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.

PrincessTeacake
I live in a rural area, and all the dogs sleep inside, even the working spaniels and collies! (including one lady I know who has 5 Clumber+/cockers!)
If you're going to stick them outside by themselves why not get a pair so they have some company - the dog is not 'stuck inside' - he's at home with company if what you said about someone always being home is true. They should get all the exercise they need by being taken out for walks/play in the garden.
As others have said, you don't know the dogs history, shelters have to turn down for all sorts of reasons, we once couldn't adopt a cat because we lived too close to it's old home.

Personally I think that coming from a rural area your suggestion sounds perfectly reasonable. In the Hebrides that was always how our dogs lived. However, perhaps this has something to do with the dog's health problems?

I think the shelter were right. A dog should be part of your family and as such live indoors.

Ok so those of you arguing it's perfectly acceptable to have dog outside (expert Vet included), why do YOU think the OP was turned down?

It's not possible to know, and futile to second-guess without knowing their policies.

My frustration with this thread has been all to do with the number of people who jumped on the OP and implied that anyone who kept a dog outside was doing something wholly unreasonable.

And I should clarify, "outside" is not what the OP is suggesting. From what was described, the OP intended to build a kennel/shed with a large run for the dog to sleep in at night (except when there is very bad weather, when it will be in the kitchen), and where it would presumably be on the odd occasions that she and her father are out.

Our neighbour has two dogs that are kept outside a patterdale terrier that she keeps on the front in an outhouse without a window and a sheltie she keeps on the back in a shed. They are both tethered at all times with access to only a small concrete square each so as not to disturb her immaculate gardens but because she seemingly feeds them and walks them once a day the RSPCA considers them adequately housed. I don't understand why you would want a dog unless you want it to share your life and your home.

Out dogs live/sleep inside but have an outside enclosure... Keeps part of the garden for us poop free and grass as grass not a mud bath

I feel able to comment on this thread as DH and I have both working dogs and pet dogs.

Our working dogs are kept outside in a large shed with purpose built kennels. They appear happy, settled and look to go in their kennels of their own accord - for example when they have been running/playing in the yard and want a bit of quiet. They are locked in their kennels & shed at night. They don't come in to the house. They are not pets, they are working dogs who do a job. Doesn't mean we don't cuddle them, look after them, take them for walks and love them, but they are working dogs who do a job and the nature of their life style is that they live in purpose built kennels outside. They have lived outside since they were about 5 months old (lived in the kitchen as pups) and are used to the lifestyle and routine.

I also have 2 pet dogs. They live in the house. They are treated as pampered princesses as pets, sleep next to the fire etc. They both happen to be rescues from a rescue I work very closely with (as in I am part of the staff). Despite knowing me and my set up very well, the rescue would ABSOLUTELY NOT re-home a PET dog to me knowing it would live outside in kennels. And nor should they. A pet is part of the family. It lives inside.

OP-I see both sides of the argument, but IME, most rescues (and I have worked with many) are VERY unlikely to re-home a dog to you knowing that it will live outside.

I would never have a dog in the house. I believe that dogs other than guide dogs belong outside. We had a border collie who lived for 15 years in the shed and only came in the kitchen when it was very cold, and when she was old and frail. She was very happy. Most of the farmers, gamekeepers and shepherds around us keep their dogs outside.
Huskies are an example of a breed that needs to live outside as they are used to the snow and there are many behavioural problems associated with the fact that they are being kept in houses with central heating. It's mainly the overbred pathetic dogs that 'need' to be indoors.
But then, I've been accused of cruelty for letting my cat go outside. Apparently cats should stay inside. I do allow my cat in the house BTW, ground floor only -but she chooses to live outside in the spring and summer.

Working dogs who are used to sleeping in a farm building are very different to dogs raised and treated as pets and kept indoors. If people cannot see that, perhaps that is why shelters won't rehome dogs to them.

Animal shelters only turn people down if they have very good reason to. They obviously didn't think sleeping outdoors was suitable for this dog.

I won't generalise and say that all dogs need to be kept in one place or another. A good shelter will consider the individual needs of the dog in question. I do home checks for a rescue which specialises in a couple of working breeds and if the dog has been a worker and is still suitable to be worked, an outside home - so long as there were other dogs and the prospective owner was prepared to put the effort in to socialise them properly - might be acceptable. However if the dog was from a pet home or a retiring worker it would be 99.5% certain we'd be looking for an indoor, pet lifestyle.

I do think there needs to be a certain amount of pragmatism applied, mind you. The rescue dog situation, particularly in Ireland, is absolutely dire at present. Healthy dogs are being PTS because there is simply no space; parvo is rife in some shelters. If the alternative for this dog was going to be an uncertain future, possible PTS, an indeterminate length of time spent in a kennel anyway (not all shelters use foster homes and even those who do don't always have enough of them) and there were no precluding health issues, then there might be some merit in it having a dedicated home with plenty of 1-1 time, even if some of its time was spent outside.

I've never had a problem rehoming a dog from a shelter in this country. Then again I've never tried to keep a dog with health issues outside.

Did the rescue say no to this dog, or any dog?

I have genuinely never had an issue rehoming a dog from a shelter. This one I have now is my fourth, and I tend to take the ones with health problems. They do a check, see that my home is suitable, that I am an experienced dog owner and that's that.

The OP wanted to rehome a pet dog with health issues and keep it in a shed. I'm the one being silly?

No, but the OP of this thread wants to, hence why the rescue said no.

I have no idea why a rescue would turn you down.

quitetiger what you describe about your doggie workers sounds like they have a good life, they have each other for company, they work so they are stimulated and it sounds like they have adequate living accomodation. I would have no problem with this whatsoever, but the OP wants to "rescue" a single dog and have him live outside, on his own - that is totally wrong and i am glad the rescue turned her down.

Claudius
Only at night, why does it matter where it sleeps? How different is it from sleeping in a kitchen, if appropriately comfortable and warm?

Working dogs and pet dogs are different. They are raised to have different expectations. I have had both, you do not treat them the same.

I've have children living in the home with the dog, and cats. Not an issue for the RSPCA or Dog's Trust up here.