I live in the south and have a very mild climate. Keeping dogs outside isn't a big deal. My dogs no longer develop a healthy winter coat due to them being kept inside a majority of the time. Developing and shedding a winter coat is a good thing for a dog to do each year. It allows them to keep healthy coats and skin.
My border collie is very much a farm dog. She loves to stay outside and had a hard time adjusting to coming inside the house! Her bathroom habits were to be expected and have improved but NOT perfect.
I wish I had kept her outside as she is a much better dog out there. Her personality and activity level is improved outside. Inside she has extreme nervous behaviors. She ate part of my dresser! She loves to chew on sticks and subsituted my dresser!
I don't see a "BIG" deal of keeping a dog outside if it is properly cared for and given shelter. To get on a high horse and insist this is just plain cruelty is just too judgemental for me. The last time I checked Dobermans were used as guard dogs on the OUTSIDE. The Egyptians were the first to domesticate dogs/cats and they kept them outside. If I am to keep ALL the animals inside where do I put the Bear?