Does your dog live outside or in the house?

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Patchworkpony

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I've come across lots of country people in the past, especially farmers, who's dogs live outside. I don't like the idea of a kennel especially but what about dogs that live in the tack room, a large shed or the corner of a farm building? What are you views and experiences? Is it cruel or natural for a dog not to live in the house?
 
As long as they're warm and have good shelter and plenty of room to run round, I think it's fine. I wouldn't do it myself, but if think it's ok if that's how you want to do it.
 
Of course it's fine for them to live outside as long as they have shelter and it's safe.

Mine are house dogs, though we do have a kennel and a shed in the garden which they have free access to at all times and they are often out there of their own choice.
 
I love our dogs (they live in the house) and they are very definitely members of the family . . . however, if we win the lottery and get to buy that big house in the country I want, complete with boot room, any subsequent dogs we have will live in the boot room . . . or . . . their own purpose-built run/kennel with a warm, dry place for them to sleep, access to somewhere for them to "go" if they need to, etc. I am heartily sick of dog hair and paw prints everywhere . . . they can come in the house during the day, but it sure would be nice to sleep at night without hounds everywhere.

O
 
sounds like a good idea to me , just think how clean my house would be!!! unfortunately my lurcher would be very upset if I suggested she move outside.....my collie cross would adjust ok but the lurcher,,,NEVER!!!!!! my friend has 2 collies who live at her yard and they have a great life, they have a stable with nice bedding to sleep in and roam free all of the time and can go in the house if they want to but don't have beds in there so know that they are only visiting..
 
PolarSkye said:
. . . they can come in the house during the day, but it sure would be nice to sleep at night without hounds everywhere.

O
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That's what I partly had in mind as we have downsized to a smaller house where a dog, at certain times, would be in the way. I would bring it a lot during the day but at night and when it was very wet and muddy it would have a bed in our tack room with access to outside via a dog flap.
 
Patchworkpony said:
That's what I partly had in mind as we have downsized to a smaller house where a dog, at certain times, would be in the way. I would bring it a lot during the day but at night and when it was very wet and muddy it would have a bed in our tack room with access to outside via a dog flap.
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I couldn't/wouldn't do it to our existing two - they've lived inside with us and slept with the girls for far too long . . . but if I had a bigger house we'd be getting more dogs and they would certainly be sleeping outside/in a dedicated room in the house.

P
 
Our two live inside, one's a wimpy whippet x dachshund and the other a border terrier - the terrier probably could handle being outside but she can get a bit cold.

My mum used to breed German Shepherds and they were all kept outside - they had the run of the back garden including a wodded area of about 3/4 an acre when we were home, and then a kennel which had a gravel run, a grass run and a big inside area (about the size of two-three loose boxes). At night they were locked in one of the sheds, in the winter the top door was closed and they were always cosy (we did have heat lamps on standby) and in the summer the top door left open so they were a bit cooler. But there were 4 of them so they generated a lot of heat!
 
I would be starting with a new puppy - possibly a springer so it would be used to it's new environment from the start but would of course get lots and lots of love and time with us as well.
 
my 2 old boys live outside as I am a rented house and I can no longer be sure they will not pee in the house, my lurcher spent a winter living outside with one of the older dogs, there is a heat lamp in the kennel and all the dogs choose to go and pileup out there if they are wet-I love it no more wet muddy and stinky dogs in the house, the lurcher comes in when she is dry
 
Mine live outside when we are not in the house and sleep outside. They have a stable in the stable block that has a heater when the weather is nippy. When we are out and about the dogs are with us and in the evening they are in the house with us. When they were totally house dogs they were very boisterous despite walks, now they live out they are calm and happy :) I have a foxhound x, saluki x, sharpei x mastive and a GSD

Yard setup

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distance from house

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Mine do. They free range during the day and get shut in a kennel if there's no one about (rare!) or on winter nights. The rest of the time they just sleep in a heap somewhere wherever they fancy.
My little dog comes in now and then if I'm home and she wants to, but only in her own bed in the kitchen.

They love it and I certainly don't miss constantly hoovering hair up and washing muddy tail wag marks off the walls!
 
Our two collies live outside all year. At night they are in a stable sized building, not heated or insulated. I put a bit of straw in there for them to sleep in and that is it. They never come in the house, they are working dogs (and dirty) not pets. Also I'm allergic to dogs so better all round that they stay outside.
 
Oh dear , my three live where ever we are. As soon as it is warm enough the back door is open but during the winter they spend more time indoors. i love having mine around, always there. we have two chairs in the main family room that they are allowed to sleep on and beds on the floor aswell.
yes sometimes the fur and doggy smell drives me mad but mine are allowed to sleep under the bed aswell.
I guess they smell better than the OH half the times aswell :)
 
Used to be on a yard where the GSD slept in the tack room without issue- she was out with us all day, and then went into the tack room at last check, about 10pm.. - to be honest the tack room was warmer/ less damp than the accommodation provided for the working pupils LOL
 
I don't see the point in keeping pet dogs outside when you are in but there's nothing wrong with it at all depending what type of dogs and what shelter they have. I have a collie and he would be mostly fine outside but I would like somewhere warm and cosy for him to go. Also worst guard dog ever so would probably get stolen :-/
 
Depends on the dog - if they are pets then should live with the owners in the house, but working dogs I would happily keep outside/kennelled.

We have two pet dogs who are kept in the house and are part of the family unit. However when we walk pups for the hunt they live outside permanently, with a stable to sleep in as when they go back, this is the lifestyle they will live.

I get very cross with people who walk hound pups and bring them into the house - it must be a real shock to lose those home comforts when back at kennels!
 
We have pet dogs that sleep outside. Very much part of the family but bedtime is a stable. They actually seem happier now than when they slept indoors.
 
L&M said:
Depends on the dog - if they are pets then should live with the owners in the house, but working dogs I would happily keep outside/kennelled.

We have two pet dogs who are kept in the house and are part of the family unit. However when we walk pups for the hunt they live outside permanently, with a stable to sleep in as when they go back, this is the lifestyle they will live.

I get very cross with people who walk hound pups and bring them into the house - it must be a real shock to lose those home comforts when back at kennels!
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Why 'should' pet dogs live inside? Mine don't, but they're still very much pets! They come in for a kip sometimes though during the day.

When I used to puppy walk they used to come in sometimes too for the odd hour :D
I used to take them to lots of big shows too, which was always fun. I really miss puppy walking - the last one I had won the puppy show and went on to win at Peterborough. So much fun :)
 
Because mine are companion dogs - I would be more likely to throw my husband out into the stables overnight!!!!

But each to their own....

ps. Patterdale - you are welcome to my pups - they have just spent the afternoon digging up one of the kick boards in the sand school, not amused!
 
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