Inside Dogs

[Baby Dragon]

Most people who I know that have dogs have their dogs outside 24/7. The dogs can run around in the yard whenever they like, but I think they mostly sleep.

It got me thinking about inside dogs. Some people think it's unnatural to have dogs inside because they can't run around etc, but if inside dogs are given exercise outside it should be ok, shouldn't it? If the owner actively exercised them with a game of fetch etc once or twice a day, is it possible they're getting more exercise than dogs that are in a yard 24/7?

Edited April 3, 2010 by Baby Dragon

[Whippetsmum]

I wonder if it's exercise or stimulation that is the critical issue?

[julesluvscavs]

Our 2 stay mostly inside.

I have seen them do some very impressive zoomies inside our last house, and our new house, both fairly small houses.

Our young Cav 'Joey' goes for a couple long walks with my husband a week, mostly on the weekends.

They do spend more time 'sleeping/lazing' around than being active, but they do go for drives with us on the weekends, and when we get out to do something, of course they do too.

Our backyard is quite large, and they will walk around exploring, but it only lasts about 5-10 mins, then they want to come back inside ! LOL If we are outside doing something then they will follow us around.

Both of our Cavs are in quite good shape, pity their Mum (me) isn't ! eeek

Edited April 3, 2010 by JulesLuvsCavs

[dee lee]

My GR is an inside dog, if we go out without her she is left inside.

She gets an hours hard exercise every morning, gets taken with us wandering around our area (ie school dropoffs, out for coffee etc), she gets taken to dog training once a week, we practice daily.

My OH works irregular hours so our dog has company most days. She is pretty happy as far, as I can tell, as long as she is part of the family.

We didnt start out with wanting a totally inside dog but we adopted her as an adult and when she exhibited distress at being locked out in our (tiny) courtyard we felt it was safer to leave her in. It has ended up working really well and she never goes outside unless we go with her.

When she had access to a massive yard when we went on holidays all she wanted was to come inside where we were.

I'd love a big yard but it aint going to happen and Honey isnt suffering.

[Lady Flying Furball]

I live in an apartment and chose my dog breed as best I could to suit this, so got a Papillon. When I had the trainer come in she said that it was often the apartment dogs who were better walked and exercised because the owners had to take that care especially seriously.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Our three are basically inside dogs. They go outside to toilet and have a bit of a stretch and walk around. But they're 10, 9 and 6 so not overly active any more. And Ruby's not active at all with her cruciate and arthritis issues now. I think it really depends on the dog, their energy levels, their requirements for mental stimulation, whether they have access to interactive toys or people to play with, and when left alone, how long they're alone for at a time.

[all that glitters]

My shepherd is mostly indoors too, when we go to work or have to leave her she is left in a big room which is the size of half the house with lots of toys, 2 couches, a raised bed, a flat bed, the radio on, chews and treats and she's fine She's always acted a lot calmer and happier being kept indoors so we keep it that way! I give her a good game of fetch and a good walk in the mornings before we leave her, but she's only alone 9hrs 2 days a week, the rest of the time she has company

If we have her dog door open when we are home she hardly ever goes outside, just to have a bark and a pee every 6hrs or so

[stormie]

Orbit is an inside dog but I usually have the door open for him to come and go as he pleases. The only time he really goes outside is to eat/drink and toilet. He rarely goes exploring and doesn't ever exercise himself in the yard. When we're at work he sometimes plays with the bosses dog outside, but mostly they sleep together inside.

Right now, I'm at my mums and he is out in the back sunroom which has backyard access. He's asleep at the back door waiting to come inside.

I personally don't think yard size is really all that significant. I think dogs should be walked every day to give them their exercise.

[IngeK]

Our dogs are always inside. I take them for a walk in the morning around 6.30, then later in the afternoon when I come home and again around 8.30 at night. A dog in the back (neigbours) is outside 24/7 and he plays a bit but mostly sits at the fence waiting for attention. Probably cause Im from the Netherlands but 90% of the dogs are inside dogs there so I didnt know any better until I came here in Australia. It wouldnt be my choice to have a dog outside all the time while they are your friend and want to be with you.

[Baby Dragon]

Interesting responses Thank you

Just after reading some of the comments, I wondered if walking is really exercise for a dog? I know it's mental stimulation, but I wouldn't think it would count much as exercise. I always think of exercise as being running off leash.

[stormie]

Interesting responses Thank you

Just after reading some of the comments, I wondered if walking is really exercise for a dog? I know it's mental stimulation, but I wouldn't think it would count much as exercise. I always think of exercise as being running off leash.

I personally think walking is better than off leash running. I walk Orbit 2-3km a day and we jog some of that. We usually go past an oval on our walk too, so if its free I'll let him off for a quick run, but then its back on leash to continue our walk. I should say too, when I take him to the oval, I often do laps or sprints and he follows along too.

I'm not talking a leisurely stroll either - I'm talking proper walking with intent. He's trotting next to me the whole time.

I wouldn't really trust Orbit to completely 'self exercise' just at an offleash park. He'd have a couple of runs then just potter around sniffing etc. Atleast on a walk, I know he's burning energy and also satisfying his mental instinct to walk.

[WreckitWhippet]

I've got five that live in the house and basically have to be turfed off the lounge and out the door. Sometimes they choose to run around and play with each other but most of the time when chucked out the back door, they go and sit in the sun.

My whippets get a slip run 4 or more times a week and my Staffords do 5k's a night.

[julesluvscavs]

Hi Baby Dragon

Our two don't get let of their leashes when out and about on walks, but Hubby will make Joey work a bit harder by climbing over rocks (we live by the beach), going up and down steps, up and down look outs etc.. all this can be done on leash, and DH will also do quite a bit of running with him

Renae is getting older, so we don't expect her to do the same, if she's not in the mood.

[mantis]

Our 2 stay mostly inside.

I have seen them do some very impressive zoomies inside our last house, and our new house, both fairly small houses.

Our young Cav 'Joey' goes for a couple long walks with my husband a week, mostly on the weekends.

They do spend more time 'sleeping/lazing' around than being active, but they do go for drives with us on the weekends, and when we get out to do something, of course they do too.

Our backyard is quite large, and they will walk around exploring, but it only lasts about 5-10 mins, then they want to come back inside ! LOL If we are outside doing something then they will follow us around.

Both of our Cavs are in quite good shape, pity their Mum (me) isn't ! eeek

Kenny is the same, always has been & he is a large dog, he loves to go outside & have a sniff around, to see what has been in his backyard while he has been inside, does his toilets & then straight back inside to snooze, he spends about 20 hours a day snozzing, lazy big bugger.

[dee lee]

Interesting responses Thank you

Just after reading some of the comments, I wondered if walking is really exercise for a dog? I know it's mental stimulation, but I wouldn't think it would count much as exercise. I always think of exercise as being running off leash.

Absolutely walking is exercise.

My last dog was very DA and was not allowed offlead, we walked onlead for an hour every morning and she went jogging onlead with my OH a couple of times a week. She was a very high energy dog and she coped just fine.

My current dog gets a lot of offlead time but I have started putting her onlead a bit more to help with her training.

[Esky the husky]

I let mine ride beside my bike.

They have a harness and a walky dog attachment so that we both stay safe.

At the moment I just do heaps of laps around the oval. The dog can run on the grass and I can still ride on the gravel.

I can modify the pace depending on how energetic the dogs are. Much better than walking I have stumpy legs. I can't no too fast

They also get games of fetch.

Esky gets kept outside in the day, and let into the caravan I sleep in at night.

[kiesha09]

My two have a smallish yard but they never use it unless I go out there. Otherwise they are inside dogs who just sleep on the bed all day. They go for an off lead walk each day in summer and in winter they go for an onlead walk of the same time. I have never noticed any difference in their energy levels between an on or offlead walk so I'm sure an onlead walk is just as good.

I think if you had an indoor dog though you would need to do more than just play fetch with it for a while each day. It really would need to be walked everyday whether it be onlead or off.

[PRADA68]

My dogs are inside dogs and spend most of the time in the house they do their zoomies in the backyard and have an hours ball throwing and free running in the top paddock every couple of days. If I am up to it they do fine on this and have no problems with boredom etc. I believe dogs just love being near us and are happy with that situation. I am home most of the time so they are lucky dogs. Mine do need to run of steam and blow out the cobwebs occasionally and that is where the couple of acres up in the paddock do them well they love it.

[ILK]

My dog is an indoor outdoor. He would spend all his time inside if I allowed it, because he loves being near us. We have a big yard so he spends alot of time chasing birds & bats running & sniffing.

He gets a minimum of an hours free run at the dog park once a day as well as ball throwing in the yard. We have two teenagers so we spend alot of time outside so he gets heaps of company. He is an extremely high energy working breed. Living inside permanently would not suit him at all.