ethics of keeping a dog outside

[wildernesslodgelover]

I have always had dogs, and always had them inside. I now only have a small chihuahua, lives inside, sleeps in bed with us, etc.

We recently purchased a home on an acre. We would like to get two dogs to be guard dogs. They would live exclusively outside. I would never have "just one" outside dog as I know dogs need a "pack" and companionship.

We really do want the dogs to be guard dogs. Not going to get "attack" dogs...just dogs that look somewhat intimidating and would bark of someone enters the property. To do that, they need to be outside.

My other issue is my chihuahua is TERRIFIED of other dogs. Before I get flamed for not socializing her...she is 8 years old and I have owned her since she was 9 weeks old. I did the Petsmart 8 week dog training with her, took her to dog parks as a puppy...but it is just her personality...she is one of those shaky, nervous chihuahuas. I kind of wish I would have gotten another indoor dog/puppy at the same time as I adopted her...because I think it is too late now.

So....on my property, I have a barn with a fan system in it, to cool it in the summer. My husband is constantly tinkering in the yard/garage. I have a covered back porch around the pool area, lots of shade throughout the property. Cold weather is really not an issue here in SoFla. Personally, I think it would be a pretty nice life for a rescued dog. When I say "rescued" I would not adopt someones sweet little dog that lived inside it's whole life, and toss it outside. I would either get something young enough that living outdoors is all it would know, or a dog that I can confirm lived outside it's whole life.

I spoke with someone at a rescue league and asked about her dogs...are any of them from homes where they were kept outside? She acted like I told her I want to do scientific experiments on her dogs or sacrafice them in a religious ritual. She actually said to me she would rather leave a dog on death row than have it live outside. That is an exact quote.

I told her I totally respect her opinion (I mean, let's face it, she LOVES dogs, gives a lot of time and money to her effort of rescuing dogs, I am not gonna dis her) and kind of half heartedly tried to explain my set up, but she was not interested in hearing it.

I have gone to my county's animal services website and basically cry looking at all the pitiful faces staring back at me. I would love to get two of them and give them the best home possible...attention, food, vet care. What is your opinion on this?

 

[nskjerven]

it's very gracious of you to take 2 dogs that are destin to die and give them a home. Frankly some dogs like it outside some like it inside. I think it is based on how they are socialized. Get yourself some pups and enjoy them

 

[clh2]

Sorry - I know this is not the opinion you want to here. If you are looking for 2 guard dogs...it might be cheaper to get a good security system for your house and pay the monthly service fee. (When I say cheaper, that is food, vet bills, heartworm, flea meds etc) Plus - there is no poo to clean up.

Now - I could never leave a dog outside - for any reason, but that is just me. I have a 70 pound "shadow" who as an only dog would be miserable outside, alone. Also - we live in Wisconsin, sometimes with very cold bitter winters. I do, however, respect that others feel differently.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm 60 years old and when I was growing up (in the northeast) NO ONE kept their dogs indoors.. Of course they had very well insulated dog houses, areas of shade to keep cool in the summer, etc.. My dad always had hunting dogs - and of course they lived outside.. They didn't get sick, didn't freeze to death, and were just as happy as any "indoor" dogs you would come across today..

Over the course of time, it's the owners who have made most dogs incapable of having a healthy, happy life outdoors (with the exception of very small toy dogs).. I would choose a hearty breed - either pups or adult dogs who have always lived outside - and not give it another thought.. As long as they are in a contained area with the proper needs in place, I don't see where it should be cause for concern..

(Flame suit on.. LOL..)

 

[Mermaid02]

Dogs should be part of the family- I think it's cruel to keep them exclusively outside.

 

[doxdogy]

Florida summers are to hot and humid to keep dogs outside. Plus, I never understood the premise of keep a "guard" dog outside. Not to mention it is just cruel to keep a dog outside exclusively. You would be better off buying a good security system for your house.

 

[LeslieG]

It makes me really angry the attitude of some of these rescue leagues. We have a large outdoor dog who is very content and happy and well cared for. To deny someone who will take an otherwise unwanted animal because they will keep them outside is ludicrous to me.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Based on your set up I don't see a huge issue with it as long as they as not chained up and are still family "socialized". The only prob I have with outside dogs are when crazy people chain them up, give them no shelter, and seem to forget they exist in the backyard...this is how my new neighbors seem to operate unfortunately.

Some dogs love being outside more than others as well, our lab acts like she's being punished when I bring her in after her outside time lol. She still lounges inside on the floor, sleeps inside at night and when we leave the house but the rest of the time I give in and let her go out to play rather than listen to her whine and pace by the back door. Now if only our chihuahua liked playing outside more, but she has to be in the "mood" lol...

 

[MrsPete]

I've always had outdoor dogs. Right now we have one large dog. She has a large fenced-in yard and an igloo dog house. She has dug herself a cool spot under the shed, where she seems to like to be in the summer, and she has a concrete pad (used to be a patio) under our 15x40 covered porch that's all her own. She has a pond, she has both shade and sun. She has thick, thick hair, and it doesn't get cold enough here to be a problem. We take her every May and have her shaved, and though she doesn't like the process, she obviously likes getting all that hair off in the summer. The kids play outside with her quite often, and all the walkers in the neighborhood stop to talk to her.

I don't think her life's too bad at all, and she has never shown any interest whatsoever in coming into the house. I have no idea why anyone would object to a dog living outside.

 

[MrsPete]

Florida summers are to hot and humid to keep dogs outside. Plus, I never understood the premise of keep a "guard" dog outside. Not to mention it is just cruel to keep a dog outside exclusively. You would be better off buying a good security system for your house.

How many generations lived without air conditioning? It's only recently that it's been considered "a need". I grew up in the 70s, and we didn't have air conditioning -- just fans. We don't live in Florida, but we do live in the Deep South.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

LOL...we have a security system. Glass breaks, motion detectors, contacts on all doors and windows.

Just wanted to add that before it keeps getting mentioned.

My GF got held up in her driveway, with her baby in her arms. She lives about 3 blocks away. I just want a deterrant for anyone to even come onto our property. That is NOT the only reason I want dogs. I love dogs, love their different personalities, and also hate seeing how many are euthanized daily.

dox-I do have a serious fan system in the barn, like I said. It is VERY comfortable in there in the summertime, I promise.

clh-I don't live in Wisconsin, nor would the dog be alone. There would be 2.

I am not angry at anyone who thinks dogs should be kept inside and are giving their opinion. The whole reason I ask is my fist response would be the same. I just think if you take it on a case by case basis, you might think differently, rather than a blanket statement of "all dogs must be indoor dogs."

 

[ilovejack02]

My neighbors have two large Akitas that are outside prob 90% of the time, they love it. Huge property, they roam and play in the pond, guard the cattle and are friendly boys. They have no interest in being inside, but arent ignored at all. If you plan in still socializing with them.. as you said, your hubby is always out there, I dont see the problem with it.

 

[LeslieG]

I don't think it's an issue of whether they're inside or outside. It's an issue of whether the animals are well cared for, and they can be well cared for as inside or outside dogs, depending of course on the breed. Obviously there are some small dogs who would not do well as outside dogs.

 

[MIGrandma]

My opinion is that you should get the dogs you want. I don't feel it's going to hurt them to live outside. Farm dogs do it all the time. My DH has had dogs our entire married life (34 years) and they have all lived mainly outside. Right now we have a Chocolate Lab. She has a pen outside (so she's not running loose all the time) with a well-insulated dog house inside the pen, fresh water (with a heater for winter) and plenty of food. She gets attention from DH daily. He lets her loose when he is working outside around the farm so she gets plenty of exercise every day. He takes her in the truck when he goes somewhere, he plays ball with her, etc. She gets lots of love and attention from him. I try to give it to her as well, but if DH is around I'm not good enough!

He did try to train her to be indoors as well, but she refused to be housebroken so she is only allowed inside for short periods of time. Now in the coldest parts of the winter she does sleep inside the garage. She has a nice, thick, padded "doggy bed" and is quite content to be in there at night.

I think you giving a couple of rescue dogs a home in the country, with room to run and play, love and attention from you, fresh food and water, vet care, etc. is a whole lot more than they're going to get at the shelter. Around here dogs are only kept a couple of weeks before....well, you know.

 

[Disney Doll]

As long as you get a breed that is built for "the elements" it shouldn't be a problem.

The only issue I see is with other wild animals getting at them...but that too might depend on where you live. In my area, of late there have been coyote spottings and a couple of reports of smaller dogs being killed by them. We also have red fox in our vicinity...not sure of they'd go after a pet.

 

[VillageMama]

She actually said to me she would rather leave a dog on death row than have it live outside.

She's nuts.

Just exactly where does she thinks dogs lived for the millions of years before there were houses?!

OP, any dog sounds like he would be lucky to live in or out of your home.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Disney Doll...yeah, I have a friend who lives up north and raises Bernese Mountain Dogs. I would never get one of those to live outside, or a Siberian Husky, or a St Bernard.

Also, we live in a kind of "suburban" equestrian area. 1 or 2 acre lots. I mean, there are opossums, raccoons, etc...but nothing that could kill a dog, I don't think. Well, except for those darn Bufo toads. Outdoor dogs need to be trained to NOT mess with them!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

C.Ann-But can I let them on my trampoline?

heehee, J/K...we are not getting a trampoline now, anyway. Just wanted to poke at ya a bit! Thanks for the opinion (on both threads!)

 

[kafitty]

my knee-jerk reaction was but clearly you're not one of those people who would just chain them outside with no food and dirty water. Those types...

honestly...i have a ChowChow and she LOVELOVELOVES to be outside, whenever she can. Thing is, she loves to be next to me even more, but if i wasn't a factor, she'd probably just chill outside 24/7. She cheats sometimes - if we leave the sliding door open, she'll sit just inside, so she can still look out/sniff the air, but be inside with me at the same time.

I think you giving a couple of rescue dogs a home in the country, with room to run and play, love and attention from you, fresh food and water, vet care, etc. is a whole lot more than they're going to get at the shelter. Around here dogs are only kept a couple of weeks before....well, you know.

and obviously, it's your home, so you'd be around if things went terribly wrong. i think that's way better than the poor baby being locked in a kennel in a building at night by itself in a shelter.

As long as you get a breed that is built for "the elements" it shouldn't be a problem.

The only issue I see is with other wild animals getting at them...but that too might depend on where you live. In my area, of late there have been coyote spottings and a couple of reports of smaller dogs being killed by them. We also have red fox in our vicinity...not sure of they'd go after a pet.

like with my Chow, she can go out and play in the snow for HOURS because she has a big thick fur coat. She LOVES snow!!! It's her favorite time of the year, probably cause she's finally not HOT anymore!

wild animals, though, good point...did you say you were in FLA? Are their gators in your area?

 

[Planogirl]

I have relatives that live in a rural area and everyone has dogs and all of those dogs spend most of their time outdoors. They receive full veterinary care and spend lots of time with people since the people there also spend a lot of time outside.

I don't see the problem if it's the right type of dogs.