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.