in the uk, does anyone have any advice on latting a dog live outside 4 winter?

Question

my dog is labrador and has lived outside all summer, is three years old and never caught onto house training.. she wuld mess all the time. she has a shed to sleep in..

Answer 1

I am an absolute dog lover and have 2 basset hounds. They live indoors and sleep on my bed, on my chairs etc.. My home is their home. Ask a dog behaviourist and this is WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!
It seems you have been a bit slated for keeping your dog outside. However, although I would not do it, ( I am a softie), a dog is a dog and would sleep outside in the wild. They will not suffer or die. In fact the dog will be much happier knowing its place and if that is where it will live then it will be fine. Probably some sort of heating would be nice as it could get cold outside. But there is nothing wrong with this so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. A dog should be outside. It is only that we have grown to treat our dogs like babies that we have programmes like Dog Borstall etc.. A nation of spoilt (and unhappy) dogs. A dog is a dog - all it needs is security, love and to know you are the pack leader and above all it needs routine.

Also about the dog not having a coat to be outside is total crap - take no notice of this at all.

By the way a dog that does not live in a house wouldn't be house trained so why are people telling you to get rid of it?????

Answer 2

I suspect at least one of the respondents who are horrified at the idea of a Labrador living outside, are based in the USA or somewhere that has some evil winter weather. Here in the UK, we have had some challenging winter weather lately, but even so there is no reason why a Labrador cannot live outdoors ... PROVIDED she has proper and adequate shelter. The shed you mention is a good start. Personally, to make sure that the dog is comfortable over the winter, I would provide her with a dog house inside the shed. Double insulation! The dog house (kennel) needs to have lots of good bedding inside. I would line the base of the kennel with something soft (maybe an old duvet) and you can't get better than shredded paper on top. You don't have the problems with seeds getting into the dog's eyes/ears/paws that you have with straw (and sometimes it contains mites which can irritate the dog) and it is marvellously warm, but needs changing or at the very least "fluffing up" once or twice a day.

Labradors have a waterproof coat and are built to withstand cold temperatures. So long as your dog is out of the wind and rain with somewhere dry and cosy to sleep, she'll be as snug as a bug in a rug.

Answer 3

I'm sorry, but a lot of those answers are talking rubbish. It is NOT cruel to keep a dog ouside over winter, especially one with a coat like a labrador! If they're used to being outside, they won't be bothered by being out during winter. It would be different if the dog was used to living inside then you suddenly shut it out in a shed. As long as the dog doesn't chew the shed during the night and get out, it should be fine. You don't need to heat the shed or anything, just make sure it's free of draughts, and that the dog has got a bed box to curl up in or plenty of bedding. Also I'd suggest locking the door of the shed at night to stop anybody trying to steal the dog (sounds ridiculous, but it happens).

"The Lab actually developed in Newfoundland, from whence he made his way to England, probably with fishermen who worked the rich fisheries off the coast of the eastern Canadian provinces. There, in order to avoid confusion with the larger, heavy-coated Newfoundland dog, he was called the Labrador. The original Labrador Retriever was a versatile working dog, able to rescue drifting nets, bring back shot waterfowl, and haul the catch to market in jog carts. Once in England, however, his marvelous nose brought him fame as a hunting dog, a job he relishes today.....

....The short Lab coat is very dense and repels water, thus protecting the dog from chill as he goes about his work. "
(source: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/labrador.html )

Having said all that, you should at the very least try and houstrain your dog, and not just give up. Make sure she is given the oppurtunity to go out afters meals, drinks, sleeping, and on a morning and before bed, after a while, she should get the hang of it. Don't give up!

Answer 4

Hi i think it would be really cruel to leave your dog out side in the winter. If anyone sees you leaving her outside they may report you to the R.S.P.C.A. All dogs learn house training if you stick with them, and not just throw your dog out side and think it wouldnt matter training them. If you are worried she will mess in the house then you may need to take her to dog training classes now before the winter comes. As no onw will like to be outside in the winter with no heating. She may catch phenumonia and then you will lose her. If not you may consider getting her anothr home to go to as a dog is suppose to be a house pet and get love an attention and it cant be fun for her being outside all the time even though she has got a shed.

And also Labradors are one of the best dogs to train and her not catching on to house training is not the case, you laziness is.
I have 5 dogs and they are all house trained and one is a labrador.

Answer 5

If you have a decent kennel or out house it is fine.Just ensure the kennel has plenty of warm old blankets and is not facing the wind.The kennel has to be larger than the dog,a layer of straw before you put the blankets in is a good idea.Do it now and he will get settled before the weather gets set in.
Remember dogs ancesters are still roaming the wilds today,coyotees,foxs,wolfs,dingos.they are hardy animals what a lot of people forget farm dogs work in severe weather all over the world
,and many live in outside sheds,also they must be fed well!.

Answer 6

what type of dogs is it? replaced into it raised in the residing house? you are able to't take an indoor dogs and positioned it outdoors for the wintry climate! Their wintry climate coat isn't as thick as if it replaced into raised outdoors. no count number what you do, it would want to't improve thicker fur now. it is advise and inhumane and if I were to work out it, i might want to call the authorities! you chosen to have a dogs, now take care of it...interior! The winters get so harsh right here that this is an argument of minutes or perhaps seconds, bare pores and skin will freeze! seem at your dogs and tell him/her you do not want them interior no extra and they are on their personal! How might want to you want it if someone did that to you?

Answer 7

Labradors DO NOT grow thick enough coats to live outside in the winter. The ONLY breeds that do this comfortably are Alaskan Malamutes and other Northern sled dogs.

I agree with the previous respondant. You should not have this animal in your care. You are a very irresponsible pet owner. It takes less than a week to thoroughly housetrain a dog if you put the effort into it. Do you bother to socialize with this animal at all?

Do her a very great favor and give her to a shelter who will make sure she gets a companion who will value her for herself.

Answer 8

if for what ever reason you can not house your dog in the family home then i would suggest that you find your dog a new home.i have a dog that was kept outside by its first owner and he has bad arthritis which is not fair.Have you had your dog checked by the vet to make sure that there is no heath issues that are causing this.If there is not and you can not get the problem sorted then it maybe time for a new owner.
hannah

Answer 9

I have to laugh at the replys that you have had that all dogs should be house trained, these people should thrown outside to live as they are talking out of their backside, I have three german shepards and they live outside where dogs belong it is NOT healthy for a dog to live indoors, as long as they have a warm bed in the winter and is sheltered that is all that's needed.I have been a dog breeder for 20yrs and I've never read as much **** in all my life.

Answer 10

I am sorry to be rude but you should not have a dog. Responsible dog owners teach their pups how to be house trained and don't just expect it to catch on, we also do not give up on our pets and kick them out of the house, we would never force them to live outside under any conditions. Maybe you should place an ad in the paper for someone who will take care of your pet the way she deserves. Or rethink your decision and Invite her back into your home and attend dog training classes.