My two are outside in a 30X22 pen during the day. They get to watch the squirrels and deer run around while I'm at work. When I get home they come inside with me. Of course their favorite activity is car riding to the store.

The only exceptions were when my Barney was a pup, it was pretty cold out, so he stayed inside in a crate until the first Spring. Also my previous dog- Daisy, after she came down with Lymphoma she went from indoor/outdoor to being strickly indoor during the summer, and winter due to temperature stress. But other than this, I have an idea the puppies are happier outside than in the house. I'm happier because my house gets to survive.

I'm in agreement that if a dog is kept outside 24X7 then the whole point of having a dog is lost.