Outside dogs???

Hope1 · by **Hope1** on Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:45 pm

Do you have a dog that primarily lives outside?? We have a 3 month old puppy and we'd like her to be an outside dog....when (in victoria's weather) do you leave your dog out all night. I am wondering about her age, as well as the different weather they can handle. Don't worry DP gets plenty, I mean PLENTY of attention; we just don't want the smell of dog in our house. For those of you who have a dog who is your life, please don't answer. I don't need to hear how cruel this is. I would like to hear from those who do it, when and what age THEY think is ok...
Sorry this is so long.
TIA

Penelope · by **Penelope** on Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:10 pm

You would have to provide shelter, like a dog house with bedding.

Our dogs are outside dogs when we go our MIL's and they sleep in the shop. They are also older 9 and 7.

I am sure if you google it, you could find more info!

MetchosinMomma · by **MetchosinMomma** on Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:00 am

My folks have a dog and she is inside mostly, but has her dog house outside and sleeps in it at night. Her doghouse my dad made has styrofoam insulation in the walls, and the top comes off so they can give it a good cleaning out. She has several wool blankies in there. (salvation army stores are perfect to find old wool blankets) The house is near the front door and their awning comes out quite a ways and so she is sheltered from rain ect.. When it gets really cold in the winter my folks let her stay in the house.

Hez · by **Hez** on Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:11 am

I have 2 dogs that ARE my life, but they live primarily outdoors. I have a mudroom/sunroom (that is not heated)that they have access to 24/7 that has their crates in it with soft squishy beds in the crates. My dogs however are short haired and that is a factor when it is really cold out. In the winter they are out in the day and they come into the laundry room at night where they have beds as well. I do this because of dog smell as well as both my dogs together weigh about 220 lbs and it gets stinky fast! You definitely have to provide adequate shelter that gets your dog completely out of the weather where he can be warm and dry. A good dog house loaded up with straw in the winter is good. Plus you can throw the straw away when it gets dirty. Are you planning on tying the dog outside? I would look into bylaws because I believe it is against bylaw to tie your dog. Also the type of coat is something to consider when it's really cold out. If your dog has short hair it is a lot harder for him to keep warm in the winter.

Hope1 · by **Hope1** on Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:29 am

Thanks for your replies....I got shot down on a doggie chat room for mentioning keeping my dog outside and that is why I was specific about what answers I needed....
Anyways, that helps. We have a very large fenced yard and all of us in the family love to go out and play with her. Her crate with warm blankies is on our covered deck. I think if it gets too cold I will just bring it in our laundry room too.
I like the idea of an insulated dog house that is cleanable...
thanks!

momto2girls · by **momto2girls** on Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:22 am

I have many German Shepherds and they live outside for the simple fact I can't have that many dogs in the house, now if I only had 1 or 2 dogs they'd be in, it's not the smell of dog that bothers me.

Your dog will need good shelter a nice insulted dog house with a flap door that's raised off the ground, a sheltered area outside even if it's mall say 8 x8 or so that has a roof and at least 3 shelterd sides so she can move around outside in the windy rain which we do get a lot of. What size of dog and breed is she? That will make a difference as to if she's meant to handle the wet weather coat wise, she'll also need an area outside of her dog house, perhaps int he covered outdoor area would be best that's raised off the ground and has straw or woodships or something absorbant so when she lays on it wet, it will help prevent bone and joint problems and arthritis as she ages if she's off the cold, damp ground.
Now, all that said, 3 months this time of year is fine for being outside with the proper shelters but our weather is starting to get colder and being a puppy in the winter she will need a heated area outside (like a shed) or at least be brought inside and put in a crate overnight when it gets cold outside.

My guys are Shepherds with thick nice coats and I don't leave them outside overnight in the cold until they're at least a year old, not good for their growing bones and it's hard on them in other ways as well.