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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

What do you think of dogs living outside?

68 replies

ineedamoreadultieradult · 26/05/2018 18:41

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.

OP posts:

MrsMaryMooFace · 26/05/2018 22:42

sigh.

I have outside dogs, they are a working breed and they have always lived outside in kennels. They are happy, healthy, loved and also quiet.

I also have indoor dogs.

I also have a cat.

All are well cared for, loved, adored in fact and very happy and healthy.

Wolfiefan · 26/05/2018 22:44

Dogs.
OP wants one.
No mention of breed.
Not appropriate.

SamHeughansLeftEyebrow · 26/05/2018 22:47

I would have no issue whatsoever with dogs that are used to being kennelled being outside for half a day, or even all day. As long as they are trained not to bark constantly.

Loads of working and farm dogs are kept outside very happily. Outdoor kennels and runs can be secured against theft. And fitted with comfortable beds etc.

Dogs don't need to be pampered and treated like surrogate children. Too many people are too soft on dogs and anthropomorphise too much.

I would not get an ex racing greyhound with cats though. The desire to chase can be all consuming.

Wolfiefan · 26/05/2018 22:53

Too soft? To keep a dog inside with company and companionship?
You can't train a dog you're not with not to bark.

TropicPlunder · 27/05/2018 00:06

My dog sleeps outside, on her bed on the porch , and stays outside when we're not home. She's also a much loved family pet and drifts in and out of the house as she pleases when we're home and is very affectionate . This is a brilliant set up, and seems natural and stimulating for a dog. Far more interesting than being indoors when alone. BUT, we're not in the UK, and it's warm and secure here. To have an outside dog in the UK, I guess you need a very secure and insulated space. I'm thinking about it for my dog when we return to the UK, because the lifestyle is perfect for her. I think it's very possible to have outdoor dogs, ad others have said, but lots of things to think about. May not suit every dog either, I guess. Would need to be a bit independent

BiteyShark · 27/05/2018 06:20

OP doesn't want to keep the dog outside all the time, just for a few hours when they go out when the dog would be on their own anyway.

You can get dog kennels that are larger than a lot of peoples kitchens. I have no idea why some people would think that keeping a dog in a crate or shut in a room for 3-4 hours is fine but it's terrible to put them in a kennel which has a dry inside area with a run for pooing and peeing. As for security you can secure them, after all they are used to house police dogs etc. So anyone trying to steal them would have to be really after the dog and it would be far easier to steal from a house than some of them.

However, the practicalities are whether the dog is a barker because there are lots of things outside like birds, cats, noises that if the dog reacts to might cause an issue to neighbours, whereas if they were barking inside you do have the sound insulation of the house. If they are only out there for a few hours then they need to think about heating for the colder days as they won't develop a coat which outside dogs do, but any electrician can wire in a heater with appropriate dog guard. Anything else, such as seperation anxiety etc is no different to whether she was planning on leaving them in the house versus a kennel. They could always wire up a camera to check on them just like you could do inside a house.

TropicPlunder · 27/05/2018 10:35

Yes, what Bitey is saying. I'm looking into heated 'dog cottages' with a dog flap that could be open or closed. The free-ranging element is important in our case, but she is not really a barker

lovemylover · 29/05/2018 08:54

No, dont get a dog if you are going to have it living outside,even from a rescue,poor dog needs a loving indoor home, where it will be petted and treated like one of the family, just keep them seperate when you go out
I have 3 cats and rehomed a dog, but woyldnt dream of leaving her outside at all, she and the cats get on fine, but dont interact,so i leave them in seperate rooms when i go out,just in case

Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten · 29/05/2018 09:32

This is an odd thread. What is the difference in a dog being in a heated locked spacious kennel in the garden than being left in a room in the house behind a stair gate on its own when the owner is out?

If the dog has been exercised and fed all dogs need some down time, the dog would learn that kennel time is chill out time and should spend it sleeping. When the owner comes home then more exercise and back into the house.

BiteyShark · 29/05/2018 09:37

Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten I agree. Either people aren't reading the thread correctly about the OP only wanting to leave them when they would be out or people envisage a dog kennel that is small and the size of the dog when actually most of them are massive with inside and outside secure areas which gives the dog a better place to rest than being couped up in one room in the house trying to hold its bladder.

Wolfiefan · 29/05/2018 09:39

Too many dogs kept outside in urban or suburban areas are a noise nuisance.
How secure is it? We had a suspected dog napping here a few days ago.

BiteyShark · 29/05/2018 09:45

Wolfie the ones I have seen have thick bars along the front and sides of the outside area and you can lock access to the inside areas. Having seen how easy it is to break into a house (I have been burgled many years ago in broad daylight) it certainly isn't any harder to do that than it is to those type of kennels.

Noise can be an issue as I mentioned to the OP but equally people can have issues with noise if they don't live in a detached house except noise travels further without the insulation of the home. The OP would have to build up to leaving them just like in the house so they are confortable and feel safe to ensure noise wasn't an issue.

CherryBlossom23 · 29/05/2018 09:55

I really can't see any issues with leaving the dog in an appropriate setting for a few hours a day. To everyone saying the would be bored outside in a kennel and run - how is that any differerent to being shut in a room in a house? The dog will probably just nap or play with its toys while you're gone anyway. Dogs need attention and socialisation, yes but there's nothing wrong with them being alone for a little while.

SK166 · 29/05/2018 10:19

@Wolfie they can be just as much of a noise nuisance indoors too. It's a matter of separation training and socialisation so they feel secure during their time alone.

Training a dog to be well-behaved when left alone is essential no matter where they're to be left, it really doesn't make a difference whether it's in an appropriate kennel or in the kitchen.

lovemylover · 29/05/2018 19:35

Maybe you can get a dog who has lived with cats previously
Mine was a private rehome and had lived with cats at one time,
My cats just ignored her when she came here,but i did have an arrangement with previous owners to let me have her on trial for a week, but i didnt even need a week, she fitted in and is a lovely natured dog,

Wolfiefan · 29/05/2018 19:48

Yep noise travels further. Noise is a nuisance. I would also rather my dog is secure in my house. She's a pet. We keep her separate from the cats when we are out (giant sighthound) but I wouldn't leave her outside and the breeder wouldn't have sold to us if we did.

tabulahrasa · 29/05/2018 20:59

“Noise can be an issue as I mentioned to the OP but equally people can have issues with noise if they don't live in a detached house except noise travels further without the insulation of the home”

There’s also less chance of things happening in a house that would cause barking, no birds, traffic, other people’s cats, neighbouring dogs.

“I really can't see any issues with leaving the dog in an appropriate setting for a few hours a day”

It’s more just the why bother... for a few hours a day a well trained, exercised dog should be quite happy just lounging about, so why go to the expense and hassle of a heated kennel and outside space taking up a huge chunk of your garden (it’d need to be heated in winter) that the dog could play in when you’re there instead... when you can’t just shut an internal door and your pets are separate...

Caramelapplecake · 02/06/2018 00:34

I don't understand a lot of replies here. From my understanding the OP is only planning on leaving her dog in the outside kennel and run for 3-4 hours a day when she is out . She's not planning on having her pet excluded from the family home when she's there or at night.

I agree that barking may be an issue, and that separate rooms in the house may be s better idea but otherwise as long as the dog is happy I don't see the issue.

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