Some Questions About Dog Ownership

[SalTheGal]

Our dog lives outside.... she comes in during the evening, or if I am at home during the day and its bad weather.

Othewise my son is usually found outside playing with her.

She sleeps outside (her choice in the early days, now its habit).... in a den under the cover of our deck.

She gets walked every few days, but we have a large enclosed back yard and a further 6 acres for her to run on when we are outside with her.. she gets her exercise in lots of ways.

If I am heading to the shops etc she comes too and will get on the lead then.... otherwise we are out bush so there is rarely a need for her to be on the lead (for a cocker her recall -to me atleast- is remarkable).

She hates the rain, so I haven't even tried to walk her in inclement weather.

:D

[Tim'sMum]

We have a dog door....which neither dog will use. :D The laundry door stays open except on cold winter nights. The dogs have free rein and can go wherever they want.

As for walking...one is OK if it's raining, the other isn't....she despises getting wet. I will walk them if it is sprinkling but not in heavy rain.

I too don't see the point of having a dog if it is kept outside 100% of the time and I think it's cruel to have a dog and not walk it....unless it has a medical condition that precludes walking or if someone lives on acreage and the dog has a lot of room to exercise in.

Edited October 24, 2010 by Tim'sMum

[JulesP]

I do think you need to add in options for rural people :D I don't do walks around the roads here as there aren't pavements, too many scary guard dogs and I am not convinced how safe it is for me. I do however pay a big mortgage so the dogs can have their own fun park. They get trained daily and go out to training twice a week. I also take them sheep herding. We go out on walks and play dates too at least once a week.

The dogs are outside during the day. Their beds are outside my study so we see each other all day. It is much more fun for them outside. They come in during the evening and then sleep outside.

[B-Q]

Our lot live indoors/outdoors. They don't all get on so they are rotated. They all sleep inside.

I walk them nearly everyday, we've got 10 acres so I just take BUster down there for a run because he gets stressed out when we leave the property, we're still working on this. Quinn I try to get out of the yard everyday because I'm still socialising her as much as I can. Not generally in bad weather but I don't own an umbrella or a raincoat atm.

[oakway]

How about adding

I never walk my dogs. :D

[Nushie]

where does your dog live?

In and outside: he has a dog door, but is inside unless he needs to go to the toilet or if there is something happening outside that he wants to check out.

How often do you walk your dog?

Jager gets a walk every morning and depending on what time i get home he probably gets out in the afternoon about 3-4 times a week. Plus he loves fetch so we play that for about 30 mins each afternoon.

Do you walk your dog rain, hail or shine?

He is not a big fan of rain. He gets all excited when we get him ready for his walk and then we get outside and his little feet get wet and he plants his bum on the ground, we coax him on and he will walk (not the usual happy trot that he does) so he drags his feet and we only end up going around the block cause it is just so much effort to get him moving at a reasonable walking pace.

That being said, if it has rained for a few days he is usually pretty happy to get out anyway even if it is pouring.

[MolassesLass]

where does your dog live?

My dogs have access to outside whenever someone is home but otherwise they're shut in the house (since the psycho neighbour threatened us).

How often do you walk your dog?

Pretty much never, they don't need walks for mental or physical stimulation.

Do you walk your dog rain, hail or shine?

Nope, if I am going to take one for a walk, it will be in perfect weather conditions only.

[dee lee]

where does your dog live?

Mostly inside. She sleeps inside, and barely goes outside when we are home and 90% of the time when we are out she stays inside.

Recently if the weather is nice and we are going out, occasionally she has been left outside with a bone.

How often do you walk your dog?

We jog or go to the offlead park for a walk/fetch at 6am every day. Its a pretty strenuous workout for her.

On the weekends when I am home a lot we are a little bit slacker because I like to be able to have a little lie in, she will still get a walk though.

Yesterday it rained most of the day and we didnt get a chance for a walk, so I just took her with me on my chores with a brief leg stretch and toilet break at a park. Better than leaving her home and bored.

Do you walk your dog rain, hail or shine?

Hmm. I hate walking in the rain with her- too much wet fur!!! I'll avoid it if I can.

I will wait for a break in the weather in the morning, if it doesn't happen she can skip a day or two- after that she gets a bit hyper and we need to go no matter what.

This morning we got caught running in the rain . It was foul, but we were already wet and she needed the run, so we continued. Crossing fingers tomorrow is better.

[Silvawilow]

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

I find this comment really offensive and small minded Perhaps some people may be very house proud and don't want their dogs roaming about the house. Perhaps some people have children and put them first. Perhaps their parents/partners don't appreciate dogs indoors.

My dogs are predominately outside dogs. I do go home on my lunch break and eat my lunch outside with them. Our oldest sleeps inside with us on our old leather lounge. The others are outside in the kennels.

The dogs come in for periods after work one at a time as it's easier to keep and eye on 1 dog, 1 small person + cats than multiple dogs!

eta:

My dogs don't get walked, too many bogans with uncontrolled dogs in town. They get exercised and trained in our yard - which is over an acre and fully secure. And we take them swimming in the dam which is on an adjoining ppty.

Edited October 25, 2010 by Silvawilow

[whitka]

My boy is an outside dog but that's his choice, he just gets to hot inside even in winter. As for walks I try to walk him everyday, two would be to much as he is getting old these days.

[Akayla]

My dogs are inside when I'm out, then what ever they want when I'm home. My big german shepherd prefers to be inside as often as possible but the lapphund prefers to be outside.

We don't walk in bad weather cause my daughter has to come too. She starts school next year so I plan to increase the walks to twice a day.

They also always get training and games at home. Usually 2-4 times a day in short bursts plus having to do tricks. I also set up "puzzles" in the yard as I think that mental stimulation is sometimes more tiring than just a wall.

We do miss out on a walk due to weather now and then but I think they do alright

[Greytmate]

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

I find this comment really offensive and small minded Perhaps some people may be very house proud and don't want their dogs roaming about the house. Perhaps some people have children and put them first. Perhaps their parents/partners don't appreciate dogs indoors.

I find those reasons offensive and small minded.

I don't mind dogs living outside, but only if it suits the dog.

[Silvawilow]

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

I find this comment really offensive and small minded Perhaps some people may be very house proud and don't want their dogs roaming about the house. Perhaps some people have children and put them first. Perhaps their parents/partners don't appreciate dogs indoors.

I find those reasons offensive and small minded.

I don't mind dogs living outside, but only if it suits the dog.

So you'd rather see someone out on the street, homeless, because they wouldn't abide by the house rules of their parents?

[raineth]

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

I find this comment really offensive and small minded Perhaps some people may be very house proud and don't want their dogs roaming about the house. Perhaps some people have children and put them first. Perhaps their parents/partners don't appreciate dogs indoors.

My dogs are predominately outside dogs. I do go home on my lunch break and eat my lunch outside with them. Our oldest sleeps inside with us on our old leather lounge. The others are outside in the kennels.

The dogs come in for periods after work one at a time as it's easier to keep and eye on 1 dog, 1 small person + cats than multiple dogs!

eta:

My dogs don't get walked, too many bogans with uncontrolled dogs in town. They get exercised and trained in our yard - which is over an acre and fully secure. And we take them swimming in the dam which is on an adjoining ppty.

just because someone has their dogs inside, doesn't mean that their kids aren't put first - I certainly don't see that as mutually exclusive.

[Greytmate]

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

I find this comment really offensive and small minded Perhaps some people may be very house proud and don't want their dogs roaming about the house. Perhaps some people have children and put them first. Perhaps their parents/partners don't appreciate dogs indoors.

I find those reasons offensive and small minded.

I don't mind dogs living outside, but only if it suits the dog.

So you'd rather see someone out on the street, homeless, because they wouldn't abide by the house rules of their parents?

I would rather they consider their parents wishes before bringing an unwelcome dog home. If the parents don't appreciate having dogs around, it may not be the best environment for the dog.

The dog's welfare is should be the priority. If you cannot make it a priority, if that part of your life is not under your control, maybe reconsider getting a dog in the first place.

[Kyra]

My lot pretty much live inside, even when we're out, im never gone long enough for me to feel the need to put them outside.

They only go out for the toilet, i walk them once every few days. My dogs could not care less whether they get walked regularly or not, we play plenty of ball games, fetch, tug etc and they also go swimming in the pool.

[wuffles]

Mine are outside while we're not home (we both work full-time) and usually inside when we are home. When we're home they can ask to be let out or in. They're actually quite happy to be outside, but I like them to be with me as I enjoy their company.

They both get at least one walk every day, and an extra walk, trip to the dog park or dog club a few times a week. The younger one needs the walk or she will be destructive while we are out. The older one is happy just to snooze all day but loves to go for walks if they are offered, and we figure it is healthy for all of us to get out and about at least once a day.

[ninahartland]

Mine are all inside/outside, usually leave door open so they can come and go as they please. Door gets locked at night though, have to always step over sleeping bodies if I get up to the loo,lol

Dont take them out walking, they gets lots of exercise and obedience training round propetry and swims in the dam.

I dont see the point of having dogs if they're not allowed in. You're their pack leader and they want to be with you so why leave them outside away from you? (just dont get why some people do this )

[JulesP]

I don't get why some people don't realise that some dogs prefer to be outside. Amber is the first of my border collies to show a strong desire to come inside. The others like coming in for short periods of time but start asking to go out fairly quickly. Their preference is for me to be outside too btw. I ended up getting the cats as I wanted critters in the house and the dogs weren't obliging.

[jesomil]

When I lived at home, the dogs were never allowed inside as Mum preferred them outside. They had wonderful lives. I showed and trialled and spent every spare minute with them.

A dogs welfare can still be the priority when they live outside.

My current dogs live outside. The puppy comes in often but they love being outside. I reckon my Kelpie would sit by the back door if i locked him inside. He comes in sometimes but outside has so many interesting things to do and see.

I think some people think outside dogs mean kennel at back door and lonely. We are always outdoors and my dogs definately get alot more interaction and outings than some of my friends who have their dogs indoors.

I walk/run my dogs everyday unless it is very severe weather.