Recently came across two people we know who've each acquired a dog - one a rescue hound aged about 1 yr and the other a puppy - who is now about 7 months. In both cases, the dog is kept in their garage. The rescue dog - who is largely untrained and spent most of its life in kennels and is aggressive with children - gets to come into the house when the people are there but spends much of the day and all the night in the unheated garage with access to a small garden. Although it hasn't been nearly as cold snowy weather where we are locally, it's still been bitterly cold, especially at nights and I can't help worrying that the dog must be freezing cold?
The other people's puppy - now aged about 7 months, appears to live in a garage too, with access to the garden and occasional access to the conservatory but isn't allowed in the house at all. In both cases, from what I know, the dogs are walked and played with.
The puppy's owners recommended to us that when we get our puppy next year, we also don't keep it in the house but convert a shed or the garage. It never crossed my mind to have anything but a house dog as part of the family, although we might restrict it to downstairs only but the other people say the whole house will smell strongly in no time at all and it's unhygienic.
So I'm just asking really is it normal practice - and the owner's choice - to keep a dog outside the house - I suppose in the equivalent of a kennel arrangement and is this common practice and not too cold for the dog? I know the breeder we'll get our pup from has her dogs in kennels but with access to the house and her elderly dogs are in the house.
Incidentally, we'll DEFINITELY want to keep our puppy-to-be in the home but does this mean the house will inevitably smell? How common is it to house your family pet outside the house?
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Is this cruel?
Solo2 · 05/12/2010 11:56
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Our dog lives in our house and doesn't go upstairs. Yes our house smells a bit doggy sometimes but I rally don't care. If I wanted a perfect, sweet smelling home, I wouldn't have pets in the first place.
And yes, I DO think its cruel to keep a dog in an unheated garage in winter [looks at golden retriever happily sprawled out on the reclining armchair 
It IS cruel.
I'm another who insists on my dogs being part of the family.
Says she who has a Doodle across her legs and a Staffy in her lap. They have the rest of the sofa, a huge double chair and a duvet laid crate and they STILL cuddle up to me!
As a rescuer I would say that it's a bloody disgrace. 
Poor dogs. 
All I can suggest is that you tell the people so and shame educate them into behaving appropriately with their dogs.
I would also ask you please to find out the name of the rescue the first people adopted from and contact them, telling them what you know and asking them to make an impromptu visit.
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Poor dogs. I brought my rescue dog home last weekend and I'm so glad I did - it is absolutely freezing and the thought of him basically outdoors with no warmth or comfort was heartbreaking. If I could have taken every single dog home from there with me I would have done.
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Our dog is one of the family as are our cats. Why chose to have an animal if you are not prepared to love it and care for it properly?
Notalone, that is so sad. My previous dog was from a rescue and it is heartbreaking to think that this was his life (and much worse as he was a street dog too)
I don't know where the rescue dog was rescued from except that it was a rescue kennels who apparently checked the couple and the accomodation and actually suggested to the couple that they just keep the dog in their garage as he was already used to unheated kennels!
I must admit I was quite shocked to hear that the dog was outside and/or in the garage as the day I was there (this is my hairdressers BTW), it was really cold.
It's supposed to be a pet not a working dog and presumably will need loads of training as it had already been rejected from 2 other possible re-homings, as it was aggressive with children.
The other dog situation I'm less clear about as I've not seen where it's kept. It was this family however who strongly recommneded that we don't keep our puppy in the house cos of the smell and told me that their dog isn't allowed in theirs except for the conservatory. It may be that the garage has been partially converted/ heated for the puppy - but I don't really know.
I just felt sad in both cases as it was so cold outside and I've always thought of dogs being part of the family - not outside in a kennel/ garage most of the time.
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Oxocube - Same here. DP told me not to volunteer because we would end up getting a dog. I disagreed with him and said he was talking rubbish. We ended up bringing home the 4th dog I ever walked . He shakes at loud voices but apart from this is an utter angel despite the fact he sneaks into our bed all the time. It breaks my heart to think of him being like this too. I think in the 2 years I have been volunteering I have only met 3 dogs that were seriously aggressive - the rest are there through absolutely no fault of their own.
Solo - the only way a rescue might suggest keeping a dog outside is if they were a husky type who thrive in cooler temperatures. However, even then, and even if the rescue did say this I don't know if they meant in weather as cold as this. I just don't get why people would get a pet if they didn't want it to live with them? Oh and our house and even our dog, never smells. Clean bedding and grooming sees to that. If they put the effort in they would find the same. Is there anyway you could find out where the dog came from?
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