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?

Well technically the boyfriend is correct, dogs don't need to be inside. We invite them into our homes as pets because we want that company and lifestyle, however as long as the dog is well cared for, is healthy and in good condition I see no obvious issues with him being kept outside. It's not what I would chose for my pets but I'd rather someone had an outside dog who was well cared for than a neglected indoor pet.

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.

It's not something I am keen on but some dogs actually do better outdoors. One person I know has a rottie she keeps outdoors and I have to admit Monty is the healthiest dog I have ever met and in the cold months he develops a much thicker coat than I have seen on indoor rotties.

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?

Is the dog having adequate social interaction with its owner?

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

We kept our spaniel when i was a kiddie in his kennel near our pigeon lofts & chickens & rabbits. He was a working dog though our alsation lived in the house. Jasper loved it, always fit & healthy. He was a totally mad dog & if he ever got in the house he would just trash it, jumping on everything lol

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.

different cultures and different counties have different views on whether dogs should be in doors or out doors.

but personally if i was going to keep a dog outside i just wouldn't have a dog.

personally i think if you're going to keep a dog outside all the time then dont get one, i dont think its right, it gets too hot in the summer ,too cold in the winter, i would never do it.

Again depends not just on the breed and character but the facilities too, some out side dogs have lovely accommodations and the dogs do very well. If the dog is left too hot or too cold that is neglect and should be reported.

So what breed of dog [aside from rotties] would do ok being an outside dog? I can provide excellent kennelling, daily walks, good care and could maybe have 2 dogs.

this link tells you which breed is best for ourdoor living.



http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog...ors/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.

I can understand why working dogs aren't kept in the house but to keep a pet dog outside seems bizarre to me. Why get a dog in the first place?

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/allaboutanim.../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.

I know loads of people who have dogs living outside in kennels or runs. It's what they're used to. My mums neighbour has 6 gun dogs and they all live outside. They are the healthiest and best trained dogs I've ever seen. They get long, daily exercise.

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.

I forgot to say, my pet hate is people who have dogs which never get taken out. That really is cruel in my opinion.