Anyone keep their dog outside?

[LadyOfWaffle]

We are debating at the moment taking our german shepherd to live at MILs and were thinking of having him as an outside dog - there is two sheds so we will empty one and sort the door out to make it like a kennel, and the garden is a good size but I have never really known an "outside" dog. My cousin used to keep hers out 24/7but I only saw it once. Dhs friend who lives opposite his mum keeps 2 of his 3 outside... I know it's not unheard of but is it cruel? Would you (safely) heat the shed somehow? I don't really know how/if it would work. TIA x

my old neighbours used to keep their mahoosive dog in teh garage, just opened the door every day. She was fine. However, after she died (not garage related) they put their pedigree poodle in there () and whenever it went inside it trashed the house and shat all over the place

When I was younger we had two dogs that lived outside. We used a heat lamp over their beds to provide warmth during the nights and colder winter days.

I wish I had started this with my dog.Isn't it a bit cruel to suddenly turn them out after being brought up as an inside dog?

Waiting for someone to categorically say no it isn't so I can chuck mine out

Can I ask why? And how old is he?

Only dogs I have ever known be kept outside are "working" dogs, used for shooting and so not really family pets or brought inside at all. And outside dogs tend to have oiler coats and can smell a bit more as well - like when they have been at kennels for a week.

Personally I couldn't bring myself to put a dog by itself outside if it was used to being inside - the thought of those dark eyes looking up at me incomprehendingly as I shut it in the shed.......nope, couldn't do it.

My dog absolutely loves being outside. We have a mahoosive garden too and she seems in no hurry to come in even when it's pouring wit rain!I would actually be very tempted to leave her out all day whilst I am at work with a kennel of some sort but I would be concerned about someone pinching her. You have to be sure also that it won't bark al day and drive the neighbours potty.

a friend of mne kept a dog outside as it was a bit mental but they couldnt bear to get rid of it. it wasnt dangerous or anything just prone to bounce around too much! that dog lived in the shed but imo it was too small and not let out enough.
our german shepard is an inside dog but hates being too hot and would rather be outside. his mum and dad were guard dogs at our family business and he was born in the snow, so we have always just put it down to that.
i think it depends on what the dog is used to. if he is used to being inside, then i wouldnt have thought he would take to being outside all the time and would probably whine to come in.

my dh brought a jack russel home, which he takes to work everyday and uses for hunting. this was going to be an outside dog. he built a pen and everything, but it whined and yapped too much, so now it is banished to the kitchen when it is here.

Can I just ask because this is something I dont understand. If people (generally) have a dog who lives outside, why do you have a dog?

You could presumably make sure the dog was comfortable - warmth, shelter, water etc, but dogs are pack animals and they have a basic need for company too. Would the dog become bored and lonely if put outside?

my dog and 12 week old pup live in the stables (big barn) all day whilst I am at work, and then live in the house whilst we are home.
It works fine with us.

alot of people have dogs purely for security. they will let you know if someone it on your property long before you would know about it without a dog

I agree with ScruffyTeddy.

I would never leave any of my pets, or future pets outside (with the exception of horses, poultry etc obviously!)

And for a dog that has been used to living indoors, putting it outside is pretty cruel, not to mention unnecessary.

Also, all dogs need proper excersize, i.e. walks, no matter what size garden they have, even if they have 10 acres to roam around they still need to go out for walks, preferably once or twice a day.