This is so mind boggling to me lol. I can't imagine not even taking a dog outside, even on a leash, ever. Like not even a 4ft leash where they are 2 inches away from you?
I get being protective. I really really do. And honestly I don't even have an issue with those who choose to use pee pads and keep them inside 80% of the time, that's the benefit of little dogs, but like... NEVER touching the outside ground or getting to enjoy the great outdoors and all the smells it has to offer a canine, no matter how big or small a dog is? I mean, to me, just to say "what they don't know, they don't miss" isn't really fair. You could keep a young child indoors all of their life and "they wouldn't miss the outside world if they never knew what it was" but.... isn't that kind of cruel? In fact, check out the "Wolfpack Brothers" to find out about children who were raised that way. I mean yes you're obviously a kind caring person who loves your dog and I'd rather have an owner like you than one who chains their dog up outside in harsh weather and hardly feeds them.
I don't know, I guess I just don't get it. By the time Jackson was 5 months old, he had experienced grass, snow, mud, dirt, outside smells, etc. And he's lived an amazing life getting to experience things with me, family trips, vacations, parks, walks, hikes, etc. He would have missed out on so much if I just decided the outside world was too dangerous. I mean jeez you can lock a dog inside all of their life and they can still die by chewing an electrical cord, running into a wall at full speed and breaking their neck, falling off a bed or couch they can break a leg, the list goes on and on. There's going to be risks in *everything* you do. You can be smart about it and take them to areas where there aren't many dogs (I totally get those who opt not to use dog parks, etc) and bring proper precautions with you on walks in case of emergencies, but I really think it's important that a dog get to be outside *sometimes* whether it's by the safety of your leash or a fence.
Just look at how much life Jackson has gotten to live. And no not every dog is going just LOVE snow or water etc, every dog is different, but at least give them a chance to experience it and see for themselves! I always encouraged him to explore from a young age and I think that shaped him into the dog he is today. Sure I could've cooped him up and he would've come to just enjoy himself indoors, but why do that if you don't have to? |