- Joined
- Jun 22, 2012
- Messages
- 8
The back story:
I recently adopted a friends 40-50 year old DT (friend moved to Hawaii). I had a few months to prepare our yard by planting native desert vegetation that I found recommended online. I slowed down on the weeding and let the nut sedge, Bermuda grass, spurge and things grow. I also seeded the yard with dandelions, planted a grape, etc.
I spent a couple days constructing a very stable cinder block and concrete burrow with a 6 foot entrance and the main 'house' under about 3 feet of sandy soil. It has 30 percent grade slope into the 'house', which is about 3'x3'. One side of the yard is shaded by a 70 foot Eucalyptus tree so it stays much cooler and there is an old Sago Palm, which he does use to rest under, if he must. I also made him a second burrow in a different section of yard and this one has a north facing entrance. The larger burrow faces west.
My problem is that he much prefers spending most of his time indoors and only goes out to forage a bit. I got him to spend one night in his small burrow and one night in his large burrow. On other nights he has slept under the Sago Palm, where it is cooler and protected.
His routine is to get up around 7:00 a.m. and cruise the yard nibbling different plants. And around 9:00 a.m. he is at the sliding door on a patio scratching at the glass. I let him in and give him a snack of watercress or some kale and then he makes his rounds through the house. After the rounds are complete he heads for a small table next to a couch and promptly plops down and goes to sleep under the table. I try to get him to go back out but he just stands at the glass looking mournful.
Is this normal behavior for a DT? Should I be worried that he doesn't seem to want to stay outside? I checked the temp in his burrow and it stays about 80 degrees, the same as what I have the air conditioner set at. The outside air is fluctuating from about 100F to 112F.
Any thoughts or advice will be most welcome. I really want to do what is best for this magnificent little guy. Thank you!
I recently adopted a friends 40-50 year old DT (friend moved to Hawaii). I had a few months to prepare our yard by planting native desert vegetation that I found recommended online. I slowed down on the weeding and let the nut sedge, Bermuda grass, spurge and things grow. I also seeded the yard with dandelions, planted a grape, etc.
I spent a couple days constructing a very stable cinder block and concrete burrow with a 6 foot entrance and the main 'house' under about 3 feet of sandy soil. It has 30 percent grade slope into the 'house', which is about 3'x3'. One side of the yard is shaded by a 70 foot Eucalyptus tree so it stays much cooler and there is an old Sago Palm, which he does use to rest under, if he must. I also made him a second burrow in a different section of yard and this one has a north facing entrance. The larger burrow faces west.
My problem is that he much prefers spending most of his time indoors and only goes out to forage a bit. I got him to spend one night in his small burrow and one night in his large burrow. On other nights he has slept under the Sago Palm, where it is cooler and protected.
His routine is to get up around 7:00 a.m. and cruise the yard nibbling different plants. And around 9:00 a.m. he is at the sliding door on a patio scratching at the glass. I let him in and give him a snack of watercress or some kale and then he makes his rounds through the house. After the rounds are complete he heads for a small table next to a couch and promptly plops down and goes to sleep under the table. I try to get him to go back out but he just stands at the glass looking mournful.
Is this normal behavior for a DT? Should I be worried that he doesn't seem to want to stay outside? I checked the temp in his burrow and it stays about 80 degrees, the same as what I have the air conditioner set at. The outside air is fluctuating from about 100F to 112F.
Any thoughts or advice will be most welcome. I really want to do what is best for this magnificent little guy. Thank you!
