Outdoor dogs...Why keep your family pet outside?

Question

I don't get why people have "outdoor dogs". Dogs are the happiest when they're with their family- not outside alone. I don't care if your dog is destructive you need to train it. I've had multiple dogs my entire life and they've all slept in bed with me, lived indoors, and had great happy lives. I feel like people who keep their dogs outside 24/7 are bad dog owners- even if they have a dog house. I don't believe in letting your dog live on the end of a chain either. I think chained dogs should be outlawed. I live in New England, South of Boston, and I have NEVER heard of an outdoor dog until I started helping out with rescues in Southern states (mainly Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, etc). Why is this? Why is acceptable for Southern states to have gassing shelters? Chained dogs? Outdoor dogs? It would NEVER be tolerated where I live...ever. Is it just the way people think about their pets in different regions...?

Gross out in Georgia:
Georgia (the state) has the highest rate of dog/cat euthanasia in shelters in the USA. One of the common methords of euthanasia is gassing the unwanted animals.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chamber

Answer 1

I don't understand either. People don't want their dogs inside because... they bark. They shed. They smell. They chew things. These are all things that can be taken care of by the owner...so they should take care of it! Groom your dog, housetrain him, teach him "quiet", "sit", "leave it". He's a dog, he doesn't KNOW anything till you tell him, what do you expect?

My dogs have constant access to the ground floor of the house and the yard, 24/7; they aren't allowed in bedrooms, due to allergies; but they sleep indoors always. Would you leave a child or a good friend sleeping outside? Even if she had a bed out there? No, you wouldn't. Because it's still not comfortable, because it's still not SAFE. Why on earth would you leave a dog outside where any kid could come along and feed it a chocolate bar, or anyone could come unchain it and take it away?

Edit: Weather has nothing to do with it. I live in Singapore. It does not dip below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, even at nighttime, all year round. I just don't believe a dog is happy kept outdoors away from people. I never said any of you do it, and I never said that ALL outdoor dog owners do it. But I always believe that a dog should be able to roam both indoors and outdoors as it pleases.

The backdoor of my house is permanently open to the fenced yard, 24 hours a day. Yet my dogs always choose to sleep indoors. I wonder why that is.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I couldn't agree with you more. I wish someone like you could come talk to some people around where I live. I live in north central B.C. in Canada. We have quite cold winters. I live in what some call the "bad" part of the city, although right where I am is good. Within the small area where I walk my pom there are 4 or 5 dogs kept outside year round and others running loose. I like dogs so that bothers me and it sounds like you feel the same where you live. The thing is the problem isn't just the cold. Dogs are social animals They need to belong to a pack and that can be human or other dogs. Just like people they need other dogs or people to be with. If they are left alone in a persons back yard for days on end they get vicious because they want companionship. The majority of people now live in cities so we can't let dogs run free and form packs - or at least we shouldn't. So the only way they can have a pack is if their people stay outside with them or they come inside with their people. Of course they like to be outside for a while but at the end of the day they want to come in with you.

Answer 4

people have dogs for different reasons but it doesn't necessarily mean that they don't care for those animals any less. while i have never had an outside dog, even though i have had several dogs, i can understand these owners' sentiments.

the amount of property (in acres) that a person typically has in a rural area is much more than in or around boston. working breeds are better suited naturally to being outdoors, in the elements, participating in the activities for which they were bred. hunting dogs, herding dogs, farmer's dogs and dogs for protection all participate in, care for and assist these families in important ways. (i'm not talking about stupid owners fighting with pit bulls/rotts. rather, for the protection against significant predators.)

i know an owner of three irish setters who love to protect the property (and their small farm animals) from coyotes, raccoons, opossum or worse. i also know an owner whose outdoor dog was his only line of defense when a large bull turned on him. his outdoor dog saved his life. it is believed (whether or not its true) that the rigors of outdoor life get eroded when you keep a dog inside. would his dog have had the protective instinct to save him if he were an inside dog with no sense of territory/pack?

also, for some breeds of dog it is just cruel to demand that they remain indoors for the vast majority of their day. a large, high energy dog like a dalmation should be outdoors or exercised religiously. in addition, some dogs are not suited to being indoors where you prize the condition of the house. shedding hair, chewing on furniture and large, um, BM's can not be trained away in every case.

Answer 5

I have inside and outside dogs. I have alot of dogs because we have taken in many unwanted ones over the years and they can't all fit in our home.

What makes you think these dogs are less loved or cared for?? Perhaps some are but just the same is true of many inside pets.

I do not chain my dogs because that is my personal preference. However they are in a fenced in area. I live on a highway. My first five pets were killed in the road. We DO let them out when we are out with them. I have a large family to accomindate this but they do not roam free for their own safety. Not the outside or inside dogs.

They are fed very good. In fact they are alot closer to fat than skinny in every case. They get shots, baths and go to a groomer just as my inside ones do.

My dogs are not kept clear out behind some barn. They are kept right up next to my home where they can easily communicate with us and each other. I don't much see the point in keeping a pet clear out of your way..............or ones that end up forgotten. That is where the shame lies.

My dogs would tell you there is absolutely nothing to tolerate. heck I even freeze meat broth in the summer for Popsicles for them. Its tasty and cool. They are NOT sent outside to suffer. They are as happy as my other dogs.

I happen to think very highly of my dogs or I would not have taken them in for a better life. I have also placed many strays or unwanted pets into loving homes. You have no reason to accuse someone of being uncaring because you cannot see them in your own mirrored image. Perhaps another may see you as horrible for caging an animal as a person....... Differences does not mean bad or wrong by any means. You should try seeing past your ways and recognizing others have theirs and they are also ok and acceptable.

Ever notice how when you ask your dog if it wants to go outside it gets very excited???? Hmm. Maybe outside is a treat.

I guess my suggestion here would be.............I hope you consider it very carefully before going to buy a horse..........

Answer 6

I live in Montana....I have to say, I do not like the idea of "outdoor" or "tether" dogs either. My boyfriend however, does not share my enthusiasm over having dogs inside......well he lost. We have 27 acres of fenced land.

I have a pomeranian mutt mix, I swear he's a relative of that cute lil penguin on Happy Feet, he never stops...however, no matter how hard I try...he hasn't taken to completely being housebroken. We're still working on this and he's really come a long way...but there is still a bit more to work out.
(He was the boyfriends dog before we met...always lived outside, sad situation....but I'm changing that. *s*)

I also have a pitbull. She comes from a very abusive home. She is my baby. (although I treat both dogs the same, the pom still isn't big on trying to sit on my lap...while the pitbull things she's the size of a chihuahua).

Both dogs can come in and out when they wish. I have made beds for both. They perfer to be outside running around like wild animals all day...chasing bunnies or whatever it is that seems to catch their attention. However, they both sleep inside at night.

Since we moved here from Washington, (I lived most of my life in Mt. but he's lived all his life in Wa. So, I'm used to the weather and he's not...nor are the dogs.) I'm not sure how the dogs are going to take to snow or the cold. I'm almost certain they will acclamate and I'm sure the pom won't be affected as easily by the cold as the pitbull will be.....but either way, I will allow the inside anytime they wish to be, because this is their home.

I WANT my dogs inside at night to allert me to any possible burglars or trouble that may be outside.

BUT

Many people here have dogs outdoors to allert them to possible trouble coming. Living out in the country, you sometimes are the target or teens wishing to vandalize or would be burglars thinking country folks are an easy target.

While I can see their point, I do not agree with it. It is not my place to tell others how to raise their children or their animals......it is my business to worry over MY children and animals.

Answer 7

I dont agree. If you are able to provide a warm protective shelter, plenty of food and water, tons of attention, and a big yard that they are able to run around, play ,dig, sniff and be free to do what dogs do, then I dont think the person should be considered a bad dog owner. I think a bad dog owner is someone who never spends time with their dog and doesn't care enough about the dog to make sure its needs are taken care of.
People who keep their dogs indoors can be just as guilty of neglect as people who keep their dog outdoors. For instance, if a dog owner leaves their dog in a crate all day while they're away at work or all night while they're out having a few drinks with their friends.
Where I live its completely acceptable and I think my neighbors and myself do a pretty good job at taking care of our dog friends. I know that my dog is as well-behaved and happy as any dog could be.

Answer 8

After our hour walk/exercise every day (2 hours on two days per week when we do obedience), our boy has dinner an hour later. He then "knocks" on the door to be let in and spends three to four hours watching the TV, interacting with the family and sleeping. After this time, he WANTS to go outside, usually not to do his "business", but to "check" our property. He does NOT want to come into the house after that and prefers to stay outside until the following evening when we go through the same routine. We live in Australia where the climate is quite mild. He sleeps on a dogie bed near the double glass doors, or on the mattress or on the concrete, whichever he prefers at the time. All of these places are under a fully sheltered veranda/pergola. Type of dog, GSD male, 2 1/2 years.

Answer 9

New dog from the dog pound... I've had him less than a week.
He has long legs that love to run, and I have a small house. He is too big to crate train (I bought a crate and he howled like he was being abused... and he was too big for the big crate, anyway) and is not housebroken, yet. So... yeah, he spends most of his time outside. The smaller dog is housebroken and gets along better with the cats, so she stays out with the big dog and runs and plays with him.

At night, little dog comes in and big dog stays out. When I go to work, little dog stays in, and big dog --for now-- stays on a 30' tether.

Why tether the dog when I am gone? Because, as newbie to my home, and since he wound up at the dog pound in the first place for me to get him there, I do not know his "escaping" capabilities. So, until he is housebroken (he comes in fro brief periods), and until I am sure he has no intentions of exploring the neighborhood, we have to keep things as they are... for the good of everyone concerned.

My last dog (also from the dog-pound) started out the same way. She lived outside mostly for about a year. She learned that pee goes outside and not inside. She appreciated being inside when she was allowed in for longer periods of time and eventually was my bed buddy. She ended up being the best dog I'd ever had.

She succumbed to her cancer about a month and a half ago.

Don't be so judgmental on situations you know nothing about. Are the dogs you see starving? Do they look unhealthy? If so, you may be witnessing abuse.

If not, however, then mind your own business.

Answer 10

I agree with you. It seems like the majority of pets that are neglected are the ones that are outside, with owners having the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. I have a neighbor that keeps buying huskies (dogs who need room to run and are very high energy), and she keeps them outside in a 6'x6' cage. I see her walking almost daily with a neighbor, but never the dog. The dog is never out of its cage, and does nothing but bark and yap. I can't figure out why people like this have animals at all.

The farmers keep dogs outside alot, but they usually have alot of property to roam and guard the livestock, and sleep in a warm barn. They are happy, healthy, well cared for watch dogs who are treated like family.