Question about leaving dogs outside

[Anonymous]

Is it ok to leave a dog outside all day in moderate temps (50-80 degrees) with plenty of water and shady places to rest? If the dog is not a nuisance barker?

DH and I are thinking about a dog and we've noticed that people do not leave dogs outside as much as they did up here as they did when we lived in the south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it ok to leave a dog outside all day in moderate temps (50-80 degrees) with plenty of water and shady places to rest? If the dog is not a nuisance barker?

DH and I are thinking about a dog and we've noticed that people do not leave dogs outside as much as they did up here as they did when we lived in the south.

Yes. I believe the requirements are water, shade and shelter in an enclosed yard. We just recently started leaving our dogs in our yard and they are happier and less crazed when we get home.

[Anonymous]

Will you still be home, or will you be gone at work all day?

Can you be sure a larger animal or human won't be able to get into the yard and hurt your dog?

How will you know your dog is not a nuisance barker?

Some neighbors won't want to get into a confrontation by letting you know your dog barks too much--instead they'll just take matters into their own hands and find their own way to silence your dog Sad, but true.

I wouldn't do that to my dog...

[Anonymous]

They are required to have food, water, and an appropriate-sized shelter (screen porch does not count).

I would be careful about assuming that any dog would not be a nuisance barker when left in a yard all day with little to do. If your dog won't handle being crated, consider doggie day care or a daily dog walker.

[Anonymous]

OP here. What about a 6 foot privacy fence and talking to the neighbors on both sides who are close friends to find out about the noise during the day?

We do not WAH every day. I do 1-2 times per week, DH does about 1 day every other week.

We only have one neighbor on our block who is home during the day. Everyone WOH except the sole retired lady.

[Anonymous]

Well since it is rarely below 80 from May until october here I presume you will keep them inside when its hot and humid? Some types of dogs can't take that kind of heat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What about a 6 foot privacy fence and talking to the neighbors on both sides who are close friends to find out about the noise during the day?

We do not WAH every day. I do 1-2 times per week, DH does about 1 day every other week.

We only have one neighbor on our block who is home during the day. Everyone WOH except the sole retired lady.

On both sides? What about in back? What about across the street? What about a few doors down? I don't know how close together the houses are where you are, but I can tell you that in my neighborhood, where most houses sit on about 1/4 acre, there is a couple of "yappy" dogs that the neighbor leaves out all day. They are not next to me, or even directly behind me--their property does not actually touch mine...but I can hear them yapping all day long, even in my house with the windows closed. Every time I go into my own dining room (window that is the closest to their property) they get even louder and more excited.

[Anonymous]

If you are in the market for a cutesy looking dog ie under 50 pounds and a looker I would also be wary of theft. Dogs in DC get stolen enough that I never leave my unattended for any amount of time.

[Anonymous]

We used to leave our dog out when we first moved here many years ago from further south because that particular summer was mild. Once we were introduced to "code red" days in the summer (which happen with more and more frequency), we started keeping him inside on those days and got a dogwalker. Now, our dogs just stay inside most of the time and have a dogwalker for the times either we or the kids are not home.

[Anonymous]

Don't leave your damn dogs outside all day. Better yet, if you can't take care of them, don't buy them. Get a plant instead.

[Anonymous]

Much of the year here, it's not appropriate weather-wise. As a dog experienced person, I also want to add that good luck finding a dog who isn't or won't become a nuisance barker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will you still be home, or will you be gone at work all day?

Can you be sure a larger animal or human won't be able to get into the yard and hurt your dog?

How will you know your dog is not a nuisance barker?

Some neighbors won't want to get into a confrontation by letting you know your dog barks too much--instead they'll just take matters into their own hands and find their own way to silence your dog Sad, but true.

I wouldn't do that to my dog...

I wouldn't either. Dogs should not be left for hours outdoors, unsupervised.

Also, it gets HOT here in the summer, very very hot. Shade or no shade, very uncomfortable for anyone, much less someone with fur.

Sorry, but this is just a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What about a 6 foot privacy fence and talking to the neighbors on both sides who are close friends to find out about the noise during the day?

We do not WAH every day. I do 1-2 times per week, DH does about 1 day every other week.

We only have one neighbor on our block who is home during the day. Everyone WOH except the sole retired lady.

Why do you want to do this at all? I don't understand.

Get a dog walker. For the love of God, it is a furnace here in the summer. It is cruel to even consider this!

[Anonymous]

OP again. I wouldn't leave a dog outside on code red days. I don't leave myself outside those days!

We are talking about a 40-50 pound rescue mutt, nothing fancy, cutsey or overly popular

I am opposed to doggie daycare. Dogs were fine 50 years ago without daycare, they are fine today. I've been a dog owner in the past (dog died 7 years ago) and never used it, and my family has always had dogs and never used daycare. We will probably hire a midday dogwalker. We are out of the house from 8-6 every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What about a 6 foot privacy fence and talking to the neighbors on both sides who are close friends to find out about the noise during the day?

We do not WAH every day. I do 1-2 times per week, DH does about 1 day every other week.

We only have one neighbor on our block who is home during the day. Everyone WOH except the sole retired lady.

Why do you want to do this at all? I don't understand.

Get a dog walker. For the love of God, it is a furnace here in the summer. It is cruel to even consider this!

OP here. We've already got the fence. I would think that a dog might rather be outside than cooped up indoors all day. Many of our dogs growing up preferred to be outside. We had one who did not love being outside, but she was the exception. Our other dogs seemed much happier when they were outdoors during the day instead of in the house.