We are wanting our GSP to be able to stay outside in the yard while we are at work instead of in the kennel. She refuses to be out there by herself and whines and scratches at the door constantly.....we have only let her stay out for 30 min or so. She is only 5 months old right now so we are hoping with age it will get better. Any advice or have y'all experienced this with your breed?

does she have toys to play with outside?

Get another GSP!!

Yes, she has a whole box of toys and a few deer legs to chew on. I told my husband we need to get another one but he won't go for it :-(......probably for the best though!

One suggestion is just to ignore her when she starts to whine. If she continues to scratch at the door discipline otherwise you'll end up with a torn up door. Only problem though is if she is ignored she may act out and start destroying stuff outside.

I agree with Barny to get another dog as a playmate. Doesnt have to be a GSP just another puppy to play with and keep eachother busy. I don't think I would be able to leave my puppy daisy, who is 4 months old, outside all day unless I have Buddy, my 3 year old mutt, outside with her.

Try to leave it out when she can't see you if it is possible. Go out and get a neighbor to spy on it for you.

My Vizsla aka velcro dog, was the exact same way. She had all the toys in the world and plenty of room to run, but she just didnt want to stay outside for more than a few minutes without someone with her. So when she was a year old I bought her a sister, a 1 year old GSP female. You could only imagine the transition, all they do now is play. Inside, outside doesnt matter, they beg to go outside and while they are out they run and run chasing each other. Now since you said your husband wont let you have another, we did try something with my Vizsla before we bought her sister, Doggy Day Care. Find a place where they let all the dogs outside and play for a good part of the day, it gave my Vizsla a new appreciation of the outdoors. Now if none of those are options like the other poster said ignore her.

Buy a cheap spray bottle and fill it with water. Every time she scratches and whines at the door, spray her. Then close the door, only let her back in if she just hanging out. At her age she is probably going to chew, and dig up everything in the yard while your at work. It would be cheaper to just build a dog run, and you know she's safe outside.

I think we all really do understand and feel your pain. She is having separation anxiety. All hunting dogs need to learn to relax when tied out on a chain. Try tying her out and leave her be for awhile. It's one of the first things I do when I bring a pup home.

Ok, I'll be the bad guy. Quit humanizing your dog. Put her in the kennel. Only bad things can come from her being left alone in the backyard. The "perceived" benefit (because there really isn't one) is not worth the risk or the cost. JMO.

In my opinion, the best thing for a dog is to be under your control at all times. If the dog is in the house, it needs a place or to be with you. If it is outside for long periods of time, it should be controlled. If you aren't home, it should be in a crate or kennel.

Most young dogs when left alone will get bad habits or destroy stuff.

If you are determined to leave the dog outside all day, the chances are your yard will get destroyed. I hate putting dogs in kennels, but if you leave a dog alone all day, a good kennel is a better choice than just having a yard dog.

One thing to be careful of is any close neighbors. I don't know a single person that likes to hear a dog bark. Be careful because your neighbors may injur your dog if it becomes anoying.

Do not let your dog scratch your door. She is training you.

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I didn't put my gsp in a kennel and he dug up all the wires and some of the pipes to my sprinkler system. Put them in a kennel when left outside for a long time.

Take heed of this advice. My yard looks like the moon because of my 6 month old golden. No more of that. He's now in his kennel or on a very short chain. And I'm building a run with either a wood or concrete floor.

My GSPs stay in a kennel and are let out mornin and night to run and play. I've just about completely broke them from digging holes and eating my bushes. They def don't scratch my doors or dig up my sprinkler system. Regardless, welcome to the world of GSPs - they're nuggin futs.