I don't get the outdoor cat thing. What's the point of having a cat if you just leave it outside?

Anonymous wrote:

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 would NOT leave my dog enclosed in an apartment all day or a house. He/she needs to trot around with fresh air.

I'm the PP you quoted (from many months ago).

I also would not leave my dog enclosed all day in a house. I would only get a dog if I knew I had the time and inclination to take the dog on frequent walk, go outside to play with it, etc. I would NOT get a dog if I had a full time job that took me out of the house for 8+ hours per day.

Our cat is just so happy being outside. She kills mice and yes, the occasional nile virus carrying, dust bathing chickadee. I'd rather she had a few years of pure bliss than 15 years staring out of the windows of our house only to spend her last few years tethered to a pole with an insulin bag hanging from it.

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 would NOT leave my dog enclosed in an apartment all day or a house. He/she needs to trot around with fresh air.

We got a dog from a shelter a little less than 3 months ago, OP. Here's my experience FWIW:

The dog is a purebred. There are many, many purebreds in shelters. We didn't set out to get a purebred but many surrenders happen to be purebreds. Many of the purebreds that I meet in dogparks are also surrenders. So it's a myth that your rescue/shelter dog won't be stolen because it's not a "fancy" dog.

A dog from a shelter will have housebreaking issues even if already housetrained because they lose that in the shelter and putting it in the yard is not going to teach it not to poo in the house.

The shelter/rescue will have you fill out a survey about your needs/wants. Having the dog to hunt with it and having the dog to live outside are two things that rule you out. Automatically. Because there's a high rate of return and referrals to ASPCA/Animal Control for such dogs.

We have six foot fence as well, and our dog goes in and out all day to our yard. HOWEVER, she also needs 4-5 walks a day and the dog park. Self-exercise in a yard with fence is simply not enough for a dog. Imagine if you were told that your world was your backyard, period. No going to the park, the mall, the library -- ever. Depression and outright neurosis soon set in. Reputable shelters will not allow you to adopt if that is your plan.

Anonymous wrote:
Letting your cats wander is illegal to boot.

Maybe in your hood, that must be a local ordinance. There's no state/ federal law against it.

A lot of dogs like being outside. Maybe not all day but they do seem to like it.

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 dogs and they are both outside all day. The only time they are permitted inside is during winter and storms. Then they are in the basement. We also have cats, who have never stepped foot inside our house. It is not neglect, cruelty or abuse. They are ANIMALS and they are intended to be outside.

That is most certainly cruel.

Letting your cats wander is illegal to boot.

Being left outside for 10 hours a day is too long, regardless of the weather. It also is not a replacement for daily walks. ALL dogs need exercise.

And you have to consider the dog when it is not nice weather and its stuck inside for 10 hours. And what if it is a barker?

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 dogs and they are both outside all day. The only time they are permitted inside is during winter and storms. Then they are in the basement. We also have cats, who have never stepped foot inside our house. It is not neglect, cruelty or abuse. They are ANIMALS and they are intended to be outside.

this is us, but we have no cats outside eating songbirds all day ...

I have 2 dogs and they are both outside all day. The only time they are permitted inside is during winter and storms. Then they are in the basement. We also have cats, who have never stepped foot inside our house. It is not neglect, cruelty or abuse. They are ANIMALS and they are intended to be outside.

10:41 - If the neighbor bothers you, arrange for the neighbor to be taken away. Any relatives in the Northeast that would gladly honor your request? Some neighbors don't know when to stop. It is then their problem NOT yours. They need to watch their step. Zero tolerance here.

How did the dog work out? Sufficient shade and water, maybe a doggy door? Maybe two or three dogs?! Bring it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why get a dog if you intend leaving it outside all day to annoy neighbours with its constant barking.
Dogs are social animals and need constant company. If you can`t or are unwilling to have a dog with you every day then don`t get one particularly if you can`t excercise it properly.
Dogs need company.

Rubish...plenty of working people have happy dogs. As long as the dog gets plenty of attention when you're home, its fine.

You're clueless. As a neighbor, I don't care how much attention you give the dog when you get home. If it barks all day when you are away, then it is a nuisance and should be taken away.

Anonymous wrote:Why get a dog if you intend leaving it outside all day to annoy neighbours with its constant barking.
Dogs are social animals and need constant company. If you can`t or are unwilling to have a dog with you every day then don`t get one particularly if you can`t excercise it properly.
Dogs need company.

Rubish...plenty of working people have happy dogs. As long as the dog gets plenty of attention when you're home, its fine.

Why get a dog if you intend leaving it outside all day to annoy neighbours with its constant barking.
Dogs are social animals and need constant company. If you can`t or are unwilling to have a dog with you every day then don`t get one particularly if you can`t excercise it properly.
Dogs need company.