Should dogs be inside or out?

metalmare

metalmare

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My OH loves big dogs - irish wolfhounds, Saint Bernards and the like.
I was reading through a doggy website and was surprised to read that many of these seemingly wooly hardy breeds (even the bernese mountain dog) should be kept indoors. Now I've never had dogs, only ever cats, and I certainly wouldn't buy a large breed without gaining plenty of experience with smaller ones first but as a very distant in the future prospective large dog owner what are the truths of this matter please, from those of you in the know?
 
Both my Deerhound and Akita, are kept outside......I must say they are in rather posh kennels
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they cannot stand the head and my Akita would actually prefer to dwell on the compost heap.
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The rest of my dogs are indoors.........however I do believe given adequate shelter/spacious run or garden there is no reason why dogs should not reside outside.

Esp the larger hairy breeds
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I'm surprised about the breeds you mentioned being kept indoors. Maybe it's because they feel a real need to be close to their humans?

I couldn't imagine keeping my Boston Terrier outside. It's crazy to think that a breed "invented" in one of the coldest cities in the US cannot tolerate the cold at all. If it dips below 45, my dog literally convulses when she shivers.
 
I have a Malinois, Border Collie and Springer Spaniel and they all live outside - well over here it is a doggy room which is attached to my kitchen but in England they had their own kennels. Their room over here is not heated and it gets pretty darn cold in the winter - they are all happy though, they grow long coats and are often heard outside during the night so it can't be too cold for them. Mine have 24 hour access to outside via a dogflap and really do seem to spend most of their time outside.

I did worry a little about my old collie this winter however I needn't have - she coped perfectly well and grew a beautiful long winter coat. We'll see how she is next year but if she appears to suffer in our -30 temperatures then I may well bring her into the kitchen overnight but she doesn't really like coming in the house so will leave her out there for as long as she is happy out there.

I am hoping to have another dog room built this year and it will have some form of heating in it so it won't be so cold for her.
 
I thought that dogs keps outside didnt shed their coats like house kept dogs - wish I had remembered that when we brought out lab pup home as she lives inside and shed hair everywhere
 
we have an Irish wolfhound and he is kept indoors. The Wolfhound is so utterly devoted (if it bonds) with it's 'people' that to keep it seperated is a real punishment. However our breeder had lots of them and they all lived very happily outside as they had each other and were show/hunting dogs and not as such a family pet. Wolfhounds are people dogs and need you.
The flip side of the coin is that ours easily overheats and we have no heating on in the winter and 2 large fans going. His ideal would be to be kept outside with us freezing next to him!
I can't comment on any other breed but the Wolfhound loves and needs it's people.
 
I know for a fact that my 3 agree with Bumbledog!!!!!!!!
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Even when ours where kennelled they always slept inside at night. Now we have my 3 in, the 2 old girls in and the others have the utility room at the end of the house with a run on the back, there's a dog flap in the wall so they go in and out as they please.

It's only the terriers that get full run of the house - it would be chaos with 7 big dogs everywhere
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[ QUOTE ]
Little dogs with pink spotty tummys should be tucked up in bed with their mummy and daddy
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( rolls over and snuggles further down )

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Couldn't agree more
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Though we need to invest in a king-sized bed; this blasted queen will be the death of my much-needed eight hours.
 
My dog is kept inside, she is a pet though. (mini schnauzer)

My uncles gundog is kept outside but she has a huge kennel (2 labs used to share it) with straw, a giant pillow and a duvet. If weather is really foul, she is kept inside at night
 
Two of our border terriers sleep inside, and the other BT and the lurcher sleep outside and have done since we had them at 8 weeks old.
They have snazzy coats for nightwear in the winter and run up to get to the kennel before me at bedtime
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I have 5 dogs who are all pets and they live outside all year round. The springer and 2 colliexlabs have a run with a shed in it which is stuffed with straw so they make little nests for themselves and all cuddle up together. The terrier and GS are in the boiler house with a big bed which they sleep in together. They all have really thick coats (and are now moulting like crazy) although this year I got the terrier and springer warm waterproof dog rugs for the winter, which they both loved!!! They're all much happier living out and I think it's healthier for them, the odd time I leave the GS in overnight if I'm at home by myself but she gets too hot and uncomfortable. The terrier has a bed in the kitchen but she prefers to go out and sleep with the GS.
 
It's a tricky one.
My Black Russian Terrier is a large breed, bred in Russia to do the job of a guard dog, so you would expect them to live outside. Wrong, because they are a guarding dog, if you leave them outside, and they don't live with the family, they will end up guarding their outside territory against you!
To protect the family, they have to live with you, in your space as part of the "pack".
Luckily as hairy as they are, they don't moult, and they are quite docile when you are not around.
Jo
 
Thanks all for your replies - I haven't been on for ages and had completely forgotten about this post. That's a really interesting mix of advice there - it hadn't occured to me that with the wolfhounds it might be company rather than heating that was the issue. Obviously I'd do a lot more research before buying any dog but that's really helped - thanks all.
 
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