I am against letting a dog live in my home. They stay outdoors. Am I right or wrong.?

Question

If I walked around naked all day, didn't take daily baths, shed my hair like crazy and didn't wipe myself after using the toilet, would you want me sitting on the same sofa where you lay your face to watch t.v.?

I have a screened in back porch and they actually have a dog house with a window unit type air conditioner. But they don't go in the house. They get enough attention but now my son is bugging me to let them come in his room and sleep with him. I'm a flexible person but unless convinced otherwise this is my line in the sand.

I have never chained Butch or Angel. The back porch is big and the door is always open so they can run around the back yard. They're 60 pound dogs.

Answer 1

Whether a dog lives inside a home or outside the home is not important. What is important is how the animal is treated inside or outside. Letting a dog stay indoors does not automatically make it more humane. I have worked with the SPCA and have witnessed countless animals who were "inside" pets that were living in filth. Those owners thought they were doing the right thing because at least the animal was inside with them. I am sorry those owners felt that way because the animals would have been much better off in the yard of these homes than in the homes themselves. Some people are just ignorant that way. The animals that I witnessed were living and sleeping in their own feces. There food bowls were crawling with magets and water, what water, there was no water, but they were inside, sheltered by the rain, heat , and other natural elements that some of you are so concerned about. Some of you are making assumptions that may not be true based on one fact, that the animal is living outside. It sounds to me like these dogs are being well provided for and they have each other to play with when the rest of the "pack" is inside the home or not home at all. I could understand better some of your concerns about the dog being left alone if it was the only dog there, but that is not the case. There are two dogs there. I have two dogs as well and they are "outside" dogs. I sit outside with them and watch them play together and believe me, they would be bored in the house. Outside they have thousands of things that stimulate them, smells, sounds, taste, things to see and chase. Some of you need to just stick to the question and answer that instead of assuming that because they are outside, that they are being neglected and attacking Pax for his "cruel" treatment of his dogs. The question was is he right or wrong for his attitude about whether or not he should allow his dogs in the house. I wish more people had as much compassion for their pets as he does. How many pets do you know that have an airconditioned doghouse? So, my answer to the question is you are not right or wrong. As long as the dogs are taken care of, it is your decision whether or not you want the dogs in the house.

Answer 2

If you are going to have to have outdoor dogs, you need to give them the proper provisions.

Most places have laws saying you must provide each animal with a structure that has four walls and a ceiling. This should help them hide from the elements, heat, rain, cold, etc.

You should also have your dogs in a well maintained fenced yard. They should not be tied up, they may get caught up on something!

You need to be responsible for cleaning up their fecal matterr! Thay shouldn't have to live in that!

You must put out fresh water, perferibly twice a day or more(less than once a day in some area can be illegal).

Fresh food is also a must!

As for your comment on behavior, I have seen meany dogs wipe themselves after going to the bathroom and they do it better than most ppl I know. Most dogs are not filthy(unless you leave them in filth), so do not need a daily bath(which would cause health problems). Not all dogs shed like crazy. Dogs aren't naked by your sense of the word! And you can train your dog not to sit, nor lay on the couch.

Answer 3

If you provide the right shelter, food and water for them it is legal to leave them outside. But I personally do not know why you would keep dogs if you are only going to leave them outside. They are expensive. They sometimes are destructive if they are left out. They are pack animals, they are happier if you keep them in the house with your "pack"-family. They will be better behaved if they are consistantly with people. I have a black lab and a great dane. The lab sleeps in my sons bed, and the Dane sleeps on the floor in my room. They are very good in the house. With the exception of the Lab being begged to sleep in my 9 year olds bed, they are never on any furniture. My house is very clean, and it never smells of dog. (I have very honest friends that I always ask)
My opinion is don't have dogs if you are only going to stick them outside.

ps. If you have been wondering why your electric bill has been so high...try closing the door that you leave open in your air-conditioned porch that you keep your dogs on.

Answer 4

If you did that, yes I'd make you sleep in the yard! :])

However...

Let me begin by telling you that dogs are the only non-human life form on the face of the earth that actively, deliberately seeks out the company of humans.

They were domesticated over thousands of years so they could live with us. In caves, tents, log cabins, etc. Dogs are extremely social animals, and it is a cruelty to make them live apart from us.

You don't say how old your son is, or what kind of dog it is, but let me make a few suggestions you might be able to live with.

"With all blessings comes great responsibility, son. "

1. The dogs must be brushed every day before they comes into the house.

2. If it's raining or muddy out, all paws must be wiped with wet paper towels before dogs come in.

3. Dog's are not allowed on the furniture. Period. (Dogs only understand always and never. They don't understand 'maybe' or 'only if we don't have company') If dogs get on furniture, then dogs don't come in until you teach them "off".

4. I, as the parent, will assist and support child's attempts to follow the rules, and will assist when necessary in a positive, reward-based manner (toward both son and dog!).

If you need help teaching "off" and "leave it" and "wait", contact me through www.rotts-n-notts.com and I'll gladly help.

BTW, thank you for making the dogs a comfy life outside and without chains! Knowing dogs the way I do, however, they'd rather sleep in a hole in the desert next to you than in a four poster bed on silk sheets without you.

Answer 5

If you feel this way about dogs in the house. I'd say leave them outside. They have an air conditioned porch. More than many dogs have.

If you do decide to let them in. Be patient as they will need to be house broken.

Answer 6

Dogs can live outdoors just fine... especially in the country! A dog should not be outside on a chain day in, and day out. They need to interact with people to learn acceptable manners. Dogs can also live indoors. They can be taught not to sit on the couch, and you can brush them everyday to keep the shedding in control. Maybe you shouldn't have a dog if you're not willing to do your part.

Answer 7

Even though you do the best you can to clean yourself daily, and you don't mean to but do forget to put the toilet seat down, and you do eat most of your food and not make much of a mess, we have decided it is best to place your loving self with a strong since of loyalty and security and protection out.
Dont worry if its cold at night we may throw you a blanket (well, you are wearing a wool jacket) and if its hot we may add a few ice cubes to your water (what I forgot to give you water) and you can go sit under the tree, the rain and thuder is fine, just go sit in your house or under the porch and it'll pass never hurt you before, right?
Besides you'll feel better about this when some friends come over and I want to show you off. Then that attention will make up for it.

Answer 8

People domesticated dogs and they are now not wild animals. They need companionship. Period. If your dogs are not allowed in the house, just how much companionship do they get? You may be a neat freak, but you're not exactly a dog lover, are you?
Do the dogs a favour and give them up.

I sure hope your kids live up to your expectations or they'll be out in the yard next.

Answer 9

I generally agree. Animals is outside things; they are designed by nature to live outside. But exceptions can be made. If you have worked with your dog all of its life and you have handled it professionally, then it should be perfectly behaved in the house. My mother's dogs are professionals; that means that when they are allowed in the house, they sit on their sheepskin and don't move unless they're given a new command. Now that's a nice way to have a dog inside. If they obey all commands and do well, then they get a pat sometimes when they're allowed inside. But dogs on the couch, on the bed . . . no. No, they're animals, I don't share my sitting spaces with animals. Outside they have doggie paradise, acres and acres to roam in, vermin to kill if they are hungry, a dam to swim in. That's what they have to do outside. Inside they can sit down, stay still, and demonstrate gratitude for the privilege by doing what they're told.

Answer 10

Look a dog is different than a human and can not care for itself like people can, I belive if you have a dog they need to have a nice place to stay and weather you have a nice dog house for them or you let them live inside is fine but just letting the dog stay outside all day seems a little cruel.