Mosquito question

[thump4863]

Hello all I just brought home my first Rottweiler pup 3 weeks ago. He is now 10 weeks old and is going to be an outside dog. My question is he has been getting bit by some misquetos at night on his belly. Is there anything that you guys recommend to repel the misquetos away to quit biting him? Maybe something I can spray on him or around his dog house? Thanks for your help.

[observer]

Well, I would first ask why you are intending him to be an outside dog (and are you leaving him out at night even now?). Rotties are people dogs, and are meant to be with their people....not left outside to their own devices all day and all night. For most of the people here, their Rotties are family members, who are part of the household -- not left outside.

I don't have mosquito issues where I am, so I don't know what the best products are for dogs.

[AngelBunny]

Why did you buy a dog who thrives on being with its human companions as an outside dog?

The way to protect your puppy from being chewed by insects is to keep your puppy inside with you.

I'm involved in rescue. Many times the dogs coming into our program were kept outside. Their fly-bitten ears are repulsive to see. Others are HW positive. The best, smartest, kindest thing you can do for your puppy is to train your puppy to live properly in your home.

[thump4863]

I have 2 inside dogs now - I wanted a bigger dog to have outside. I bring him in when im home and spend time with him but he will sleep outside at night and be outside during the day while I'm at work. Just because a dog is outside doesn't mean that he wont be apart of my family - I consider all my pets family and I dont need someone telling me otherwise because he sleeps outside.

If anyone knows of anything good for misquetos I would appreciate some help. Thanks.

[thump4863]

why delete my post? All I did was explain my situation so people dont think I'm cruell to my dog? I dont understand?

[Cherry Heart]

You wont read about many of us here keeping our dogs outside, or spraying them down with toxic chemicals to keep away bugs. The best advice I can give you is to keep outside around your house clean and dry, no leaky hoses, no stagnant water where bugs thrive. You'll see more fly bites then misqeto's I am sure, and keeping all dog poop cleaned up or teaching the dog to go in one area away from where you are keeping it will help.

Please reconsider keeping this puppy if you are going to keep it outside. This breed is NOT an outside dog, thoe ones that are can often be seen in the news as agressive and being put to sleep for killing something. They really should only be outside when you are WITH them.

[Sharon Marples]

You can trying spraying him with Avon's Skin So Soft, put it (undiluted) into a spray bottle and spray his ears and tummy well each night, being careful NOT to get any in his eyes.

It's sad tho, that you are leaving a 10 week old puppy outside. I don't hear of things much worse off in a breed that needs constant human interaction and socialization.

I'm surprised that any ethical breeder (hopefully you got this pup from one) would even sell you a pup knowing he would be kept outside.

I feel that in the long run you will be creating much larger problems down the road in his behavior because he is being kept away from the home and family situation at this young age.

[observer]

So this 10 week old puppy is outside 20 hours a day or so? Sorry, I stick by what I said before....and, I would ask exactly why you wanted "a big dog to stay outside". If you were just looking for a guard dog to roam around your back yard, that's not a very good choice for one of these dogs to live his entire life that way, with a few hours a day max inside the house and not a lot of quality time spent in training, etc., either, I suspect.

Only a back yard breeder would sell a puppy into that situation.

I can't help but see problems in the future in this situation. But, back to the mosquitos, Skin So Soft is a good option if you are bent on raising a dog under those conditions. That, and keeping your yard as inhospitable to the bugs as possible, as was already suggested.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by thump4863

I bring him in when im home and spend time with him but he will sleep outside at night and be outside during the day while I'm at work. Just because a dog is outside doesn't mean that he wont be apart of my family - I consider all my pets family and I dont need someone telling me otherwise because he sleeps outside.

If anyone knows of anything good for misquetos I would appreciate some help.

I am surprised a breeder sold you a such a young puppy, given the fact you work and plan to have your puppy spend his day outside and also sleep outside. It's hard to make such a dog part of your family, given the fact your puppy won't have much interaction with the people in his life.

Do you really want something "good for misquetos?"

It's keeping your dog inside where the windows and door are screened, protecting your puppy from mosquitoes and other biting insects.

[thump4863]

Thank you all for your views but this isn't my first animal. Just becasue i go to work and he sleeps outside does not mean that we aren't bonding and becoming family. I spend time with him for an hour before I leave in the morning and from 4:30 till 11:30 when I go to bed. He is doing just fine. Yes I am doing trianing and exercising as someone said that I wasn't. Its funny I have had outside and inside dogs my whole life and never had a problem. My backyard is a huge fenced in area and he likes it outside better than staying in a crate all day! Its not like I am one of those owners that gets a pup and throws it in the backyard to only see it when its fed and watered. I will try the skin so soft and see how that works. Thanks for your help.

[nkh219]

You also should take in to consideration what a 10 week old puppy can get in to or eat when unsupervised. There are many harmful things that a puppy can eat or play with, which can kill them! It is not safe for a puppy to be outside by itself all day! Also, have you not thought about the fact that people steal dogs from backyards, especially puppies! Does anyone check on the puppy while you are at work??? Do you go home for lunch??? 6-8 hours alone is way, way too long to leave a puppy alone!! I find this very upseting!!!

[rencook]

You can also find a product called Flys-off, usually at a horse store...it comes in a cream or a spray-I'm pretty sure it wroks for mosquitos as well as flies-just make sure if you are going to keep him outside all year that he is on heartworm preventative year round. Heartworm comes from mosquitos.

[thump4863]

Originally Posted by rencook

You can also find a product called Flys-off, usually at a horse store...it comes in a cream or a spray-I'm pretty sure it wroks for mosquitos as well as flies-just make sure if you are going to keep him outside all year that he is on heartworm preventative year round. Heartworm comes from mosquitos.

Thanks I'll try that...I have all my dogs on heartworm medicine anyway. I do come home during my lunch and he is only alone for 3.5 hours at a time. Nothing in my backyard to get into other than grass!

[Daisy Duke]

Unless someone throws something over the fence, or something gets in your yard with him or he gets away or gets stolen....You just do not understand what you are doing by just leaving a puppy of this ( or any breed) to it's own devices....Daisy lives amongst me an my family, and we are still finding she has dog aggression amongst other issues...Poor Puppy.

[kjd2121]

Let it be Daisy Duke, It seems that Thump knows what he is doing and understands fully well the issues with having a dog sleep outside. I believe Thump has explained that the dog is integrated into the family and has no issues as of yet. Just because your dog has issues doesn't mean Thump's dog will. He asked a simple question about mosquitos so maybe you can keep the thread on track.

BTW, my 9 week old Rott sleeps outside with a Golden Retriever and loves life. Shred me if you will.

Thump, be sure there is no standing water, except the water bowl(s) and maybe to heal the bites use Bag Balm.