 kennels joined up was £1000 erected. Concrete floor so easy to rinse down.
personally would never chain a dog up unless for a very short period (like moving machinery around a confined space) I’ve heard dogs that are chained up over a long time get wild and can become nasty.

 

[DieselRob]

The 2 dogs I remember being on a chain (back when I was a kid) were the most kind natured dogs, brilliant workers as well. But I do take your point that if they were chained up all the time they might not have been the same, these 2 were allowed to roam for a big part of the day

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Let mine run free to keep the gypo’s away.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Never locked a dog up in my life, hate seeing them on a chain or in a pen...mine follow me everywhere

 

[dudders]

Mine have always run free with me. Only shut them away when using the telehandler - limited visibility is too dangerous.

 

[DieselRob]

Never locked a dog up in my life, hate seeing them on a chain or in a pen...mine follow me everywhere

What about when you leave the farm?

My farm boundary is about 50m from the A1, there's a footpath down 1 side of the yard and a single track lane that gets used as a rally track shortcut at the other, collies on the loose round here would have too much danger around them.

Our old collie used to chase the front wheel of the jcb, how she never ended up under me I'll never know, I've seen dogs run over on other farms.

Oh and the collie I have now took himself for a wander off 1 day, half a mile away on to a very busy B road, dogs live in pens here unless being worked or exercised

 

[Northeastfarmer]

What about when you leave the farm?

My farm boundary is about 50m from the A1, there's a footpath down 1 side of the yard and a single track lane that gets used as a rally track shortcut at the other, collies on the loose round here would have too much danger around them.

Our old collie used to chase the front wheel of the jcb, how she never ended up under me I'll never know, I've seen dogs run over on other farms.

Oh and the collie I have now took himself for a wander off 1 day, half a mile away on to a very busy B road, dogs live in pens here unless being worked or exercised

When I leave the farm they are left, they never leave the yard....only time I tie one up is if it’s a pup till gets a year old or so
One chasing the front wheel of the tractor would get right on my t!ts...never had one do that yet

 

[DieselRob]

When I leave the farm they are left, they never leave the yard....only time I tie one up is if it’s a pup till gets a year old or so
One chasing the front wheel of the tractor would get right on my t!ts...never had one do that yet

We have only ever had 1 do it, I was about 10 when she died (of old age not chasing wheels)

 

[nick...]

Mine run about all the while.live in house and only have collars and leads put on when visiting the vet.
Nick...

 

[A1an]

Never locked a dog up in my life, hate seeing them on a chain or in a pen...mine follow me everywhere

That's just not an option at some farms. Ive had dogs picked up and put to the Dog Warden because they've been hanging around the estate here or have followed a bitch in heat a couple hundred yards.
I can go to bed and leave my Lab outside, she'll just take herself off to her kennel or jump in the pickup if its wet, if its dry she'll sleep out on the lawn. Her father wouldn't, he would be away following his cock.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

ive just got a boarder collie, for sheep and kids its just turned 3.

when im out on farm its just nocks about with me, its getting really good actually not had it long yet. so most of day its just free, if i go out or night it goes in a pen ive made in an old mistal, its quite generous prob? 14ft by around 12 ft as its inside he just has his bed i there.

in the past my late father had them on leads to kennels not noticed any difference in behaviour?

 

[Kevm]

ive just got a boarder collie, for sheep and kids its just turned 3.

Is it good at rounding up the kids

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Ha ha, they have been asking for years and finding out how much Labrador pups are these days and asking a fiend who trains collies how much he wanted for one it seemed like a no brainier to get something kids could enjoy and i could use on the farm!

 

[Tomr10]

Mine prefers pencil

 

[Bones]

Let mine run free to keep the gypo’s away.

As long as they dont take the dog

 

[Hfd Cattle]

2 collies in at night in a 8x4 pen each . Run around when I'm here but with too many footpaths and walkers offering them biscuits etc they would probably follow if left out all the time . Plus if in at night they do bark if anyone is about whereas if someone came at night and they were loose they would probably lick them to death rather than bite them !
The lab just runs around and when the walkers go buy he makes sure that they know he is in desperate need of food but he never follows .

 

[Castle Farm]

Try spending your day chained or in a pen and see how you get on.

 

[Bones]

Try spending your day chained or in a pen and see how you get on.

Some people pay big money for that

 

[Skintagain]

Mines in a 8x4 pen attached to a 4x3 insulated kennel.

She’s out all day and sleeps in pen on a night. Odd occasion I have fogetten to shut her up (don’t tell the Mrs) she has been laid on straw or sat on doorstep waiting.

My old bitch was always tied up to the thinnest gauge chain ever made. 12 years and she didn’t wear it out as she never really moved whilst on it overnight (most gentle dog I have ever had) - she was free all day just sat in kitchen unless we were on with something.