Keeping dogs outside
Esensuelle
Posts: 1,722 Forum Member
✭✭✭
My friend lives with her BF who has a dog. I've only been round a few times but I had noted that the dog is always outside whenever I went round. I casually joked to the owner that the dog is never indoors and he responded that he doesn't allow the dog indoors, that the dog doesn't need to be indoors. The dog has a kennel but this isn't sufficient for cold weather. He said that his fur will keep him warm, but it's a Rottweiler, so not much fur on him to start with.
Apart from dealing with the elements there's the fact that dog must be incredibly lonely, won't these things contribute to the dog becoming aggressive?
I don't know much about dogs but this doesn't sound right, should I report him to the RSPCA?
Apart from dealing with the elements there's the fact that dog must be incredibly lonely, won't these things contribute to the dog becoming aggressive?
I don't know much about dogs but this doesn't sound right, should I report him to the RSPCA?
0
Comments
No, don't report to RSPCA unless you are worried about its welfare due to injury or body condition - by the sounds of it the only issue you have is that he's out side, not any issues with his well being. The five freedoms (part of the animal welfare act) say that animals need food, water, freedom to perform natural behaviours, shelter and freedom from pain and suffering. By the sounds of it he is providing all three. I presume the dogs not tethered constantly?
Rotties are guarding breeds and often kept outdoor, yes if the weather is very harsh I'd be worried, but you don't know what the guy does in such cases? Often you can get heat pads for the kennels etc.
We lived with a terrier in a car once for almost a year, he developed a really thick coat and did very well with the outdoor life. Only thing I would worry about seeing dogs kept outside these days is they are social creatures and I can't imagine they are happy excluded from family life.
Also only a few breeds are really suited to it, my two would not cope at all currently curled up against the radiator they like their comforts far too much.
You lived in a car for a year?
If not, then that may count as not allowing the animal to perform natural behaviours (as required by the Animals Act). Social behaviour is innate to dogs; it's an instinctive need.
Yes not a good period in our lives but we survived. Better than being on the streets we thought and we got a caravan after about 11 months so that was like luxury !
The animals act does not exists, it's the animal welfare act now, and I highly doubt social interaction with an owner would stand up in court as a lack of need, it's more like things such as a place to run about,sniff, toilet etc. the clue is 'natural behaviours ' and social aspects are nice to haves but not required by law for any species except cetaceans
Wow Molliepops I thought that was a typo
Love how you kept your dog with you even though you were going through very tough times. Much respect :cool:
Straw is is just magic for cleaning dogs btw, he'd go to bed all muddy & come out in the morning brilliant white again lol
sorry, just thought i'd share
It is normal to keep dogs outside. Many working dogs are kept this way. As you say you don't know much about dogs.
Whilst I don't have any issues with well cared for outdoor dogs ( after all, wolves live outside ) they are social animals by nature and if certain outdoor dogs aren't getting 'any' human interaction, are they really getting all of their needs met?
My 17 year old cat has the choice of being outside or inside - he comes and goes as he pleases - but seems to prefere sleeping in the warmth near a radiator to being outside, despite his fur coat.
That comes down to picking the right breed for your lifestyle, as I said earlier in the thread my two would not be suitable a Chihuahua just wouldn't cope and our retriever cross collie is so human orientated she would pine with too little contact with her people. But some breeds/characters can cope and some thrive. That's why for me it's more complicated than it being simply right or wrong.
but personally if i was going to keep a dog outside i just wouldn't have a dog.
this link tells you which breed is best for ourdoor living.
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-life-outdoors/page1.aspx
That's an interesting list wonder how many people want to spend best part of £1000 for a dog to keep outside though
Cetaceans are whales, right?
I think it depends why you want a dog. Most dogs that live outside are used for a purpose rather than pets, your unlikely to get the same relationship with an outdoor pet as you would an indoor one. Most dogs (with a few obvious exceptions) we bred for work initially so could all in theory live outdoors - spaniels, collies, labs and lurchers all commonly still live outdoors on farms etc. but they are working dogs and have that activity to focus their energy on, keep a dog outside that only gets walked and you may have issues with destruction and so forth.
I don't mean to say it can't be done, but I'd be cautious about getting outdoor dogs if they are just as pets- not for any respason other than the bond is likely to be less strong than such a bond with a dog that shares your house.
Yes, whales dolphins and porpoises. I believe the guidelines extend to dolphins in particular, but are obviously not in place in the uk as it is illegal to keep any cetaceans in any capacity except for rehabilitation here in the uk.
They are only specific species mentioned where welfare in regards to socialisation comes in. Whilst it is recommended that social species are housed in appropriate groups, it is not a legal requirement. Besides where dogs are concerned there is no proof that they NEED social interaction. Wolves may live in packs, however wild or feral dogs live in colonies, where they come together for a resource (food/shelter etc) but have no social bonds or loyalties.
This is from the RSPCA website:
'Dog owners have a legal duty to ensure their pet’s welfare needs are met.
Dogs' physical, social and behavioural needs are very complex. Meeting these is hard, if not impossible, for dogs living outside. Therefore, we advise against keeping dogs outside.'
http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/dogs/environment/livingoutside
Which is pretty much what I said above. I disagree that it's impossible, the RSPCA do tend to go to extremes. But it is easier to miss welfare concerns when you spend less time with a pet, and one living outside may have specific welfare needs that owners don't cater for, but not all outdoor dogs are uncared for.
A nearby farmer always has a couple of dogs who live outside. They just sleep on the back door mat. A woman I know bought a puppy from them once and she said it was a gorgeous dog but it never settled down properly in the house but if she was working in the garden it would lay down on the doorstep, curl up and go straight to sleep. Much preferred being outside.
Depends why they don't take them out, we had one who was very scared outside he was a puppy farm dog and just didn't understand trees and grass, it would have been cruel to insist he did go out. Another our late Duncan was sufferer of multiple allergies so some times of year he couldn't go out and when grass was dry it was a nightmare for him as he had to be on steroids to be able to leave the flat. Steroids killed him in the end I sometimes wish he had been content indoors he would have been less itchy and no steroids.:(