Do some dogs prefer to be outside?  Are they happiest outside and if so what ammenities should they have access to.

The reason I ask is that there is a GSD that lives at a local pub, he/she is constantly sat on the iron fire escape at the side of the pub.  I have passed at 5am in temperatures of 1 degree and she was sat there.  My initial instinct was to report them to the RSPCA which I did (dont know the outcome).  Everytime I walk or drive by my heartbreaks for this poor dog.  Could it be she likes being outside or am I just wishful thinking that she isnt as unhappy as she looks.

Theres always 2 bowls at the top of the fire escape so it appears she has food and water, not long after I phoned the RSPCA I noticed big bones and toys appearing on the fire escape but havent seen any for a while.

Is the dog secured in some way, or can he just go anywhere as he likes? Are there any gates or anything that prevents him from going to the road?
If you ask me, I'd never keep my dog outside. It just breaks my heart. My dogs have always been inside dogs and I'm pretty sure they'd die of sadness if I left them out in the garden all day and night. But then again not so long ago (even today) there are dogs that never saw inside of the house. For example hunting dogs. They live in kennels (but there's usually many of them so they keep each other company). There are also sled dogs like Huskies and Greenland dogs or Malamutes that sleep outside in the snow and are quite happy about it. But those are working dogs that have been bred like that for generations..... quite frankly i believe if you bring an original sled dog from Greenland and lock him in the house he'll be very, very unhappy.
As for German Shepherds. I think they should be kept inside with people. After all that's what they were bred for. Companions (also working dogs) and guards of the family. Perhaps you should talk to the owner?!

Hi

We have just got a new dog, hes a 14 month old lurcher x saluki, he was brought up in a kennel, but with the ban on hare caursing the lad who owned him had to get rid of some dogs so we got 1, He has a lovely cosey kennel outside in the yard, her has the run of the yard, it is very secure and we have the gate locked at all times. We also have a car port covering the whole yard so it is always dry too,  but when we are at home he is aloud in the house, but on a night time, he goes to the door at about 10.30 and crys, when we open the door he goes straight to bed.   We have baught him 2 coats for when it gets cold and he has a duvet and a dog bed. He seems very happy, I think it just depends on their surrounding, the way he lives now is like luxuary compared to were he came from. he has toys and bone to keep him occupied.  

My dogs prefer to be outside.  I'm home from work with a torn calf muscle today and they are very restless and don't really want to be in with me, but would prefer I was outside with them!

They have a kennel but will still sit outside in the run or lay on the concrete through choice, rather than be inside.  They don't like the house as it is too warm.

My sisters golden was like that had a warm dry kennel so dragged her blankets out in to the snow to sit on and watch the world go by. Concerend person reported my sister to the SPCA!

We also had a neighbour with a husky and he absolutly could not be kept in when it snowed!

I used to have a chow who loved being outside and it was a struggle getting him in the house at night. He would happily wander in and out as the mood would take him as we left the back door open. The shar-pei only go out to sunbathe and woe betide they should be shut out! TM puppy not allowed in the yard unsupervised as he likes to bark and throw himself at/over the gate.

However that poor GSD sounds miserable. This seems a common thing with landlords as I can think of two pubs locally with the same picture as you describe. One of them does bring the dogs in at night and I they leave the door open for them a lot (GSD and a Jack Russell). I've seen these dogs being taken for a walk so at least they are cared for. The other was a few years back and the dog did have a nice cosy kennel below in the yard, but he used to sit up on the fire escape because it was a good vantage point and he was ever hopeful of getting let in.

Maybe phone the RSPCA and the Dog Warden and see what they say.

I agree with phoebe aswell, if you call the RSPCA, it will put your mind at rest.  and they will be able to advice the owner of a better way off keeping the dog.

Cheers for all your responses.  Im not sure what he has in the back yard as luckily he is secured in the yard with big wooden gates.  I have been past in heavy downpours and he is still sat at the top of the fire escape, I would think even the most hardened outdoor dog would retreat to a kennel if he had one in such weather.

Shelwil your dog sounds like he lives the life of luxury with his coats and duvets. 

I think I will contact the RSPCA and ask if they paid them a visit from my last call and go from there.

LeanneK you have obviously never spent any time in boarding kennels, those who have will tell you that dogs will stand, lie, sit in the rain in their run rather than come inside.

Some dogs just hate being inside either because of the heat or because they get more variety outside.

Dogs, who can figure them?

tohme I agree with you, but that is all okay for big dogs with nice furry coats that can resist cold. Imagine having a Whippet or Italian Greyhound outside in the kennels. Or for example my Chihuahua and a Staffy mix. There's absolutely no way I can leave any of them outside as they start shivering like crazy after few minutes (that is in the winter of course).
I was however wondering how it is like with those boarding kennels. If you have a small dog that is used to being inside all the time...... they can't really leave them outside, can they?

GSDs have lurverly thick coats though don't they?  When I was in France my friend bathed the Hotel's GSD because he was so hot and smelly.  She spent an hour trying to brush through his coat but still couldn't get all the dead hair out.  He was probably suffering a lot more than the one sitting on the fire escape (unless this one is tied up of course)

No they do NOT leave them outside they have to get them in, that is my point; dogs do not necessarily do the things we THINK they will! :D

GSD has a double coat and is well equipped for being outdoors.

A friend of mine had a white GSD who would sit in the rain and cold winds for hours, refusing to go into the warmth of the house,no amount of encouraging or bribery would bring the dog inside. When she got the dog her breeder told her that the dog would be far happier in a kennel outside rather than being an indoor dog.

There's one thing I want to know? Do you usually leave your dogs (the ones that like being outside) in the garden when you have to go to work or shopping or something?
I did try and leave my Staffy mix, but she wasn't really happy about it. She was waiting for me by the door, just waiting to be inside again. :( I think she was okay for the first 30min or so, but got boared afterwards. I guess it's easyer with 2 or more dogs.

I dont like kennels and my dogs dont go to them, maybe like you say I dont understand what some dogs like I think they all love being inside all snuggled up.  Maybe this one doesnt know any different so resides itself to what it knows.

So maybe this GSD is happy then being outside but I do wonder why one side of the door is black where he has pawed at it for a long time, could be for food but could be to get inside.

I dont want to chat to the owner because being a pub landlord I can imagine he doesnt suffer fools gladly and would eject me from the premises post haste! lol

edited: He is not tied up in anyway which is good.

Hi,
I doubt if it is happy outside! It would feel the cold just like we do.
It would get lonley just like we do. But! it can't tell you.
It has probly never known anythink any different.
Just used as a watch  dog!!
It is like children, if they are fed and not beaten or abused,
everyone's standard of care is different.
They are not thought of as being at risk!!
Regards
Denese

This is the other thing I dont understand with the dog, if hes a security dog what use is he locked on the fire escape.  Someone could be inside robbing the pub and the poor dog couldnt do a thing about it.  He would be more use roaming the pub at night.

Hi Leannek.
That is your opinion, and mine,
But! it is probly their logic,
Regards
Denese

If he was a "security/guard" dog, he would have to be secured if his handler was not present and registered as such.

If of course he is only a pet then this is not the case, and how is he "locked! on the fire escape?

Well hes locked in the back yard sat on the fire escape.

Alot of pubs have "Guard dogs" that arent registered guard dogs just big dogs that are supposed to put people off. 

Hes DEFO not a pet in my understanding of pet.  

Where I used to live a neighbour had a GSD.  He was left outside in all weathers with no kennel, just a peice of polystyrene sticking out from the wall as shelter.  He was never walked and had toenails so long that they were curling under his feet.  He barked non-stop, paced the yard and was clearly not happy.  I spoke to them and they told me that he was a "guard dog" and therefore did not need to be taken for a walk.  I reported them to the RSPCA. 

The RSPCA reported back to me that the dog was "fed and watered" and that the polystyrene shelter was adequate.  They made a point of telling me that there was no "law" to say a dog must be walked.  They advised the owners to take him to the vet to get his nails cut and to provide some toys, bones etc to cut down on his barking.

The outcome was that the toys etc. made no change of course because the dog wanted interactive company.  He may have liked being outside, many dogs do, but no animal likes to be ignored with no interaction at all from people or other canine companions.  In the end the family accepted that the dog was miserable and found him a new home on a farm.

My point being, many dogs prefer to be outside, many dogs hate the heat in the home but that doesn't mean they are happy to be on their OWN

OMG that is so sad. Sometimes, I think RSPCA should have stronger guidelines in place,  I think it is disgusting that animals have to be close to death before anything can be done.

My boy was kept outside day and night at his previous home. He slept in a shed with the door left open and had done from 8 weeks of age until he came to us at six months old. It took ages fro him to become used to being indoors and we installed a dog-flap in the utility room door to allow him access to the garden when he wanted. He chose to go out and sleep in his kennel most nights :( which I wasn't happy with but he got so agitated in the house that we made his kennel as cosy as possible (probably too cosy as he would often drag the excess blankets out) and let him get on with it. He gradually became accustomed to spending more time inside and now sleeps inside :) However, he and the pup (7 months old) still spend most of the day in the garden and choose to lie in their kennels most of the time. The dog flap provides access to a warm, safe room should they need it but they rarely use it these days....only if they know I'm in there getting food out of their freezer for them :) I should add that they both have thick, double coats and often find the house too warm, even when the OH and I are sitting shivering and putting on extra layers of clothes

Dogs that are brought up outside in kennels do not like to come into the home they have adjusted to living outside and a home would feel like a sauna to them. And dogs brought up in the home do not like being left outside, and would find it very cold.  My dogs are always brought up in the home, so I too sometimes feel 'sorry' for dogs in kennels, but to be honest there is no need.  If this GSD has shelter it is perfectly fine.  After all if our dogs were still in the wilds they would quite happily sleep under a bush. Mind you wouldn't rate a chihuahua's chances in our winter climate. :-)

I noticed someone saying that guard dogs in UK have to be registered as such. I'm not sure I understand that. What is actually categorized as guard dog and how would a person benefit from registering it?

There is a law in the UK regulating the use of 'Guard Dogs'. Scroll down this article till you get to 'Guard Dogs Act 1974'.

That means a train'd p.p. dog or trained Sch. dog.   Dogs that are trained to do attack and p.p. work(manstoppers).This would not apply to a dog that has not been trained to this level.If I was to buy a trained p.p. dog then I would need to get a license.But if I bought a Rothie pup that would not require the same.

Seems ambiguous to me, but then I know nothing about them.  How do you define a guard dog?  Surely it's not in most owners' interest to declare they have a guard dog if you have to have a licence

Guard Dogs Act (1975)
It is an offence to let guard dogs wander freely and unsupervised on private land or in any public place.

Section one of the act says that you must clearly display a warning on all outside walls stating that a guard dog is on site. You could be fined up to £5,000 for not displaying a sign.

Section seven of the act says that the guard dog must:

be supervised by a handler at all times; and
be on a secure lead that does not stretch over the whole property.
You could be fined £5,000 if you do not keep to this law.

Guard Dogs are those that accompany licensed Security Guards on their employment; this act does not cover pet dogs.  The DDA covers most provisions of any pet dogs that bite...............

Just because your dog has been trained in Schutzhund or PD in Working Trials does NOT mean that you must register your dog under the Guard Dog act in UK, you have been misinformed.

Many people train and compete in these sports with their family pets, they do NOT use them as Security Dogs!

Perhaps the laws in the US are different ;)

We are in the process of having kennels built for the Malamutes ..hope to goodness someone doesn't go past MY house and report me to the RSPCA , I will be highly unamused

Both of my girls LOVE being outside especially if the temperature is really cold. My boy is a homebod though, prefers to be in

My neighbours reported me to the dog warden for keeping a puppy in an outside kennel.  They were convinced I was being cruel.  The dog warden who came to visit didn't have the same opinion thank goodness and was very impressed with my dogs!

All my dogs live outside. They come into the house everyday but will only stay in if I leave the door open. They have straw in their kennels but they always take it outside.
I think they would go mad if I made them stay in the house too long.

I have a gsd cross who lives  outside with a kennel available , but during past  winters I have found her lying on her back in the garden border next to the fence with frost all around with straw in her kennel . When she lived in a flat with me she was always too hot and always scratching herself . She is now kept company with a 4 month old gsd both are outside all the time ( except 5/11/05/ even though fireworks didnt bother them ) They are looked after extremely well with two large water bowls replenished twice a day two large food bowls and various toys and two kennels . They go for long walks twice a day at least and only bark if there is a visitor or there are strangers on the other side of our fence and even then the barking will end when they are acknowledged and told Quiet! To me they are in their natural enviroment. The oldest will be 12 next feb and although slowing down now is still a lively healthy animal who has never needed any treatment from the vet apart from annual vac boosters

the problem is that people portray animnals with human emotion. and animals are not humans.

i have 2 young pups and they are liek chalk and cheese.
my 9 week old is a EBT X and she was born and bred outside. when we got her and introduced her to the house she treated it liek a back garden. to her the garden was her sleepign place and our hosue was more liek a playing/toileting place. and we have only just managed to get her over the problem.

now my 7 week old LABxCOLLIE was born and bred inside and had never palced a toe outside. she goes out side to toilet liek she was programed to do it. we have no problems there.
the EBT prefers to be in the hosue and the LAB X prefers to be outside and will actually run out in to the rain ans go to toilet.

they sleep in the kitchen in cretes now, and during the day they use the dog flap to access the garden. the lab needs no propting. but the ebt waits by the living room door to toilet in there and if given the chance she would as well.

i think its all about what a dog is used to.

I know loads of people do not have a licence for their traind guard dogs.It's like a lot of people who do martial arts are ment to have a licence,but they do not.If you have a dog thats been trained to be a p.p dog and are useing it for this then you are supposed to have a permit.But if it's only for sport and not being use'd to guard propertys then it's a working dog not a guard dog.

Hi saw your post and wondered if this is the same dog. I have seen many times !!             
Stuck out on a fire escape on the side of the building ! Not looking happy at all.
This was while staying in Chew Moor Lostock near Bolton, is this the same place??
                                                                                                   J P