keancy Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Our dogs are a toy breed, and wouldn't last 5 mins in this weather, but I am concerned about the dog of our neighbours at the end of our garden. It's outside all the time, on it's own in all weather. Sometimes when I'm at the bottom of the garden feeding the fish I can hear it whining. It's a hardy looking thing but I can't help feeling that as a pack animal, being alone 24/7 is cruel, and I wonder what the point of owning a dog is if you're not bothered about seeing it. Last summer they locked it in the garage when they went on holiday and a neighbour was feeding it every day. That's disgusting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurgen-Jm-Imports Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Our dogs are a toy breed, and wouldn't last 5 mins in this weather, but I am concerned about the dog of our neighbours at the end of our garden. It's outside all the time, on it's own in all weather. Sometimes when I'm at the bottom of the garden feeding the fish I can hear it whining. It's a hardy looking thing but I can't help feeling that as a pack animal, being alone 24/7 is cruel, and I wonder what the point of owning a dog is if you're not bothered about seeing it. Last summer they locked it in the garage when they went on holiday and a neighbour was feeding it every day. they want reporting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethr Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Of course it's not cruel. Virtually any breed of dog would be fine outside in a British winter (with a kennel), including the short-haired ones. Foxhounds live outside, and I doubt if many smooth-coated hunt terriers lived indoors. Even dogs we think of as soft are a lot tougher than we think. For example, about ten years ago I think I read about a team of Standard Poodles competing several times in the Iditarod sled race. What would be cruel, as said above, would be leaving them alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I've been sorely tempted, but I can't be sure if it doesn't have some sort of shelter, plus anonymity is a fragile thing in these situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra-lover Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 i would never keep any dog of mine out side.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I've been sorely tempted, but I can't be sure if it doesn't have some sort of shelter, plus anonymity is a fragile thing in these situations. I was under the impression you could report things like that anonymously? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I've been sorely tempted, but I can't be sure if it doesn't have some sort of shelter, plus anonymity is a fragile thing in these situations. Just pinch it and take it to a rescue, say you found it by the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Just pinch it and take it to a rescue, say you found it by the road. There's always people in the house, up at all hours, a light is always on somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Not all dogs can last outside, however if they have a kennel and shelter I do not think it is cruel. Personally I would not do it, when I own a dog and like all my past dogs including my current one they have all stayed in the house. I stay in a resedential area and a lot of houses aroung me have dogs, and quite a few of them leave them out 24/7, so I have no piece at night all I hear is dogs barking. The worse being only 3 doors along from me. Although I will not report it as if the council get wind of to many complaints then the dog can be destroyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 For me owning a dog is all about responsibility. I would never have a dog if I couldn't fulfill its basic needs. First and foremost its exercise requirements. If a dog cannot release the energy it would do as a wild species its not being treated right. A dog needs space to run in and do its doggy playing etc. It also needs to cover some ground on a regular basis irrespective of breed as its in a dogs basic dna and instinctive background. It needs company as dogs are naturally pack animals and denying a dog company is why they whine and why they get very irritable and in some cases violent. As long as they have adequate exercise and continuous companionship with a clear alpha male leader (IE you) they will want for not alot. As far as keeping dogs outside Puleeeeeeaaaase where the hell do you think these creatures spent the last 9000 odd years since they became a dog species? For that matter where do you guys think we spent the years prior to the last 1000 years? All household pets are naturally outside animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossack Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 my staff lives inside at all times, sleeps in the bed and comes to work with me, wouldnt have it any other way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs H Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 My mut won't put his nose outside the door if it is raining, never mind into minus temperatures! Vicki x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Early riser lol Scott =op Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs H Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 No I'm poorly sick, came down for a lemsip and a strepsil:( Vicki x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 No I'm poorly sick, came down for a lemsip and a strepsil:( Vicki x Hope you feel better soon Mrs H. A Rob, if you think the dog is in distress report it anonymously. Chris the dogs will be alright if they have company and a sheltered place to go out of wind. The wind chill factor in your area can drop temps lower than - 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Beast Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 me and jen have 2 labs, they live indoors most of the time, but there has been quite a few occasions where i have gone into the kitchen to find that they have both gone outside to cool down, it minus 2 the other night and they were both out there!! as long as they have something to lay on and they can snuggle up to each other i dont see it as a problem, it will also slow down the malting process as they are less likely to shed there fur if they need it at the moment. mine are loseing there winter coats at the moment because of the mild weather over the last few weeks. yours will be ok, the guy we got ours from keeps has labs out in kennals as the are working dogs and not house pets, so depends on there use and how you feel about it. if you go to them one morning and they look like the monkey in the last pirates of the carrabian when its on the ship going into the iceberg area, might be woth bringing them in!! richie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Raven Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 My dogs have always lived in doors, Hell i even bring the Guinea pigs in for winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kslb Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I have 4 dogs of my own and a boarding kennels with up to 32 dogs in at any one time. Three of my dogs (working Shorthaired Pointers) live outside in a kennel with large run and are fine all year and do a good job of keeping eachother warm. I also have a Lurcher that is a pet and lives in the house. The guidlines for Boarding Kennels is 10 degrees and they must maintain this as a minimum. House dogs that are kept 'too warm' for example lying in front of fires or by radiators become more prone to things like ear infections and generally are not as hardy. Responsible dog ownership is a must but dogs that are kept too warm are far more likely to be regular visitors to the vets than outdoor dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Interesting replies, thanks. We have 3 Russian terriers outside and one Anatolian. The Anatolian in the house is "Jane's Dog", and it has always been a house dog. A Russian Terrier bitch is temporarily indoors as she has a young pup, and he's not old enough to be out in sub zero yet. For some reason our Bouvier sleeps in the kitchen. Quite why I don't know, he kinda sneaks in when no one is looking and hides. He should definitely be outside, too. Having 9 dogs in the house is of course unhealthy and impossible, especially as some just can't be put with others. All are working breeds, the Anatolians in particular are bred to be outside from 8 weeks until they die, and all have very warm, weatherproof coats. I wouldn't put a toy breed outside if it was short coated, for example. The working breeds love the job of work that they fulfil being outside, defending against killer rabbits, maniacal foxes, and the dreaded crow Just off to chip the ice off them now, and see if the limbs still articulate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Our two dogs sleep upstairs in our bedroom. The GSD sleeps on the waterbed and is incredibly spoilt. They are like kids to us though. Actually I don't like kids but you get the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I looked into it for my Rottweiler and found out they loved nothing more than the cold weather being outside. We keep him inside as a house pet but yes... he's be fine outside in the cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleapple Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I'm amazed no one has done the 'I wish my wife would sleep outside' joke yet! We used to have a Collie and she had a basket in the kitchen which she curled up in quite happily. She was well trained though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 The last dogs I had were a Weimaraner and a German Wirehaired Pointer, they both were kennelled outside in a shed with run. Both loved it inside given half a chance though, especially 6" in front of our open fire, sometimes, so near they would "smoke" ! Being an old softy, I had a red heat lamp in their shed though, sort of thing farmers put over piglets. I did move the whole lot into the back of my garage when the GWP was a pup. It had a problem (prob GWP related) and burned the whole garage down together with my beautiful red Westfield (dogs were OK though) ! Not sure if the heat lamp was neccessary but made me feel better on really cold nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Heat lamp? Heat lamp, someone mention a heat lamp? Where, for God's sake, where?? http://www.gatesgarth.com/snow.jpg Sometimes you just want to be back in Oz.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Ours will be outside during the day and inside at night, at least that's the plan. No concern at all about cold though, more concerned with him being left alone while we're at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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