poodlefan Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 A significant proportion of DOL members dogs sleep outside Lorena. No need to leave just because some people hold strong views about the issue. The challenge for any owner of a single dog is to fulfill that dog's needs for social companionship - they are a pack animal after all. You also have to consider your individual dogs capacity to deal with the elements if you keep it mostly outside. As an all white dog, it will get messier I expect. If you turn your mind to these issues, then where your dog sleeps can be viewed as part of that greater whole. However, (dons flame suit as I know some owners disagree) you are choosing a breed known for its barking. What will be your response if your dog barks in response to things outside while you are at work or at night? None of these issues are black and white. There are happy dogs who sleep both inside and out. The key is to think these things through and question any assumptions you may be making before you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pockets Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Personally I dont see why a dog HAS to sleep inside either? Of course mine sleep inside every night Our family dog aslways slept outside, he was in with us during the night, but then was happy to curl up in his kennel utside to go to sleep...he was a Pomeranian shock horror I personally would get a crate, as puppies in bathrooms can make a big mess! lol!!! easier in my opinion to crate train, last thing you want to do before work and when coming home is clean uop all the mess and then have to bath the pup cause its been bouncing around in it :rolleyes: Although in saying that not all puppies are messy little buggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I really don't understand why everyone is getting so shirty about a dog sleeping outside. It is a dog !! Humans run the house not the dog.I am beginning to think joining this forum was a bad idea. I came looking for advice and all I seem to be receiving is abuse from some people. frown.gif I have two dogs that sleep outside and they put themselves to bed. BUT some breeds are not 'sleep outside' dogs. Small and toy breeds are VERY owner orientated and many people find that outside at night combined with work hours alone create stressed and yappy dogs. THey are also quite sensitive to temperature - you chose a breed that was bred to be with humans a lot and live inside a lot as well, not something like a larger working breed that can cope with winter and summer. Thats the only point they would be worried about. No one is picking on you its just a breed need more then anything else. Ask most spitz breeders, I'm sure you would get 'err why do you want a little spitz then' :rolleyes: The dog doesnt have to rule the house, neither should it ever be allowed to! Set the rules, hence a crate. Nothing wrong with it sleeping in a crate with you so it feels secure. Also its a bit confusing to the dog to be allowed to be inside when a pup then outside later when it grows up and wants to have more of a relationship with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin-Genie Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Since I have a dog door, the dogs have access to both inside and outside. I remember that the first week Genie was with us, she loved to sleep outside on the lawn, while Odin slept inside. Later of course she followed Odin and stayed in. The first night I saw her do this, my initial reaction was "poor pup, how can I let her stay outside all night"! But that's what she preferred. Even now, she prefers to sit out after dinner and get in only when she wants to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 A Japanese Spitz TempThe Japanese Spitz is first and foremost a companion. They thrive on human contact and attention, preferring to be a member of the family.[2] They are intelligent, playful, alert, and obedient, excellent with children and have the patience for toddlers.[6] Japanese Spitz are highly compatible with other dogs and animals, as well as being proud, affectionate, loyal and very protective of their masters. Most Japanese Spitz are good watch dogs as they are always alert, and will announce the presence of intruders to their owners with loud and forceful barking.[2] They will not hesitate to bark at new people until they get to know them.[5] Japanese Spitz enjoy being in an outdoor environment. However it is inappropriate if the owner expects them to live outside in the yard and to be forgotten about. Such treatment will cause them to feel rejected and will inevitably lead to boredom and depression. Consequences include behavioural problems such as barking and destructivenes This breed is very different to that of a jack Russell & i wouldnt dream of comparing the 2 needs. Companion breed dogs are that for a reason.People select this trait due to wanting a breed to be part of the family . Our breed is breed for companion needs aswell & we wont sell to someone that wants it outside at night because generally it ends up spending so much time outside than inside. As for breed OP has posted topics before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) I don't use crates for my dogs either. I toilet train them to go outside and they have the full run of the house, access via a dog door. With a new puppy I would get up once or twice at night to take them out to the toilet, until they are old enough to hold on. All my dogs (including rescues) have been easily trained this way. I believe that you start as you are going to finish. I don't quite follow your logic that the puppy will be allowed in the house when you are at home and then outside at night. :rolleyes: I also would not rehome a dog to someone who will make it sleep outside. I really don't understand why everyone is getting so shirty about a dog sleeping outside. It is a dog !! Humans run the house not the dog. I am beginning to think joining this forum was a bad idea. I came looking for advice and all I seem to be receiving is abuse from some people. Thankyou to everyone who has given structured, helpful advice without being nasty. Everyone raises their pets in their own way and in the way which is suitable for their situation. Yes there a lot of passionate dog owners out there but please consider everyone has a different situation. LorenaMM, My post was meant to be constructive - I do not consider it abusive. My dogs certainly do not run my house - they are all very well trained, and know their place. Schnauzers are a breed that wants to be with its family and is also a clipped/stripped breed, hence IMO it is not a suitable breed to be sleeping outside. It may "be a dog" but in my opinion, dogs are family members. Good luck with your puppy. Edited January 23, 2009 by schnauzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelpie_Pup Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 LorenaMM Don't leave the forum just because you asked for people's opinions and they gave them to you.. if you don't want to know, don't ask. This forum will prove to be invaluable over the next few months and years. SO many very knowledgeable dog owners, breeders, showers etc. I, personally, have my dog sleep inside in her crate. She spends 3 full days of the week outside on her own, so she is an inside and outside dog. When I'm home, its both. She has spent many nights outside in her kennel.. which is a very sturdy warm one as we live where it gets verrrrry cold. We noticed that it affected her "manners", if you will, when she started spending time inside again the following days. Don't know why. Perhaps because she had free range to do whatever she wanted throughout the night outside, including playing, toileting etc. She also barked at any animal that went by.. possums, cats etc. When she sleeps inside, she is put in her crate(and door locked shut) at night when we decide, then let out in the morning, again at our decision. She does not have the run of the house just because she sleeps inside. Quite the opposite. The breed of puppy you are getting is notoriously known for wanting to be around human company. It's definitely something to consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Baggins Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I would not sell a have puppy if I knew it was to sleep outside. :p I discovered crating since joing this forum and reckon its better than sliced bread. I crate trained our White Shep pup. She has been allowed free rein since 5 months old but happily goes in went needed. Its also used for time out for bad behaviour. The Cavs also love sleeping in it. IMO a dog left outside will bark frequently during the night, as it is the Cavs hear a leaf move and roar off barking. If they were left lonely outside we would never hear the end of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falling_dawn Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I would not sell a have puppy if I knew it was to sleep outside. ;) I discovered crating since joing this forum and reckon its better than sliced bread. I crate trained our White Shep pup. She has been allowed free rein since 5 months old but happily goes in went needed. Its also used for time out for bad behaviour. The Cavs also love sleeping in it. IMO a dog left outside will bark frequently during the night, as it is the Cavs hear a leaf move and roar off barking. If they were left lonely outside we would never hear the end of it. I though that was just my Cavalier :p ;) to the OP Lucy is crated at night she was "free range " for the first few moths of her life but I discovered she would leap up and investigate and soundat night and as we have a cat every time the cat moved or someone got up to got to the bathroom she would be up too wanting o go to the toilet I would not say it Crate or nothing but it does make life much easyer I have a mid size crate which is bigger then needed for a CKC and I live in a very small place but it fits just fine and is not a eye sore I have a nice cover over it OT but I really really dont like the idea of any dog made to sleep outside esp not a toy dog if that is the dog choice well fair enough my friend has a kelpie that will not sleep inside but would be allowed to if he wanted but I guess each to there own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charli73 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) I always thought when I got my first dog it would sleep outside... Now we have her I couldnt put her out in the cold (got her in winter) as she would bark at the possums and i would prefer her to be in guarding us...she sleeps on a bed on the floor in the kitchen. She is outside during the day and in when we get home, we dont have a crate and her toilet training went very smoothly..we also have a cat and they get along fine now, but I wish I had of made them socialise sooner.. best of luck with whatever you decide.. Edited January 23, 2009 by charli73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I like my dogs to be where I can keep an eye on them at night Rather have them asleep on their bed indoors, than barking half the night outdoors! (which happens here with the working (outside) dogs ... kangaroos/ the odd car/foxes..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamuzz Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 My dogs used to sleep outside, mostly because that is what I was the most familiar with. But then one of our dogs turned out to be a bit of a serial barker. Anything moves in a 5 block radius, and she has to bark. Now everybody sleeps inside and the neighbours don't have to listen (to my dogs at least.) Ours have crates, thanks to DOL, but only one dog has to be "locked in" at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Fox 001 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Our puppy is now almost 7 months and until this one (and DOL) I had never heard of crate training. Honestly it has made toilet training an absolute breeze. I also have a fairly new open plan house, I have hardly had to clean up any mess because if I couldn't give the pup my 100% concentration he was in his crate or outside. I can't use baby gates much either so he has the run of the place but I also watch him so we have not had any major chewing disasters, one chewed vaccum cleaner cord when I though he was asleep while I groomed the other dog but he was so quiet cause he had a mouth full of cord (not plugged in but I could have kicked myself for being so stupid).He is definately not allowed free rein of the house while we sleep - although I did fall asleep on the couch the other night with him and when I woke up he was still asleep next to me too . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Dont take this the wrong way, but if you were purchasing a pup from me and you didnt like the dog sleeping inside then I wouldnt sell you a puppy. My dogs are part of my family and when I home puppies they only go to families that will also treat their new pup as part of their family. Fair enough if you are not home they can be outside but when you are home I would expect them to be there with you and also sleep inside.Crate training is very important whether it be for example - to help with toilet training, if you need to later on lock up/secure your dog due to an accident, a secure place inside when needed and so on. The puppy will also need allot of socialising with your cat if you ever expect them to get along. My dog sleeps outside. He likes sleeping outside. We have a big deck area on the back of our house, that is almost two stories high, so it is well above the ground and covered etc. He is still part of our family. I don't see why a dog sleeping outside is such a big deal as long as it is comfortable All my dogs are outside when we aren't home too. I don't like dogs inside 24/7. But that's just me Edited January 23, 2009 by huski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 He is still part of our family. I don't see why a dog sleeping outside is such a big deal as long as it is comfortable confused.gif What breed. Not all breeds are capabale of living outside & regulating there body temp.Not all breeds can be lumped into the same basic especially given the different climates around australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) He is still part of our family. I don't see why a dog sleeping outside is such a big deal as long as it is comfortable confused.gif What breed. Not all breeds are capabale of living outside & regulating there body temp.Not all breeds can be lumped into the same basic especially given the different climates around australia I've found some posters here are making the same generalisations by saying dogs shouldn't sleep outside or they wouldn't sell a pup to a home where the dog would sleep outside. Obviously it can vary from dog to dog and it also depends on your set up. My Sibe sleeps outside at night time, but then our chihuahua cross and our beagle are all outside during the day or whenever we aren't home including nights we don't get home till late. I am mainly rebutting the generalisation that the dog is not part of your family if it sleeps outside at night time. As you said, how well a dog can cope sleeping outside depends on a lot of factors including breed, where you live etc. Edited January 23, 2009 by huski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 This breed is very different to that of a jack Russell & i wouldnt dream of comparing the 2 needs.Companion breed dogs are that for a reason.People select this trait due to wanting a breed to be part of the family . Our breed is breed for companion needs aswell & we wont sell to someone that wants it outside at night because generally it ends up spending so much time outside than inside. Just wanted to add - that I read the OP's posts as saying the dog would sleep outside, not be outside all the time. We let our Sibe in at night time and put him out when we are going to bed, he's not missing out on spending any time with us as we are all in bed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Midol Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I agree with Huski here. You can make outside comfortable as well. What's the difference between a run with a crate in it (or some kind of kennel) and a crate inside? Unless of course everyone expects that dog owners allow their dogs on their beds. I do, but I'm weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) I agree with Huski here.You can make outside comfortable as well. What's the difference between a run with a crate in it (or some kind of kennel) and a crate inside? Unless of course everyone expects that dog owners allow their dogs on their beds. I do, but I'm weird. In a word Midol? Company! The issue about inside/outside as I see it is more about company for the dog than containment. If a family works and the dog sleeps alone outside, how many hours a day does this social animal actually have company. Add another dog or allow the dog to sleep inside and you add another 8-10 hours of company for the dog either way. No modern, educated animal keeping organisation willingly keeps pack animals as individuals. Many suburban dogs are subjected to social isolation for the bulk of their entire lives. Show me the dogs barking in my neighbourhood and I'd be prepared to put money on the fact that they rarely make it out of the back yard to the inside of the house or anywhere else. Dedicated dog owners CAN provide a good life for an outside dog. But its far more demanding than allowing a dog even limited access inside. And its far too easy for busy family to lose sight of the fact that the dog is out there alone while you go about your life inside. Dogs need social interaction. Few, if any dogs would willing choose to be alone awake OR asleep. Edited January 23, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 he's not missing out on spending any time with us as we are all in bed smile.gifjust my comparison... if you normally share a bed with your OH, and/or kids.... then the 'rules' change and you all sleep in separate rooms... would you not miss the 'knowing' they are there? the feeling of being part of the family/pack? Don't get me wrong.. the majority of our dogs are outside.. they were born & bred to be outside dogs... but with other dogs for company. They all howl at sleep time.. can bark together... they are still part of a 'pack' single dogs.. 'put out' at night I don't agree with.... as said- especially if the family is away all day as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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