Is there anyone out there that thinks it's alright for dogs to live outside?

Question

My boyfriend had 2 big dirty (he doesn't wash them) dogs. He gives them almost full reign of the house, except for the bedroom and kitchen. He finally gave into me and prohibited them from those 2 rooms because I kept complaining about the filth. His big dirty, stinky dogs basically live on his nice leather couches. They use to be light gray, now there gray with black streaks all over them. There is also dog **** on the couches. I haven't sat in the living room for over 4 months now. I don't understand why he won't let his dogs live outside in a nice dog house. Does anyone understand what i'm saying? Why are some peoples dogs more important than HUMANS to them?

Answer 1

do not make them stay out there all day, put them otu for a few huors. clean the house!! i think the dogs must need to be trained A LITTLE EVEN and gat a new guy

Answer 2

I don't think that your boyfriend is putting his dogs over you. Possibly those dogs have been there longer than you and he understandably has an attachment to them that you probably aren't going to be able to change. Instead, try living with the dogs. You'll get on your boyfriend's good side AND have some control.

First of all, the dogs obviously need to be trained. Keeping them out of certain parts of the house is not only a good starting place, but is hygienic and sets boundaries.

Addressing where the animals eliminate is another big issue. There should not be feces where the dogs sleep/sit and especially not where humans are living.

Taking the dogs to training classes might be easiest. If your boyfriend won't do it, then I recommend that you do. You might really hate this idea, but this will give you more control over the dogs as well as bond with them. Make sure your boyfriend follows the training regimen, too, otherwise you'll sabotage all of your hard work and money.

If the dogs are already trained and this is simply a question of boundaries, start by giving the dogs a bath. No one likes being dirty, dogs on the whole don't either. Then move on the where they sleep. Buy some quality dog mats for them to rest on and put them next to the couches. To keep them off the couches now, you could try getting some anti-furniture animal spray sold at PetSmart and the like, but it doesn't work all of the time. If you can't move the couches somewhere else until they learn their new boundaries, try buying a carpet runner and turning it upside down on the couch. The pointy parts of the runner will make it uncomfortable for the dog to lay down on it.

DO NOT BE AGGRESSIVE WITH YOUR DOGS.

Try to teach them to stay off the furniture with treats and rewards, not punishments and yelling.

If none of this works, or you're unwilling to put int he work then I suggest leaving. He probably won't get rid of the dogs for you, and if you can't live with them, then you've come to an impasse.

Answer 3

I completely understand what you are saying. My ex's parents "breed" labs and let them live in doors sometimes as many as 6 dogs in the house. Its disgusting if not done properly. There is no reason a dog can not be kept out of doors except during extreme weather and when in doors they should be controlled.

Answer 4

Dogs are absolutely fine living outside, you've just got to make sure they have food and water, and bring them inside if it gets super cold.

Those couches sound downright disgusting... no wonder you don't sit on them. He needs to wash the dogs and his house, and get a new look at things. I would give him an ulitmatum if I were you: you or the dogs, and if he doesn't start cleaning right away, dump him. If he does not value you enough to keep his house even moderately hygenic, he's not worth it. You are completely right here.

Answer 5

Yes, dogs can live outside, as long as they have shelter from the elements and are provided food and water.

But that isn't really the only solution. Your boyfriend should be bathing the dogs regularly, or taking them to the groomer. And he should be training them to stay off the furniture.

Answer 6

Sounds like you need to make your boyfriend choose between living like a human or living without you. What you describe is absolutely disgusting and not okay by any means. His reaction could be one of two things: 1) He's very attached to them and thinks shooing them outside is unfair to them. 2) He's being defiant towards you. I myself have dogs but if they misbehave or are getting too dirty, they get booted outside until bath time. We love our pets but we have rules for them, too.

Answer 7

In my opinion, big dogs belong outside, but I've known a lot of people that live like your boyfriend does. Maybe he knows himself well enough to know that if he put them outside they would be negected.

I don't understand it either, but some people are much more loyal to their pets than they are to their human friends. I love my dog and she stays in the house, but she's a chihuahua and could not survive in the back yard. She's hard enough to clean up after (hair, accidents, occasionally getting in the trash). I cannot imagine having a large dog in the house. You might want to consider other living arrangements. I know I would.

Answer 8

If you are such a clean person you should wash the dogs weekly. Help him out if you love him. Love him, love his dogs. Dogs are more important than humans to them because dogs are innocent while humans are judgmental.

Answer 9

Large dogs aren't indoor pets. People don't get that dogs are perfectly happy rolling in the dirt, bringing home dead things and rummaging through all sorts of stuff. They do that naturally, and live for it.

Large dogs are not suburban or city animals. Only people with enough room for them should ever think of having them.

Answer 10

The dogs wouldn't be as big a problem if he washed them and kept his house clean. They're like humans....they smell bad if they're not bathed! There is nothing wrong with big dogs living in the house as long as you take care of them. I don't agree with keeping pets outside. Would you want to be kept outside? Animals do get cold/hot just like humans do. Their fur protects them, but they still get cold/hot.