Family dogs(kept outside)Can they still be part of the family?

In a recent thread we are discussing can dogs that are kept outside still be part of the family?


I will start, as you all know mine are outside dogs. As between us we have 12 that all at some point in the day are brought in to the house but cant all sleep in here, they all were brought up around children, we've only ever had jealousy once between the dogs and kids, and they all get on well.And ARE part of my family.

I guess it comes down to how much time the family spend outside with the dog and taking it out walks etc.

If the family spend alot of time out with the dog and giving it posititve interactions, taking it places etc then yes, it is part of the family.

If it's left chained/penned alot of the day on it's own with little interaction apart from feeding and watering and the odd shout to shut up, rarely walked; then no, clearly it isn't part of the family unit.

There are also alot of dogs out there that live within the house but are barely interacted with in a positive manner.

To my mind it's not wether the dog lives in or out, its how much time and the quality of the time spent with the dog that counts.

Personally I prefer my dogs to be in here with us; but that's just me. :smt001

By the way; Both human and canine members of your famioy are adorable!

I agree with Evie, it depends on the amount of time spent with the dogs as to whether they can be deemed part of the family, I'm sure there are outside dogs who are just there but I am also sure there are indoor dogs that are just there as well without any real commitment to them as part of a family.
I just couldn't have mine outside I want them with me for as long as possible!
Becky

I think if a dog is interacted with enough ,And introduced to children from a young age and vice a versa there should be no reason for a dog not to be a very big part of a family ,
As long as children and dogs know the boundries of what is exceptable and not exceptable i can no reason why not ,
By this i mean if a dog is taught and trained properly not to nip or bite when playing with kids and children are taught and supervised well around dogs and taught not to be cruel or wicked towards a dog .
Then they should all be able to live as one big happy family
My dogs are inside dogs but then i do not have children ,So i have the room to keep my dogs indoors but i see no problem with people keeping dogs outside esp if they are part of a family and cared for and loved in the same way as children , ie well fed , well housed and walked and interacted with on a daily basis , Not put outside and forgotten about until the notion takes people to be a dog person one day and forgotten about the next because they fit there life style one day but not the next , dogs are an important factor in all families who own them just as children are to people who have them , I mean people dont forget to feed there kids and spend time looking after them so they shouldnt do it with there dogs , jmo xxxdk

Good post

I agree that it depends on how they are cared for, treated and trained. If they are owned by someone responsible and knowledgable like yourself, they will be fine. A dog brought up as part of the family unit, well socialized, trained and cared for will be an excellent pet whether kept outside or in.

Marius is a house dog, but I have used a dog-pen and run in the past and it worked out well. It was when I worked more hours than I do now and the dogs used to go in there whilst I was at work. However, I ensured they had lots of exercise, training and one-to-one time when I was not at work and I used to get up one hour early to walk them before leaving too.

An ill-treated, unsocialized, untrained dog that has no stimulus or exercise will result in a very unhappy, frustrated dog.

mine live inside - but thats they way they always have

nick used to have a kennel and run @ our old house, which he went in when we went work etc - sam was ahouse dog - so is millie

im thinking of getting another kennel/run for millie when we go out and for the new pup, so at least they will have company -

nick enjoyed his own company , personally though unless the world was a safer place i wouldnt leave them outside at night, my dogs are too soft, they would go with anyone

as for socialisation, i think as long as theya re taken out, walked etc they would be fine!

I personaly feel it's a No to dogs kept outside. But this is my own choice. We foster kids and the girls are so much a part of getting them adjusted to family life. For instance, the boy we have now was mentally and phyically abused and doesn't remember his mother or know his father. The girls help him when he's upset...which happens often. He talks to them and sometimes through them, when he's lonely he cuddles them or falls asleep with them on the settee. We know from other kids we've had that the dogs play a very important part in thier lives...although the girls probably don't know this. Sometimes we get letters from past children and they are letters for the dogs. Skye is quite a newbie at this as she isn't quite two yet, but she is brill with kids, as is Reah. If they were left outside I don't feel they would really be part of the family, A neighbour of ours leaves his outside and the kids go out every now and again, but sometimes when they can be heard playing indoors we can hear the dog whimpering by the back door. I'd hate for my two to feel they had been shut out, as it is when they have had enough they just lie on thier bed or between the armchairs...all kids are then aware that this is thier space/time out. It works great, and hubby is really against dogs being outside....so I'd have real difficulty there.
But I don't condemn anyone who does leave thier dogs out as long as they have warm housing, fed and watered and not ignored.

I think i'd personally swing more towards my dogs being kept outside. At the moment our garden isnt big enough to hold any runs or pens and our kitchen isnt really big enough for 2 big dogs (but we live with that inconvenience).

Jed would take well to living outside as he much prefers to lounge out there than inside (no matter what the weather) but Flynn wouldnt stand it as he's far too clingy.

I'd deffo put them in a pen whilst at work and perhaps in the coldest months they'd sleep inside but I think mostly i'd keep them outside (but only locked up when necessary).

Like others have said, as long as they are sufficiently interacted with and get the stimulation and socialisation they require, then there is no reason why they cant be a member of the family even when they live outdoors.

I've forgotten what the question is now, I'm just smitten with that 1st pic, how adorable is that!!!!!! And piccy 2 btw!! Awwwwwwwwwww