CAPITAL HUMANE SOCIETY
2320
Inside Or Out? - Making Your Dog Part Of
The Family
Copyright Denver Dumb Friends League and
Humane Society of the
Some
dog owners believe that dogs, especially large ones, should be “outdoor only”
pets. At the Denver Dumb Friends League, we believe that dogs of all sizes are
happier, healthier and safer when they can be indoors with their people the
majority of the time. Dogs have a need to be social just like we do.
Exercise
Some
people believe that dogs need to be outside so they can get plenty of exercise.
The truth is that most dogs don’t exercise when they’re in a yard by
themselves; they spend most of their time lying by the back door, waiting for
“their people” to either let them in or come out and play with them. However,
dogs do need exercise every day, so we recommend walking your dog or engaging
him in a regular game of fetch!
Socialization
Dogs
need to spend time with “their people” in order to learn their rules and how to
get along with them. Dogs that spend most of their time alone or only in the
company of other dogs may demonstrate fearful, aggressive or overactive
behavior toward family members or strangers because they’ve never learned how
to act around people.
Safety
Dogs
that spend most of their time outdoors are at risk for a variety of reasons.
They could escape from the yard and become lost; a disgruntled neighbor could
throw poison over the fence or spray the dog with mace or pepper spray; or the
dog could be stolen and possibly sold to a research facility or dog-fighting
ring.
Behavior
Problems
Dogs
left alone in the yard for long periods of time often get bored, lonely and
frustrated. As a result, they may dig or bark excessively. Most cities have
noise ordinances that penalize owners of barking dogs. If a dog escapes the
yard in search of interesting things to do, not only is he at risk of being injured
by a car, but his owner is liable for any damage or harm that he might do.
Protection
Dogs
that spend time with their owners and feel attached to them are more likely to
be protective of “their family.” Dogs that spend most of their time outdoors
may be friendly to any stranger who pets or feeds them. Alternatively, some
yard dogs may become overly territorial and feel the need to protect their
territory even from family and friends. If a dog is hardly ever allowed to come
indoors, it will be difficult for him to distinguish between family, friends
and uninvited “guests.”
Puppies
People
who are away from home for eight to ten hours a day may be inclined to leave
their new puppy in the yard because he can’t control his bowels and bladder for
that length of time. Although it’s true that puppies need to eliminate more frequently
than adult dogs, it’s also very important for puppies to receive adequate
people time at this formative stage of their lives. If dogs aren’t adequately
socialized when they’re young, they’re likely to become fearful or aggressive
toward people, and possibly other animals. Puppies are also more vulnerable to
extreme weather conditions than adult dogs. If you must be away from home for
more than four or five hours at a time every day, this may not be the right
time for you to adopt a puppy.
The
Garage
While
dogs may be safer in the garage than in the yard, unless people spend time with
them in the garage, they’ll still suffer from isolation and, as a result, may
develop any of the behavior problems previously mentioned. Most garages are
very hot during the summer months and cold during the winter. Garages are often
storage places for tools and chemicals that could cause injury to a curious dog.
If the garage has an automatic door opener, the dog could run out into the
street when the door is opened.
Changing
Times
Some
of us may have fond childhood memories of a family dog that lived outside, but
times have changed. More mothers used to stay at home and children used to
spend more time outdoors. The outdoor dog had company while mom hung laundry or
gardened and the children played outside. With the advent of two-income
families, television and computer games, the outdoor dog is more likely to
spend most of his time alone.
No
Alternative
If
you must leave your dog outdoors, unsupervised for extended periods of
time, please provide him with the following:
·
An insulated shelter with a wind-proof
opening. Some very short-coated breeds like greyhounds, beagles and labs, may
not be able to tolerate extreme cold, even with a shelter.
·
Shade in the summertime. All dogs need
shade, but remember that heavy-coated dogs, such as huskies and chows, are more
susceptible to the heat.
·
Fresh food and water every day. In
winter, you’ll need a heated water bowl to keep the water from freezing. In
summer, you’ll need a tip-proof bowl so your dog won’t tip the bowl over in an effort
to get cool.
·
Interactive play time daily.
·
A daily walk.
·
An escape-proof fence with a locked
gate.
·
“Busy” toys (see our handout: “Dog Toys and How to Use Them”).
Most
dogs do enjoy spending time outdoors, but the time dogs spend alone outdoors
must be balanced with quality time with “their people.” With a little time and
training, dogs can learn to be well-behaved around people and can come to
respect the house rules. They can then be left inside alone without cause for
worry and be trusted companions and members of the family.