I haven't read all the replies so I hope it hasn't gotten heated. Growing up we had an outside dog. He had a dog house in the garage and access to the garage via a doggie door. The dog house was cooler in the summer than OUR house b/c we didn't have AC. He was NEVER tied - ever - had full access to 3 acres. I know a lot of people that have outside dogs on their farm and have full access to every building and nook and cranny in them. They have more shelter than dogs that are in a dog house. I HATE HATE HATE HATE to drive by houses and see big $$$$$$ house and out in the farrrrr corner of the yard is a dog house with a dog tied to it looking forlornly at the the house.

Or are waayyyyyy out there in TIED in a PEN.
when I got my first dog my greyhound she was so destructive in the house at first that people told me to make her a pen so she could be outside while I was at work I refused. Mainly the reason b/c the guy that runs the HS here in town if he would drive by and see her out there he would have taken her back. People wanted me to do the same with Keegan but I refused. She is a dog but she is also part of my family and I don't want part of my family stuck in a pen outside.