Easy... I don't really think that Deb meant anything bad by it...

It just really rubs me the wrong way. People hit turtles in their cars on purpose all the time and to even joke about not helping them...?


Besides, you know that if somebody came on here and said "You rescued a yorkie? Why would you waste your time?" even jokingly they would be completely shunned!

I agree. Some dogs (yorkies and small dogs) are meant to be inside dogs. However, I think that it's ok to have outside, 24/7, dogs. We have an airdale, Molle, that is outside all of the time. I can't imagine having her in the house because she is so big. In the wintertime she grows a winter coat to keep her warm so to be in the house would be too hot for her. In the spring she sheds it to keep her cooler. God made them adaptable to handle the weather outside, whether hot or cold. When the weather is really severe we let her come into the garage.

Mollee has free run of the farm on about 80 acres. We bought her to be a companion to my daughter when she is outside because we have seen mountain lions around our area. Where Jaci is, that's where Mollee is suppose to be. We picked an airdale because they are suppose to be very good family dogs and are very protective. Living in the country, I think, gives one a different view on this than someone who lives in the city or even a town. As a matter of fact, I can only think of a few neighbors who don't have an outside dog.

We love Mollee and she gets plenty of attention. She's a wonderful dog and we don't know what we'd do without her. Just because she's outside 24/7 doesn't mean that she's not taken care of, nor does it mean that we don't love her. She is not abused, but she is able to live in an environment that she is designed for. Outside.

It was NOT a joke. I consider what that lady did as very kind hearted. What I meant was simply a LOT of people would NOT bother rescuing a turtle. I have stopped my car and removed Mr. Turtle from the middle of the street....so add me to the list of turtle rescuers.....although after I place him on the other side...he's on his own. ;)


PS I apologize to turtles and turtle lovers everywhere :turtle:

Okay, I thought you were saying you wouldn't have bothered. That's what it looked like to me.

geex Deb...what were you thinking! :rolleyes: Dont worry hun I put my foot in my mouth ALL the time... however sometimes i mean it and sometimes i dont! hehe

:thumbup: Well said. Stormie (Aust. Shepherd) has her winter coat for colder weather (which in TX is hardly what it would be up North) and when it rarely gets really cold, she's quite comfortable for the night in the garage on her big bed.

I really think a lot of disagreement is related to the country vs. city attitudes. For us, an outside dog is the norm. They are raised to stay around the house even though the yard is not completely fenced. Our immediate "yard" around the house has a barbed wire fence with the lower part having a small square wire barrier (that you can't really see) to keep the dogs from running under the fence to bother the cows but we have cattle guards so they are not completely fenced in. They are raised this way and are very happy.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: agree!

Our pups are indoor doggies. They go out for a few minutes by themselves, but never for very long, and I find myself checking on them constantly. Like I do my kids when they are outside.

I have a 24/7 outside dog. He won't come inside. He is a terrier mix about 30pouns. He was meant to be a housedog. He did very well with housetrainig was a wonderful inside dog. only trouble was he hated it. he cries at the door to be outside no matter what the weather. You have to chase him down to brign him and and then he's crying and scratching at the door as soon as you get it shut ESPECIALLY in the winter. He loves snow. He has a heated dog house in the winter plenty of shade in the summer. we're always talking to him and playing with him even in the winter. He's absolutly miserable inside.
Size really isnt' an issue here for being inside we have a neapolitan mastiff who is 200 pounds and still growing inside. He likes being outside in the afternoon sun for a nap but isn't thrilled about being outside for long. So he's mostly under your feet in the way all day but that's where he's happiest.

I could never leave a dog outside. We had a 125# Rotti and he stayed in the house.

We do have a doggie door and my lil tomboy Sweet Pea likes to go lay on the warm patio in the sun. Sebi, no way he is so prissy :p he will go outside only when its completely necessary.

Dogs are pack animals. They are NOT loners. A dog wants to be where the rest of the pack is....

I do believe that having an outdoor dog can be OK if the people are outside A LOT.

NO!!!
Suz

Kizzy is almost always in the house
 

I only let kizzy out on a leash. Then I am usually with her or I might tie her leash to the step bannisters for a few minutes and walk into the house for something but I am at right back out there. But that was before today. We bought her a folding training kennel. Its like 4 feet high and 42 inches square and has a slide out bottom in it for cleaning. We didnt get it to train her in, we just put it on the deck so I can put her in it during the day for play and exercise since she loves playing out so much, altho she still wont be on the ground she can have more fresh air and see everything. I told hubby, I will not leave her out there in it during the day over an hour at a time then only on cool days. When summer gets here and its hot, she will find herself in the house all time except for walks and outside pottying. I would be to scared a bigger dog could come up (altho we rarely see big dogs here lately)but just as scared of a hawk swooping down on her. So I will still be taking her out of it to potty every hour or so and bringing her inside after she pottys. I like her being in the house with me anyway. I am alone during the day and she has been so much company to me. She was 3 months old yesterday and she seems to learn pretty fast. she already knows no bite, sit, roll over, speak, and I got the idea from someone on here to teach her to lay on her back and put up her paws when I point my finger and say bang, and now she does that too. So to me she seems smart for her age. I am proud of her anyway. But I admit, I do have lots of time with her but I've never trained her to do any of this more than a few times in a day and she remembers it.
I will still train her to potty outside, but this way she can at least be outside for a while longer when I dont want to stay out that long. So i suppose its like a playpen for her. lol. Love her too much to take chances with her. :love: :number1ri

let me add to my post. I also think a yard dog is fine with being a yard dog. We have 9 acres and If I had a big dog that was suppose to be outside, thats where it would be. I live kinda out too, but there are people who treat animals as they should be treated with out being abusive. I'm sure everyone here knows there are lots of different kinds of breeds of dogs. working dogs, lapdogs , etc. so to me its according to what breed you have as to where yu keep them, just as long as they are cared for. And I have to agree with some on here. Some people treat their dogs better than they treat their kids. Not saying any of you do, but there are people like that. Takes all kind to make this world go round. And my yorkie wont be wearing clothes. after all she was born with fur to cover her body so she only needs my love and care to be healthy and happy. clothes for dogs must be for people who have more dollars than sense. I sure wouldnt spend money for clothes for a dog. But it dont mean I dont love mine just as much.

Oh Shelly!
 

What an awesome picture, honey!!!:p

Outside dogs
 

When I was growing up in the Vermont countryside, there were 8 people in a little tiny 4 bedroom ranch house. We always had dogs, but they were ALWAYS outside dogs, unless it was frigid. My dad would have preferred the dog remain outside no MATTER what the weather, but my mom was much more soft hearted and would go get the dog and bring them in. Vermont has awful winters. Our dogs were happy mostly.

But as soon as I left home, and took in animals, I never had an outside dog. My pups had a run outside, and they would spend nice days out there, but they would never be out at night. I had a lab, a German shepherd/lab mix, and a Irish setter at different times that remained outside on nice days. At night, they were in.

I agree that the argument here seems to be mostly centered on coutry living as opposed to city living. Country folk sometimes have many animals, not just dogs. (right Debbie?:p ) They are accustomed to keeping animals outside, and for the most part they do everything possible to make their animal friends comfortable and happy outdoors. They don't love them any less because they live outside.

I think y'all have to agree to disagree!:p

LOL ! ME TOO ! and I took no offense to Debs comment - She loves to joke and we have to take comments like that as they are intended...:D

I had a GREAT Turtle for over 20 years - Toby the Turtle:) - who just happened to be a nice SNAPPING turtle I found on the road - he learned to eat right out of my hand - but would bite anyone else that tried to feed him - he was a total ONE WOMAN Turtle !

Back to dogs - I DO agree there are some dogs that really WANT to be outside all the time - climate permitting - I was in full agreement with the poster that commented that YES they can be outside - BUT DO NOT NEGLECT THEM !!! They need lots of attention too.

and this was really about YORKIES being outside - so I guess most of this thread is not really on topic - but it WAS interesting

Tatum would be SO unhappy if the only time she got to be outside was on a leash or in a kennel. I swear she can run I don't know how many miles per hour and her and Stormie love to chase each other around the house. Yours is still young. You may find that she's not so happy being that confined. After all, in the end they are still terriers who love to play hard and get exercise by running.

Of course, we may be talking country vs. city here again too because I'm sure those that live in the city and don't have areas where they can let their little ones off-leash to run like the wind have just as happy pups. I just couldn't imagine Tatum being that confined.

Good luck with your new baby!

And Villette, you're right.... this did go a bit off topic but I think some of us get a little sensitive about the outdoor dog issue and that's what it turned into. It's nice to be able to talk about it though. There's such a diverse group of people here that live in such different places and in different surroundings that sometimes we forget that they are out there. I'm just glad everyone has kept their cool and had fairly nice discussions.

Well I just cant let Kizzy outside to run and play without being out with her. She will be out playing when I am out with her but like I said, we have 9 acres, and we have a lake I can sit on my deck and almost throw a fishing line in. our yard is not fenced and and if she ever got out of my yard, she wouldnt have a clue at her age how to get home plus some people around me do have big big dogs and we have hawks and some coyotes. But we're only 4 miles from schools, banks and everything. So we're out yet not very far. So not to worry, she will be outside playing when I can sit out there with her. But she can run fast too. but at 3 lbs she has plenty of room to run in our house as it is big. And outside we walk to the lake and her leash isnt just a leash, it is the pullout kind where she can run as far as it lets her and I Let her play and run on it as I walk with her. and she has plenty of outside playing. Some days I am out there for over an hour several times a day.just walking and letting her lay in the clover (which she loves) and run. I just dont trust without something to make her stop as she can get away in a hurry. She is fast and I could not catch her if she didnt want me to. You would just have to know the lay out of the land here. Sorry if I sounded like she is never aloud outside to run . I just cant let her go without some way to make sure she dont get lost. :-)

I can't imagine having a dog live outside.... especially a little yorkie! My babies are def indoor brats!

Unless one lives in the country and the dog is a working farm dog, I can not see the purpose of having a dog, just to keep it outside.

IMO the dog is not enjoying life and the people are not enjoying the dog. so what sense does it make to have one.

I see dogs on chains and in kennels and someone goes out to feed and water them once a day, if the dog is lucky. In the summer time the kennels stink and the dogs are pestered by flies.

I just don't understand it.

I think cities should pass an ordinance that dogs cannot be left outside for over 12 hours per day. When I get to be mayor that will be my first order of business.

Just let me say that this has hit a very sensitive spot with me recently. First let me say that my dogs are inside dogs. That being said we use to have a HUGE dog that did live outside. He came in when the weather was too hot or too cold or if there was bad weather. Now my problem is calling this abuse and saying that the cops should do something....

I know of a family whose children are being abused in more ways than one. Nobody will listen to the mother and many have ignored the many bruises the children have. Nobody including the cop and DSS will help her. Recently all of the children have been badly beaten and only NOW are they listening.The children have said they are scared of their father and so on. (This is a recent divorce and the mom is fighting the visitation the father gets).

That being said I would just like to say that IF we had the same strict laws protecting children this world would be a safer place. I do not think it is abuse to let a dog live outside provided they are taken care of and protected from the weather. I do think that there are certain breeds that do NOT belong outside but saying it is abuse is going a bit to far. I would love to explain to these children why what has happened to them isn't considered abuse but leaving a dog out to some is....

Sorry this may sound harsh but this just kinda hit me hard.



Michelle

Georgie doesn't go in the backyard for a few minutes without supervision or his bog sister Coco with him. I can't imagine making any dog stay outside 24/7 Actually growing up my dog stayed outside most of the time unless it was really cold, and my Dad swears to this day he liked being outside all the time. I tell my Dad we should have made him stay outside and kept the dog in the house with us:D

I understand what you're saying. We have a lot of property also but Tatum being older than yours is perfect about staying real close to the house and responds every time to "come" so I feel pretty safe for her. She's also a very laid back dog that just doesn't go seeking out trouble often at all. Someone is always outside with her when she's out. You're right that they need to be watched closely out in the country where so many things can happen. Maybe it did sound like you never let her "run free" but I wasn't trying to criticize either. I was just imagining Tatum never running off her steam with her doggie sister. ;)

:thumbup: :thumbup: Well said...... sometimes it does seem that animal lovers have a louder voice about protecting their dogs. Wish the same could be said for the children. I just think the whole system has too many problems for them to all get the attention they deserve.

I agree.

my outside dog would do nothing but cry for 12 hours a day then. he really hates being inside. I would prefer he ws inside but he loves to run and play and doesnt' even want to be inside at night.

if rules were passed that dogs could only be outside for 12 hours a day then what woudl happen to all the dogs who are outside and thier families couldnt' bring them in... maybe a child with allergies. would those dogs just have to be put to sleep? There are all kinds of reasons people do the things they do some good some bad. MY courage is feed very well happy social and very healthy. IMO it's beter to have a happy healthy outside dog than a miserable inside dog without enough exercise if that is where they want to be.
I would never put my yorkie outside because it would be too dangerous for him ( not that he would want out there anyway) we have many larger dogs that roam free and hawks that will eat small animals like him ( the way he hops around a hawk would probably think he was getting a rabbit)

I have my small kiddos inside but I also have a German Shepherd and a Dobie outside and I would never call it abuse or anything. Our front and backyard is fenced so they run from front to back play with us outside and are loved just like the indoor little ones. No kennels here sorry but they do have a very nice doggy house with shingles (sp?) and they have a crate under our porch with a bed in there. When it gets cold (im in Texas) which is not very ofter I have a huge blanket that I put over it so they are warm inside! When it gets really hot they get ice cubes throught the day and I get the hose and play catch the water with them. I am outside quite a bit with my son so he can play on his bikes and guess whos with us Sky and Red!! the only time the gate to the backyard (back and front divided by a gate) is when my small kiddos get outside playtime, since Sky is still young and wants to play rough. Abuse to be would be outside, chained, no water/food or dirty water, no shelter, no human contact etc.. you know what I mean but just because my boys are outside 24/7 doesn't mean they are abused or unhappy!!!

Smiles, :)
Myra

My babies rarely if ever have had their feet on the ground. That is my choice and I will continue to keep them in my house and on the deck But, Yorkies and their families need to make rules that suit them and are humane. I would not allow my critters out in the fenced back yard by themselves but we do spend our time on the deck with the awning rolled out-for shade and protection from the predatory birds.
I have had outside dogs who were absolutely not happy inside..an Aussie and a Spitz are two of them. But, when it comes to Yorkies---OMG, I swear their feetsies would be forever traumatized if I left them outside without mommie in their sight. They are such wimps!! Me, too..