outdoor dogs

I think it's probably because the indoor dogs don't bark at people and aren't exposed to the elements. I don't think indoors dogs can't be neglected and I don't think outdoor dogs necessarily have to be neglected, but I think it's easier for people who want to neglect their dogs to put it outside and forget about it.

I think people think of so-called outdoor dogs and picture your classic neglected dog chained to a doghouse that never gets let off. My dog loves to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine and with the other dogs, so she spends most of her time out there. She only comes in at night and if it's raining, really. She doesn't need to come in for either, but she's happier inside at those times, that's all.

My dogs are my kids and they are part of the family. I don't feel I can fully achieve that without them shedding all over the house []. I don't judge any one who has an outdoor dog as long as they are kept safe from predators, they are in a secure environment, protected from the elements, and are not neglected. My boys are with me 24/7, as I work from home, and are very much an active family member.

I CALL my dogs inside dogs, but by golly when the weather is even remotely decent, they want to be OUTSIDE playing.  I guess the difference is that they do actually LIVE in the house...they don't have outside dog houses, just a little shelter in the run so that they CAN get out of the sun or rain when they don't want to come inside.  They were particularly annoyed with me on Friday nite since I wouldn't let them romp and play as the snow fell.....wierdest storm, it was thundering and lightning AND snowing all at the same time.......
 
But, when I think of an outside dog, it's the poor, neglected dog who gets no family interaction and just lives outside all the time......

our pups are in or around us till bed time...then they go to the kennel...the kennel is butted next to my shed.a door between allows them into a built in sleeping den big enough for 4 dogs,let alone 2...it is stuffed with straw and has cedar mixed in..

Kuruk stays inside at night with us.untill we build another outdoor shelter for him..

 Here is a pic of thier night quarters..



 i have hinged a door inside of the shed,on the top of thier den,so i can do easy cleaning.i also have a sun shield for them on top of the kennel area for when i have to leave one inside for a while.

my dog is outside pretty much 24/7
but then again she is a guard/watch dog for us, keeps the coyotes and foxes out of our yard
we do have her in every night for our training session and playing
we have put right outside our door her bed so she is very close to the house and a doghouse filled with straw about 10 ft from our porch
we have picture windows all in the front of our house so she can see us from one end to the other
my mom and i have always had outside dogs here, but being on a farm we are outside most the day anyways taking care of the other critters
most people around my area have outside dogs but i think they are all for coyote protection and cattle
i think Xena does prefer it outside being all her cat and horse buddies are out there too
when it gets really cold she will come in to sleep at nite and when she gets older she will be in on cold days

it is interesting to see tho how everyone keeps their dogs and what they classify a indoor or outdoor dog

I classify and outside dog as one that lives outside 24/7. And in that instance why have a dog? It just baffles me regardless of whether they are treated well.
 
Why put them out at night Mark? Not a criticism, sincerely curious

none taken...i have a couple of reasons why i bring them out at night,and a couple why i will bring them in at night too..

1st,as long as the temperature permits,i believe that my particular huskies would rather sleep out at night.I tend to keep the house warmer in the winter(anywhere from 75+ degrees),and it isnt comfortable sleeping for them..they are restless and let me know it..It also includes them drinking more water while inside,and that means more trips outside to pee...with 3 dogs in the house,that could mean waking up at 3 in the morning and have to pee them all...ussually doesnt take that long anyway,but i like my sleep(what i get of it)so it is a convenience thing too.i dont like brining them out unleashed at night,even in the fenced in area..

  Huskies were bred to endure the temps of sleeping out doors,and as long as i provide a place to let them den,then they can take the cold temps.I will bring them in if the temp drops too far tho..I could probably sleep comfortably in thier den on a cold night,so i am pretty sure thier fur coats are a bit more heat efficient than my clothing..

 The cold weather does alot to help them grow in thier winter coats....by having this coat,if there comes a time when i have to leave them out when i am away,they will be prepared for it...By letting them stay in the house all day and night,they do not develope thier winter coats as well..

as for why i let them sleep in at night..

 Temp extremes ..too hot or too cold...then they come in with me.

  If any dog is sick or has a problem,they come in....so far i havnt had this situation arise,but i would keep them in if something came up.

 I clean the kennel and dog house every other day,unless they have an accident,and then i take care of that right away...otherwise i go through it all every few weeks and scrub it all down and bleach it...i willl bring them in that night...because they only sleep here,it stays pretty clean.i dont like feeding them in the sleeping area...water only when possible..

 

My dogs are all inside pretty much 24/7.  They go outside to play whenever we go outside (we have a grill and a pool) and to go to the bathroom, that's about it.  They also go with us to check the mail.  There's just too many dangers outside to leave them out at all by themselves.  Beau can get through the fence (although he doesn't know it).  We have big dogs all around us and coyotes.  The coyotes have attacked the neighbor's golden before.  The other day we had a bobcat walk through our property and then two days ago we had a german shepherd we've never seen before that was just hanging out in the back yard.  Plus I love having my dogs inside.  They're always around and a part of everything we do, so they're part of the family.  All four live inside so they have plenty of other doggy company to play with. 

I like the kennel Mark. What a great set up. I know all about waking up at 3am to let the boys out. You don't know how many times I thought about putting Laddie outside at night, but he was a hundred pound pansy. He liked to be outside on cool summer evenings, but wanted inside when it was time to sleep.

Speaking of coyotes, my dad had troubles with his dog and the coyotes. They would come in packs and try to lure the dog away from the house. One day he said he heard one of the coyotes barking like his dog, and the coyotes will come right up to the house, and now they're not afraid of my dad anymore either.

Here are my 24/7 outdoor dogs...
 
CHAMPION Amber
Almost Champion Stormy
Almost Champion Dani
 
As you can tell, they are neglected, poorly socialized, and I shouldn't have them.
 
FYI - they are outside due to health reasons - Scott's severe asthma. They live in a climate controlled building that we built from scratch with 24/7 access to the outside in a fenced area. They are exercised regularly, heavily socialized, very well taken care of, and criticize me all you want, but I love them, they are my companions, and I am no more a bad dog owner than anyone else. I know of people that have 1 dog that lives indoors that shouldn't even have a goldfish.

Also forgot we have a great horned owl living around us so we have to go be careful at night.  A neighborhood away from us, a yorkie was taken by an owl.  We found a half eaten rabbit that would've been the same size as Beau and Harry in our back yard once when we let the dogs out.  Luckily, Trey ran the owl off.  (He can look/sound a lot bigger than he is) We also have herds of deer, but they're terrified of the papillons, which is highly amusing imo.

I don't live on a farm, I live in a small neighborhood (6 homes). We get wildlife but it's not Molly's job to keep them away - it's my job to keep her safe from wildlife same with my cats as they are inside only and no way I'm going to go through losing another to a predator.
My dog and my cats are family members and I wouldn't wish a death like that on them anymore than I'd wish a mountain lion attack on my son.
Molly goes out when she needs to and on a leash as she won't take to the run we had set up for our previous dog who loved to be outside laying on the deck - she went out when she wanted and came in when we wanted her to (bad hips and she'd lay out there until she couldn't move).
When I see a dog chained to a house or on a run 24/7 I consider them lawn ornament. If my house is suitable for my 2- legged family members it's suitable for my 4-legged ones.
I have a friend who has 3 horses and a problem with coyotes but her dog lives in the house...after losing 3 barn cats she even stopped doing that. She felt the cats were drawing the coyotes and foxes in for an easy fat lunch.

They live in a climate controlled building that we built from scratch with 24/7 access to the outside in a fenced area.

Deb, I hope you didn't take that as criticism it really wasn't and I don't think you or Mark have what I think of and can't comprehend when I think of an outdoor dog. You both have buildings and spend quality time w/ your dogs.
 Mark thanks I can understand that.
I just couldn't be w/o my dogs so it's hard to get through my head, but then a lot of stuff is.