Some Questions About Dog Ownership

[aussielover]

Just some general questions about doggy things.

I personally do not understand the point of having an outside only dog.

I've also never had a dog that didn't need to be walked at least once a day (inc a SWF)

I couldn't get away with not walking my dog due to bad weather. This morning we were the only ones out (it was raining) but we both had a great time!

edited to add more options

Edited October 24, 2010 by aussielover

[Esky the husky]

I think there needs to be a few more options in the first question.

When we're out Esky is usually left outside. If it's bad weather I'll leave her in a room of the house.

When were home she can be inside or outside as she chooses

[Burkes]

Yeah, mine have a doggy door so they can be in or out whenever they want.

[Sue & Waldo]

I have a doggie door as well.

[Miss B]

I personally do not understand the point of having an outside only dog.

Why not?

Of my three dogs, the Jap Spitz is the only one who really spends any great deal of time inside the house. The two Sibes are mostly outdoors - suits them fine, suits me fine.

[Staranais]

I hardly ever walk my dog on leash. Just leash walking is boring for both of us. I do other things instead to exercise her.

I also don't see the point in having an outside only dog as a pet - I hardly go outside in the winter, so I'd hardly see my dog for half the year! But she does live outside when I'm not at home.

[Malamum]

We also have a dog door so they can come in and out as they choose, however they do not get free run of the house. They only have access to the kitchen area of our house, which we keep closed off from the rest of it. This is whether we are home or not.

In regards to walks, I voted every few days. We aim to walk them every day but we often get busy or just slack.

We don't walk them in bad weather. I don't like them getting too wet as they are prone to hot spots.

[Greytmate]

Mine start to dissolve if they get wet, so I can't take them out in the rain.

[Guest Willow]

My dogs don't get walked in bad weather, for a few reasons....

If it's raining, the Staffy won't go for a walk but the SWF will

If it's windy, the Staffy is fine but the SWF struggles badly (we live in the coast, in can get pretty blustery at times)

If the weather is bad in general these days I rarely go, because the baby has to come too in her carrier, and I don't want her out in terrible weather (I'm not talking a bit of drizzle or a bit chilly, I mean nasty weather)

In summer it it's too windy we can't go on the beach because SWF gets blinded by the blowing sand, and we can't go on the bush tracks because of all the snakes....neither of them enjoys walking the streets next to the pram.

They don't really care to be honest.

If they missed a walk, we play fetch (if they can be bothered) or do somehting else, but luckily I have very lazy dogs who are happy to just lie around & do nothing.

[poodlemum]

Mine start to dissolve if they get wet, so I can't take them out in the rain.

- my boys certainly THINK they will - try telling them Poodles are water dogs!

They don't really get "walked" as such, as they have 2 acres to run around in. They are inside at night, when we're out & any other time they want to be.

[WreckitWhippet]

Indoors when they want to be. Always indoors from sunset onwards.

I walk them rain hail and shine. Cyclones and snow mean I stay in and they get on the treadmill, that's my back up for days when it's horendous outside and dangerous to walk.

[Christina]

Depends on your lifestyle & where you live so really variable.

When I lived in the city my dogs were walked locally or taken to the beach 8 mins drive away daily. I would also pop 1 or 2 in the car for a ride if I was going to the local shop & would be in & out quick.

Now I live rural it really isn't practical. They have masses of room to run outside & play & exercise with each other as well as when I play with them. Due to the dirt roads can't take them in the wet, I slip never mind them. Hot & dry & its so dusty & snake risk. In between seasons I walk them around the 4 streets which is all that's here or take them in turns in the car if I go to local shops & go for a walk just to keep them socialised & used to the lead.

They are happy & don't care. Rain, forget it, too hot & they don't want to go out in it.

They all live inside, no doggie door, snake area but they spend a lot of time outside with me & a little out there on their own but soon let me know when they want to come in. They are with me most of the time & tear around the house under my feet anyway.

[Earthdog]

I have a dog who will not come inside. He stresses if he gets through the door. He can not settle and is a right royal PITA. He is still a very much loved pet. We spend a lot of time out side with him and the others. He is quite happy to curl up on the back verandah, which is closed on three sides.

[Niques]

Inside dog. Technically outside when no one's home but really only stays on a large deck. If he ever learnt to go down the back stairs then he'd be properly outside.

He gets walked every couple of days.

And I can't really answer the last question. If we're in the mood for a walk then we're not bothered by rain, but at the same time, he's not walked on a fixed schedule so we're not actively avoiding the rain on the wet days that we don't walk.

[whiskedaway]

My girl is inside and outside. She's outside when we're not at home (though she has a doggy door to get into the laundry so she stays out of the heat) and she sleeps in a kennel outside. When we're home, Akira comes in and out as she wants. She generally prefers being outside in the winter, but she's starting to want to be inside more and more as it heats up.

Re walks, she normally gets two walks a day. If she's doing something that uses a lot of energy, like training/playing with doggy friends/etc she normally only gets one walk or doesn't get one at all. We don't walk when it's raining because I hate it and while she's a water baby, she doesn't like the rain coming into her face.

[juice]

You don't have my option, , outside mostly, inside if i please, not them

My dogs lived outside 24/7 until this winter when 2 really felt the cold as they were getting old, so they came in to sleep.

Since then i have changed ,and they are allowed in after dinner, only downstairs, and not on any furniture. I put them back out when i go to bed in summer, they can sleep inside in winter, on their beds, not mine

And i think its rude to judge people without seeing their setup etc on whats right and wrong.

I defy anyone to see my dogs and think they are hard done by.

Mine get walked twice a day, no matter what the weather is.

[Sydoo]

Billie is inside when we are at work (bedrooms closed off); when someone is home she has run of both house and yard. We are hoping to transition to spending work days outside in the not too distant future.

She goes out almost every day - whether it is a walk, a trip to a park, a playdate in a friend's yard etc depends on where OH and I are, and the weather. There are odd days when we can't take her out so play active/brain straining games at home. Last Sunday she was so exhausted from 'assisting' me with a day of painting and yardwork that she put herself to bed before it was time to go for a walk.

[Bubitty]

Bubby, little pansy that he is, is an inside only dog. He emerges twice/three times a day outside for walks/ratting.

Bitty, little feral that she is, is inside when I am gone for 5 hrs or less, inside when I am home and outside if I am gone for more than 5 hours. She does love to drag me outside to hoon around the backyard though.

They both get at least two walks a day, rain, hail or shine. I have maaaajor issues about walks and have only missed one second walk in two yrs I think (due to severe thunderstorms). I am a bit of a nutter when it comes to walks!

[Scarlet]

My dogs usually get walked 5 days out of 7.

But them sometimes they may get 2 or 3 in a day-it depends on lots of things.

Rain doesn't stop us but extreme heat does - then we usually walk at 4/5am or 9/10pm.

Or I might drive to the river so they can have a swim.

[hopenfox]

where does your dog live?

In and outside: whatever I (not they) choose.

How often do you walk your dog?

They're exercised around 3 - 6 times a day with free runs on the property, swims in the dam, games of fetch & training. We very rarely go for a 'walk'.

Do you walk your dog rain, hail or shine?

Yes, I exercise them in all but the most extreme weathers.