Keeping Dogs Outside

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gerbilgirl

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I'm just wondering what the general opinion is on keeping dogs in outside pens.

I'll tell my story to start :) :

My three are kept in an outside pen with adjoining heated shed and a large (3' x 4') kennel in the outer part of the pen. The whole pen and shed are actually quite small (about 6' x 20' altogether), and they are exercised once each day, twice if I'm off school, usually intense exercise such as 5 minute brisk walk on treadmill, then agility or obedience work in the garden. Very rarely do they go for a 'walk' on the road, as I don't have the time and there are few different routes around here. They are hyper but not down to lack of exercise, rather their breeds. They get a hello in the morning and don't see anyone again until I get home from school. They are very rarely in the house, as I have a little brother who is still crawling (have had 3 different brothers at this stage for the past 5 years I have had my own dogs) and daddy's a bit obsessed with the dogs having dirty feet when the baby is also about the floor. They are very social dogs who I have a very good bond with, but would much prefer to be with one another than humans.

In the eyes of most rescues this would make me a terrible owner, and no way would they rehome to me (except the lovely lady at the rescue who let us have Lola as she could see past this), the other two are also unofficial rescues (Polo came home with daddy after he went to the mechanics, commented on what a nice pup she was, and the mechanic told daddy he was fed up with her and he could take her? Daddy opened the car and Polo jumped in. Charlie was dumped on our road and we took him in.). However, I think that my dogs, although leading a very different life to those which live in houses, are every bit as happy. Even when Polo and Charlie got neutered they went straight back outside (but were closed in the shed for a week separate from Lola), as they aren't house trained and I felt the move inside would disturb them even more.

So comments on my dogs lifestyle, and your general opinion on keeping dogs outside.

Galaxy Minstrels Easter egg and Coke for all! :D
 
Well I keep one dog outside, but tbh she spends a lot more time with me than yours do. She is 12 now so doesn't have huge amount of exercise, but does have a run in the field in the morning, again at lunch time and a walk in the afternoon. Yours are obviously quite happy with their life, and they have each other for company, but seems a bit sad for you and them that you don't go actual walks together. I have to do the same route whenever I take my lot a road walk, and it is boring, but I just enjoy spending the time with them.
 
I don't know how to edit, but I did actually make it sound like they spend less time with me than they do. We have 6 acres of fields behind us, and at least once a week I take each of the dogs out (usually followed by a herd of cats :P ), and just sit with them, or let them run if that's what they feel like. Their once daily exercise in the garden is usually an half an hour - 2 hours long each, depending on how much they need it (I have GCSEs in six weeks now ;) ).
 
Dogs can live very happily outside, provided their interaction levels are high enough. However I always question the point of having dogs if you don't want to spend a lot of time with them.

As for the treadmill, that is no substitute for a walk out smelling, feeling the wind on their coats and enjoying the outside world.
 
Kitsune said:
Dogs can live very happily outside, provided their interaction levels are high enough. However I always question the point of having dogs if you don't want to spend a lot of time with them.

As for the treadmill, that is no substitute for a walk out smelling, feeling the wind on their coats and enjoying the outside world.
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Couldn't agree more. The two labs live outside, they have access to a full yard and a kennel to sleep in. However, they are taken out at least twice a day, both off and on lead exercise and swimming a lot of the time as well. They are in the house whenever people are home, they are usually conked out in front of the fire. They are part of the family and are treated as such.
 
My old neighbours recently rehomed a dog. (splutter)

They were deemed perfect to rehome, big garden, well fenced. Lady was home regularly.

They now have a 3year old, the dog is never walked or allowed in the house, I used to watch the dog run in circles round a tree to amuse himself.

Terribly sad and no way for an animal to live.
 
Dogs can be perfectly happy living outside, and in fact some dogs may find the house far too warm and uncomfortable but what you describe does not sound like near enough exercise or stimulation. However, if it works for you and your dogs and you're all happy then fair enough! :)
 
gerbilgirl said:
they are exercised once each day, twice if I'm off school, usually intense exercise such as 5 minute brisk walk on treadmill, then agility or obedience work in the garden.
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I think some people might have missed this, no problem with that, but NeverSayNever? I am extremely offended by the troll remark.

Believe me, my dogs are in no way the type who will run around a tree in boredom, in fact they very rarely even bark so they do keep themselves occupied.

Edit to say: Treadmill is only ever used as a warm-up.
 
How long is the agility/obdience work? Do you ever play with them or anything or is it all about the agility/obdience? TBH I am shocked you seem to spend so little time with your dogs. I don't see the point having them otherwise. Personally I prefer to spend much longer with my dogs.
 
Wondering what breeds they are?

For me, a dog is all about companionship. They are sociable animals amongst themselves and with humans. I think its a pity they are not more involved in your lives. I have nothing against dogs living outside, but they shouldn't be 'out of sight, out of mind.' Five minutes on a treadmill will provide some exercise, physically but nothing mentally.

The brutal truth is, if you are unable to provide companionship, sufficient mental and physical stimulation then you should not get a dog. If your parents choose to have dogs they need to be involved with caring for the dogs, it shouldn't be left all to you.
 
I used to keep all my dogs outside, kennels and chains. Tilly still had a kennel and chain up until we moved to this house (2 years ago). However, they all came for a 10 mile walk with me every morning, were worked nearly every day/night (dependant on breed) and also used to come in and sprawl of an evening to watch tv with us. Also they would come for a walk to the pub with us a few evenings a week and my partner was outside at home alot working, they were running free and 'helping' with this most days! Circumstances have changed now and I'm unlikely to ever keep dogs outside again, they are all indoors now and my youngest 3 have never spent a night outside. So I think what I'm saying is I don't disagree with it but I was always very very aware that they should get plenty of interaction and stimulus when I kept mine outside (not that my indoor dogs don't get that too but somehow more so for the 'outies' particularly as mine were on chains I guess) Exercise via a treadmill is IMO not a substitute for a proper walk for a dog!
 
The agility/obedience work is between half an hour and 2 hours each day, per dog, depending on what they need/how much time I have around homework/coursework/studying. It is all based on play, otherwise the dog does not want to work. I also try to get out to the fields at least once a week to cuddle and play with the dogs. Of course I would love if my family loved the dogs as much as I do, and they were able to walk the dogs twice a day, etc, around what I do with them. That's just not how it works.
 
If you have 6 acres of land right outside your door then why don't you walk them around there on a daily basis? It's good that you do agility etc but I'm sure your dogs would be happier with a more variation in their exercise. Could you not take them for a 30 min blast round the fields in the morning before school and then do agility when you get home? IMO there is no substitute for going on a proper walk out in the real world with your dogs, it strengthens the bond you have with them and they get to experience new sights and smells. I have no objection to dogs being kept outside but I do think they need more in terms of exercise
 
@ blazing saddles:

They are a Collie/Greyhound type, Collie/Husky type and a GSD/Samoyed type.

And I use lots of lefts and rights etc. for the mental stimulation, they be ready to sleep by the time they are put back in the pen.
 
ditto ace of spades...can you not take them even 20 mins in the fields for a romp, run and a play together twice a day, before and after school?
 
The land is chopped up at the minute as the cows trashed it last summer and with the amount of rain there has been it hasn't had a chance to recover. It is therefore not suitable for exercise on the lead, as it will be slow and not mentally stimulating. And since I only have one dog who can work off the lead (I have been working on a long line with another for 2 years now, and the other is on a mission to return to the house and kill my cats every time he gets off lead), the field is only a chance for relaxing, rather than exercise.
 
I'm afraid I'm a big advocate of walking and working - mine goes out three or even four times a day - and what you've described is not, IMHO, nearly adequate enough for any dog never mind the breed types involved.

Nothing against keeping a dog outside, mine would be kennelled outside if I had the facilities, but she'd still be walked several times a day.
 
gerbilgirl said:
I also try to get out to the fields at least once a week to cuddle and play with the dogs..
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^^ That suggests to me at least once a week....

Playing or agility in the garden is not a substitute for proper excercise, its an excellent sideline interest, but it does not replace a proper walk.
 
Yes thats what we are saying....they need walking as well. As it is they only get off your property to see other things and the outside world once a week, which isn't enough.
 
gerbilgirl said:
One walk a week? They are exercised EVERY SINGLE DAY? I don't understand how people are missing this?
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No, we're not disputing that they are not exercised every day but obedience/agility training in your back garden is not the same thing as going out for a proper 1 to 2 hour walk every day. I appreciate that taking 3 big dogs for a long outside walk on leads may be too much for you on your own but IMO this is where your parents should step in and help you. Trust me, your dogs will be less hyper and more content with life :)
 
QR - I am just wondering why you bothered posting this, as you appear not to want to receive any constructive feedback which is being offered to you?

Personally I am horrified that the dogs get such limited mental stimulation and exercise, particularly given the breed mixes you have mentioned. Once a day for the times which you suggest is less than ideal, and the fact that they rarely get off your property is also not good :(

As far as living outside is concerned, I have no problem with that at all :)
 
gerbilgirl, I am trying not to be harsh here as it seems you are young and have the sole responsibility for the dogs, but can you not see what people are trying to say to you re the difference between walking/running free and exercise whilst training. Do you compete your dogs in agility because surely if you have enough control to do this you should be okay to let them off lead in the field. If they are anything like my hippos it won't matter that its muddy and?churned up, the muddier the better.
Can you not persuade your parents to let the dogs interact more with the family in the house. My 2 children grew up with GSDs in the house, crawled around (and over) them and were a lot healthier than many of their school friends who lived in clean, sterile environments.
 
my comment came from the utter disbelief that this could possibly be for real -

let me explain;

my dogs live in kennels within an outbuilding; they are competitive agility dogs - border collies.

they go out in the morning for a run, together, in the field - they chase, play, sniff and explore.

they are generally out 3-4 times throughout the day, for short garden trips in addition to spending on average an hour or so just mosying about outside with me while I muck out etc.

We go for a long walk, off lead, through fields late aft/evening.

All the dogs are trained most days - but not every day, (i have a ring of equip in my paddock) i think its important they have a day or 2 off. However, training 1 dog in agility for 1-2 hours is far too much. Training sessions should be short and sweet and kept to short, quality sessions. I also attend regular training clinics with mine. From april til - september they are at 2 day shows most weekends.... although i am now balancing that with competing a horse so doing a few less shows than in previous years.

To be successful your dogs need to be fit. They need to run and play and explore different environments. In turn they will be less likely to pick up injuries etc.

Using a treadmill is imho not acceptable for any means - and training in the garden, consisting of your dogs, on a lead, jumping over goal posts of approx. 1metre80cm as you have previously posted, is NOT agility/obedience training.
 
My 3 are kept outside but they do have a slightly different routine to yours.

They sleep out overnight, when I get up to do the horses at 6am they get let out and mill about the yard when I muck out, then down the field with me for walkies.
They then come into the house for a bit of fuss time while I have my brekkie & cuppa.
I then put them out when I go to work at 7.30am.
Probably about 15 mins after that grandad will come round to ours and take them for a walk to the river ( approx 1 mile) and then they tend to spend the rest of the day round my nan's going out 2-3 times.
When I get in i'll take them with me while I do the horses, then they have their tea, then their big walk (4 miles ish), then in the house for a few hours play time then short walk before they go back out into their kennel for the night.

As has been mentioned your dogs seem to be getting very little exercise, attention or love. So while dogs do live outside quite happily, they need more than 30 minutes of your time each day.

Could you not let them have the run of the garden in the day??

Get up before school to walk them?

Spend time playing rather than training ( my dogs do 2 short training sessions per week max)?
 
MurphysMinder said:
Can you not persuade your parents to let the dogs interact more with the family in the house. My 2 children grew up with GSDs in the house, crawled around (and over) them and were a lot healthier than many of their school friends who lived in clean, sterile environments.
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Roger that, as a child of a single parent household I spent a great deal of my young life, outside, nannied by the family lab x springer. We climbed trees, made dens and enjoyed each others company all day on weekends etc.

I am the healthiest person I know, no asthma, no alergies, no broken bones, no illnesses, no diseases...
 
OP - reading back that seems like a long time to spend training a dog. Surely they tend to get bored/restless?

I keep gundogs and would never train them solidly for 1-2 hours. Short and sweet is the key with training IME.
 
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