Outside?

[Parkmama]

We are just about to get a Labrador puppy and so we are deep in researching all the recommendations. One of my friends had a Lab years ago and always kept him outside overnight in the garden in a specially built totally weatherproof kennel. He was allowed inside during the day, but at night was always put to bed in the garden. Does anyone else do this? What are the benefits? She said during winter he grew a very thick oily coat as a result!! She said when they were out at work and he was home alone they would always leave him in the garden, I guess this was the benefit of being outside to them. Interested in other experiences and views . . . I'm a start as I mean to go on type of parent so taking a similar approach with the pup!

[Finfintytint]

Depends if you have neighbours. An unsupervised dog during the day or night is not a good idea as they are liking to bark at any perceived threat.
I can’t see an issue with working dogs being kept outside but if you want a pet it seems a bit mean to not include it.

[Finfintytint]

Likely not liking.

[fivedogstofeed]

I don't see any any reason to put an eight week old puppy to sleep outside. Taken away from the comfort of his mother and siblings and put outside, and coming into winter as well. You'd need a heart of stone.

The benefits? You won't have to bother with overnight housetraining and probably won't hear him cry all night.

Pet theft is a huge risk for dogs left outside. If you place any value on your puppy at all you won't do it.

[sillysmiles]

When are you going to see the dog, spend time with it, train it. Statistically indoor dogs are better trained than outdoor dogs.
I have a lab, he would hate to be left outside- sees it as abandonment.
You aren't planning on working your lab, it's a pet, a companion. How companionable is it your the pup to be locked away on its own for 12 hours a night, and then left in the garden while you are at work?

[adaline]

I hate the idea of leaving an 8 week old puppy outside all alone! What's the point unless they're going to be a guard dog of some description?

Even working dogs like foxhounds and gundogs live in indoor kennels with heating and shelter - they aren't left in a suburban garden to their own devices for hours on end.

If the dog is outside, how are you going to train it and spend time with it? Is it not going to be part of your family?

[adaline]

And what about socialising it to general household noise and business?

[Parkmama]

Thanks for the views from those that don't, not saying I agree or disagree with the approach just interested to know if anyone actually does this. Any experiences from those that think it's a positive?

[Costacoffeeplease]

This can’t be serious? Which breeder would sell you a young pup knowing your plans? Bonkers and cruel

[fivedogstofeed]

Unless you're buying from a working kennel or a puppy farmer then the pup will have been brought up in a home. There is no earthly reason to isolate this pup from his new family.

Yes, there will be people who will tell you it's a great idea. They are the ones who can't be arsed to housetrain and don't want to be disturbed in the night. It's a very old fashioned view.

Frankly I'd be ashamed to be seen with a dog with thick outdoor coat.

[fivedogstofeed]

In answer to your question whether people do this? Yes they do. Lots do. They are arseholes.

[Jouska]

A lot of working dogs live outside but usually is really expensive and well heated or air conditioned kennels. Security is a big concern. However never as a loan dog.

I personally keep all my dogs inside with me, for safety, for bonding and for training/socialisation but mainly because I like their company!

As a pet dog it will have a better relationship being indoors with its owners houuse training is very different to kennel training.

Statistically indoor dogs are better trained than outdoor dogs really this sounds like a very dodgy and convenient statistic to me. Have you a link to the study to prove this?

[JenniferM1989]

I'm not sure the UK is a good place to leave dogs outside all night unless it's in some fancy kennel with heating? Or they are given a coat to wear? Temperatures here can get as low as -5 (I'm in the north of Scotland). I have a cat that likes the occasional all nighter outside but if it's below 6 degrees outside, I can easily been seen chasing him about to get him inside for the night!

[SamBeckettslastleap]

It would be downright cruel to leave a dog outside on its own. Growing up I had working dogs that lived in the barn but there were six of them so that was their pack. If a dog is a pet you are his pack. Also in the winter the dog couldn't come inside because the temperature difference would be too great, imagine being in a hot house with all your winter clothes on then being put out in thr freezing cold. Cruel.

[BeagleMomma]

We fosterer a dog who was left outside from a puppy. He had terrible separation anxiety, was barely house trained and was so sad. Please don't.

A pet is a family member.

[userxx]

I live near dogs who are kept outside. It's cruel, really cruel. Also the barking and howling can get annoying. If you're after an outdoor pet maybe get a rabbit instead.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

So your friend's dog was outside when they were at work and then overnight? When was it inside?

I know working dogs can be different but for pet dogs I've never heard of this. In fact I know plenty of working dogs who like nothing more than shedding happily all over an old sofa...

[HisBetterHalf]

Good god would never leave a dog outside. Its supposed to be part of the family

[fikel]

No !! There is an Akita on my estate that spends a large part of the day outside, he has a kennel. The dog barks all the time and doesn’t get the interaction he needs.
Dogs are pack animals and need to be close.My toy poodle is part of our family and thrives on all the love and attention

[adaline]

I don't think you're going to find anyone here who thinks it's a good idea OP.

Puppies need to be raised in homes with families in order to be well-socialised, house-trained and settled individuals who know how to act in a variety of domestic situations.

Why would you want a puppy if he's just going to spend it's entire life outdoors on its own?

[BiteyShark]

Yes I know people who do this and it works for them. It works because you don't have to worry about them going outside to toilet because they have an indoor and outside part.

However, we spent 2 years with our dog sleeping in the kitchen then on our bedroom floor. We caved after 2 years and let him on our bed and I wish we had done it earlier because there is nothing like snuggling next to your dog so we are completely the opposite .

[Parkmama]

Thanks everyone, to reiterate I'm doing my research and looking for experiences on this particular aspect from both perspectives but it seems that outside living overnight isn't a common occurrence for entirely understandable reasons. I absolutely wouldn't want our pup to have separation anxiety, to be crying out of ear shot, to be exposed to bad weather, to disturb the neighbours etc etc and I definitely want her to be part of the family!

[longearedbat]

The only working dogs I have known to live in kennels outside were gun dogs. They were obviously not house trained because they were never expected to enter a house. They were exercised in a pack, usually smelt a lot and barked a lot (which didn't matter because their home was isolated). It was fine for them as they knew nothing else, but for a pet dog, to be cosy in front of the fire one minute, and then shoved out into the cold - I think it's just unkind. If you are going to have a dog and then shut it outside for the majority of the time - well, what's the point of having a dog?

[userxx]

Oh god yes, the smell was particularly horrific 🤢

[pigsDOfly]

Working dogs apart, and that's a whole different style of life for dogs, I can't imagine why anyone would think this was a good idea.

It would never have occurred to me to house my dog outside, any more than it would occur to me to house myself in a kennel in the garden.

It's highly unlikely a kennel in a suburban garden is going to be anywhere near warm enough for a start, let alone all the other possible problems that could occur.

Appalling idea.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

I know of dogs who are allowed indoors during the day but are kennelled overnight, and the owners say that at bedtime the dogs are at the backdoor asking to be tucked up for the night. Provided they are warm and sheltered they are fine.

The issue isn't whether you kennel a dog, it's what else you do with it. Kennelling a dog for six hours while you go to work or for 8 hours overnight is probably kinder than leaving it crated, and if you walk it before and after, train it, interact with it etc etc there is no reason why it shouldn't be fine.

But if your dog is a pet, and you have no need to kennel, you might as well keep it in indoors.