To think this shelter was a bit too quick to turn us down?

[PrincessTeacake]

Myself and my Dad have been looking to adopt a dog since the one we had for fifteen years finally passed away two years ago. We're in the perfect position to adopt now, he's semi-retired and my days at work have been reduced so I can do more work at home. In the meantime, I'm learning how to drive and setting up my own part-time business. There's rarely an hour when there's not one or both of us in the house.

We made inquiries about a German Shepherd in dire need of a good home, we definitely have the space and the time to devote to a big dog and I have a history of taking on special needs animals. I filled out the paperwork, and we were turned down because we suggested building a large secure dog run in the garden with a purpose built shed for the dog to sleep in at night. We also said that during bad weather he'd be sleeping in the kitchen but that was overlooked.

I'm disappointed but more upset on behalf of the dog really. It has health problems and it's a big dog, it'll be very hard to rehome him and I feel like the shelter are leaving him stuck to a life in kennels.

[harriet247]

Would never leave a dog outside

[WorraLiberty]

No-one is suggesting people 'coop their dogs up in the house'

There is a large area between doing that and sticking it in a shed on its own.

[TheDoctorsNewKidneys]

Dogs need to be inside as part of the family. It doesn't matter how big it is. Dogs are pack animals and imo it's cruel to expect it to sleep alone outside. My friend had a Saint Bernard - a huge great thing, of course, but it slept inside with it's owners, not outdoors alone!

[HavantGuard]

Are you Irish? I know it seems to be standard in rural Ireland to keep dogs outdoors. It's alien to me. This isn't a working dog, it's a pet that had had a bad history and needs to be part of a family.

[ClaudiusGalen]

I live in a rural area and grew up in a farming family. Working dogs had their kennels in a barn. Pet dogs were in the house. There is a distinction and maybe the shelter were worried that you couldn't see it.

A family pet should be part of the family. That is even more the case if it is a pet with health issues.

[SackAndCrack]

If it was a German Shepherd presumably it would be walked twice a day so it would hardly be cooped up in the house.

[horseycoursey]

Yabu. My German shepherd used to sleep in the house, she was a wonderful family pet.

Why do big dogs have to sleep outside? They need the same comfort as a small dog.

[DaddyPigsMistress]

I font think a dod used to inside will enjoy being out all night alone

My dad has two 'yard dogs' and two house dogs.

The two outside ones came from a farmer friend who due to ill health passed them on to my dad. They have lived in a barn with each other since they were weaned.
They really dislike being inside for anything over an hour or so, dads converted his big shed into a kennel and they have access to the outside at all times.
Dads other two are proper house pets and wouldnt be happy away from the family. They are used to being inside and it would be unfair to put them out.

My pampered staffs wouldn't cope, they sleep on their sofa at the end of our bed, spoilt buggers

[ClaudiusGalen]

You have to watch the Shepherd varieties for poor hips. My dog is 3 and has already had a replacement. He isn't meant to run or be off lead without close supervision in case he dislocates, so maybe they were concerned about that with a large unsupervised run.

[PrincessTeacake]

Yes, I'm Irish. Old dog ripping up the sofa we gave her was par for the course, she was a natural ripper. She couldn't go past some random object on the road without picking it up and shredding it (mostly sugar beets falling off the tractors) she was exercised frequently, spent a lot of time in the house, had her special needs catered for and was very much loved and part of the family.

So it seems I am being unreasonable. So, what can I do to remedy this so we can give another dog a good home?

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

And even working dogs usually have each other for company.

[Triliteral]

If the dog would be in a shed overnight, and in the kitchen if the weather was bad, I see no reason for concern personally. As a vet, I have seen many, many dogs with terrible skin problems largely caused by living inside, and especially by sleeping in owner's bedrooms where it is too warm. Equally I have seen many perfectly healthy outdoor dogs kept on farms and country places. The OP doesn't say anywhere that the dog would LIVE in the shed. Only that it would sleep there.

So yes OP, I do think that if things are as you say, that they may have turned you down too quickly.

[ViviPru]

I live in a rural area and grew up in a farming family. Working dogs had their kennels in a barn. Pet dogs were in the house. There is a distinction and maybe the shelter were worried that you couldn't see it.

Ditto this. Verbatim.

[Catsmamma]

drnoitall....please do come to my house and explain to both of my GDS why they should not be indoors

I am sorry to say you might have to perch on the arm of either the three seater chesterfield or the six seater corner sofa, cos they sure as hell are unlikely to be anywhere else.

OP I don't think any GSD would enjoy being isolated from the family tbh, they like to be included. I do see that working dogs are happy outside, but really there is a difference to my mind. And it does sound like a lovely shed....not like a manky old lean-to or anything.

[chinatown]

I used to do homechecks for a large rescue and this is one of the things we had t8 check for - evidence that the dog would definitely be living inside (get them to point out the space for a bed, check for a kennel in th garden etc). This was a very rural rescue centre in west wales and they wouldn't rehome any dog to a home that would make it live in the garden.

I'm glad you were honest so they could turn you down.

[HadABadDay2014]

My parents dog is kept in a 'shed' out the garden, she hates being in doors and will wine until she goes out side.

The shed is 8x10 and has a heated floor as well as loads of bedding.

She is very loved, but like her own space. She is walked 3 times a day and has loads of treats.

The garden is secure and the dog can come in at anytime.

[Bowlersarm]

OP - if the potential dog has company all day by being with you, and it is only overnight it would be alone, what about rehoming a pair of dogs so they would have each other for company overnight? I'm not sure if that's a controversial answer to your problem.

Or trying to rehome a dog which is used to living outdoors?

[diddl]

It seems really odd to me to let a dog in the house and then turf it out at night to sleep tbh.

[BlueSkySunnyDay]

Perhaps this dog was used to living in a family environment so it was just a case that this dog wasnt suitable for you.

I suspect if you were adopting a dog which had always lived outdoors you may have been successful.

Perhaps that shelter think dogs should live indoors, you would need to explain what you are considering doing and ask if they would ever allow you to have a dog in those circumstances.

As everyone points out though dogs are pack animals and whilst they may not be at your feet all day they do generally like to be in the same vacinity....mine sits in another room but comes and nudges me for a stroke every so often.

I think maybe you need to ask yourself why you want a dog if you are not intending to have it as a "pet" as such...is it for security?

I work at home and had my previous dog literally from the litter, when I tried to adopt a pup from a shelter I was made to feel like a crack addict trying to adopt a baby and posted on here very discouraged as I felt that with being home all the day and having had a dog for 12 years from a puppy I would be ideal I think shelters will often be very discouraging when you first approach them anyway, to separate the wheat from the chaff. It worked out for the best in the end my girl was 9 months old when I got her (with a ton of emotional baggage) and I wouldnt swap her for all the puppies in the world!!!!

[BlueSkySunnyDay]

I suspect blue cross would not home a dog to sleep outside - we had to supply them with details regarding where she would be sleeping.

[Ziplex]

I'd not only turn you down Id make sure other rescues did too. I would imagine they would find that neglectful!!
Why on earth would you keep a dog outside?
As many have said dogs belong inside, they are social and need their "pack".

[sebsmummy1]

It sounds to me that there is nothing wrong with what you are suggesting, you just need to find the right dog(s) and perhaps one with health problems isn't it.

I wonder if there is a charitable organisation that homes working dogs near you? I know cat sanctuaries have part feral cats/farm cats where they specify needing an outdoor shelter.

[LEMmingaround]

Well im rather relieved for the dog that they wouldn't let you have him - do you want him for a gaurd dog?

[lljkk]

Outside in a nice shelter most of the day I might accept (I know a lot of rural people do this with their dogs). But all inside for nighttimes, they are part of the pack & need to feel so.