Here's the thing: most dogs are social animals. That is why they are pack animals, historically; they like company. Leaving the whole outside-inside debate out of it, leaving a dog alone from 8-6 every work day seems counter-intuitive to me, and will most likely cause issues (and what about days you go to happy hour, or out to dinner straight from work?). I realize in this day and age (and economy!), most people don't have a choice to work shorter hours. That's fine, and also fine if you want to get a dog for company for when you are home. But since you don't have a choice of your work hours, and dogs are social animals who prefer company, it seems a no-brainer that your dog will be happier with regular visits from people, or in a daycare. It's not "spoiling" your dog, it's meeting your dog's needs. Before you think about adopting a rescue dog, I would really urge you to re-think your dog's care arrangements and your attitude about them. No need to send your dog to a daycare that your feel is frou-frou (although really most are not-have you really ever visited one?), get a regular dog-walker who will bring your dog to dog-parks, and spend time with it. Just as work habits have changed over the past 50 years, so have the needs of dogs. Just sayin'.

signed, a rescue dog-owner who never realized how truly lonely her dog had been until she stopped working to SAH .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you city people have pretty strange thoughts about dogs. You realize they are meant to be outside, right? And this crating trend...you honestly think that it's better to keep a dog in a cage like a bird? The thing I would most be concerned about is barking and your neighbors.

This!

OP back again, wow, I guess I am far too countrified for DC dog owners. Geez. I mentioned that our dog would only be a rescue dog because I wanted to explain that any pet I have will not be some designer dog that is likely to get stolen. Over the years, the pets my family had growing up included two 3-legged dogs that were going to be put down by kill shelters, a sweet coonhound shepherd mix that everyone else called mangy and butt ugly, and one other dog that a dog their would ever thing of taking becaue he looked more wolf than dog, even thigh he was sweet as pie.

I am not the type of dog owner that would leave a dog outside all day everyday 12 months out of the year. But, it if is spring/fall, and I was a dog, I think I'd rather be outside than cooped up. In my family, we have aways trained dogs well enough that we haven't needed to crate train, by the way, i think that keeping a dog in a cage all day is inhumane. far more inhumane than a dog being outside, in nature, on a temperate day! We can agree to disagree, I suppose. I still think doggy daycare is a bit absurd. If one is away from home so much that one needs to pay for daycare, then maybe you should not have a dog.

If one is away from home so much that the dog needs to be outdoors, by itself, unattended, then maybe you should not have a dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you city people have pretty strange thoughts about dogs. You realize they are meant to be outside, right? And this crating trend...you honestly think that it's better to keep a dog in a cage like a bird? The thing I would most be concerned about is barking and your neighbors.

Actually dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years. Wolves are meant to live outside; dogs are not.

My dog and others' dogs I know are not crated regardless of "trends." They live indoors, with people, because they are pets - not lawn ornaments.

Not pp, but, actually, the DNA of all dogs is almost identical to wolves. I don't leave our dog outside all day (he's tiny, and there are eagles around here that would carry him away), but I also don't get those who equate a dog being outside with dog abuse. Keeping a dog inside all the time is dog abuse. My little, frou frou designer dog LOVES being outside -- I have to go out and chase him back in the house, unless it's really cold or really hot. Dogs are NOT "little people with fur coats". That's an insult to the dogs.

Yes, but wolves are not domesticated, and that is a huge difference. There was a study on this awhile back; they raised wolf pups in a household to see if they could be domesticated to connect with humans as dogs do. They cannot.

Dogs are not little people with fur coats. But they do have deep connections to humans and need to be with us.

And it is cruel to leave a dog alone outdoors for 10 hours a day, regardless. It is inhumane.

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to these posters. Under 80, with the right set up and your dog will be fine. Test it out and make sure the dog isn't a barker. Our dogs even have a small kiddie pool to rest in. On spring and fall days they love it.

Do they lay in it? I guess you fill it with water?

Touche OP!

Great post!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you city people have pretty strange thoughts about dogs. You realize they are meant to be outside, right? And this crating trend...you honestly think that it's better to keep a dog in a cage like a bird? The thing I would most be concerned about is barking and your neighbors.

This!

OP back again, wow, I guess I am far too countrified for DC dog owners. Geez. I mentioned that our dog would only be a rescue dog because I wanted to explain that any pet I have will not be some designer dog that is likely to get stolen. Over the years, the pets my family had growing up included two 3-legged dogs that were going to be put down by kill shelters, a sweet coonhound shepherd mix that everyone else called mangy and butt ugly, and one other dog that a dog their would ever thing of taking becaue he looked more wolf than dog, even thigh he was sweet as pie.

I am not the type of dog owner that would leave a dog outside all day everyday 12 months out of the year. But, it if is spring/fall, and I was a dog, I think I'd rather be outside than cooped up. In my family, we have aways trained dogs well enough that we haven't needed to crate train, by the way, i think that keeping a dog in a cage all day is inhumane. far more inhumane than a dog being outside, in nature, on a temperate day! We can agree to disagree, I suppose. I still think doggy daycare is a bit absurd. If one is away from home so much that one needs to pay for daycare, then maybe you should not have a dog.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you city people have pretty strange thoughts about dogs. You realize they are meant to be outside, right? And this crating trend...you honestly think that it's better to keep a dog in a cage like a bird? The thing I would most be concerned about is barking and your neighbors.

This!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you city people have pretty strange thoughts about dogs. You realize they are meant to be outside, right? And this crating trend...you honestly think that it's better to keep a dog in a cage like a bird? The thing I would most be concerned about is barking and your neighbors.

Actually dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years. Wolves are meant to live outside; dogs are not.

My dog and others' dogs I know are not crated regardless of "trends." They live indoors, with people, because they are pets - not lawn ornaments.

Not pp, but, actually, the DNA of all dogs is almost identical to wolves. I don't leave our dog outside all day (he's tiny, and there are eagles around here that would carry him away), but I also don't get those who equate a dog being outside with dog abuse. Keeping a dog inside all the time is dog abuse. My little, frou frou designer dog LOVES being outside -- I have to go out and chase him back in the house, unless it's really cold or really hot. Dogs are NOT "little people with fur coats". That's an insult to the dogs.

Do you people care this much about how humans are treated, or is this zeal just for your pets?

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please don't get a dog. As other posters have pointed out, much has changed in the last 50 years.

Please don't get a dog. Please.

Anonymous wrote:OP, dog owner here. PP sounded threatening. 1.) get your dog microchipped/GPS'ed 2.) If anyone did anything to your dog, not only would you immediately know the location of the dog, but it is extremely easy to track the motive and means; charges can easily be pressed, and the ASPCA (among others) would be glad to take on such a case. 3.) have cameras on your property. Cheap. Easy. No one has to know about them. I certainly hope PP dog hater is not as stupid as she sounds here.

Any dog I know is a "protector" of their property and believe their job is to bark and warn the owners (you) - as you know. It is what a dog does. The neighbors should be thankful, unless they are troublemakers and/or obsessive complainers - problem neighbors. We have neighbors that own about five small dogs that they leave out all day (with the exception of snow, terrential rain or high heat). The neighborhood is pretty much accustomed to them. [Fellow dog owners are an additional bonus. Besides, if your neighbor does not like dogs, they very likely do not like people; and one of their enemies will be sure to throw them under the bus should they come near your dog.]

You should be fine leaving it out half the day (perhaps morning) then having a dog walker take it in mid day and walk it once in between then and your return. Enjoy your dog!

You are ridiculous. One irresponsible owner giving bad advice to another. Who the fuck goes around throwing dogs under buses? People who don't love dogs avoid them, they don't go around hurting them.

Are you asking if it is OK for the animal, OK by law, or for opinion?

I think by law it is OK. But if you go to adopt a dog, you will most likey sign a contract that says you will NOT let your dog outside all day. The concern is that the dog could be harmed by other animals or people (dog theft).

I have noticed that no one seems to think their dog is a nuisance barker, since the dog barks while they are not home. We have several nuisance barkers in our neighborhood. It is very annoying, and I feel bad for the dog.

I think whether or not is actually cruel depends on the dog. Some dogs love being outside. For my dog, being outside without people would be torture. She has no interest being out there unless we are with her. It just stresses her out.

A doggy door is another way to go (so the dog can choose to be outside or inside). Of course, most places will make you sign a contact that you won't have a doggy door eitehr (and our neighbors with the most annoying dog has a door, so the dog comes out in the middle of the night and howls - so please lock it at night.)

The only two people I know who left dogs outside had them stolen or killed by another dog.

OP, dog owner here. PP sounded threatening. 1.) get your dog microchipped/GPS'ed 2.) If anyone did anything to your dog, not only would you immediately know the location of the dog, but it is extremely easy to track the motive and means; charges can easily be pressed, and the ASPCA (among others) would be glad to take on such a case. 3.) have cameras on your property. Cheap. Easy. No one has to know about them. I certainly hope PP dog hater is not as stupid as she sounds here.

Any dog I know is a "protector" of their property and believe their job is to bark and warn the owners (you) - as you know. It is what a dog does. The neighbors should be thankful, unless they are troublemakers and/or obsessive complainers - problem neighbors. We have neighbors that own about five small dogs that they leave out all day (with the exception of snow, terrential rain or high heat). The neighborhood is pretty much accustomed to them. [Fellow dog owners are an additional bonus. Besides, if your neighbor does not like dogs, they very likely do not like people; and one of their enemies will be sure to throw them under the bus should they come near your dog.]

You should be fine leaving it out half the day (perhaps morning) then having a dog walker take it in mid day and walk it once in between then and your return. Enjoy your dog!