Why are some people ignorant enough to think a dog shouldn't live outside?

Question

We have a 1 acre fenced yard with lots of extras for our dogs! My Saint loves it! My dog that died of old age loved it too. Many dogs...given the choice will choose to stay outside most of the time...some will not...my grandmother had a toy min. poodle who wanted to be outside unless it was freezing or raining.

Answer 1

My dog is a chow-mix who absolutely LOVES being outside. In fact, when we DO bring him inside, he simply sits by the door waiting to be let out again!

I used to live out in the country (my family owned 13 acres of land, mainly woods), and everyone would simply let their dogs roam free, no fences or anything. This sounds odd, but it was normal out where I lived, and the dogs loved it! I think the freedom of adventuring wherever they wanted to really appealed to my dog; and he never once got lost! (it's kind of sad, actually because ever since my family moved into town and he was put into a fenced yard, he just hasn't been as happy as he used to be)

Anyway, We had a huge creek down by my old house, and my dog's favorite passtime was to go and romp around in the creek! In fact, when my dog's outside, I actually spend more time with him than when he's inside (i'm an outdoor person and am always outside, either practicing sports or just taking a stroll around the yard).

Bottom line: If your dogs like being outside, then let them go!

Answer 2

Seems the answers are getting redundant but I'll throw my 2-cents in. If the dog is acclimated, has shelter, water, is safe, unlikely to roam free, not a nusence, and gets attention, it's irrelevant whether or not it lives inside or out. And yes, there are dogs that prefer being outside. I let mine choose except in the winter (some I have to convince to come in). Most choose to be inside. Some have no cares about the weather, lying outside in the snow or during a rain shower even though they could come in any time they want plus have multiple places to shelter outside.

So many people "forget" that dogs are not people or furry children and studies have indicated that dogs that are treated like they are people often become psychotic. If you pay attention to their body language, your dog will "tell" you what it prefers.

Oh, and please don't call people with differing opinions names.

Answer 3

The reality is that dogs have been living successfully outside for the last 100,000 years. So the question isn't can they, the question is does a person want theirs to. Many of the designer breeds simply don't have the tools to live in an outside environment, a lot of the working/sporting dogs do. My Lab is downright uncomfortable in a 70 deg house, but is perfectly comfortable breaking ice as she swims out to retrieve waterfowl.
The Beagles that my wife think make great foot warmers while she is watching TV probably wouldn't do to well outside on a zero deg night, but the Beagles that I take up to the sinks rabbit hunting in -40 deg weather love it outside on a zero deg night.
A little common sense goes a long ways.

Answer 4

Many people try to make the argument that dogs are descendants of wolves, and wolves do fine in the wild. Dogs are domesticated animals, and many smaller dogs have been bred in such a way that they are not fit to be outside all the time. My dog, for instance, was originally a stray at 3 months old when she showed up at the humane society. She can't be outside all the time, especially in freezing weather or in the intense Missouri summer

Answer 5

A dog being outside depends on a lot of things. The weather, the space, the type of breed the dog is, where you live (city, suburban, country), etc.

My dog would not be a good outside dog for many reasons. She's a toy breed (miniature pinscher). Miniature pinschers do not do well in extereme cold weather or hot weather; therefore, they will be one reason she would not be a good outside dog. She gets cold easily and gets hot fast. She also loves being near me. She likes to sleep near me, she likes to be around me, and is very protective of me. I try leaving her outside and she'll go nuts.

Some dogs do have the right coat, instinct, intelligence to survive outside. If the weather is good, they have sufficient amount of room, and the right housing, them perhaps being an outside dog is not a bad idea.

Many dogs now days are hybrids of other dogs, which makes them probably incapable of surving on their own perhaps. They may or may not have enough fur, the insinct, and so on to survive outside.

In the end there are a lot of things to take into consideration before assuming a dog will be great only indoors or only outdoors.

Answer 6

It depends on the dog. If the dog prefers to be out and the owner isn't MAKING it saty out, then there isn't a problem. Also, some breeds such as your st bernard, have very thick heavy coats and can stay outside almost all the time. It isn't cruelty if the animal likes it and all it's needs are being met, such as food, water and shelter from the elements.

Answer 7

The shelters require that if you adopt a dog, you must provide indoor accomodations at night. Many people cannot provide the accomodations that you describe, I would assume you have outdoor shelter for them if it gets cold. Some people do consider it cruel to leave a dog outside 24 hours a day. The weather is a huge consideration, if they bark and bother neighbors, and their safety should be considered too.
I have 2 dogs and never leave them outside all night. They enjoy being outside but they enjoy being around people even more.

Answer 8

if the dog has a coat suitable for the weather than fine. My dog would probably die if i put him outside now. He has a short coat...and he is a wussy

My dad has 2 husky crosses that live outside all year, they do come in the house, but they are primarily out door dogs. they are fine and this is the Great White North

Answer 9

I Agree that dogs should be outside but not all the time. I let them in when I get sick of them scratching at the back door.

But as long as you let them in or have some shelter when it is raining or freezing I have no problem.

Answer 10

My blue heeler mix Gracie is an outside dog. Being mostly a herding breed she would go nuts shut up in a house all the time. She has a job to do and does it very well. She is our guard dog, our watch dog, our companion, our friend. She is a very happy dog who gets lots of exercise, lots of love and attention.