Is it cruel to leave a dog outside all day?

[Glittertips]

I am currently a few days in to a month long hospital stay. From my room I can see in to a few gardens which back on to the hospital grounds. On the first day I noticed a husky in one of the gardens and on day two it dawned on me that he was outside in the garden every single time I looked out the window.

Having been in for a few days now I realise the owner is leaving the husky outside all day when she is at work, even once she is home he doesn’t tend to go inside until around 8pm. I don’t have a full view in to the garden as the view is obscured by a tree, but from what I can see he lies on the decking most of the day.

I feel like it’s cruel leaving the dog outside all day, in all weathers (I don’t know if it has access to food and water - I sure hope so) but my partner made the point that it’s no different from people leaving their dogs in the house all day while they’re at work and at least this dog can go to the toilet.

Should I mind my own business? Should I call the RSPCA?

YABU = mind your business, its not cruel
YANBU = poor dog, call the RSPCA

You know what’s very very very cruel? Keeping a dog alone in a house on a sofa or crate each day.

there are tens of thousands of people who genuinely love their dogs and don’t realise the utter mental boredom and torture their dogs go through while they go to work or school.

It is like a padded prison cell.

unless a dog is being run and played with for at least 2 hours in the morning the again at least two in the evening OUTSIDE it is simply animal cruelty ( for any mid to large breed) very minimum they should be outside for 4 hours a day.

a husky will not be happy inside. Hopefully, he gets taken for long runs and walks for a couple hours Morning and evening. Ideally they would have another dog to play with him in the day, but absolutely cannot be left inside it would be beyond unhappy.

Exactly this. This is how dogs are meant to live. It’s deeply unnatural for most dogs to stay inside all day. No wonder so many succomb to illnesses and don’t make old bones ( labradors etc) as they are not meant to have a life of inactivity and lack of vitamin d etc!

My dog can open the back door by herself, it's a lever handle so she just paws at it. She also lets herself out into the garden, I know she's popped out as there is a sudden breeze.

If there is a tree he can shelter under it, both from sun and rain. But I'm sure he must have a kennel somewhere even if you can't see it.
But there is no guarantee he likes the kennel.

I think you are worrying about nothing. But that is something that comes from a good place.

You might like to meet my dog he would absolutely go daft if he wasn't left outside all day. Yes there's always someone around but he's happiest just lying in the sun.

We had a nightmare in a severe heat wave trying to keep him out of direct sunlight, even keeping him inside meant he searched out a spot of sun via a window, he's a complete sun worshipper.

Outside at least 4 hours a day?!

My hound would think that is far too little, he'd look (if you couldn't see that the door is generally open) like he was abandoned if you could see into my back yard. He likes to lie by the gate, waiting for Godot I think..

My saluki though... she'd DIE if she HAD to be outside all that time. She's an out -piss -in dog. She will sunbathe for half an hour during a heatwave but otherwise shes on the sofa upside down, legs in the air for 90% of her day.

She can go almost 18 hours without a wee too if its raining. We do not DO getting wet. Ugh.

Point is, blanket rules for all dogs, just do not work. Each dog has individual needs which must be met. What suits one would be horrid for another.

The husky has now been outside since 7am and seems a bit distressed, running backwards and forwards from one end of the deck to the other 😢. Hopefully I’m still just being dramatic and it’s ok! (The thing you see in the left hand corner of photo 1 is a hot tub, not a kennel - I did wonder at first if it was a kennel)

I don't know that you should be posting pictures of someone else's garden on line.

However it looks like their are a couple of sheds plus the box beside where he is. Surely one of them must provide shelter.
I'll also guess they have water for him somewhere.
He might just be getting fed up waiting for them to come home.

Poor dog, on his own all this time. 10 HOURS so far. Stuck in the bloody garden! How incredibly sad and worrying. I would ring the RSPCA right now @Glittertips Poor thing looks like he doesn't know what to do with himself. Must be so lonely. 😢 Report them now - because when the weather gets too hot, and the poor thing is left in 35-36 degree C weather, it will make him ill!

I am shocked at some people saying it's OK to do this. Imagine condoning such cruel behaviour. I PRAY these posters don't have dogs!

That's so cute 🥹

But @Abitorangelooking you are still at your property. Your dog might prefer to be outside rather than in the house (most of the day, in the summer!) But you are there! AND your dog can come in when he wants. Bit different to leaving a dog in the garden for 10-12 hours LOCKED OUT whilst you bog off to bloody work!

I think in recent years dogs are being humanised far too much. Of course a dog will be better left outside with a garden and a kennel than indoors in a crate/locked room. It's like people forget that they are actually animals and not "fur babies".

They're not just ANIMALS to many people. They're beloved pets and part of the family. I despair for humanity that some people think leaving their precious pet dog outside for 10-12 hours a day, (every day while they're at work,) ON THEIR OWN is OK.

Fuxake. This thread is batshit.

My elderly jack Russell was outside most of the time. She had a comfy kennel, food, water, toys.
She went out first thing, came in reluctantly last thing at night.

Were you away from the house from 8am to 7pm - five days a week though? Leaving your dog on his own for 11-12 hours, outside, ALL DAY, alone?!

No, I thought not.

"You know what’s very very very cruel? Keeping a dog alone in a house on a sofa or crate each day."

"unless a dog is being run and played with for at least 2 hours in the morning the again at least two in the evening OUTSIDE it is simply animal cruelty ( for any mid to large breed) very minimum they should be outside for 4 hours a day."

I agree that dogs need mental stimulation as well as exercise and that it's not fair to leave them on their own for long periods. But your post is a sweeping generalisation - older dogs don't need or want 4 hours walk and play outside each day, neither do some breeds particularly sighthounds. People need to think very carefully about what breeds and age dogs fit with them and their lifestyle. I rehomed an older dog because he likes a walk / play and then a nap on the sofa and is perfectly content for a couple of hours on his own. It would have been wrong of me to get a young border collie though.

Exactly this. at least they have more stimulation outside

Of course but that’s because they’re old. But any other fit/ young dog of mid to large breed absolutely needs that.

goes without saying that does not apply to disabled or elderly dogs.

That’s a proper life for a dog 🐶 👍

We have a husky who is 3 and he would go crazy if he was left for this long, it’s bloody wrong and they need decent walks as are very high energy dogs.

our boy has at least 2 long walks every day and complete access to a massive garden and most days we do take him out 3 times with the night time walk being the shortest. I feel terrible for this poor dog. Pls seek advice from the RSPCA or similar op and I hope you get well soon 💕

It's 68% now. I'm shocked.

FUCK that's my house!!

Just kidding 😉

It doesn't matter how YOU feel. They might be "family members" but they are still animals who enjoy a garden more than a bloody kitchen.

Perhaps the husky is thinking...
"Everytime I come out into the garden, there's a woman staring at me from that window. I wonder if she is trapped in there. If I were Lassie I would go and get some help, alas I'm just a husky, so I can't. " 🙁