Is there something wrong with my dog?

Question

My dog does not like to be inside, she will only come in if I call her in and she will only stay if she is being petted as soon as you stop petting her she goes outside on her own will ? Does she not have the pack instinct that I hear others talking about?

No snow where I live and we have big shady verandahs 2 huge sheds for when it rains and for shade and being outside she gets plenty of exercise, she loves playing with our little dog.

Dog Trainer : firstly thanks for taking an interest in my question. My dog is 4 years old and I have had her for 4 years. She has never been punished for being inside and has not been elsewhere for this to happen. She use to be an inside dog when she was a puppy but as she got older she just started opening the sliding door when we put her inside and would let herself out and gradually she just became an outside dog. She has no crate at all, but she sleeps in the yard sometimes on her dog bed. We have let this happen as my feeling was she must be happier outside if that is where she wants to be. I don't really care where she wants to be it is up to her.Maybe it is just that we have hot summers and great winters what can I say. But why I am really asking this question is people keep talking about this pack instinct IS MY DOG MISSING IT?

Edit: We spend alot of time with her outdoors. She is not at all scared of bad weather.

No there are no loud noises inside the kids are great with her and she with them, she lays down outside and watches them playing and will rub against them occasionally. She doesn't bark at all unless there is someone here and she sets off her warning bark she is not aggressive. She seems content to me, our other dog that we have had for 1 year stays out there with her, they get along fine. We never really encouraged the other one to come in, because the big one is always outside.

Oh her dog bed is outside because we felt sorry for her sleeping on the lawn or verandah so we put it out after she was spending all her time outside.

Answer 1

I can only assume a dog knows what they like..
like Ur's my will come in.. but prefers to be outside.. just a matter of choice.. I have a acre of land.. but my blond Lab stay right outside my bebroom window.. 99% of the time.. He barks at people threw the scrubs.. rather than run around to the other side.. and have a full view..

It doesn't matter whether it is winter or summer.. he is always right our side the window, unless I call him to eat..

I say not to worry over it.. who know why they like it out.. ???
Mine runs in the rain and lighting.. storms.. and seems to love it.. , I dunno..???
Pack instinct??? just let them get around a pack of dogs..

Answer 2

You did not mention what breed or mix. My pack is perfectly content to be out on nice days doing what dogs do. Now they are spoiled and wouldn't use a doghouse. I don't think it has anything to do with pack instinct. You didn't say how long you have had her or much info.

Just make sure she has shelter,food, water outside and in. If really bad weather invite her in. Maybe you keep it too cold or hot inside for her. Loud music or activities that might overwhelm her? Or she just may like outdoors better as some breeds tend to. And do you do outside play with her or just kinda ignore her until you call her in to pet her. Just asking.

Answer 3

Is your dog new to you, or have you had her awhile, now? Is the fact that she does not want to be inside a new thing, or has this just happened, lately? If your dog is new to you, or you got her from someone who had her before you did, then maybe she was used to being outside with her previous owner. I would still think that if a dog had the choice, it would prefer to be inside with people, but perhaps she ALWAYS lived outside. Another thing could be that if she lived with others before you, perhaps they were unkind to her and she learned some mistrust of people, or specifically to men or specifically to women.
If this is new to your dog, and she did like it inside with you, then you need to think of what may have changed. Is she being treated differently than before? Has she been punished a lot, and she is avoiding that? Does she get punished a lot for having accidents inside? Are there children in the house who are treating her in a way that makes her uncomfortable or frightened? Is there another dog who she does not get along with? One thing that sometimes frightens our dog is the following: Whenever there is a highpitched noise such as a malfunctioning smoke detector (when the battery warning starts randomly beeping), or any other highpitched noise that even we cannot easily perceive, she goes outside and won't come back in, until the noise has been elimated. This might be my cell phone beeping for a low battery, or anything that makes this type of noise. Dogs have lots of reasons for their behaviors. You need to look at what happens in your home, or what may have happened in the home your dog may have lived in before, to determine why she wants to stay outside. Does she bark and seem ill-at-ease while outside, or is she content out there? Does she eat inside or outside?

Answer 4

look..some dogs just love being outside. that's where all the action is. she knows where you guys are (you, kids etc). she doesn't have to be constantly at your heels to know who her pack is. it's not like you banished her out there. she knows she can come and go as she pleases...that is a very secure dog in my opinion.

i have an 8 yr old Catahoula. he LOVE being outside. he spends most of the day outside, unless he's getting fed, bathed or sleeping. I have brought him inside to get out of the heat, etc and he whines at the door to go out. he just likes it outside. he gets 3 walks a day AND my children run around w/him outside when they get home from school so i know it's not exercise that he wants either.
he just loves being outside. at the end of the day he comes inside and lays down and passes out, or he snuggles up on the couch w/my husand or one of my kids. he's a very happy dog.
i have another dog that loves being inside.
every dog is different. don't let someone **dog trainer** tell you your dog is "scared" or insecure..this supposed dog trainer (which i DOUBT very much really is one) will have NO idea why your dog behaves the way it does unless they have be around it.
a real dog trainer wouldn't hand out a diagnosis on what is wrong w/your dog (or any ones for that matter) unless they had actually see the dog w/their own eyes! that's like getting advice from someone on here that claims to be a doctor and then prescribes you pills for a disease you may not have. how would they know unless they SAW you.
if your dog seems happy...let her be. if she seems depressed...consult a professional animal behaviorist in your area.

**i see the moron squad is out thumbs downing this evening**

Answer 5

What type of dog is she? Some breeds are more solitary then others. Mayeb she believes it is her 'job' to be outside and watch and/or protect?

If you make sure she has food, water and good shelter AND you spend quality time with her everyday, I bet she is happy.

Answer 6

She might just prefer the outside. Some dogs are like that, especially dogs that are working/livestock guardian breeds.

Answer 7

The 'pack instinct' has nothing to do with your dogs behavior! Your dog is displaying a fear or anxiety. She relates going inside with something negative that happened to her there or inside someone else's house. Do you feed her outside or inside? Has she always been left outside? How long have you had her? How old is she? Has anyone ever punished or scared her when she entered the house? Does she have a crate outside or inside? Has she always slept outside?

Answer 8

I don't think there is anything to worry about. MOST dogs prefer to be outdoors. I would assume it has to do with instinct. How much exercise does she get?

Answer 9

My step-fathers dog was like this because she had never been inside as a puppy, she was afraid, if you want your dog in the house, it will take time to train her to become accustomed to indoors.

Answer 10

I suggest you consult a professional dog trainer in your area to help you with this.