Puppy outside? (opinions on keeping pups in outside kennels at night?)

Hi everyone

I was wondering if any of you let your dogs sleep outside at night. If you do, when did you start training them to sleep outdoors in a kennel or run? I'm thinking about getting a pup after the summer, around September and I want to make sure i've considered everything before i bring it home.

What do you think of puppies that are kept outside to sleep? I live in a ground floor flat with a garden and fence which is enclosed and of course i'll be making sure my dog gets plenty of exercise as we have a few parks etc nearby where it would be exercised daily. I intend to allow the pup indoors during the day but i'm thinking of having it sleep outdoors at night.

What are your thoughts on this?

Hi Tee, welcome to dogweb.

I do not agree with letting puppys sleep outside. They will need constant human companionship whilst they are so young and being left alone outside will only frighten them. Not only that but there is a greater risk of them getting stolen or attacked by another animal. So no i would not even let my puppy sleep outside.

God that was quick! You're on the ball!

That's why i wanted to ask. I'm concerned about the safety of a pup outdoors and thought it might not be a good idea but wanted to ask on here as i know you have much more experience than i do.

At what stage would you recommend introducing a dog to the great outdoors when it comes to bedding down at night?

No sorry, I can't see any point in having a puppy if you are going to make it sleep outside at night. I would be too worried about someone stealing it like Dobie says. Why would you want it to be in all day and out all night?

I don't mind having a puppy indoors at night, it was just a question. I wanted to get an opinion. Like i said, when WOULD you start training a dog to sleep outdoors?

I'm afraid I also do not agree with dogs being kept outside full-stop. Welcome to Dogweb though and I know some people do keep their dogs outside in kennels so I'm sure they will be along to give you their opinion soon.

Like others have said though I do not see the point of having a dog just to keep it outside; but everyone is different.

Thanks for your opinions, i appreciate em. I do hear conflicting opinions regarding this...the reason i asked was because i've read in a couple of books that if you intend to keep a dog outdoors for whatever reason, this should be practised from the moment you bring it home. This to me sounded a bit odd because i'm thinking what about when it's crying at night etc? This is what i've read anyway and is the reason why i'm asking. I don't want to do the wrong thing when it comes to raising a dog.

Hi Tee,
Welcome to Dogweb, we've had this discussion a few times on this forum, most of us say, why get a dog if you're going to want to let it sleep outside ?

Dogs are part of the family, ours sleep in our bedroom, they always have.

They've got their beds in the corner and we like it that way.

They are not allowed ON the bed and they know that.

Some of the members dogs do sleep outside, but they are fully grown dogs and of the husky/northern type.

(Apologies to Husky/Inuit owners, that's the only way I can think of to describe what I mean).

As the others said, pups would be frightened on their own and in your heart of hearts on a really cold night, would you be able to sleep in your nice warm bed, knowing that your best friend and companion, that offers you unconditional love, is all by themselves in a kennel in the garden, rather than where they love to be, by your side ?

Kind regards

Jill

Hi and welcome to Dogweb

My 2 are Utonagans and they do sleep and live outside.
They are very happy and well socialised, in winter they have a mountain of shavings and also a heater, and often I find them outside on really cold days. But then again as everybody says they are of the northern/arctic type.
I did however used to have dobies, and they lived outside too and never seemed to be bothered at all. They were able to come in and out of the house in the day whenever they wanted, but used to come and say hello and go back out again.
My old dog Tawney who was a ute only every really came in once in a blue moon and was not really happy inside and always took herself back out in the morning if I had brought her in because I thought the weather was really bad.
I have a small house and think that keeping 2 or 3 dogs milling around inside where they don't have room to playfight and be dogs is not fair, particularly if I have to go out for a while, I know people crate them and everything but surely it is better for them to be outside where they can play and have access to shelter when they want it than to be shut in a crate or a room????
I know lots of people do not agree with this at all by the way!!!!!

I just don't agree with dogs being kept outside fullstop!

What is the point of having a dog when it is outside. I am sure that if they could speak they would tell you that they prefer to be inside with the family.

I have never kept a dog outside, as DobieGirl pointed out they stand a chance of being stolen. I am sure that those who do keep their dogs outside will make their valid points for doing so, and they are entitled to their opinion however it would just not be good enough for my dogs, no matter how expensive the kennel and run, it is just that - a kennel and run. There is no stimulation and how on earth do you house train a puppy and teach it to be sociable?

I dread it when I get a phone call from someone asking to hand a Boxer into rescue and then proceed to say that it has been an outside dog, they can be really difficult to home as they start to develop very strong guarding tendencies, which in turn makes it hard to place them with a family. They begin to guard the outside of the property, quite often they will let visitors into the house but begin to get aggressive as they try to leave.