I have no problems about working dogs living out, after all, that maybe part of their job, Im talking about pets.

I know of 2 dog owners whos dogs live perminantly outside, one of the dogs is a show dog and lives in a kennel and run in the garden, he constantly barks, ovbiously craving company, the dog is well fed, walked often and in A1 shape.

The other dog is a mongrel, the owner says he wrecks the house, therefore hes not allowed in it, he too has a kennel in the garden, is well fed and in good condition, again he barks ALL the time.

What i dont understand is ...... why bother having a dog? I dont understand what enjoyment you get out of putting an animal in your garden? I dont mean people who put the dogs out when their working, Im talking about dogs who are not allowed in the house at all.

My pets are part of the family, i cant understand why people have 'outside only' dogs, please enlighten me

My dogs both live in although I'm sure Takara would love a kennel in the garden.

In all honesty, I'm too worried about theft and I do like to have them with me.

I don't have a problem without keeping pet dogs outside as long as they get plenty of interaction - usually that means they have a kennel outside but come in at certain points of the day but there's also people who's dogs don't come in but they spend plenty of time outside.

I agree though, if you're not going to spend any time with the dog, why bother having one? That said, one of my dogs barks A LOT - even though she lives in and gets loads of attention - she's just an attention seeker and family members have reinforced the barking!

I don't have any outdoor pets, if I had a rabbit/guinea pig/ferret they'd also be indoor (which is why I'm not allowed!) because I don't like spending much time outside and so they'd get very little attention if they were outside!

I have always kept my dogs indoors.
My Amber would die of heart failure if she had to live outside, she likes her home comforts way too much.
I have always been led to believe that pets should be part of the family. Would you make one of kids live in a kennel outside??:D

Would you make one of kids live in a kennel outside??:D

can i take the 5th ammendment on that one? :hihi:

Mine doesnt live outside but I do let her out in the garden a couple of times a day, usually after we have been for a walk.

She loves to explore and seems to like the sounds of the nature around her, although it sometime sends her crazy if a bird is twittering as she cant see where its coming from!

I dont disagree with leaving dogs outside, but I wouldnt risk it with the thefts that are about at the moment.

can i take the 5th ammendment on that one? :hihi:

:hihi::hihi:

i couldn't leave my dog outside all the time, where's the fun in that? and certainly not in this weather, poor thing! plus i'd be so paranoid about her being stolen too, nope, she'll be an indoor pampered pooch :hihi:

i dont see anything wrong with keeping your dog outside aslong as they have shelter, food, water, interaction & love. i've known a couple of outside dogs only & they both seemed perfectly happy.

i wouldnt want my dog to live outside though, our family have always had indoor dogs. if my OH would let me have a dog then i would love to curl up on the settee or bed with it & play inside.

Would you make one of kids live in a kennel outside??:D

How seriously tempting is THAT! :hihi:
kids and the hubby in kennels, me and all the critters indoors!

How seriously tempting is THAT! :hihi:
kids and the hubby in kennels, me and all the critters indoors!

Sounds good! :thumbsup:

One of my friends has a pair of border collies that compete at obedience work at Crufts level. She lives in a house with plenty of outdoor space and her dogs love their outdoor run and kennel. She doesn't allow the dogs to rough and tumble or run about in the house and they know this and ask to go outside if they want to have a run about.

They have a big garden and their run is covered and heated, so they can play out there but know to be on their best behaviour indoors. They also have their own bedrooms in their kennels and they sleep out there, but most of the time they choose to share a room and a big bed.

In no way are they suffering for having an outdoor space. I couldn't make Molly do it though- she won't even eat without me in the room with her.

One of my friends has a pair of border collies that compete at obedience work at Crufts level. She lives in a house with plenty of outdoor space and her dogs love their outdoor run and kennel. She doesn't allow the dogs to rough and tumble or run about in the house and they know this and ask to go outside if they want to have a run about.

They have a big garden and their run is covered and heated, so they can play out there but know to be on their best behaviour indoors. They also have their own bedrooms in their kennels and they sleep out there, but most of the time they choose to share a room and a big bed.

In no way are they suffering for having an outdoor space. I couldn't make Molly do it though- she won't even eat without me in the room with her.
That sounds an ideal situation the best of both worlds.
If i was a dog that is just how i would want to live.

The dobermutt is a velcro dog, the breed thrives best when in close contact with its 'pack' and does not have the coat for an outdoor life. She turns her nose up at the dog-bed (spoilt, dramaqueen that she is), so telling her to go outside to 'kip' would be a definite no-no.

I know of a dog that lives outside i herd recently that the dog has arthritis in his back and legs.Maybe the cold weather didn't help. I could never let my dog live outside. I wouldn't be able to sleep myself. I thinks its cruel.

No my dog doesn't live outside neither do any of my cats. I can't see the point in having a dog (unless it is a guard dog) and keeping it outside or locked away inside a kennel. What a lonely dog it must be sat looking a 4 wooden walls in the freezing cold. while the owner is sat probably with his feet up in a nice warm house watching telly. Not a nice way to treat mans best friend is it?

No my dog doesn't live outside neither do any of my cats. I can't see the point in having a dog (unless it is a guard dog) and keeping it outside or locked away inside a kennel. What a lonely dog it must be sat looking a 4 wooden walls in the freezing cold. while the owner is sat probably with his feet up in a nice warm house watching telly. Not a nice way to treat mans best friend is it?

I don't see the point in keeping dogs as guard dogs. :huh:

my 'guard' dog likes her creature comforts, which is why I'm shunted up to one end of the sofa with the laptop balancing off my knee and a whiffy wegie kitten's bum barely inches from my nose (Arnie sitting on the sofa arm watching the gerbil tank with interest) and SHE's hogging 3/4s of the couch and still managing to grumble and complain about it. Now THAT's what makes living with an indoor dog so special. Man's best friend- treating woman like a doormat.

I have no problem with dogs having kennels we are building one now for our dogs, they have both never been full house dogs and i see no problem with dogs living outside, its not cruel i think it depends on the individual dog my dogs personnally are happiest outside day or night, where as some dogs may hate it, they will both get treated as part of the family just have there own home outside, i only think its cruel when there home is tiny and cold in which ours will definately not be! I agree with kennels to a certain extent depends on the dog and what the kennel is like....

Brude couldn't possibly live outside - unless he was offered the chance of being part of a pack who already lived outside, then you'd probably have a bother trying to get him to come in!

his breeder has kennel dogs and indoor dogs

I have no objection to dogs being kept outside - so long as it suits the breed, they receive plenty of attention/walks etc, and they are kept clean

too many dogs kept outside are kept in conditions which they are pre-programmed to find distasteful. A dog who's chained up is going to find it difficult to keep his home area separate from his toilet area if nobody cleans up regularly

I understand what your saying Strix to be honest the house we are building is better than our house!!! hehe our dogs love it outside hard to get them back in plus they will both be living together!

:)

I have a staffy, so no he dos'nt live out side they are not suitable to outdoor conditions . But saying that i would'nt like any type of dog to live outside the poor things its just cruel :(:(

I have a staffy, so no he dos'nt live out side they are not suitable to outdoor conditions . But saying that i would'nt like any type of dog to live outside the poor things its just cruel :(:(


How is it cruel? if the dog has a decent kennel thats warm and a decent sized run, how is that cruel? as long as they are still part of the family im sure it makes no difference if they live inside or out.

Rescue dogs are kept in kennels so im guessing thats cruel too??

Isnt it best to find a loving home with somewhere warm for the dog(s) to sleep and live? Regardless if the dog lives inside or out.

How is it cruel? if the dog has a decent kennel thats warm and a decent sized run, how is that cruel? as long as they are still part of the family im sure it makes no difference if they live inside or out.

Rescue dogs are kept in kennels so im guessing thats cruel too??

Isnt it best to find a loving home with somewhere warm for the dog(s) to sleep and live? Regardless if the dog lives inside or out.

Nope sorry am sticking to my guns i would'nt have the heart to sit in my nice warm house and have my poor dog in his kennel out in the cold.People are entitled to they own opinions and dont twist my words( Rescue dogs are kept in kennels so im guessing thats cruel too??9)never mentioned nothing bout rescue dogs .

Nope sorry am sticking to my guns i would'nt have the heart to sit in my nice warm house and have my poor dog in his kennel out in the cold.People are entitled to they own opinions and dont twist my words( Rescue dogs are kept in kennels so im guessing thats cruel too??9)never mentioned nothing bout rescue dogs .

...And I'm afraid I agree. Dogs crave affection and human companionship, I have completely no idea why people buy dogs then stick them out in the cold in a kennel or prison as I prefer to call them!

Some dogs crave human companionship

Providing a warm, dry environment for a dog is not cruel

Some people keep banging on about how 'cruel' crating is too - but every time I open up a crate to house a foster dog, Brude scoots in there first and claims it as his! :rolleyes:

I dont like the idea of dogs living outside, but thats just my thoughts. My dogs would hate it. I have all on getting one of them to sit in the garden with me in July.:hihi::hihi:

Crate training can be cruel if used incorrectly Strix. I think far to many people recommend them as a cure all and make out that by sticking the dog in it, it keeps the dog out of trouble, therefore no training is required easy peezy.:suspect:

Oh I agree that in the wrong hands a crate is a useful tool for inflicting harm on a dog, but there are those who state that crates are cruel full stop

I've currently got a softcrate war going on in our house - Brude and Clive have one each, but there seems to be some sort of territory war going on over who gets to sleep in which one :rolleyes:

We have trouble getting our dogs to stay in lol

We live in middle of a field, so they have plenty of places to go and play.

Not that we dont want to play with them. But both our dogs love being outside.

One especially, he loves ratting, mouse hunting, rabbiting on his own! he has been know to spend hours just wondering around outside, and when we shout him to come in he proper sulks!

When there in, we let them have run of utility, and kitchen (not very often they get access to full house) Which people say is wrong! Which really anoyes myself.

End of day a dogs for life, and before people started haveing them as pets they did not have central heating, dog beds, blankets etc etc.

So dogs are used to being outside aslong as there out from day one!

Its far from cruel.

What is cruel is keeping a dog cooped up, tied up on a tether and spending no time with them.

As has been said several times, people have many different opinions. This is just mine.

People can think im a T0553R for this, but i dnt care :)

I'm sure no one is calling you a to553r Dane and we can see you care about your dogs very much, it's just everyone has a different opinion. I could never keep my dog outside as she is like another member of the family. She goes everywhere with us and is included in all of the decisions we make. To me it would be like keeping my son in a kennel, unthinkable, I just couldn't do it.

My dog has free access to an outside space whenever she wants it, as she is small enough to fit through the cat flap. She does go out ocassionally, but really not very often (perhaps once per week), and if it is cold or wet, no way she will go out.

We own 11, all the same breed, who are 'free range' indoor-outdoor dogs. we have a dogflap, so they can choose where they want to be, and some of ours often sleep outdoors through their own choice.
I cant personally see how a dog can be considered part of the family if they are kept outdoors full-time? Part of the family to me means being included in the day-to-day activities of the household, not watching them from a run in the garden.

Do you lot think it would be acceptable to have a kennel outside for a dog (collie cross) just for Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm (term time only?) I would never keep a dog outside all the time but am thinking this may be a good solution for when we're out as we have just taken on a rescue dog who is adorable and so well-behaved but I don't like to think of him stuck indoors on his own when I'm back at work on Monday.

be careful what is said about keeping a dog with a kennel outside.The RSPCA refused to let us adopt after filling in the adoption form .We put the dog would be living in the house with us but also have a very large run in our garden with a kennel in it,the man dealing with us said we would not be able to adopt any animal from them again as it was against RSPCApolicy to kennel a dog outside.No amount of talking to him to assure him we did not wish the dog to live outside would satisfy him. He would not even arrange a home visit.This was about six years ago so maybe it has changed.We since got a lovely dog from elsewhere who loves to be either outside or inside.:thumbsup:

My 2 staffs live indoors with us but I work a few hours in the morning so I will be having a large kennel and run built for them.I don't consider myself cruel.They both run around like mad and she wees in the house. I don't think a few hours outside is being cruel.

I'm sure no one is calling you a to553r Dane and we can see you care about your dogs very much, it's just everyone has a different opinion. I could never keep my dog outside as she is like another member of the family. She goes everywhere with us and is included in all of the decisions we make. To me it would be like keeping my son in a kennel, unthinkable, I just couldn't do it.

Sometimes I would have loved a kennel for mine... sorry I couldn't resist :hihi:
I could never leave my dogs outside full time either, I don't think it hurts for a short time in the day but not without the option of being with the family when they are there.

I could'nt let my dog live outside but some dogs are suited to it, I had a friend who always keep their dogs outside with a kennel and a lockable dog flap to the house, they generally choose to stay outside even in winter, I think they kept each other company.

My dog likes being outside as long as it's sunny and warm, as soon as it rains he comes straight into the house. He's started taking his blanket outside to lie on too! I have to agree with the fact that dogs should be kept to certain parts of the house, my dog is not allowed upstairs and if I had a big enough house I'd be tempted to have a couple dog free room/s downstairs to. I could'nt cope with dog hairs everywhere, they seem to get upstairs as it is :)


Sounds quite a nice life living in a big field with another dog, much different to being stuck in a small run and kennel.

Sometimes I would have loved a kennel for mine... sorry I couldn't resist :hihi:
I could never leave my dogs outside full time either, I don't think it hurts for a short time in the day but not without the option of being with the family when they are there.

hehe :hihi: yes now you come to mention it I might get one put in the back that way I can kick the hubby out when his snoring does my head in. :thumbsup: My bedroom is the only place I keep a pet free zone although my oldest cat who's now 13 has figured out that if he jumps on the wall then he can get on the tree that is just outside my bedroom window then it's just a short jump onto my window. I've caught him in my bedroom twice now the little sneek