Do you think it is wrong to keep a dog outside?

[Lyss90]

I would very much like to have an indoor dog, but i know that isnt going to happen. boyfriends allergic ..
Animals are a huuuge part of my life and i miss having them SO much, I really want to get a dog someday when we get our own house.
If I had a large fenced in yard, and im wanting to give him/her their own "room" like maybe a sun porch or something he/she would have access to and was heated/cooled. also maybe if we had all hard floors so no allergens could get trapped inside and just banned him from couches/bedroom he could come in somtimes. I am wanting to do some activities with the dog, such as maybe agility/obedience and actually would really like to train as a therapy dog, im not wanting just a backyard pet to ignore or anything like that.
Do you have any good ideas of how this could work?
I cant imagine not ever being able to have a dog

 

[CaliTerp07]

There are hypoallergenic dogs--my aunt & uncle are allergic to most dog breeds, but have a bichon happily. There's no guarantee, but I would have him go spend time around specific dogs before assuming you can't have a dog inside at all.

Keeping the dog out of the bedroom is a big one. It depends how bad the allergies are, but my husband takes a claritin daily and does well around Lucy. We have an air purifier in the bedroom that helps, I think. I am fine with one dog, but with 3+ in the house it is too much and my eyes swell shut.

 

[Greenmagick]

IMO, the only time it is ok to have an "outside" dog is if the dog is a working dog, like a livestock guardian.

With allergies, different dogs cause people to react differently (and even each dog in a breed causes different reactions). Many people who are allergic can coexist by doing things like keeping the dog bathed and brushed, off the furniture, and out of the bedroom.

 

[Lyss90]

his parents have a yorkie, witch is suppose to be hypoallergenic.
he's not like horribly allergic, but hes still all sneezy and everything when we go there.

 

[Moth]

My boyfriend has allergies, but we very successfully have not just one but two dogs and a cat that live with us.

Dogs are social animals and they need your company.

I agree with Cali that you should explore the breeds that are known to be alright with most allergy sufferers and get your boyfriend to spend some time with a poodle or a bichon to see if that is an option.

Does your boyfriend take any medications for his allergies? If not you might try some of the over the counter stuff and see if that also helps. My SO takes Claritin as well and that seems to take care of most of the trouble.

 

[Lizmo]

No, I don't think it's wrong to keep a dog outside. BUT.

It takes a whole lot more work, IMO. 'Keeping a dog outside' isn't just having a fenced yard and a garage to come into when it rains. You will need to train the dog how to be inside in case anything ever happened to where the dog *needed* to come inside. You'll need to step up on socializing because when you have random guests stop by your dog won't be there to learn how to handle the situation. You'll need to expose him/her to normal house sounds (washer, dryer buzzing, pots falling, vacuums, etc) so they know how to handle that situation since it won't be something he/she is exposed to daily.

YOU will have to spend a ton amount of time outside since your dog is outside. You'll have to make sure he/she doesn't get bored since he/she won't have must stimulation like a dog in a house would (there is always *something* going on).

Those are just some of the things that came to mind when I thought about having an outside dog for just a pet that may dabble in some sports.

 

[Doberluv]

Dogs generally like to reside with their human family. It's their family. They've evolved to live WITH their family. So, that said, I echo the idea of a breed that would be less apt to flare up allergies. A Standard Poodle or any Poodle comes to mind. They're terrific at agility...very athletic and great temperaments for therapy dogs too. They make good hunting dogs, fabulous obedience dogs (very intelligent!) and just great all around family pets.

 

[MicksMom]

No, I don't think it's wrong to keep a dog outside. BUT.

It takes a whole lot more work, IMO. 'Keeping a dog outside' isn't just having a fenced yard and a garage to come into when it rains. You will need to train the dog how to be inside in case anything ever happened to where the dog *needed* to come inside. You'll need to step up on socializing because when you have random guests stop by your dog won't be there to learn how to handle the situation. You'll need to expose him/her to normal house sounds (washer, dryer buzzing, pots falling, vacuums, etc) so they know how to handle that situation since it won't be something he/she is exposed to daily.

YOU will have to spend a ton amount of time outside since your dog is outside. You'll have to make sure he/she doesn't get bored since he/she won't have must stimulation like a dog in a house would (there is always *something* going on).

Those are just some of the things that came to mind when I thought about having an outside dog for just a pet that may dabble in some sports.

Very well put. For the first 10 years of our marriage, my husband and I had a Siberian/GSD mix who was an outside dog :yikes: . That said, he wasn't just chained in the corner of the yard and tossed some food and water. My husband made him two insulated dog houses (one to replace the original one). The second one had a removable roof and a "sun porch" that acted as a windblock. Our day to day lives took us outside for quite awhile every day. Even with the insulated dog house, we brought him in at night during the winter when it was excessively cold (although he would have preferred to stay outside). He went on walks, car rides, got played with, brushed, bathed, etc. That outside dog lived to be 17.

 

[sparks19]

it depends on the dog and it's a lot more work. Like Belle would be happy to stay outside 24/7 lol as long as I put a couch out there.

 

[Danefied]

Better to find a different breed of boyfriend - the non-allergic kind

Eh, I guess you could also get the current one to take claritin or something...

 

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

The only time I think it's alright for a dog to be an "outside only" dog is when it's a working dog - a livestock guardian, or on a farm, etc. They are kept well-exercised and stimulated all the time. And, most often, they're still with their people the majority of the time. Ask anyone who's lived on a farm - you spend A LOT of time outside.

As for the allergies, there are ways around that. Different people are going to react differently to different dogs, and there are tons of dogs that don't shed a whole lot. Having the dog on a really high quality food can reduce shedding/dandruff as well. Keeping the dog off the furniture and away from the bedroom can help as well. If you clean the house often, that will eliminate a lot of the hair/dandruff buildup, which can make allergies worse.

How many dogs has your boyfriend been around that he's reacted to? I know for me, certain cats will trigger an allergic reaction, others won't. I live with a cat just fine, but certain foster cats at work have me sneezing. It depends on the individual cat.

 

[GoingNowhere]

My personal opinion is that it depends on the family and it depends on the dog. If you are just wanting a pet and live a typical suburban lifestyle (8 hr/day work shift without the dog, a walk with the dog in the morning/evening and maybe at lunch, and possibly some playtime and training per day) then I don't think it would be a very happy life for the dog. But if your livelihood has you working outside at a stable or somewhere else dog-friendly or is in an office where your dog is allowed to come, then maybe it could work out.

There's something to be said for not having to make an actual effort to go out and see your dog. Once the initial excitement of dog ownership wears off, going out to see the dog will begin to feel like a chore more than anything. The nice thing about an inside dog is that the dog is able to be a part of your life without taking extra time out of the rest of your day. Sure, you still need to feed, walk, and train it, but the rest of the time, you and the dog can simply coexist with a few head scratches here and maybe a tossed tennis ball there. Unless you are able to provide that existence another way (the only thing that I can think off the top of my head is having a job in a dog friendly environment), I personally wouldn't feel comfortable having a dog that is not allowed inside.

Livestock guardian dogs are an exception to me, because they aren't supposed to bond primarily to humans. Rather, they are raised with their flock and in essence, bond to the flock.

Then of course, comes the concern of the specific dog. Certain breeds just simply aren't suited to live outdoors, whether it be for health reasons (think hairless or otherwise light coated breeds, etc) or for personality reasons (some dogs are much more emotionally attached to their owners and would be a mess living alone outside, while others are just big escape artists and would need to have a roof to prevent them from escaping the yard).

If you think you can find the proper dog and have a lifestyle that would be healthy for a dog (sitting in alone in a yard for 20+ hours per day is not), then I absolutely think it can work. But for the other 97% of the population, I'd recommend looking at the less allergenic dog breeds that could live inside with you.

 

[Dizzy]

I wouldn't. It's very unusual here. The only dogs that stay out are farm dogs.

I'm allergic to cats, but have lived with them all my life. You tend to build up a tolerance, especially if its just a mild allergy. And I was NEVER allergic to my own cat, even from day one. I could smoosh my face in her fur!!!

I say look around at different breeds, especially non-shedding varieties.

 

[Aleron]

While many people strongly feel it is "wrong" for dogs to live outside, I think it really depends on the dog and the situation. My oldest Belgian has a littermate who lives outside on a commercial turkey farm and has a great life - he's with his people more than some indoor dogs are and gets a lot of exercise and interaction. If you are an active outdoor sort and spend a lot of your time doing things outside, it could work if you could include the dog. Also if your into things like hiking and biking, that would be ideal to share with your dog. As would getting involved in training the dog for something that interests you like agility, obedience, rally, tracking, etc.

The reason many people find the idea of an outdoor dog to be unacceptable is that many people get lazy about their outdoor dogs. They don't train them, don't socialize them, don't exercise or play with them and the only interaction the dog gets is at feeding time. That isn't a great life for any dog, although admittedly plenty of indoor dogs have a very similar life. I think it could work, if you are really devoted to making it work. You could also see about your BF getting allergy shots or trying to expose him to some lower dander breeds like Poodles or Bichons (Yorkies don't shed but they tend to be oily, which isn't always great for allergies). In addition to getting a low dander breed, there are a lot of things you can do that could potentially make it possible for you to have a dog in the house. These things include: having the dog professionally groomed every 3-4 weeks, using a k-9 top coat (they sell one for allergy sufferers:Dog Coats, vests and Jackets, World leading dog apparel design by K9 TOP COAT.), using a quality air filter, vacuuming/sweeping daily or every other day, allowing the dog access only to rooms which your Bf doesn't spend a lot of time such as the kitchen and dining room (and keeping the dog out of the living room/family room and bedroom) and having your BF limit his interaction with the dog by not putting his face into the dog's fur and washing his hands any time he pets the dog.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Raegan]

I think it's okay for dogs to be outside dogs if YOU'RE outside. As long as you're sensitive to the dog's tolerance for the elements (ie outdoor Huskies are fine in Wisconsin, less so in Arizona, Yorkies are probably never safe outdoors) and predators, and has proper shelter and all that, a dog that lives outside isn't really suffering physically. But why get a dog if you're not going to hang out with him? Even if I'm just watching TV, my dogs are draped all over me. That's one of the best parts of dog ownership.

 

[Romy]

Have him spend time with different breeds. I took care of a girl that was severely allergic to dogs, like, so bad she needed an epi pen in case her airway swelled shut. She wanted a dog badly, went to visit a standard poodle breeder and ended up in the hospital after walking into the house.

I have a service dog. He's a borzoi. They aren't known for being hypoallergenic. However, I bathed him every Sunday night before work and somehow that was enough to keep his dander down. Her eyes never got runny, red, or itchy with him in the house. She petted him and everything.

He wasn't allowed in their bedrooms. The rest of the house had wood floors and I'd mop daily at the end of the cleaning routine.

Just feeding them a good diet and regular bathing helps a LOT to reduce allergens.

 

[Hillside]

There are hypoallergenic dogs-

Um, no, there are not. Allergies are not only caused by dander, though it is generally the most common, they are also triggered by saliva and urine. I'm pretty sure that all dogs still produce both of those things. I am somewhat allergic to dogs, but don't usually react unless I am licked. If I get licked anywhere other than the palms, I break out in hives and it doesn't matter if it is from a poodle or Samoyed, the hives still happen.


Mayo Clinic response to "hypoallergenic" dogs.

 

[Kat09Tails]

I don't think it's inherently wrong for a dog to be a primarily outdoor animal with all the clauses so long as the dog is not neglected or abused. But that pretty much applies to indoor animals as well. Dogs were housed in stables and the great outdoors much longer in their domestication than they've been indoor pets.

Do I think every area is great to have an outdoor dog at all times of the year? No... but a fair number are, my location included. 50-55 degrees pretty much most of the year, no heartworm, and very dog friendly neighborhood.

That said certain dogs are never outdoor dogs. Toy breeds are targets for anything bigger than they are and even a few things smaller than they are. IMO they should never be outdoors alone but most dogs 20 lbs and higher are probably ok in a well secured kennel or backyard with available shelter.

The bigger risk of outside - is out of sight = out of mind to some people. As long as the owner isn't neglecting their pet I don't see an issue with it.

As far as hypoallergenic breeds it's true there is no 100% allergen free dog. There are often times breeds though that people react more or less to. I rarely have an allergy issue with spaniels and singled coated breeds, but nearly always do with golden retrievers and huskies for example.

 

[Tankstar]

I have nothing againts out side dogs, who are properly cared for.

IMO to have a outside dog is even more work. while i can sit on the couh and cuddle with my dog. And give him attention while i watch TV. i cant with my outside dog, so I would have to put away my lazy streak of laying ont he couch, to being outside.

a well excersised, trained and socialized out side dog is a fine happy dog. And can live happily like that.

but just running free in a back yard is no life, for any dog.

 

[SarahHound]

I don't think its wrong per say, but you do need to make sure the dogs gets an awful lot of attention and stimulation. It's not something I would do or enjoy, I love my dogs being indoors and giving them love without having to think about it!

If I were you (if dumping the bf is not an option!), I'd try checking out the breeds often classed as being more suited to people with allergies and see if there's an adult out there somewhere with its full coat in.