A question for all those who believe it's cruelty to house your dogs outside?

Question

Do you also think it's cruelty to house cows outside? Because it does get cold! They have thin fur.. and really is hay enough to keep them warm? Or perhaps--horses? They don't have very good coats.

And outdoor cats, too! They usually survive.
'cause cats get out into the street..

But I don't understand how dogs -- dogs with thicker fur, and better protection (aka usually a dog-house, with blankets etc.) should be inside? Please, explain =)

Answer 1

You are just looking for validation because you want to keep a 5 month old, 10 pound Lhasa/Poodle outside AND IT IS WRONG!

If you can not properly take care of the dog, then don't get one!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjnA03xjrm.1Wg0AkPDjXVnsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070924212009AA71K0d

Answer 2

Lets add a bit of sanity to this. I have lived in the country.
I don't know anything about cows, I never had them.
I have had many horses and can tell you they grow more hair during the winter and will shed a lot during the spring. That is why you groom them to brush out the hair. My horses had shelters so they could get out of the rain, I live in California so no snow to worry about and very few days it would get down to freezing. Someone mentioned not having a horse in the house. It did happen one time. One of the kids left the back door open when the horses we let to run loose. We ended with one of them in the kitchen.
Pigs and chickens. They had a place to get out of the weather and there is no way you will let them into the house.
Small pigmy goat, a pet, was let in the house from time.
Had a bunch of cats and most of them were farm cats. Their main purpose in life was to keep the mice out of the hay and grain. There were only three that were pets and allowed in the house. They all slept outside at night, usually in the barn.
Now to the real answer to your question. We never had less then three dogs. So the pack was my wife, three boys, me and three dogs. The dogs were in and out of the house all day. Actually had one dog that did not like to be in the house. When you let her in it was no more than ten minutes she wanted back outside. The dogs would lay around the house all evening while we had dinner and watched TV. When we got ready for bed the dogs went out. They became a sub pack. They had a very big dog house, it was an old insulated camper shell. The dogs were great and loved everyone, no aggression to anyone.
I guess what I am trying to say is that dogs should not be excluded and should be in the house from time but I see no reason they cannot be put out at night.
Now that I am getting older and live alone my pups are my babies and have full run of the house. The doggy door lets them in and out as they please. All four of them sleep on my bed every night.

Answer 3

Some breeds of dogs can be housed outside, but I really think it depends on your circumstances. (Note: I know there are some people that will disagree with this and think a dog should never live outside.)

I grew up on a farm, we had several large dogs that lived outside. (A lab and 2 english setters.) They typically lived outside all the time (but if the weather was bad, they came in the house with us). They had plenty of shelter, and had heating pads during the colder months. They also had each other for company and pack members. And they were large dogs, so they can handle the weather better. We were far enough in the country that there were very rarely cars around either, so the risk of them getting hit by a car was minimal. (And for human interaction, they got more of that by being outside than they would have being inside. There's a lot of "outside" work done on a farm.)

We also had our farm cats that were 100% outdoor cats. They weren't pets so much as working cats. They kept the mice away.

However, I don't recommend either of the above for people that live in towns. Cats in towns have a higher chance of getting ran over. So do dogs. And I'm not too trusting of whoever is walking by, they may try to steal your dog or let it out of your yard. Also, small dogs should NEVER live outside.

---

EDIT:
To the comment "I have yet to see an outdoor dog that was properly socialized and the people bothered to train and make it a well mannered pet."

Our outside dogs were very well trained and socialized. Growing up, my sister and I were both in 4-H, so we took our dogs to 4-H training classes weekly. (Sometimes we were take 2 dogs each and work both dogs during the practice.) The outside dogs were also my dad's hunting dogs, so they were trained in that aspect as well.

I do agree, though, that many people that get a dog and just tie it up in the back yard and don't do anything with it, which is sad.

And there's a big difference between a dog outside at a farm and a dog outside in the city.

Answer 4

Ok- here's the difference. It's not a weather issue or a safety issue or a survival issue. Dogs are pack animals that were ALWAYS outside until we humanized them. They spent their entire day traveling from place to place using their noses to guide and interest them.
The distinction is in those same roots. The dog is a PACK animal. That means leaving it alone is cruel. Outside, inside it doesn't matter.
The reason people feel more comfortable leaving them inside is because they have your sent to keep them calm. Familiar smells is essential to conquering anxiety.
How often do you see a person have 1 cow? 1 horse? They too, live together. The reason you wouldn't have them inside if you had 1 is because they are not easily potty trained... and don't follow scents the same way as a dog.

Bottom line for you is this-
if you are walking your dog 2 times a day for 30-90 minutes (depending on it's size), it is going to be fine. Will it be as happy as it could be if it were inside being social with you? NO! But it will be FINE.

Answer 5

Would you really want a horse or cow in your house? Would you really want to clean up their messes? Not all dogs have thick coats or even much of a coat at all! Look at a Chinese Crested! Horses and cows are livestock and livestock graze and to the best of my knowledge, grass doesn't grow inside of a house. Cats have thicker coats than most dogs anyways. Dogs need companionship from humans and I believe they belong indoors. There's nothing wrong with them being outside some of the day, but they just don't belong living outside.

Answer 6

Okay, the main reason people have a problem with those who keep dogs outside is that there is a huge problem with people getting a dog, throwing it on a chain or in a kennel, and that's it. No attention, no socialization, no training, nothing. They get a dog to say they have one and keep in the backyard and almost forget about it, maybe remembering to throw it food once in a while.

Now not everyone who keeps an outdoor dog does this, but it is a reality that a vast amount of people do indeed treat their "outdoor" kept dogs this way.

THAT is why so many have issues with this. Not so much that it's cruel to keep a dog as an outdoor pet, but that what usually goes with that is neglect.

I have yet to see an outdoor dog that was properly socialized and the people bothered to train and make it a well mannered pet. Personally, my well mannered dogs do just fine in my home and I would never keep a dog outside.

Answer 7

I wouldn't say it is cruel to keep a dog outside, but I don't agree with the practice for family pets. Yes, most dogs will survive extremes in temperature. There are breeds that will not survive extremes and of course the very young, old and sick will not survive. For most people, dogs are pets as opposed to cattle and horses which are livestock.

My reasons for not keeping dogs outside are numerous. Barking dogs are a neighborhood nuisance. Bored dogs dig out and escape their yards and may create havoc in the neighborhood - causing accidents, getting into fights, biting people, killing cats, etc. Outdoor dogs are more likely to pick up parasites. But the biggest reason is that it is nearly impossible to have a REAL relationship with a dog that is banished to the backyard. It will generally not receive training, affection or be a part of the family in a way that an indoor dog will. This distance between the owner and dog results in failure to recognize disease and injuries when they first occur which may also shorten the dog's life. In short, if you don't have the dog for companionship - why do you have the dog?

Let me add that I realize that there are many working dogs that are kept outdoors as a part of their conditioning. Hunting dogs, herding dogs, search dogs, sled dogs, etc. are kept outside routinely but these dogs serve a working function - they are not traditional pets. I have no issue with them living outdoors.

Answer 8

Outside dogs do well outside. However, an owner of an outside dog still needs to provide shelter from the elements, as well as a fresh water supply. It also makes sense to designate a dog dropping area where the dogs can exercise themselves.

Dog skin is different than human skin. On a human, capillaries extend much closer to the skin surface than a dog. Therefore, humans are more sensitive to changes in air temperature than dogs are. Dogs are better suited to living outdoors than people are.

Answer 9

It is not merely a question of temperature but the social factor. Dogs are social creatures who generally prefer the company of their owners / keepers etc. Cows are very disimilar in this aspect. Also a cow can cope with very low temperatures (below freezing) without discomfort. A cow produces a lot more body heat than a dog.

Answer 10

Your comparisons make no sense. Farm animals were bred for food purposes. Dogs were bred to be man's companion. How could a dog fulfill its purpose if it isn't given the chance to do so?
Even alot of working dogs come in the house at night. They are partners with their owners in everything having to do with the business. You need to research herding breeds and how they live.
Cows, horses, etc do not live outside in the winter. They live in barns. Have you ever been in the country?
How do you know that "outside " cats survive? Do you follow them around all winter? For all you know, they all freeze to death or die of starvation in the winter.

You will not win this argument with the logic you have presented. Go back to the drawing board.

Answer 11

Some breeds are physically able to remain outdoors at all times, you are correct.
But dogs are social animals and live in packs in nature. Most dogs have HUMAN PACKS, and they live indoors, so thats where the dog wants to be.
Keeping a domesticated family dog outside is cruel in my opinion. It deprives the dog of its' pack.
A dog without socialization every day is a sad, depressed dog.
Also, many breeds of dogs are not physically able to remain outside, ex: poodles, chihuahuas, greyhounds, whippets, terriers. These dogs don't naturally grow a thick dense double coat for insulation.