Need help regarding a 'should I get a dog?' question and can I keep one outside?

[shadypines]

Hi, DD 12yrs has been pining for a dog for years. I would love to be able to oblige but two things have always worried me.

1. I'm not keen on having a dog around the house EXCEPT in my back room off the kitchen where floor is washable.
   
   
2. I worry about leaving the dog alone when I am at work for 2 and half days per week.
   
   So my main questions are do people keep dogs outside at all, at least most of the time? Are there decent kennels available that are easy to be cleaned and are comfortable for dog (keep it warm etc) And can I leave a dog on its own all day, would it be ok, what about the pooping situation?!
   
   Any advice re these questions or any other helpful stuff you can tell me would be really appreciated. Thanks.

[GobblersKnob]

Should also point out that they are of course on sofas/in beds when I am out too

[GobblersKnob]

Keeping a dog outside is not a problem if it is a large working breed that you work all day, and has the coat and temperament to adapt to living outside, so if you plan to be busy with your dog from say 6am to 6pm everyday, then tbh it will probably appreciate dinner and a nice warm kennel - however from your op I don't think you plan to do this.

I would also say for SOME dogs being left for 2 1/2 days a week wouldn't be a problem, certainly not a puppy though, and for the rest of the time you need to put a vast amount of time into your dog, so a good hour plus walk before going to work, the same on your return, preferably a walker to come in during the day, and the dog with you, all the rest of the time not ever in a back room off the kitchen.

My dogs get left for periods of time in the week, but the rest of the time the are on the sofas, in my bed, training, playing, walking, all of our holidays and almost all of our day trips are geared around them.

As someone else said upthread they cost a fortune.

[utterlyconfused11]

Poor dog, tell the breeders your plans and how its not you that wants the dog and what you plan to do... any decent breeder would not let there pups go with you. Poor dog.

[utterlyconfused11]

Well you are cruel....your going to leave it outside and be at work all day!! how is that not cruel??????

[brainfidget]

I have only read the OP post, and I say do NOT consider getting a dog at all.

Dogs are sociable creatures that need to be part of the family. They thrive with attention and love, and social interaction, and are believed to have approximately the cognitive skills of a 3 yr old. Would you propose keeping a 3 year old in a kennel in the garden?

If you keep a dog outside it will be miserable most of the time, may well bark a lot, will inevitably be ignored by you and yours for significant periods, and may end up a problem dog. Even if not a problem dog, it will be a sad dog with a sad life.

The RSPCA and other rescue organisations have to deal with a disproportionate number of outdoor housed dogs kept by ignorant and neglectful owners. Don't add to that burden.

The only people I know that keep a dog outside are a problem gypsy family down the road, who incidentally cause various problems for numerous neighbours round here. They are typically the sort of people who think it's OK to keep dogs outside.

[noddingoff]

The Cinnamon trust idea is great

[LabradorMama]

Only working dogs should be kept outside really - they get enough exercise, training and stimulation daily and shouldn't spend too much time indoors. Plus a dog that spends any amount of time living outdoors will stink, then you won't want it in your house at all.

if you don't intend to work your dog but want it as a pet then it should live indoors. What's the point, otherwise?

Lots of good points above about the disruption a dog will cause to your life and the time, care and attention they need. It's a huge, lifelong (for the dog, anyway) undertaking and you need to go into it wholeheartedly, not as a way to placate your DD.

[Booboostoo]

It is possible to keep dogs in outdoor kennels but you would need to have more than one dogs so that they can keep each other company and you would need to spend most of your day interacting with your dogs. This is easier done if they are working dogs, or if you work on a farm or you have an all consuming dog hobby. What you seem to want is a pet dog that lives outside and this is unlikely to work out. Dogs are social creatures and need to be part of a family. Leaving a dog for too long on its own is likely to lead to problems like incessant barking, destructive behaviour, excessive energy, etc.


Working p/t is less of a problem as you could employ a dog walker to take the dog out twice a day - this does cost though.

If you do decide that you can put up with a dog in the house do consider other aspects of dog ownership. Your DD is too young to take full responsibility for a dog. She can certainly help but an adult would need to take on the responsibility of training, socialising and exercising the dog. Your lifestyle may also be affected in other ways, e.g. the costs of dog ownership, holiday arrangements, tetchy.

[GemmaTeller]

Do not get a dog - you're not a dog person.

[BravePotato]

I think everyone in the family has to want a dog, for it to work.

We just got a dog 6 months ago. I always liked dogs, but was worried about mess/dirtyness etc.

You can have clear rules that suit you. Dog not allowed upstairs/on sofa but otherwise gets treated like a princess as we have all "fallen in love" with her, she is such a sweety.

If you don't like the dog you would find it hard for the next 12 years, so you really really have to accept that this dog would also be YOUR dog, before you can even think about it.

Dogs are very giving, our dog has given us a lot of happiness and smiles and laughs, and we get pleasure out of treating her well (long walks, playing games, cuddles), but it is a huge commitment and you need to really want it yourself.

If not it will be a hassle and a pain for all around, including the dog.

[tomanyanimals]

Sorry but my dogs live outside have a kennel with bedding in and are a lot happier than a lot of dogs that are kept inside. Constantly congratulated on how well they look that said both are rescues and one cannot cope inside due to the past abuse and will howl if left in and not able to get out.
Do not get a dog if you cannot cope with cleaning up after them having mud and hair everywhere as not matter what u do it gets tracked through the house, they take a lot of care not once a day for a walk twice if not more mine need walking three times a day or the energy they have is ridiculous think he climbs the fencing if he doesn't get his three walks. ( a lot of people have dogs that live outside in this country farms for example they just need the correct care if unsure rescue charities are very good at advice)

[murphys]

OP, do you live in UK? The reason I ask this is that I don't and what you describe is a bit how our dogs live. They do live outside mostly (sleep inside during 3 months of winter only). We have larger properties generally so there is a lot more space, to put big kennels, have shaded areas etc.

They do spend time in the garden when we are not home, but there again it is a little different as there is usually always someone at home, if it isn't me (I work from home), then my helper is here. Even though I am at home, they are usually outdoors anyway. This is by choice I should add, our Lab will come indoors sometimes (if its extremely hot he will lie on tiles). We have fully enclosed gardens, so they cant get out, and someone else cant take them either.

So, I think that a lot of things depends on the circumstances that you live in. If you don't have the space then you really shouldn't consider a big dog. You also need the time to train them from puppy (believe me this isn't easy having a pup myself).

I have a 12 year old dd too, so I know what they are like with their fluttering eyelashes You do know that it is you who is going to end up feeding puppy mostly, visiting the vet, bathing the dog, walking etc. You cant let all of that lie on the shoulders of a 12 year old....

I know someone mentioned it, but what about a cat? They are much more independent and are mostly lovable animals.

You did say that you weren't all that keen on a dog, but they will be part of your family from day one for at least 12 years onwards, so it is going to alter your life as it is now.

[maisiechain]

On the other hand & to answer your questions:
*no dogs can't be kept outdoors or in just one room, but ours is only allowed downstairs - train from a puppy to never go upstairs (stairs are bad for some dogs hips anyway) and you will have a dog free zone, which I actually think is good for you, children and the dog.
*I know plenty of people who work part-time and have dogs:) It can be done, but you will need to set aside money to pay a really good dog walker/sitter.
But seriously if this is not something YOU want, I wouldn't do it. I have a dog and I'm a massive dog lover BUT it has been the single most stressful thing ever to raise a puppy! (love him though:))

[maisiechain]

Hello shadypines, haven't read all replies so sorry if this repeats other advice:) Well done for being honest about what concerns you have! I don't think it sounds like you really want a dog, so in short, no do not get one! If your 12 year old is that desperate there are other ways to satify her needs: I think theres some website called 'borrow my dog' or something which I heard about; or else do what I did for a while and offer to walk a neighbours dog; even better, she is old enough to perhaps volunteer with you to help with dogs at a rescue centre, find a local one and offer to help walk/play with their dogs - it would be really rewarding:)
HTH

[KEGirlOnFire]

OP, unfortunately MN appears to be full of people who judge instead of just providing factual answers to factual questions.

You are not daft AT ALL. In fact, you should be rewarded for coming on here and asking the questions instead of just going and getting one which I imagine is what 95% of unsuitable dog owners do. You do not deserve the sort of responses that you've received.

So I guess through all the harshness in the responses, you've got the gist that maybe a dog isn't for you and your DD .

Is there a local animal shelter near by? I was desperate for a cat when I was in my late teens and volunteered at a local RSPCA home for cats. I used to go in on a Sunday and clean out all the pens, feed the cats, clean their litter trays and give them some attention.

Maybe this is something that your DD could do? She could help walk the dogs maybe? This will give her an opportunity to fulfill her passion for dogs and help them at the same time.

[merrymouse]

Dogs are a really pain. They often have bad habits, whether that is chewing, barking or just being a bit jumpy. I reckon that the difference between my house with and without a dog is at least an hour of house work a day depending on how much it is raining. (I don't do an extra hour of housework a day - the house could just looks as though it could do with it). You have to walk them every day. Some dogs pull on the lead and have awful recall and some dogs do not like other dogs. You can't go anywhere for the day without planning who is going to look after the dog. You have to pick up their poo every day. I think we spent about £1000 on doggy related things in our dog's first year, excluding the dog. (crate for car, food, training, vet, the right kind of lead etc. etc.)

You can keep a dog outside, but you need to be absolutely sure that it won't try to escape or bark.

All of the above will be your responsibility. A 12 year old cannot be legally responsible for a dog.

The upside is that a dog is a dog.

If you can't look at your pet all misty eyed and say it is worth it, it isn't worth it. I love my children, but I don't deal with all the above so that they can have a dog. I do it so I can have a dog.

[Logarhythm]

It's important to realise we all do things differently - I wouldn't have a dog upstairs, a breeder who I rejected, had 11 dogs all in cages, she was well thought of, but it wasn't the way I felt dogs should live.

When I was a kid all dogs lived outside, ours had a wooden kennel inside our garage, he was perfectly happy mouching around our yard, knew everyone, visited neighbours, it was normal then - wouldn't be now, but then we were a lot more free range prior to now.

We are getting a whippet - low shedding, low smell, moderate exercise requirements - of course it may not have those characteristics and we'll deal with whatever he is...getting a dog used to be so easy, someone's dog had pups and you got one, no puppy training classes, fed scraps, no leads, no walks, no enclosure....the whole thing is so over managed, pet are big business. I spend half my time telling my dcs that most of the equipment in pet shops it for the humans not the dogs.

I bet there was more abandoned dogs back then....but it's a lot more complicated now.

[Southpaws]

I would imagine we are all patient and kind with our dogs, hence the frustration when people suggest (however innocently) treating a dog in an unkind way by leaving it outside with limited company.

[BOFster]

Here is a useful link with some points about the reality of keeping dogs outdoors which you might not have been aware of. There will be other sites which deal with the more general question of how suitable your lifestyle is for dog ownership, but to forewarn you, all of them will say that getting a dog because your child wants one is a bad idea.

[shadypines]

Logarythm thankyou) for your nice reply and some others.

I have basically been called daft and cruel on here by some of you for not knowing the answers to some questions. (errr that's why I am here) I am asking the questions because I do not want to be cruel to a dog or any animal. Handcream was there really a need for the snide way you answered me? It's quite beyond belief the way some of you have attacked me as if I am already guilty of cruelty to a dog!

I hope you are kinder and more patient to your dogs than you have been in your replies to me.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Having a dog is a lifestyle choice really. You have to adapt the way you do things day to day to incorporate it. They take up a huge amount of attention which if you're not fully on board you will resent very quickly. Dogs are a tie, financially, emotionally and physically. They are social creatures and bond with their people in a way which means that you feel a responsibility towards them heavily. Short of adding another child to your family, a dog is a massive commitment. I would strongly suggest that you rule out dog ownership for now and perhaps look at other, lower maintenance pets. No criticism, OP, just advice.

[BOFster]

Definitely do NOT get a dog. The only dogs I've been aware of that are kennelled were working dogs on farms, and they had other dogs for company. The also had the stimulation of their 'jobs', spending much of the day out in the fields with the boss. They did not behave like family pets at all, and nor would they, being excluded from the home.

Surely the whole appeal of a dog to a small child is cuddling up to it on the sofa and trotting around the house with it? It most assuredly is NOT walking it in all weathers, nor is it doing much in the way of practical useful care, like cleaning up after it. So a dog sitting miserably outside, probably barking at the neighbours all day is not much fun for your dd, much less the dog.

As has been said, dogs are sensitive social animals, and it would be your responsibility to meet those needs. As you don't want to, and your child can't in the situation you outline (even supposing she is not among the 99% of kids who lose all interest once their wish becomes reality), this idea is beyond ridiculous. DON'T DO IT.

[shadypines]

hi all, I am a bit shocked at the verocity of some of your replies to be honest. I understand that you don't want someone to get a dog who is going to neglect it, that is not me! That is why I am asking these questions. I thought I made it clear that it is not me that wants a dog but my DD and whether it would be possible for her to have one. I have seen people with dog kennels outside that's why I was wondering if the outside life was a possibility. I would NOT want a dog to be lonely or cold!

Sorry handcream but why do I sound daft, I am not a dog expert and needed help with the answers to these questions to see if we were able to look after a dog. I find your answer unhelpful and offensive. Would you know how to look after an animal that you had no experience of?

[Floralnomad]

Do not get a dog ,also do not get a rabbit ,they need loads of input ,not just to be sat in a cage and got out to play ! Infact ,don't get any animals .

[MitchellMummy]

Agree with other posters. Think you know the answer really ... I nagged my parents for a dog ... got one when I was 32! Also the years between 12 and the end of the dog's life (say when DD is 24 or 25) can bring massive changes in life (from child to teenager to adult). I'm sure there's some local people who would appreciate help with their dog.