Keeping dogs

[Andrew1978]

To a degree i agree with you, but at the end of the day they are fighting dogs and were bred for fighting, so they are aggresive when bred.

So many times have i been walking a dog and see people walking them in the park with either mussels on or they are on a lead snarling at other dogs. When i walk my dog i avoid them like the plague.

They were originally bred for fighting but they are well known for having a good temperament, especially with children. whenever i have my dogs out they're always on the lead and i find its the people with the more "passively" viewed dogs, labs, yorkshire terriers etc to be the most irresponsible letting them run off the lead in well known walking areas while other dogs are their and looking shocked when they run up to us as if we are somehow in the wrong and it would be our fault if anything happened.

Your view on staffords is extremely warped and unjustified, any problems you have are with the people who own/taught the dog to act the way it does.

They're noted for aggression towards other dogs. T.

and this is true for any dog that hasn't been socialised properly, i would bet everything i own, that my staffs would never,ever attack another dog first, all they want to do is play,

 

[wordy]

Shame this thread has got a little personal really, it could've been a really constructive one

Don't know that much about labs personally so can't comment on how they would fair living outside, but considering they originated in Newfoudland as water retrievers I reckon they'd be ok with a secure kennel with a run and an enclosed space with some bedding. Also having a dog living outside certainly isn't illegal.

However I can speak about Akitas, they have a double coat that is very well insulated, it's a harsh waterproof outer coat and a thick, insulating undercoat and this lead them to get quite warm when kept inside. Archie will want to go outside at various times in the day and will just lie down in the garden and relax. Most of the show breeders I've spoken to keep them outside as it also keeps their coat in better condition.

 

[romperstomper]

what about when at work?

Yeah but they bark at everyone and ever thing because there are bored ,should be kept indoors with the tv or radio on for company or get a dog flap !
Not sure it its fare to get a dog if its left home alone all day,they only have a short life as it is !
I think the op is talking about keeping the dog outside as its main home which some people do ,but whats the point in having the dog

 

[LizardKing]

Nowt wrong with keeping dogs outside, there coats are more than thick enough to keep them warm.
Newfoundland isnt exactly renowned for its great weather!!!

However, note the word "dogs". Labs are (as other people have stated) a sociable breed, and leaving one on its own is quite bad, not cruel as such as the dog wont know any different but it will lead to problems with boredom (hence the no skirting boards).

I've no issues with dogs living outside, but i dont think its right to leave a dog by its self for any length of time.

 

[Sankari]

My dogs have the run of the house and garden all day aswell as being walked every day and i can say without a doubt given the choice my dogs would be inside every night and most of the day, its not about me thinking my dog is a person, dogs dont like being seperated from their owners.

I just dont think people who have pets that are kept outside permanently genuinely want a pet, they just like the idea of having one (i think the same of people who keep their pets inside all the time too).

Why would you keep your dog inside for most of the day? My dog hated being left inside; she scratched the doors to ribbons and begged to go outside.

and comparing a dog to a dingo is pretty carp tbh, would you take a wild dingo and keep it inside all day?

Of course not. You've totally missed my point. Somehow.

My point was that dingoes have survived in the wild without any trouble (how did they do this, if dogs are not supposed to be kept outside?) so why should a domesticated dog have any problems living outdoors? Particularly when it enjoys all the benefits of human care.

 

[Andybtsn]

Why would you keep your dog inside for most of the day? My dog hated being left inside; she scratched the doors to ribbons and begged to go outside.

That's kind of my point, Sully can't wait to get outside which got me thinking would he prefer to be out there during the day.

Despite what people think, I love the dog, I'm not doing this for me, I asked for people's advice on here. Obviously people feel strongly about this and thinking I'm cruel but this isn't the case at all. I am an animal lover, have always had pets and my GF was quite hurt with the accusations flying around this place!

I just wanted the dog to be even more happy, at the moment he loves us, we give him more than enough attention and I think people are living in fantasy world if they think families get dogs and don't work! I bet the majority of animal owners go off to work at 8am and don't come back to their pets until evening time. Time's change..If I could see he dog every 3 hours I would but it's impossible. If RSPCA have an issue with this I'll let them take the dog if it's in his best interest.

 

[wordy]

I just wanted the dog to be even more happy, at the moment he loves us, we give him more than enough attention and I think people are living in fantasy world if they think families get dogs and don't work! I bet the majority of animal owners go off to work at 8am and don't come back to their pets until evening time. Time's change..If I could see he dog every 3 hours I would but it's impossible. If RSPCA have an issue with this I'll let them take the dog if it's in his best interest.

Have you not got relatives close by who could come by for an hour or so during the day to see him, let him out for a toilet stop and a play?

 

[Andybtsn]

Have you not got relatives close by who could come by for an hour or so during the day to see him, let him out for a toilet stop and a play?

No, my family work. I'm the lucky one who actually lives close to home.

 

[Sankari]

Well the op will be leaving it for 5 hours a day, outside, that in my opinion is completely wrong, infact its just wrong even if it was in the house. I dont quite think he understands whats could happen with the dog.

Why is it wrong to leave a dog outside for 5 hours a day? Dogs don't require human contact 24/7, and they belong in a natural environment.

First of dogs kept out side dont learn play bite properly.

Absolute tosh. My little mongrel was kept outside all night and most of the day, yet she knew how to play bite. Why wouldn't she? What's the correlation between play bites and living outside?

In cold conditions they can develop freeze tail which is extremely painful.

In extreme cold, perhaps. And only if you don't provide a kennel. And if it was every dangerously cold, of course you'd bring your dog inside for the night.

The dog already has conjuctivitius, which can be caused from cold getting into the eye of the dog, thats how my dog got it.

Still no reason for a dog to live indoors.

In the end ask your self, do you want a dog as part of the familly or do you want it for when you feel like having one?

My dog was part of the family, and a very loving one too. Se was also an animal - not a human being - and enjoyed living outside, as nature intended. She had plenty of room to roam (our house was set on three quarters of an acre), and occasionally swam in the local river with my brother's dog. How much space does your dog have? Three quarters of an acre, or a 3-bed semi? I know which one my dog would have preferred, and I daresay that most dogs would feel the same.

Seems to be a very big trend of babies on demand and dogs on demand in this country and more people are accepting it as the social norm.

I think the real problem is people using dogs as substitutes for children. Dogs are fantastic animals, and should be respected; not forced to live in an unnatural and unsuitable environment. I'm going to repeat a question I raised earlier, which remains unanswered: plenty of other domestic animals are kept outdoors; why should dogs be any different?

 

[Sankari]

That's kind of my point, Sully can't wait to get outside which got me thinking would he prefer to be out there during the day.

Of course Sully would prefer to be outside during the day; it's a natural environment, which is where Sully belongs.

Definitely bring him inside when you get home from work, though. He's still a puppy, and will need a great deal of regular attention.

Despite what people think, I love the dog, I'm not doing this for me, I asked for people's advice on here. Obviously people feel strongly about this and thinking I'm cruel but this isn't the case at all. I am an animal lover, have always had pets and my GF was quite hurt with the accusations flying around this place!

I just wanted the dog to be even more happy, at the moment he loves us, we give him more than enough attention and I think people are living in fantasy world if they think families get dogs and don't work! I bet the majority of animal owners go off to work at 8am and don't come back to their pets until evening time. Time's change..If I could see he dog every 3 hours I would but it's impossible. If RSPCA have an issue with this I'll let them take the dog if it's in his best interest.

Good for you!

 

[Blackstar]

My god, Teki187 you have done nothing but spout off rubbish you say dogs are your passion then you'd know they are perfectly fine being let outside. He is not going to neglect his dog he wants to give it more space, it will have somewhere to shelter and will more than likely be brought back in when they come home and played with and be given the attention it needs.
About your fear of staffys, yes sometimes you see them muzzled but snarling hardly
Owners put muzzels on their dogs for safety, not usually for people but for other dogs. My sister has two dogs one a staffy-collie cross the other is a staffy and we suspect she has some english bull terrier in there somewhere (we are not entirely sure as she is a rescue dog, her first owners abused her very badly) she wears a muzzel because she was never trained fully and we can guarantee she will come back all the time, although she is hugely improved. She also doesn't like other dogs, my sisters other dog is the only one she has ever gotten on with, we don't know why this is.
As for being a child killer and being breed as a fighting dog, yes some are breed for that from aggressive parents but most are breed as pets from none aggressive family pets, when you take on the dog you take on the responsibility for its personality - you don't buy a puppy from aggressive parents. Mia is slightly overzealous with people as she is a strong dog she is always supervised around young children as she can knock them over but she is very affectionate, licking any bit of skin or clothes she can, she also loves sneaking up on the sofa for a cuddle. I would never say she would never attack a person as she has barked at people for example she was in the car with my mum and a strange man approached the car and tried to get in Mia was there like a shot barking and he backed off. But i see this as her trying to protect my mum not as being an aggressive dog.

 

[wordy]

Judge the deed not the breed

Without a doubt the best sentence in this thread.

Thanks

 

[dod]

our labs hate being inside

 

[a1ex2001]

This thread is typical of the mass hysteria and over reaction that is rife in society at the minute, the man asked for some advise on doing something with a dog that others have been doing for hundreds of years and the do-gooders go off on one. We'll have someone over dramatic reporter from bbc news predicting the end of the world before long and recomending the dog go to rehab.

 

[Ben M]

I don't think that you should own a domestic dog, unless you are at home to look after it.

 

[Andybtsn]

I don't think that you should own a domestic dog, unless you are at home to look after it.

Are you comparing a dog to a baby?

Does a dog need attention constantly?

 

[Gilly]

I wouldn't leave our boxer at home all day on his own. They're too bouncy and liable to eat the house and do damage to themselves.

However, not all dogs are the same and our dalmation when she was older was home alone whilst I was at school. Probably from 10am until 3pm every day and it didn't cause any hassle for her.

 

[akirru]

I have a dog and he is fine when we leave him outside. We keep him inside at night but when we are all at work he spends the daytime in the garden (he has his kennel for shelter). At the end of the day the dog is an animal and I really dont see an issue. I would say it is more cruel to keep him confined to a room.

Andy

 

[al123]

It’s a dog not a child. It will be fine outside during the day. Although if you can pop back during your lunch break even better.

I’d look into getting a secure run/kennel for it though as dogs of that type are often stolen it that area.

 

[puppeteer]

I have a dog and he is fine when we leave him outside. We keep him inside at night but when we are all at work he spends the daytime in the garden (he has his kennel for shelter). At the end of the day the dog is an animal and I really dont see an issue. I would say it is more cruel to keep him confined to a room.

Andy

agreed!