http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BackyardDogs.php

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/tips/do_you_chain_your_dog.html

Anonymous wrote:That's fine, as long as they aren't barking all night and annoying your neighbors,

They have fur coats in winter and shed in summer. They're supposed to live outside.

No, they aren't. Jesus christ, it's 2014. People still think this?

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, not buying that the dogs prefer to be outside, but clearly you prefer them out there.

Barring bad weather, I have never seen a dog that isn't eager to go outside.

I have seen many, many dogs that must be coaxed, called, chased down, bribed or pulled to go back inside.

If given a choice, most dogs would choose to be outside.

If you have the space, a fenced yard and a buddy, there is nothing wrong with having dogs outside.

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't it make a difference what breed of dog it is, and what function it serves for the family?

I think there is a difference between leaving a companion pug outside and leaving a sporting German shepherd outside.

I have a German Shepherd and no way would I leave him outside. Yes, he is super excited whenever I say "let's go outside!" or when I come home from work and he knows he is going to get to go out. But when I say "let's go inside!" he is definitely excited about that too. I am also positive that he loves hanging out with me on the couch and watching tv or chewing a bone on the floor, sleeping on his dog mattress, and curling up on my bed with me at night when my boyfriend is away. He is most happy around me and if I put him outside he would sit at the door and patiently wait to be let in.

We domesticated dogs over hundreds of years and they are no longer wolves. We brought them into our homes. If you don't want to do that, don't get a goddamned dog.

Didn't the OP say that she did spend with time them only outside, takes them on walks, and enjoys their companionship? If these are multiple large working dog breeds then they are far happier getting this interaction and then being outside than being cooped up inside the house watching TV with their owners.

I'm with you, OP. If I had a yard such as you describe and had multiple large dogs, then I would make sure that they had an insulated doghouse (for each of them) in the winter and lots of shade and a kiddie pool with water in the summer and would bring them in only in extreme temperatures. They have companionship space and stimulation. Now that said, I would probably also bring them and just to hang out with us sometimes, but that is a personal preference and depends on whether you actually hang out with them outside or if they just are not interacting with your family at all.

OP, if you yourself were not conflicted about it, you would not have posted here.

DC has temperature extremes. From June-August/September, it is very uncomfortable for anyone, dogs included, to spend virtually all of their time outdoors. And we do have winter weather here.

Do you not have a basement, at the very least, where your dogs can be indoors?

When/where do you "enjoy the companionship" of the dogs?

Anonymous wrote:Op here. We have an acre fenced lot and a screened in porch. Fairfax. It is dog heaven. These are two big dogs (85 & 75 lbs) and they greatly prefer to be outside.

I enjoy their companionship and I also enjoy their protection. They are well loved. Obviously they come in on extremely hot or cold days.

But I still don't want a smelly or dog hairy house.

Then don't have dogs.

You still have not answered the question: Why have dogs at all? You are at work all day (while they are outside I assume), then at night they are outside while you are inside. When do you have any companionship with them?

I called animal control on my friend because she kept her Husky chained up outside all the time, flies all over her and walking in her own poop. I think it's ridiculous to get a dog only to put it out. It's inhumane.

The cruel part isn't being outside its being chained. Chaining any dog is not only cruel to the dog but creates a dangerous situation. Chained dogs develop extreme frustration. This comes out in heightened aggression or biting. The dog can also strangle itself on the chain.

Huskies are actually good outside if the yard is large for good running and fenced with a VERY tall fence. Huskies have a high prey drive and will jump a fence, dig under a fence, and ignore an electric fence to chase a prey animal.

It depends on the breed. Many breeds of working, guard dogs would be much happier living outside and only coming indoors for a few hours a day. They are happier patrolling their territory and doing their job. It keeps them more balanced and better stimulated.

Other breeds that are highly social like many sporting dogs will be unhappy and bark for attention whenever they see someone. Herding dogs fall somewhere in the middle depending on the specific breed.

Smaller dogs can't live outside safely.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. We have an acre fenced lot and a screened in porch. Fairfax. It is dog heaven. These are two big dogs (85 & 75 lbs) and they greatly prefer to be outside.

I enjoy their companionship and I also enjoy their protection. They are well loved. Obviously they come in on extremely hot or cold days.

But I still don't want a smelly or dog hairy house.

I have big dogs too. They want to be with us all the time. You are neglecting them. Just vacuum your house like a normal dog owner.

Sorry, not buying that the dogs prefer to be outside, but clearly you prefer them out there.

Op here. We have an acre fenced lot and a screened in porch. Fairfax. It is dog heaven. These are two big dogs (85 & 75 lbs) and they greatly prefer to be outside.

I enjoy their companionship and I also enjoy their protection. They are well loved. Obviously they come in on extremely hot or cold days.

But I still don't want a smelly or dog hairy house.

OP, you suck.

I called animal control on my friend because she kept her Husky chained up outside all the time, flies all over her and walking in her own poop. I think it's ridiculous to get a dog only to put it out. It's inhumane.

To this day she doesn't know I called but when animal control came and took the dog, she didn't even fight to get her back. Goes to show how much she cared.

Leaving dogs outside is not a culturally acceptable practice in this area. We let our cat go outside every evening. She has been pooping in the loose soil in our neighbor's yard. How do we know? Our neighbor scooped out the poop & left it in the retaining wall between our property lines.