What do you think of dogs living outside?

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

So we are on the look out for a new dog, it has been 3 years now since our last dog died and we feel ready to commit again.
We want to adopt a dog, all our animals are rescued. But here's the problem, in between ddog dying and now we have adopted a special needs cat (it has epilepsy) and a kitten. Due to the older cats needs both cats are indoor only cats.

Now we could find a dog that was happy to live with cats and our older cat has lived with dogs quite happily before but I'm not sure having two cats and a dog alone in the house while we are out is a very good idea, I wouldn't want any of them to get stressed or worse.

So this leads me to thinking about a dog that can be kept outside,. Just for the time there is no one in the house which would be approx 3 to 4 hrs on a weekday.

My thinking being most dogs from rescue centres have been living in kennels already, obviously some hate it so wouldn't be considered but some don't seem to mind at all. Also I have seen some dogs for adoption who have never lived inside anyway (mostly greyhounds). We have space for a large kennel and run in our enclosed and secure backyard.

But I'm also just not sure if the whole thing is a terrible idea and we just shouldn't get a dog.

We currently go to our local rescue centre and help walk the dogs but I'm still feeling something is missing with not having a dog at home.

It's a theft risk.
Barking dogs (could happen if shut outside) are a noise nuisance.
Rescues wouldn't rehome to you.
No decent breeder would let you have a pup that wouldn't have company.
Kennelled dogs may not be housetrained.
So no.

My GMiL has outside dogs and they’re great. Malamutes, they love being outdoors.

Are you planning to just leave the dog outside for a few hours during the day OP, or have them permanently living outside?

I ask as if it's just during the day while you're out, as long as they have access to warmth, shelter and shade (as well as water obviously), and don't spend the entire time barking, I think that's ok. Wouldn't recommend it for a greyhound in winter though - would need to be a more hardy breed.

If it's to live outside permanently then no. Dogs benefit massively from social interactions and I don't see how you would get your 'doggy fix' from just seeing one in your garden. Just seems pointless to me.

A dog is a family pet. You’re obviously NOT ready to commit to a new dog. Enjoy your cats.

Dogs outside are fine if they’re used to it / have appropriate conditions. A dog outside a few hours a day in appropriate conditions wouldn’t bother me either. I know outside dogs and they do well

Might be worth posting on dog specific forums rather than somewhere where people may give their opinion without experience tho (I more or less include my post with that)

@llangennith not all dogs are family pets

They would only be outside 3-4 hours on a weekday and would have a purpose built dog kennel and run. It would also obviously have to be a dog that I knew wouldn't hate the situation. It's all there in the OP or so I thought.

I thought this was a dog specific forum?

Oh actually I see what you mean as this is a dog specific thread but in a more general forum.

Dogs living outside... I think this dog will bark all day and drive your neighbours mad. I can't believe they're happy when they do this and I don't understand why people who don't want them around get them in the first place, then ignore them when they bark all day.

Stairgates.

We have a stairgate on the stairs. When the cat wants peace it hops over and has upstairs to itself.

Dog stays downstairs. No problem.

I think it depends on the breed. It would be cruel to keep some larger fluffier dogs inside all the time.

Our dogs used to be in kennels during the day. I have no issue. They were happy. The house less hairy. We moved and they are now inside all the time. Our house is like a prison with all the stair gates (no cats but very young children)... It’s a nightmare and I sometimes regret getting rid of the kennel.
They were still just as much part of the family as before and a lot less hassle. I feel sorry for them, as though they agree too.

Nothing wrong with it - I know many people who have working dogs outside. BUT they need well ventilated and heated kennels and company and to be out of the kennel and worked every day. Many rescues won't regime to outside homes.

My Chelsea girl would bark as soon as she stepped outside. She was a staff and could throw that bark right across the valley. She would continue barking until the door closed. Not so good for the neighbours when she was continuously barking at 6 in the morning, I could never had trusted her out all day. She would drive you gags

Massively depends on the dog I think. 3-4 hours really doesn't seem like such a big deal if they have enough socialisation/stimulation/exercise/company in general.
My dog would LOVE to be outside for that much time every day! We can't let him out unsupervised in our communal garden at home, but he spends a lot of time on jobs and building sites with my DH, and when we're at my parents' he has free reign of the garden and spends more or less all his time out there by choice. I don't think it's the time outside that's an issue - it's more the time alone and how the dog would cope with being enclosed.

My FIL has 2 former strays (hardy mongrels) who are permanent outside dogs, and that's in a climate that ranges from -25 degrees to over 40 in the summer. They're very happy and healthy dogs but they've never lived indoors so there's never been any distress caused by changing their circumstances and they are much more wild than most domesticated dogs.

You'd need to find a hardy, secure dog who wouldn't be distressed by that much time alone, is very well-socialised so wouldn't be spooked by all sorts of outside noises and can happily transition between indoor and outdoor life on a daily basis. Might be a big ask to find a rescue like that!

I think as someone suggested above, you might be better off with a young pup who could be trained and socialised to be around the cats and keeping them separated in the house until you know they're safe together.

It is a dog specific part of Mumsnet. There's usually plenty of good advice on here, no need to seek out other forums IMO.

I don't like dogs shut outside in kennels. They should be part of the family. Putting them outside for a few hours isn't so bad but I wouldn't risk it -it's a theft risk. It's likely that the dog would bark and it's boring for the dog. I'd find a way of making it work with the dog inside if you're going to get a dog, or find a dog sitter for while you're at work.

I've always had rescue dogs and cats without much trouble mixing them in. A stairgate and a seperate area where the cats eat and sleep works for us.

OP, with regards to the cat issue - you can get cat flaps which come with a special collar/tag for your cat to wear so that only they can get in and out. This might be an option for you? I agree that keeping a dog outside isn’t very nice. Just keep the dog in the kitchen/downstairs and cats in another are of the house. I agree that baby gates are a good idea - cats can jump over but dog can’t

The cats are indoor cats. Apparently.

Why is a stair gate or two not an option? Much cheaper and safer for the dog than outside in a purpose built kennel and run.

I have two cats. One was an indoor one for the first two years of his life while the other went in and out. I worked so if she was out when I left she stayed out and if she was in when I left she stayed in. I really wasn’t constantly opening doors.

I do not agree at all with keeping the dog outside.

I have cats and a dog and it’s very easy to just zone off areas in the house when you go out, so they’re in seperate areas. This is even easier because you have litter trays that can be moved around, and your cats don’t have to access the litter tray.

And you can’t know 100% what dog your getting, i.e. he might turn out to be a barker and be barking outside for 4 hours while you’re out. It’s much nicer to have him tucked up in a bed inside.

I meant and your cats don’t need access to the cat flap*

Still a noise and training and theft risk.
Still no rescue or decent breeder would countenance you having a dog under these conditions.
And what if you end up with one with separation anxiety? How would you know the dog wouldn't hate it?'

I second the stair gate - we've always used one. Dogs downstairs but cats free range all over the house. We got a rescue terrier that chased one of the cats, he's currently stretched out next to me with her beside him, it took a while but they got there in the end. Give the cats a safe place to escape to and make sure if you get a rescue that the centre cat test the dog. There is a massive difference between a dog that will chase for the fun of it and one that genuinely wants to kill. My rescue was respectful of the cats that stood up to him but chased the one that ran. He was trained out of this largely by the two older cats who would chase HIM and swipe at him if he chased the other cat. It was hilarious