How do you feel about outside only pets?

It depends on the situation - What about the poor house dog thats crated all day waiting for its owner? I think "alone" is tough on the dog, whether it's inside or out. I hate hearing people say their dog is "crate-trained" - how would you like to be confined for hours at a time where you can't stretch or walk around or go to the bathroom?
I see the real issue as proper care -and uncared for , whether in or out, is the worst! I too hate seeing a dog that always tied on a chain or confined to a little square kennel.

My sibes happily live outside 24/7. they have a huge area fenced inbetween several buildings they have access to. They sleep in a greenhouse in the winter - they get incredibly warm and then run out to roll around in the snow--(could this be doggie sauna?) They go to the dogpark to run everyday and we take walks on our 4 acres. Huskies love to dig, so their kennel has lots of grass and open ground for digging dens - they have favorite pits all over the yard. They are well cared for and loved deeply.
I work from home and bring them in ocasionally - they love to nap inside - but as soon as they're awake, they want OUT!

When I was trying to get a second dog, I inquired about huskies that were rescued and recived a couple really nasty notes from people who think keeping a dog outside disqualifies you from being a good owner - I think they don't understand this breed. (These were on petfinder, not huskie rescue sites, who DO understand) However, if I lived in the south, no way I'd have huskies outdoors in constant heat. You have to do what's best for the nature of the breed.

It depends on what kind of dog you have!! For smaller dogs who NEED to be inside, I think it's essential that they be indoor. If they're large dogs, and want to be outside, need excercise, destroy the house, etc...I think they should be outdoor. Blaze is a mostly outdoor dog since my parents don't want to clean house all the time, and have him scratch the floor with his toenails. Blaze also HATES being cooped up, so whenever he comes inside, he looks for trouble and feels cooped up, so being outside is a good thing for him. With ALLL that energy, he'd ruin the entire house being the dog he is!!;) (ha) Still, I always bring him in during bad weather, etc. He's just a natural outdoor dog!:D

I don't agree with crates either.

I don't understand people who get a pet only to leave it outside all the time. Why bother? :eek:

My dog is outside all the time, and I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't mistreat her and play with her all the time. I don't consider myself a bad dog owner at all.

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Originally posted by cyber-sibes
I hate hearing people say their dog is "crate-trained" - how would you like to be confined for hours at a time where you can't stretch or walk around or go to the bathroom?

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I work in rescue (with all of those "evil" groups/shelters who deny people that want outdoor only dogs). Crate training is a wonderful tool if it is used correctly, ESPECIALLY for our rescue dogs. Of course it can be misused - like when people throw the dogs in for too long or use it as punishment. I can't even begin to tell you how many dogs crate training has saved. Sometimes people are on the verge of throwing their dog into a shelter because of a problem they can't handle. Crating has solved a lot of these problems. It gives the dog a safe place to be when you can't supervise. It still allows them to be inside and part of the family, but prevents them from getting into trouble.

I have crate trained both of my own dogs and crate train all of my fosters. With my own dogs, they were each crated when I was gone for about the first month. When I knew they could safely have the run of the house with no one home, I didn't crate them anymore. They stay at home inside with free roam whenever I leave and they couldn't be happier. I think they would fall over dead if they had to be left outside by themselves.

My current foster LOVES her crate because I make it such a positive place to be. When I leave the door open, she runs in there on her own and often takes naps in it because it is so comfortable. It is definately her little "den".

When I first heard about crate training and saw people who used it the wrong way, I was 100% against it. I read up on it and educated myself though and now I am completely for it if used the right way. It has no doubt saved many a dog's life. Dogs that escape the yard, are destructive indoors, get into the trash, etc etc etc are completely safe in the crate.

I've made numerous posts about the right way to crate train if you want to search for them. I have a headache right now but will do it later if you are interested at all.

I know this is going off the topic of the thread, but since it was mentioned in a negative way, I felt the need to speak up :)

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Originally posted by cyber-sibes
I hate hearing people say their dog is "crate-trained" - how would you like to be confined for hours at a time where you can't stretch or walk around or go to the bathroom?

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All of my dogs are crate trained, I don't leave them in a crate for a long period of time but it really helped alot oneday when a cat came into my house:) My dogs LOVE their crates! They go in it all the time to chew their bones, sleep, get away from annoying guests:D Tango's sleeping in hers right now, it's usually their own choice on whether or not they want to go in. I never use the crate for punishing them though.

I believe crate training is a lot safer than keeping a dog outside 24/7 as long as the crate is safe and you train correctly. All three of my dogs are crate-trained. Although Simba and Nala have free roam of the house while we're gone, Kiara is confined in her cage for HER and our property's safety. She is only around 7 months old, and although I'm almost positive she'd be fine, i'd rather her be in a cage then be able to chew something she's not supposed to while i'm gone.
Of course, she isn't kept there for more than a few hours.


Keeping your dog outside is basically letting anyone and anything have access to him/her. Any person could throw something in your yard, could release your dog, or your dog could even dig under/jump the fence. Those are only a few of the dangers of keeping your dog outside.

Simba would LOVE to stay out all day if we let him, little kids would also LOVE to stay out and play in the dirt all day, but their parents don't allow them, nor will I allow my dog. And it's for their safety.


I despise seeing cats loose in our neighborhood.

I have an outside dog. I see nothing wrong with it. Everyone can't access my dogs at all. I disagree with that. Ziggy stays in a fence that is locked and noone can get around her. So no they can't throw stuff at her. She gets plenty of exercise while she is outside. So personally I see nothing wrong with it.

For those who are against crates, I crate my dogs when no one is home with them. Actually Lacey has a room of her own and Mandy has a big crate. My Lacey will scratch on my windows(they are real glass) if she sees an animal outside. That would be nice to come home to her bleeding to death. Train her, sure and what if she decides to do it anyway when I'm not home. She is also a chewer(although she's four) So who knows what she might eat while we're not home. Mandy has a bad heart and surely would have died by now if she had free run of the house.Too much goes on outside all day when we're not home. Mandy is not fixed because of her heart and once and awhile goes off on Lacey,don't want to come home to that either.
My dogs willingly go to their crate/room sometimes just to get away from things, they feel safe there. While my husband and I both work dayturn, we don't work the same hours or even always the same days, so it's not a long day or a long week for my dogs.They are used to sleeping most of the day anyway and try to when we're off. They have constant attention when we are home and we are both homebodies so not many evenings out. I love and take good care of my dogs and won't be made to feel like I don't because we have to work. Let me also add, it's a good thing Lacey is 'room' trained after just having two surgeries on her leg and she's not suppose to run around!

I agree with Aly that crate training can be wonderful thing if used properly. We crate trained Chester from puppyhood, and he loves the crate and goes in happily. He no longer needs the crate (he can be trusted in the house) but his crate training paid off in a HUGE way when he had surgery and had to be confined per the vets orders for a long period. Our last foster Abby, had to be confined per vets orders for a very long time (months) and was never crate trained prior to staying with us. That was a LONG nightmare for all of us, but mostly her. :(

I can’t tell you how much crate training has benefitted Chester. He rides in the car in a crate as well, and loves it. We have to spell C R A T E or he goes bananas, cause he likes his so much.

Millie tolerates the crate, but she doesn’t love it like Chester does.

I also am crate training Gracie and I have printed off every thing I could find on crate training as well as talked to my vet and I am doing it exactly by the book and it has been wonderful. I come home a full hour for lunch to let gracie out and we play the whole time. She views it as her den and she has a lambswool pillow and one toy in it. She will even go in it when she doesnt have to just to check it out sometimes. Its a pleasant atmosphere. I would never put her in it for punishment. It is strictly for training purposes when she can not be supervised by one of us. If we are home she is never in it. Personally I don't like puppy pads...and won't use them. So this has been the best tool for us. She has never balked at going in, she doesn't cry and I don't think she minds it at all. She is secure, and she is not in it for more than 4 hours at a time since I am only 4 min from work and can come home mid day to take her out that hour. If I have to be gone all day which so far has only happened twice, then I put her on the patio which is inclosed and we have puppy proofed..and leave the door open for her to go out if she needs to. I even put the crate out there so she can go in it if she wants to for added security if she gets overwhelmed by the big open space and no one there. So all in all, I would say crate training is the way to go for us~and I sure don't see one bit of cruelty in it in any way..http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...mela2strip.gif

I have to chime in also about crate training. It is not cruel at all if done properly in my opinion. All of my dogs have been crate trained since puppies.

Nebo absolutely loves his crate, it is his den. My mom works at a school so she has the summer off. So all of the dogs would be loose in the house during the day while I was at work. She told me that Nebo spent the majority of the day in his crate, on his own free will. He would go down there to chew his kong or just sleep. He only came out when he wanted outside.

Since she is now at work and I am too he is in a crate while we are gone (we tried the free roam of the house thing, he did great for about a week then he made a huge mess...I would have given him many more chances, but it's my parents house and therefore not my choice). Every morning he sees me stuffing his kong with goodies and he goes right into his crate, he does not protest at all. I just make sure I let him out twice to potty before I leave and I always go into the backyard and exercise him as well. When I come home he's always peacefully laying there, usually asleep. What do you think your dog does in the yard or in your house while you are gone? I bet the majority of dogs spend most of the time sleeping.

I do of course understand there are instances where crates are misused, but you can't claim that crate training is cruel because of those instances.

Also from working at a grooming salon (and I bet those who have worked at vet offices will agree) crate training greatly helps dogs when they must stay away from their owners. If they are used to being in a crate they are less stressed when placed in one. It is not a struggle to get them in, nor do they bark or hurt their paws scratching at the door. They are more calm and so are the people who work there.

I do not and will never agree to 100% outdoor dogs but I will leave it at that.

I have a question. If the dog is happy outside would you really keep it inside where its not happy? Thats what I don't understand.

Since i'm very paranoid for it's safety, Yes.

petslover, If you feel your dog is safe outside then that's great. But for me there is no way! There was an incident in the next town a few years ago where a lady had left her two goldens out and when she came home found that someone had used them both for target practice with bows and arrows, they were both dead. And what about someone stealing a dog or poisoning it? No way.
I feel a dog is like an eternal two year old, it needs your protection. Whatever you do with your dog is your business, I do not judge people, if you're happy with the situation and feel it is safe, that's great. :)

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Originally posted by petslover
I have a question. If the dog is happy outside would you really keep it inside where its not happy? Thats what I don't understand.

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I have to say that even through I have a outside dog, I can understand why most, like Kay and others keeps their dogs in, even if maybe they like outside better. If I lived in a town/neighborhood, my outside dog would be inside too, even if it meant him going into a panic. I'm lucky, for Odie's sake, we live so far out, down a long dirt road, with nobody (except 1) around us, fenced in etc etc.. I can feel safe with Odie outside. Most people can't feel that safe in their area. So their dog should be inside.

Just like my cats, they go outside/inside here, but I would never adopt out any of my rescues to anyone who's going to let them out. Different places call for different rules.

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Originally posted by Fox-Gal
I have to say that even through I have a outside dog, I can understand why most, like Kay and others keeps their dogs in, even if maybe they like outside better. If I lived in a town/neighborhood, my outside dog would be inside too, even if it meant him going into a panic. I'm lucky, for Odie's sake, we live so far out, down a long dirt road, with nobody (except 1) around us, fenced in etc etc.. I can feel safe with Odie outside. Most people can't feel that safe in their area. So their dog should be inside.

Just like my cats, they go outside/inside here, but I would never adopt out any of my rescues to anyone who's going to let them out. Different places call for different rules.

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Good point Fox-Gal

We live out in the country, too. The only nearby neighbor loves our dogs as much as we do and visits them all the time. There are no access roads, driveways, or paths to the kennel, which is out of sight of the road.
I brought up the crate-thing because to me it's like the outdoor dog question -- there is no set right or wrong, it depends on your perspective and experience. Do what works for YOU and YOUR dogs so you are happy and they are too.

There's an old saying with horses "different courses for different horses"

Some dogs are misserable inside some dogs are misserable outside. Whatever works for the dogs and humans is what I say. Who am I to judge something I know nothing about.

I hate to see dogs tied out just like everyone on this board. I"m talking about the dogs tied at the furthest corner of the yard, where there is no human interaction at all.

I do want to say one thing about having outside dogs and people could come by and throw something in the yard, or open the gate.

It can happen to inside dogs as well. I had my house broken into years ago. My dogs would be outside in a big "pen" and I use that term loosely. It was like 1/2 an acre fenced in with huge dog huts. You could fit 4 dogs in one hut, that had two doors that could close and lock and filled with hay.

Anyway my home was broken into and the front door was kicked in. The robbers were not nice enough to put the door back up. If my dogs were in the house at that time 1) the robbers may have hurt my dogs.
2) My dogs would have run out that front door and who knows where they would have been when I got home.

I was so happy that day that my dogs were out in there pen safe and sound away from the robbers. Now maybe if they were in the house the robbers would have never broke into my house but if they did what would have happened to my dogs?

So I feel that outside dogs are fine as long as they are well cared for, loved, and concered part of the family :)

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Originally posted by petslover
I have a question. If the dog is happy outside would you really keep it inside where its not happy? Thats what I don't understand.

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Again, it would depend on the situation. If the dog had always been outside before, it might just need a chance to get used to being inside, and I would definitely try to work with the dog to get it to be comfortable indoors. However, if no matter how much and how hard we worked on it the dog was still miserable inside, I would concede and let it be outside, but do anything and everything I could to make sure it was safe and comfortable. If it came down to the dog having a 24/7 miserable quality of life because it was trapped indoors, that would override the risks in setting up an outdoor living place for it. In that case, in my mind it would be preferable that there be a small risk of something happening outside than the dog living a miserable life inside.

When I was growing up and Mom worked and I went to school, the collies had to stay outside during the day while we were gone. That was the rule. We built a long kennel run with doghouse etc within the already fenced yard so that no one could bother them without climbing 2 fences.

Things are not always black and white, yes or no, bad or good. You can't just make blank statements like "you're a bad owner if you use crates" or "you're a bad owner if you leave your dogs outside" and have them be accurate in every single case. I believe that very strongly.

My dogs are inside dogs. Always have been, always will be. I do however believe that they should be able to go outside whenever they want, so they have a doggie door to come and go as they please. Bailey loves to lay in the sun for hours at a time, and I could never deprive her of that. :)

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Originally posted by cyber-sibes
It depends on the situation - What about the poor house dog thats crated all day waiting for its owner? I think "alone" is tough on the dog, whether it's inside or out. I hate hearing people say their dog is "crate-trained" - how would you like to be confined for hours at a time where you can't stretch or walk around or go to the bathroom?

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Heidi is crate trained. I crate trained her for potty reasons, and because it is a lot safer for her (and for my house :o), because when she was a puppy she could have chewed on things that weren't good for her, etc. Also, she feels secure and happy in her crate. How do I know? I sometimes have a very hard time getting her to come out of her crate! Sometimes I have to drag her out of her crate, and then she will go right back in. :rolleyes: And she isn't in there ALL day....I am home with her practically all day, as I am homeschooled and she is out of her crate most of the time. :) Sometimes Heidi needs some "alone" time because she is ALWAYS being petted and cuddled when she is out of her crate. She has a x-large crate so she has room to turn, stretch, etc. She loves her crate, though, and even if she could be trusted in the house (which she can't be, not yet anyway) I don't think I would take it away from her because she likes its alot. :)

I know Shadow was orginanly an outdoor dog, only because my dad got her when the rest of the family was in BC, and he was not sure my mom wanted a dog in the house, shadow however went to work with my dad every day, he had built her a dog house etc.. when we cam back my mom said shadow would be an inside dog, however she slept chained to the backdoor(just inside the door) only later did she start to become a completly fully indoor dog, BUT she STILL loves to be outside, she does not make a racket, if someone opens to the gate to let her out she wanders next door, then comes back to the yard. at her new home she spends a lot of time outside still, but they also have an 8 foot privacy fence. an indident we had at one point though was some kid tried to shoot shadow with a bow an arrow this was at out old house, she was a fully inside dog at the time, things can happen outside dog or not. my friends old dog sparky was an outside only dog, they insisted that sparky liked being outside... uhh yeah, and thats why he tried to come in the house any chance he could get, and they had to force him to go back outside again :rolleyes: shadow is an inside dog there but she askes to go out, and they have to force her to come IN. none of my current dogs lik ebeing outside for long periods, actually they hate it lol Happy is not a happy camper when she is indoors, but she only likes being outside if I am with her, if I am not with her she will go out, potty and come right back in. Misty likes being outside for the sole purpose of barking lol we dont allow that the rule is you bark you come in, like it or not. on the topic of crate training, well all my dogs are crate trained and even perky who absolutly hated crates has started going in them, half the time you cant get that dog out of a crate anymore. Happy is the only one who is not crated while we are away, but she goes in her crate anyway, doors open the whole time. we dont have a problem getting the dogs crated we have a problem getting the dogs to go in the RIGHT crates lol I say crate happy and misty run into the same kennel, or misty runs into blairs kennel, or perky runs into Ripleys kennel then Ripley tried to go into his kennel... lol we have acually locked 2 dogs in the smae crate by mistake before, Misty will goe in Ripleys crate(even though its half her size lol) and Ripley happens to be curled up in the same crate in front of misty so you just close the dorr not realizing misty in there lol then you come home to see 2 sets of eyes in the same crate lol