Should I leave my dog out

ABEasy

Hi,

I've a 6 month old lab pup, he has been sleeping outside in his kennell for the past few months (wooden kennell with fleese blanket). but with tempatures dropping lately I was feeling guilty and worried about leaving him out in the cold. So the question is should I be leaving him out in the cold and when is it too cold.

Thanks

Asphyxia

In my opinion I would bring him in I was letting my pup outside this morning and one of his water bowls was frozen :eek: I always bring him in at night though.

Susannahmia

ABEasy wrote: »

Hi,

I've a 6 month old lab pup, he has been sleeping outside in his kennell for the past few months (wooden kennell with fleese blanket). but with tempatures dropping lately I was feeling guilty and worried about leaving him out in the cold. So the question is should I be leaving him out in the cold and when is it too cold.

Thanks

Imo no its too cold.

Whats stopping you from having the pup inside?

We keep our pup in a crate in our downstairs bathroom. Never had any problems related to her being in there and I always know shes comfortable and safe.

liquoriceall

This exact topic was covered in another tread last week

ABEasy

Susannahmia wrote: »

Imo no its too cold.

Whats stopping you from having the pup inside?

We keep our pup in a crate in our downstairs bathroom. Never had any problems related to her being in there and I always know shes comfortable and safe.

I'm afraid he'll eat our furniture and make a huge mess every night. I was intending to bring him in when it gets really cold (like last years cold snap) but would prefer to keep him as an outdoor dog while its not freezing out.

ABEasy

liquoriceall wrote: »

This exact topic was covered in another tread last week

Thanks Liquor, checked a few pages of treads and couldn't find it, you don't remember the name of the thread by any chance. Cheers

boxerly

get a crate! way too cold for a puppy

Discodog

ABEasy wrote: »

I'm afraid he'll eat our furniture and make a huge mess every night. I was intending to bring him in when it gets really cold (like last years cold snap) but would prefer to keep him as an outdoor dog while its not freezing out.

He needs to be in not just because of the cold but so that you can train him. My pup sleeps in my hall & it has less temptation. Leaving him outside on his own will more that likely make the chewing worse.

jap gt

i have my 7month old red setter sleeping out side in a house, and she has no bother, built a block kennel for her and made a timber box inside in it, she has no bother going in at night, and i have no bother in training her

as ye can see she is happy out

ABajaninCork

Why can't you crate train him if you're worried about the 'mess'?

I have a year-old Shih Tzu who's trained to go into his crate at night. No trouble at all. I lined one side with newspaper so he could go on that if he was caught short. The other had his vet bed to sleep on. He soon got the hang of it, and Shih Tzu are supposed to be hard to potty train!

Put the puppy outside to do his business before he goes to bed. With mine, I simply tell him to 'do his wees' and off he goes! I tell him to 'go beddy byes' and he goes into his bed. If he's very tired and wants to go off early, he'll go in by himself.

Hope this helps

Susannahmia

ABEasy wrote: »

I'm afraid he'll eat our furniture and make a huge mess every night. I was intending to bring him in when it gets really cold (like last years cold snap) but would prefer to keep him as an outdoor dog while its not freezing out.

He wont make a mess or eat any furniture with a crate. Honestly its a great investment.

Discodog

A thought entered my head during last Winter's cold. We assume that a dog is warm in it's kennel/shed but how do we know ?. Yes we can go out at 4am & check it's ears but how do we know if the dog feels cold. It's easy with my Greyhound as she shivers at anything below about 14c.

Andrew33

Why do people feel that they have to leave a dog outside just because they've read that it suits that breed? I'm not humanising the dog but if its better for the dog and better for the owner why not leave the dog inside? I know it can take a bit of training but I'd much prefer to have my dog (he is mans best friend!) in the house. Would you ask your best mate to sleep out in the garden?

Discodog

The whole in/out argument has occupied many threads here. I personally believe that I would miss out on so much if my dogs were outside & the pup curled up on my lap agrees.

hondasam

I have a german shepard and she is inside, I feel really safe knowing she is downstairs at the patio door. she did chew the furniture but she is a 1yr old now and has stopped. she is so cute we dont care

hondasam

ABEasy wrote: »

I'm afraid he'll eat our furniture and make a huge mess every night. I was intending to bring him in when it gets really cold (like last years cold snap) but would prefer to keep him as an outdoor dog while its not freezing out.

leave a bone for him to chew and some toys, I have read the only chew things when the are lonely and bored. I always leave a big bone inside for my dog when im gone. If you have a utility put him in there and close the door.

jap gt

we have 3 dogs at home, an airedale (my mothers) sleeps in the kitchen. a rescue jack russel that sleeps in the shed ( loves it in there) and my red setter who sleeps in a kennel and has her own run, its what suits our house

ABajaninCork

Susannahmia wrote: »

He wont make a mess or eat any furniture with a crate. Honestly its a great investment.

Argos do some very good ones with trays you can take out and wash. That's where we got ours. I've attached a link for you.

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=30001&catalogId=1500002451&langId=-1&searchTerms=dog+crates

boxerly

Our dogs are part of or should be part of our families so why leave them out :(I could not get into my warm bed at night knowing my dog is outside in the cold,frost,snow,rain,storms etc.

jap gt

boxerly wrote: »

Our dogs are part of or should be part of our families so why leave them out :(I could not get into my warm bed at night knowing my dog is outside in the cold,frost,snow,rain,storms etc.

what difference does it make where the dog sleeps, we wouldn't keep dogs if we didnt care about them, i dont think it makes a difference keeping a dog outside once they are in a well built kennel, its not like the dogs are lying out in the rain, any caring owner will provide a warm kennel

boxerly

jap gt wrote: »

what difference does it make where the dog sleeps, we wouldn't keep dogs if we didnt care about them, i dont think it makes a difference keeping a dog outside once they are in a well built kennel, its not like the dogs are lying out in the rain, any caring owner will provide a warm kennel

I foster dogs and have had so many dogs who were got as cute pups slept outside blah blah blah,Spent a little more time out each day to eventually being left out and forgotten about.I just cant see why your dog HAS to sleep out?I really cant :)My dogs are part of my family and are all house dogs.theyve all done their fair share of wrecking things but hey so have my kids.If your dog could talk and you asked them would they prefer to be in or out the back what do ye reckon the answer would be?Im not havin a go like I said Ive seen so many poor dogs sleeping out to eventually staying out and then ending up on the street,in the pounds or dead:(

nikobyrne

so im guessing it would be wrong for me to put my husky out

boxerly

He has a lab puppy,short hair:)My post is my opinion,I wouldnt have a dog who I couldnt have in the house.Ive minded a few huskies and they are not for me:)

andreac

Dog kennels are not warm, they are not insulated so they dont have any way of keeping the heat in, only really stops them from getting wet if its raining.

nikobyrne

huskys are not for you? em ok i have a king charles too and i think they are both brill, huskys are very intelligent, i know they are hard to train because they are so stubborn but its worth it in the end as they are so loyal and great fun

jap gt

boxerly wrote: »

I foster dogs and have had so many dogs who were got as cute pups slept outside blah blah blah,Spent a little more time out each day to eventually being left out and forgotten about.I just cant see why your dog HAS to sleep out?I really cant :)My dogs are part of my family and are all house dogs.theyve all done their fair share of wrecking things but hey so have my kids.If your dog could talk and you asked them would they prefer to be in or out the back what do ye reckon the answer would be?Im not havin a go like I said Ive seen so many poor dogs sleeping out to eventually staying out and then ending up on the street,in the pounds or dead:(

well the airedale is my mothers dog so its up to her what she wants to do, the jacker was given to use with two broken legs so we kept her in a shed in a crate, she was only menat to be with us a few weeks, that was 3 years ago. and my setter is a gun dog and believe me is far from being forgotten about, she loves going into her kennel every evening and i dont have to worry about here dirtying the house after her walks through the fields, im not having ago either, but keeping a dog inside doesnt suit everyone

jap gt

andreac wrote: »

Dog kennels are not warm, they are not insulated so they dont have any way of keeping the heat in, only really stops them from getting wet if its raining.

the timber ones arent a bit warm, il be first to admit a dog would hate sleeping in one, a concrete lined with inch ply is very warm

boxerly

nikobyrne wrote: »

huskys are not for you? em ok i have a king charles too and i think they are both brill, huskys are very intelligent, i know they are hard to train because they are so stubborn but its worth it in the end as they are so loyal and great fun

Why are ye taking that personal?alot of people dont like boxers or like them but wouldnt have one.I NEVER said there was anything wrong with them like ye said they are beautiful and VERY VERY smart,just not for me:).This thread is not about breeds:)Everyone has their favourites:)

boxerly

jap gt wrote: »

well the airedale is my mothers dog so its up to her what she wants to do, the jacker was given to use with two broken legs so we kept her in a shed in a crate, she was only menat to be with us a few weeks, that was 3 years ago. and my setter is a gun dog and believe me is far from being forgotten about, she loves going into her kennel every evening and i dont have to worry about here dirtying the house after her walks through the fields, im not having ago either, but keeping a dog inside doesnt suit everyone

ye should see my kitchen after 2 mucky boxers and a bichon:)My poor mop never gets a break haha

coolhandspan

put a heat lamp in shed, dogs should never sleep inside

theg81der

So how do you insulate a wooden kennel if you already have one?

boxerly

coolhandspan wrote: »

put a heat lamp in shed, dogs should never sleep inside

why is that?

andreac

coolhandspan wrote: »

put a heat lamp in shed, dogs should never sleep inside

Eh, why not??

I would be under the impression that a dog should not have to sleep outside, my dogs sleep inside every night. Fair enough if a dog prefers to be outdoors but im sure most dogs are far happier and more comfortable inside with their owners.

Squall19

I would keep him inside, 6 months is very young to be outside at this time of the year.Yeah he might wreck a few things the first few nights if you leave stuff out for him, but take everything away that he can destroy and he will be fine.He's only 6 months, at that age they are still like babies, they will learn right from wrong pretty quick at that age.

I have a 1 year old Siberian husky who would be one of most suitable breeds to keep outside, but I have kept inside from the start and bar a few destroyed shoes in the early days he's been terrific.He's like my son and you dont put your son outside in the cold and rain, without a good reason:D

The big baby is sleeping on my bed next time to me, while im on the laptop now lol

jap gt

coolhandspan wrote: »

put a heat lamp in shed, dogs should never sleep inside

doesnt make an sense, the cost of running the heat lamp would build you a very warm kennel in no time, build a house right and you will ave no problems, if people want to keep dogs inside fair play to them but if outside the least you can do is make sure its warm and secure, saying a dog doesnt belong inside/outside is wrong, either is fine once its done right

pokertalk

Squall19 wrote: »

I would keep him inside, 6 months is very young to be outside at this time of the year.Yeah he might wreck a few things the first few nights if you leave stuff out for him, but take everything away that he can destroy and he will be fine.He's only 6 months, at that age they are still like babies, they will learn right from wrong pretty quick at that age.

I have a 1 year old Siberian husky who would be one of most suitable breeds to keep outside, but I have kept inside from the start and bar a few destroyed shoes in the early days he's been terrific.He's like my son and you dont put your son outside in the cold and rain, without a good reason:D

The big baby is sleeping on my bed next time to me, while im on the laptop now lol

i dont get y people compare their dog to their children

smokin ace

i have two lurcher dogs and they sleep outside all year round in there kennel
but when i was building the kennel i put a lot of thought into building it for them
the kennel is build out of blocks and lined with insulation and then lined with timber and the bedding is carpet only during the summer and during the winter the bedding is two layers of carpet along with loads of shredded paper thanks to the local credit union and they are very snug and warm in there and there run is fully covered with sheeting to protect from the rain/sleet/snow so wet paper in the beds are not a problem

they have been in and out of the house many times but always look to get back out as the house is to warm for them

to be honest the argument if to leave a dog live outside or not will always go on and on but its down to what ever set up the owner has for outside living dogs that makes a major difference
i think the timber dog houses being sold are a total waste of time and i would never put my dog into one of them to live

pokertalk

smokin ace wrote: »

i have two lurcher dogs and they sleep outside all year round in there kennel
but when i was building the kennel i put a lot of thought into building it for them
the kennel is build out of blocks and lined with insulation and then lined with timber and the bedding is carpet only during the summer and during the winter the bedding is two layers of carpet along with loads of shredded paper thanks to the local credit union and they are very snug and warm in there and there run is fully covered with sheeting to protect from the rain/sleet/snow so wet paper in the beds are not a problem

they have been in and out of the house many times but always look to get back out as the house is to warm for them

to be honest the argument if to leave a dog live outside or not will always go on and on but its down to what ever set up the owner has for outside living dogs that makes a major difference
i think the timber dog houses being sold are a total waste of time and i would never put my dog into one of them to live

totally agree alot of the kennels you can buy are rubbish your way better off building your own one .in the normal kennels you can buy your dog is probably as warm as your lawnmower in the shed

Squall19

pokertalk wrote: »

i dont get y people compare their dog to their children

Why not?

pokertalk

because its just not the same

The poor baby of course you should keep him inside
You don't kick your family out to sleep in the shed!!

Use the crate etc if you have any trouble, but don't leave him out there lonely in the freezing cold!

kylith

My pair sleep outside all year round. I tried keeping them in the kitchen when it got cold once about 3 years ago. Quite apart from the fact that they destroyed the place they hated it so much that it's only in the last few weeks that Tegan will set foot in the kitchen again.

They have a solid kennel in a sheltered corner and I bed them in straw in cold weather. They run outside at bedtime.

pokertalk

kylith wrote: »

My pair sleep outside all year round. I tried keeping them in the kitchen when it got cold once about 3 years ago. Quite apart from the fact that they destroyed the place they hated it so much that it's only in the last few weeks that Tegan will set foot in the kitchen again.

They have a solid kennel in a sheltered corner and I bed them in straw in cold weather. They run outside at bedtime.

yeah i think the straw is a great idea

sophie1234

but surely by not bringing the dog in it will never be trained not to chew? all dogs need to be trained and leaving them out side because they might chew up the house? with training they will soon learn not to chew up the house! of course they will at first but id much prefer a 6 month old puppy chewing up stuff then in 2 years time them chewing it up! i have a five month pup that i just couldnt imagine her sleeping outside!if your worried about chewing then like every one else says crate training is great!

lrushe

Wherever you're dog is used to sleeping is fine, obviously you wouldn't just out of the blue put a dog who is used to sleeping inside outside however if outside is where you're pup is used to sleeping and has a warm kennel to sleep in it should be fine.
I've never had a dog sleep inside, with the exception of my current Chihuahua and that's only for safety reasons. My dogs aren't dumped out the back and forgotten, they are part of my family and are with me until I get into bed to go asleep and then they go outside. During last years cold snap they were brought inside but were restless, afraid they were missing something outside.

jap gt

sophie1234 wrote: »

but surely by not bringing the dog in it will never be trained not to chew? all dogs need to be trained and leaving them out side because they might chew up the house? with training they will soon learn not to chew up the house! of course they will at first but id much prefer a 6 month old puppy chewing up stuff then in 2 years time them chewing it up! i have a five month pup that i just couldnt imagine her sleeping outside!if your worried about chewing then like every one else says crate training is great!

training a dog not to chew inside is just as easy to do outside, i spent time training mine and she doesnt chew anymore or less than any of the house dogs

sophie1234

i suppose ive just never out of the dogs ive had some small some big had them sleep outside i would just be worried about them! but each to there own is all not here to slate people just give them my opinion!

ABEasy

Hi all OP here, thanks for the replies. The reason I keep the dog outside is because I believe a dog should be outside, free to come and go rather than stuck inside. It's the same with the crates, I hate to see any animal in a cage, thats just me (unfortunately thats why the fox ate all my chickens)

I generally have the dog in the house with me right up until I go to bed, I just want to make sure he is comfortable outside. Like what was previously stated he is young and he is a short haired dog so I am mindful he will feel the cold, but at what tempature? I currently have a wooden kennell which is made of 3/4-1 inch chiplat. What would you recommend to insulate it to make sure he is comfortable in current conditions (he'll be coming inside if we get a cold snap like last year)

jap gt

ABEasy wrote: »

Hi all OP here, thanks for the replies. The reason I keep the dog outside is because I believe a dog should be outside, free to come and go rather than stuck inside. It's the same with the crates, I hate to see any animal in a cage, thats just me (unfortunately thats why the fox ate all my chickens)

I generally have the dog in the house with me right up until I go to bed, I just want to make sure he is comfortable outside. Like what was previously stated he is young and he is a short haired dog so I am mindful he will feel the cold, but at what tempature? I currently have a wooden kennell which is made of 3/4-1 inch chiplat. What would you recommend to insulate it to make sure he is comfortable in current conditions (he'll be coming inside if we get a cold snap like last year)

very hard to insulate them houses, giving a warm base under the dog will help as they will use alot of body heat through the ground..

ppink

ABEasy wrote: »

Hi all OP here, thanks for the replies. The reason I keep the dog outside is because I believe a dog should be outside, free to come and go rather than stuck inside. It's the same with the crates, I hate to see any animal in a cage, thats just me (unfortunately thats why the fox ate all my chickens)

I generally have the dog in the house with me right up until I go to bed, I just want to make sure he is comfortable outside. Like what was previously stated he is young and he is a short haired dog so I am mindful he will feel the cold, but at what tempature? I currently have a wooden kennell which is made of 3/4-1 inch chiplat. What would you recommend to insulate it to make sure he is comfortable in current conditions (he'll be coming inside if we get a cold snap like last year)

As regards the kennel we have one that has 1" shiplap then insulation (rockwool) then 3/4" ply on the walls and 2" boards on the floor. It is up off the floor about 8" and then we put a veranda on the front to eliminate any rain/wind blowing in the door. It is huge but very very cosy.

I am not sure if anyone can tell you at what point your dog will feel the cold at. It will really be a judgement on your part.
Having the dog coming and going I do understand but will he be doing that much coming and going at night that he needs to stay outside? I just think having had dogs that were out and dogs that were in it was easier having them in.....then I was never thinking or worried about cold, barking, burglars, fireworks etc the list goes on.....

Discodog

My concern with having the dog indoors all day & only putting it out at night would be it's coat. Most dogs will grow a thicker coat to cope with the cold & being in a warm house all day could prevent this.

Keeping a dog outside is OK if a number of conditions are met like a warm kennel, dry bedding etc. In reality the vast majority of dogs that are kept outside don't get this & suffer as a result. They also don't get the company that is fundamental to a pack animal.

The veterinary profession refer to Dogs as "Companion Animals". No they are not the same as children but the similarity is that when we own them we take on a lifetime responsibility to give them a good quality of life.

Heat lamps can warm a kennel but heat pads are better as they use a fraction of the electricity & heat the dog rather than the air. If a dog is in a dry kennel & then goes outside in the rain it will spend much of the night trying to dry off inside the kennel. To be warm a kennel can't have too much ventilation so there will be little air movement to dry the dog. It is very easy for the dog to become cold & chilled.