Dogs Inside Or Outside

[Kirty]

My dogs are indoors when we are home and outdoors when we are not. All four of my dogs can be destructive (two in particular!) so there is no way I could leave them unsupervised in the house.

[shez78]

I like to think my dogs have the best of both worlds. They are inside dogs but have access to the backyard 24hours a day. They have both an inside & outside schedule so to speak. I like to think of it as being healthy for them to be outside through the day when the sun is shining & they are able to chase each other around or just lay & soak up some rays. Plus there are certain things that are an outside thing only, like chewing bones ( no bones in house EVER) or playing in their blow up pool I got them.

I have no beef with anyone having dogs as an inside or outside dog. I don't believe if you keep your dog outside that it is loved less. However I do agree that some people have dogs for the whole white picket fence scenario & that those dogs are normally thrown outside, left to fend & amuse themselves. These are the types of owners that eventually come up with some lame excuse such as moving o/s, getting a job in another state or just the plain old I don't want the dog anymore & ditch the dog to a shelter. There are LOTS of these types of owners. The statistics of how many dogs are getting dumped per year is not getting any less!

But the same thing can be said for dog owners that keep there dog inside 24/7. I know dog owners that work 10 - 12 hour days & in that time the dog is left inside ( pee pad trained) and although when they get home the dog is with them, the dog has no mental or physical exercise. They say they got a small dog as they live in an apartment to suit they're lifestyle to which I agree to an extent, however even though these types of dogs don't need walking quite like a big dog, they still need exercise & stimuli. Plus I think it's healthy for them to chew the grass, fall asleep in the sun or just for socialisation reasons to be outside!

But to each their own. My choice is to keep my dogs inside with access to the backyard. They can sleep on my bed, lounge, floor or if they really want to surprise me their dog beds!! They are part of my family! I remember I took Charlie when it was her time to do puppy school training to one of the classes & the trainer told me to get Charlie, who at the time was sitting on my lap, down on the floor. The trainer said that she is a dog & dogs belong on floors, not beds or lounges or laps. She decided to do this in front of the other 20 or so other people in the class. I told the trainer that basically it was her opinion! That I have spent all of my life around animals, whether it be on our farms or my pets & that I definitely agree that dogs are dogs & should be treated as such. However I bought a lap dog for the purpose of being a lap dog. Just because I allow my dog when I want her to, to get up on my lap does not mean she is not a dog!

In saying this I could tell by the way she spoke of her own dog that she loved it & that it was treated well, however we just had different opinions on what place a dog had in each of our homes. Such is life!!

I must admit though, I always wonder when it is winter & really cold how owners don't relent & let their dogs inside. I mean some dogs have the right coat to be outside but not all. I always say to my dogs as we are snuggled up in our blankets watching tv about how lucky they are & just think of the poor doggies outside in this weather....

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

My neighbours all ask what my secret is? Why can I have several dogs and they never hear them bark? (I foster as well as own). My secret is that they are walked every day and live inside, they have dog doors so they come and go. No, my house isn't pristine but my dogs and I are happy.

Some of my neighbours all have single dogs that never get walked and are left 24/7 in the backyard. Sure, the kids go out and play for an hour or so if the weather's good but personally, I cannot see the point of having a dog and keeping it outside the whole time. Nobody lives in their garden.

Not only that but from a health point of view, the dog has to contend with flies, fleas, mosquitoes etc, the weather, there's a greater likelihood of barking due to birds, possums and other factors. The dog is a pack animal - if you don't have another dog, you are the pack so it isn't fair to keep the dog separate.

Sure, there are some breeds that cope better than others but as someone who fosters dogs, I've had plenty of dogs who've been terrified to come in but once they've made the transition - none of them and I mean NONE, want to go back outside on a permanent basis and they could make that choice here. And they weren't all small dogs either.

[anniek]

Don't forget that a dog's preferences are shaped by early life experiences. If he wasn't allowed inside as a pup, he'd be unlikely to be comfortable straight away as an adult. He'd have to be conditioned to relax there.

/quote]

Then greyhounds must be the exception to the rule. Kennel dogs for all of their working life, then asleep on the couch within an hour of retirement!

[newfsie]

Inside/otside when we are home.........Large dog doors..........Depending on the weather as to inside or out in a kennel room with run when we are not home. Too hot they are in the house, too cold they are in the house. But in Spring and Autumn often left outside to enjoy the glorious weather.

We have never had any chewing issues when we have left our dogs home alone. We always leave them inside when we go out at night, because of the mosquito factor. i like a tidy house, so with up to four large dogs I do have to do a daily vacuum. But they are worth it and really they seem to sleep when inside.

Mostly when we are home, they seem to be where we are and if it is hot, they are on our large screened verandah's in from the heat and away from the flies.

We have had work dogs, several kelpies, that we purchased as adults (working) and they always ended up as inside dogs too. And they still worked just as well. I know we were told they would not work as well, but that was a load of Bul-s..t Our kelpies loved being inside on off days, with their newfie friends

Edited January 14, 2011 by newfsie

[LDR]

Lord Muck Timmy has a dog door. He has access to the entire house except for one room when we aren't home. He spends most of his day in the sun outside and comes in to check we are still where he left us ...

He sleeps under the covers, has steps to get on / off the bed but also has a crate he favours in the warmer weather.

He is super submissive so we haven't had any pack issues.

I can't fathom him being outside all the time.

[Dame Aussie]

If someone wont allow a dog inside why bother with the mess and trouble they make? Those owners would rarely see the dog. Buy a fish instead. Dogs need company, live outside, or allow the dog inside.

People from the UK do allow the dog inside and they allow them on transport too. Australians are well behind.

Agree 100%

[juice]

Actually i have fish aswell

I think a blanket statement that those that keep their dogs outside shouldn't have one is unfair, its like saying owners who treat their dogs like babies shouldn't have any either.

I think it is fair to assume most poeple on here meet their dogs needs, wether in side or out, and its just a personal preference with their lifestyle that works for them and shouldn't be judged.

i agree many people keep dogs outside and never bother with them, but alot get more stimulation , and care than dogs left alone for 10/12hrs a day cooped up inside.

Edited January 14, 2011 by juice

[Gayle.]

My fish stay outside all the time. They aren't allowed inside ever.

[Monah]

My fish stay outside all the time. They aren't allowed inside ever.

[TsarsMum]

my boy is an outside dog why.... cause he wants to be.

i tried and tired to make him an inside dog but he is not he loves being out side he is less noisy out there then in. he comes in for a bit then he nicks back off out side.

thats him and i dont mind one bit. i get the best of both worlds. mind you he picks when he wants to spend time with us LOL.

[gwenneth1]

If someone wont allow a dog inside why bother with the mess and trouble they make? Those owners would rarely see the dog. Buy a fish instead. Dogs need company, live outside, or allow the dog inside.

People from the UK do allow the dog inside and they allow them on transport too. Australians are well behind.

Agree 100%

Australian local councils, state governements et al are extremely dog unfriendly-from transport; beaches;parks etc. Mostly all I see is signs with an icon of a dog with a line through it "No dogs". Our council actually sets up rangers with cameras to catch unsuspecting tourists walking their dogs (on lead) on the beach. There are not too many places where you are actually allowed to take a dog on lead or off. Even tying your dog (not that I would, I'd be afraid they'd get stolen) to duck in and buy a newspaper will get you a fine.

[juice]

I agree, Australia is not at all dog friendly, i had forgotten how bad it was here, till iwent back to the UK last year, dogs in parks playing with kids offlead, having picnics, dogs in pubs, at the shops.

We are very anti dog here, i get sick of people screaming and running a mile, you'd think i was walking tigers by the reaction round here