I'm thinking of getting a dog- can I keep it outside???

Question

I live in the UK- do some people in this country keep dogs outside in a kennel?? Or a shed??How do you stop the dog getting cold in the winter?? And is it legal to tether a dog for some of the time?? Obviously the dog would be allowed inside sometimes but mostly I would prefer it to be outside...?

I am thinking of getting a staff...?

Answer 1

If you keep a dog on a tether or in a kennel, you will soon discover that it stinks too much to come inside. ( it will smell like poop and urine and dirt )Then, although you had best intentions, the dog will end up lonely and neglected (emotionally) It will become easier and easier to forget all about it. It will have too little training to even become a good pet for someone else when you get tired of feeding and cleaning up after it.
..No, unless it is bred as a working or farm dog, it is bred as a companion, and will not do well without your companionship.

Unless you are willing to spend half of your own day outside with the dog, it will not work.

Edit: A Staff HAS to be with its people, or it will not listen to a thing you say, will jump all over you every time you come near enough, just loving you to pieces! It will be so happy to see you, it will dance around its kennel or chain length, stepping in its own poop, and then jumping on you with the 'stuff' on its feet. Staffs also have to be well socialized, getting out and about, meeting new people and other dogs and pets. Otherwise, you won't be able to stand it and its energy, nor will anyone else.
I have met way too many Staffs confined in kennels or on tethers (chains, as they chew right through any other tether) The only ones not like that are the very sick ones.

Answer 2

Dogs want to be a part of your pack- they won't get the social interaction they crave and need if they live outside in the yard. It doesn't matter if you live in a great climate or don't get much rain- for the dog's wellbeing, it is much better if he primarily lives inside with his "people." You can keep better track of your dog and his health if he is constantly under your supervision. No rescue will adopt to anybody looking to keep their new dog outside 24/7. Many dogs in rescues came from that life- they ended up in the shelter because they became bored and destructive. The rescue wouldn't ever place a dog into a home where he would sit outside again all of the time. You could try looking into a breed that doesn't shed, although most people are allergic to dander and not the actual hair itself. I have an allergic cousin who adopted a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and her allergies have been fine, but allergies varies from person to person. If the only way you could ever keep a dog is outside in the yard, it's kinder to tell your children No- for the dog's sake. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Honestly, a staff is the type of dog that will be very lonely outside. It will get stressed and as a result behave badly. If you can't keep a dog indoors, its probably best you don't have one.
Also, staffs have very short coats. They are not bred to live outdoors. You would have to provide properly heated facilities for your dog to live in during the winter.
It is legal to tether a dog for some of the time so long as it has access to protection from the weather and water and can move far enough away from its sleeping area so that it can wee and poo etc.
Make this decision carefully because an unhappy dog will stress you out and cause more problems than you imagined!
Ultimately, dogs prefer to be with their owners because they are family animals. If a dog is kept alone, it will be lonely.

Answer 4

i dont think you should keep a dog outside for long periods. Maybe ok while you are at work but bring him inside when you get home. Also don't tie the dog up. If you don't want him to trash your garden make him a pen from some Herris (think thats how you spell it) fencing, and put a kennel inside that pen. If you have lots and lots of land just let the dog roam free with a big kennel to come back to although, i dont think it's very fair to keep him outside most of the time, they need your love and need to be part of your pack... or he might just make his own pack and turn on you. Good luck

Answer 5

Are you getting this animal as a pet? If so why isn't it living in the house with you?

Dogs are pack animals and need to be socialised otherwise they will become unmanageable.

I get a German Shepherd puppy in 12 days time, she'll have a crate inside which she'll be trained to use, and she'll have a kennel outside to provide shelter for her in the garden, but she won't stay outside permanently.

I would give it serious thought if you're not prepared to share your house with the animal as to whether you should really be getting a dog - and I'm not saying that to be nasty

Answer 6

If you do not want the pet to be part of your family and live in your home with you then you absolutely should not have one.

Dogs crave human company and to leave them alone, outside a ll day and night is plain cruel.

If you have good warm shed with a fenced-in run attached you could leave the dog there for a few hours at a time but to keep it there as a matter of course is downright cruel.

Also, your neighbours will be will be totally hacked off if your lonely, miserable dog is outside barking all day.

Better still. Forget the whole thing. You don't sound as if you have the fainest idea about owning a dog - and I wouldn't want any dog to have to live with you.

Answer 7

well wants the point in u gettin a dog in the first place? dogs are companions and they like to be in a pack, so if u just lock the poor thing up he will eventually go in sane with boredom or may come aggressive, but
sayin this u can keep a dog out side as long as u have a big kennal and somewhare nice and warm for them to go inside wen its cold, they should have nice blankets, also u should maybe get a fan for the summer time so it dose not over heat and die!
good luck on what ever u choose

Answer 8

OK - If you want to keep a dog outside - build a well insulated kennel NOT in direct sunshine - with a raised bed - ( warmer ) a plastic sheet hanging down over the entrance is ideal for stopping drafts and make sure they have unlimited fresh water available at all times within reach IF you decide to tether - not ideal tho as it leads to behaviousal problems and an unhappy dog.... We have kennels for out 2 jack russells - the have a run outside and spend the day barking at everyone happily - they love it - nights we bring them in and the ysleep on our bed - they really love coming in and love going back out again the next day - it leads to a more interesting life for them as its 'their' space. When they come up at night their toys are in the house and they get really excited - its great for us all. Enjoy your animals - dont fall into the trap of leaving them in the kennels or garden all the time - its lonely and boring for them - :) balance is the thing :)

Answer 9

Sure, you can keep the dog outside, but why would you want to do that? Allergies? Fear of the dog dirtying the house? If so, then perhaps you should consider some other sort of pet, like a fish.

It seems to be grossly unfair to keep the dog outside, especially in cold or inclement weather, and certainly during thunderstorms, to which a good number of pooches react negatively.

Domesticated dogs are wonderfully social pets and if you're going to make the commitment to own one, having one as part of your family would necessitate having the pet inside the home, and certainly overnight.

Please reconsider or consider some other pet.

Answer 10

Why on earth would anyone want to get a dog and then keep it in a shed, or even outside? Whats the point? And if you frustrate the dog by tethering it who's fault will it be if it turns mean?