Is there such a thing as an outside dog?

J

justinisapilot

Well-Known Member
I guess I should have posted this before my last post, but I am in a situation now to where I have to move back in with my parents. (I am graduating from College on Friday. I have applied for many jobs both in the aviation field and not and have not heard anything promising from any of them........so that means no money for an apartment) anyway......I have a dog that I rescued while I was in school and he has actually been in my parents house a number or times but now since I am moving back in, my parents are saying my dog is not allowed in the house AT ALL. I am worried about his good behavior changing into something undesirable since he is primarily an inside dog and will soon be forced to become an outside dog. My parents say all dogs belong outside and I don't agree with them and yes this is causing tension. So I say all that to ask if there is such a thing as an outside dog.
 
My old dog would stand with his nose in the crack of the door if I brought him in for a few minutes while i grabbed something.
He was the diggenest dog.

A little hay and some freedom to run, play and kill makes a dog a dog.
 
Yes, I believe there are outside dogs, and that maybe even every dog can be an outside dog if you want it to. When I was growing up, my family had a Brittany spaniel. She had a dog house and lived in the back yard. She only got to come into the utility room if it was freezing outside, but that didn't happen too often in southwest Texas. Aside from that, letting the dog into the house was strictly forbidden. I honestly think she enjoyed the outdoors and didn't mind living out there. She never pawed at the door or anything like that. We had a good sized backyard and we took her for walks almost every day.

In the end I appreciated that my parents kept the dog outside. When I went over to friends' houses who let big dogs run around inside, I found the constant dog stink, drool, hair, pee, and occasional crap pile pretty disgusting. I guess some people are willing to put up with those downsides for the benefit of constant animal companionship, but I'm not one of them. I am definitely a "keep the animals outside" type of person. As long as you're not exposing them to extreme temperatures, I think it's perfectly natural and OK to keep your pets outside all the time.

In the end you are moving in with your parents. It is their house and they make the rules. You really should respect their wishes! I allowed my sister to move in with me at one point, and I made the same request of her. She didn't follow it. The dog shed everywhere, peed on the floors, and took dumps inside all the time. I hate to say it but it really soured our relationship and ultimately forced me to sell my place because I couldn't stand living with her and the dog any longer, but didn't have the heart to kick out my only sibling. If you're going to be sneaking your dog inside and disobeying your parents' rules, please do everyone a favor and get your own place, even if it might not be up to your perceived standard of living! I don't think this issue is worthing messing up the relationship with your parents over!
 
I have to agree with Alchemy to "keep the animals outside". The mistake I believe a lot of people make is that they turn a dog outside into a fenced yard or pen, but neglect to provide them with appropriate shelter, which I think is wrong. I have seem dogs outside in a pen with no shelter, nor shade which is just not right IMHO. My dogs are outside in a large fenced in yard, but they have a nice doghouse that is up off of the ground with a floor. I keep fresh straw in it, and they dig around in it and make beds in it, but generally only in the colder months. In the summer, they would rather stay outside on the ground, in the grass, or preferrably under a "porch" on the doghouse, which is essentially just a 6'x8' piece of plywood leaning against the doghouse. They like to dig down into the dirt under the shade there to sleep, since the earth is nice and cool. They also like to burrow under the back steps, which is much more like a natural den for them. In the winter I keep a 100w floodlight in their house to keep them warm. Only in the most extreme, i.e. <20F weather have they been allowed in, and then only in a corner of the basement, and only at night. They like getting dirty, and rolling around in dusty dirt is actually a natural cleaning practice for dogs, rabbits and other animals.

When I have brought them in the house, they act terrified, and after a couple of minutes are looking for the door most of the time, even in the cold.

To come full circle, have you considered what to do with your dog when you do land a pilot job? Given your current situation, it may be time to examine that, since I am going to assume that your parents are not going to want to keep the dog while you are away on multi-day trips. Boarding and pet-sitting costs are not cheap.
 
I have never owned an Inside dog... As long as they have some kind of shelter from sun, extreme cold and rain, ie a dog house, they are all great outside. I have never owned, nor will i own, a toy dog. Mostly gaurd dogs and labs but I think they enjoy life a lot more outside, they have freedom and fun.
 
This thread reminds me of this clip from Dexter about inside/outside dogs. Skip to 0:40.

[YT]bwXe_iFRFoU[/YT]

:)
 
I've had dog in the past and grew up with many of friends and neighbors having them. An "outside" dog all depends on the breed, the climate you are in and what shelter you provide for them. I had friends that had a Husky and a Malamute both those dogs were outside dogs, had dog houses or access to a garage and a slightly elevated place to sleep, Their coats grew thick in the winter and they shed like crazy in the summer. They would bring the dog in only on the coldest or hotest days. In mid winter though he'd be panting and wanting back out in 30 minutes.

http://dogs.about.com/od/caringfordogsandpuppies/qt/coldweathersafe.htm

http://dogs.about.com/od/dogcarebasics/a/keeping_cool.htm
 
Bandit_Driver said:
Well there are only two types of married guys...Those that have been in the dog house and those that will be...
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Correction


Those that have and those that are. You may not know it but your wife has put you in the dog house multiple times and you didn't realize it.
 
My dog loves the outdoors but always follows me around and doesn't like to stay anywhere alone. I'm lucky if I can get the bathroom door shut in time without her following me in. Unless you're outside a lot I just don't see the point of having an outdoor dog because you'll rarely even see it, kinda like an outdoor cat that some people have which I will never understand what the point is because their owners don't see it for weeks and it only comes by to eat food.
 
I would go with yes, there are outside dogs and there are inside dogs. My concern would be trying to change one into the other - previous posters have said that outside dogs didn't react well to being inside and I would imagine the same to be true of an inside dog being left outside alone. Maybe start trying to get him used to being outside gradually before you move back.
 
Tram said:
Where I come from, dogs live outside. I've never had an indoor dog..

I also believe that, if the dog will fit in a microwave, it's not a dog at all..
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I agree with you there buddy!


Troy said:
My dog loves the outdoors but always follows me around and doesn't like to stay anywhere alone. I'm lucky if I can get the bathroom door shut in time without her following me in. Unless you're outside a lot I just don't see the point of having an outdoor dog because you'll rarely even see it, kinda like an outdoor cat that some people have which I will never understand what the point is because their owners don't see it for weeks and it only comes by to eat food.
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Cat are good for one thing... Killing rodents, There aren't and never will be inside cats, Keep their claws and protect my yard and garden from mice, moles and god knows anything else. Besides, people need excuses to get out of the house.
 
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