Don't Want to Start a Controversy, but I'm PUZZLED

[StewiesMom]

I had no idea that it wasn't illegal everywhere. I guess I am learning a lot of stuff about other parts of teh country through YT

[Yorkie_Mama]

some dogs can handle diffrent weather diffrently i would let my mini aussie stay in a kennel when its 70 degrees at night perhaps sixty but at fifty everyone is in the mud room but yorkies can get upper respitory infections so easy i will wash my minis out side and let them play in the grass after a bath i wouldnt dare do that with my Yorkie babies they would get sick i would take my mini aussie out on a trail ride but not my yorkies they are not stock breed or lines but dog food meets each dogs needs in my house hold larger dogs 12-18 im my case have diffrent proteen needs than smaller dogs but its all solid gold and nutra max no one here would ever eat walmart slob food or sit in the high noon heat of the day

[MeganS]

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!! the ONLY time my lab, rusty, is outside is to go potty or when we're taking him for a walk/playing. i think it is cruel to keep a dog out side 24/7. rusty is just as much my baby as tucker. i couldn't imagine not letting him inside! what i don't get is, if you're not going to get a dog to love and cuddle, why get one at all? for guarding reasons? get a security system for pete's sake!

[ReconsMomma]

I treat all 3 of my dogs equally. Just because Recon can tollerate the cooler temps outside doesn't mean jack to me. He sleeps in my home on my bed EVER night. I dont agree with having some inside dogs and some outside dogs, Just my opinion though. I dont understand the meaning behind having dogs in a kennel in the yard sleeping on a bed on concrete and others sleeping in the comfy house on carpeted floors or cushy bed. Just me though. I love Recon just as much as Memphis just as much as preslee. There is no difference here in my home. About the only thing that preslee doesnt get to do is go to the lake and the only reason being is because I dont trust other dogs there. But she gets to go to grandpas house or stay here with gramma where she is spoiled.

Having dogs outside to me as security doesn't make sense either, I feel more secure when they are right here with me. Is it the barking that makes you feel better?? Get an alarm then. I just dont get it.

[iheartyorkies]

That's interesting Kristy. Maybe its a city vs. county thing. I can see where they certainly don't need a bunch of dogs running loose in a heavily populated area. I've never lived within a "city limits" so that may be the difference. I've always been in the burbs or rural. Or in my case now, in the middle of nowhere! My family never got a "house" dog till I was in high school. Where I live, there are no laws that state where a dog should be kept, ie, inside or outside. Unfortunatley leaving it up to the owner's common sense doesn't always work since some people have no common sense. We have an animal control officer who polices the treatment of pets. If I suspect that an animal is being abused then I would call him. And if someone has a dog who barks incessantly or gets in people's trash or is so untrained and left on its own that it becomes a menace in the neighborhood then animal control takes care of the situation, speaking to the owner or in worst case scenario removing the animal from the home. Its not a perfect system but serves its purpose most of the time. I have no problem with the care of my neighbor's pets. We have large yards and tons of shade. Most of them are Labs or lab mixes. I occasionally have to run one out of my yard so it won't poop in it (with two I've got enough dog poop of my own ) but that's no big deal. I live in a rural area. This is pretty normal around here. Some have house dogs, some don't. In the city, I'm not sure what the laws are since I've never lived there.

[eshuser]

I hope this does not offend anyone....we have an English Mastiff and I think she's too big for a house pet...we acquired her as an adult and she had never been in the house before..however I lost this battle. (We just had a litter of pups and my hubby is keeping one...IN THE HOUSE!!) But back to the point...I'm not worried about her being outside...I prefer it, she is sooo big and aggressive that no one bothers our house or kids!!! She has shelter, shade and all the food and fresh water she can stand. We started out on cheap nasty food, because the idiot that had her was feeding her that but we did wean her onto better stuff. I love all my dogs, however since Callie is smaller I feel I need to be extra careful with her. She also does not go outside alone because she can fit through the chain link fence. And always runs staright to the street. We live on a busy street and she would definitely get run over and I DO NOT want that to happen. (To any of my dogs, but the others stay away from the street and go in the back yard where it is fenced.) I hope that somewhat clears up why big dogs are kept out while little ones are not. (At least mine anyway.)

I've had a long bad day I do not by any means intend to sound rude and if this does I am really sorry. There are days when things are sooo bad around here all I do is sit on my computer to talk to you guys. Ya'll always make me feel better, so the last thing I want is to upset anyone. Thanks for everything!!!!

[Hickey007]

I have three big dogs that are primarily outside dogs. Anytime they are inside they are constantly wanting outside. They are happy inside for like 10 minutes then they start wanting out. They will sit at the front glass door or stare out the windows and whine. They can't run and play inside, and not because I won't let them but really there's not enough room for them to even want to. They have a fenced area (at least 100x50 ft) under the trees with a small stream running through it so that they can play in the water as well as drink if they want(They are also given fresh water in buckets everyday as well). We also built a wooden deck thingy out there for them to lie on and under as well and of course they eash have their own dog house. When we are outside however they get to get out and run around the entire yard and sleep on the front porch (which I have to say is their favorite thing to do). Honestly I'm not saying its wrong to keep a big dog indoors but it would be wrong for us. Our big dogs would not like it. I think you have to look at the situation as well as the dog and its personality to decide what is the best thing for it.

[red98vett]

I totally agree with what you just posted Hickey007....I know many big dogs prefer it and to me it's perfect for them outside when they have shade and all that they need - Personally...I just hate to see them tied up .....but being an outdoor dog is perfectly natural for some of them...it sounds like yours have a good setup and I'm sure are very happy with their yard

[Hickey007]

Yeah I know what you mean. Even with them having what I think is a pretty big fenced in area I still like to get them out and play in the front yard(just something different and to get them out of their pen) I can't imagine tying a dog up with a 15 foot chain 24/7. We used to have about 2 acres fenced, mostly wooded, and even then we got them out a lot. Plus so many people chain them up then just leave them out there only going out to see them to feed them. Dogs need human companions, its in their nature to bond and love someone. That's why they are domestic animals, not wild.

[chachi]

I think people with large dogs sometimes treat them as they are possessions rather than a pet. Small dogs tend to stay in the house and be pampered. I am not saying this is right it is just my observation.

[Mydogkelsey]

Originally Posted by Chelsey

Ok i have a choc lab of 11 months, she is PRECIOUS all the way, i love her madly, she acts like "mother hen" over her longhaired fursisters, she is SO gentle with them, they can bite her ears and hang in her tail and she just accepts it all, i have to reprimand the little girls and tell them to STOP IT!
Dounia (lab) gets the SAME quality food and when the little ones get a new toy she NEVER gets left out, if one gets a treat, they ALL get a treat, Dounia sleeps IN our bedroom and when we take her in the car, there is NO way she gets to stay in there while we get out, we take her for swims to the lake "thats Dounia time" as we call it, because she loves water and swimming!
We have a blast while we watch her play and swim, she has so much humor, she cracks us up!!

The difference between her and our yorkies is that she acts like a real dog, yorkies are BABIES all the way, so yes we pick them up and sit with them on our laps, dress them up and fuss over them 24/7 but apart from that, Dounia means as much to us all, and is loved all the same!

HI honey! I love your girls they are so precious! I am so happy to hear about your babies and that picture is so adorable! When I go over my parents to visit, my yorkie-poo Kelsey always comes with me....they have two large dogs a lab/german shepard and a golden retriever. They are so gentle with Kelsey and treat her like she is a queen. She trots around them, gives them kisses, and crawls all over them! It's so funny to watch the golden retriever (Bailey) play with Kelsey in their gated backyard! They chase eachother and you should see Kelsey with her ears back and mouth open running around full-force! She cracks me up!!!! Big dogs are just as adorable as little ones. I always go over their house and give the dogs the same treatment as I do with Kelsey.

[Shanatink]

I think some people just think big dogs are low maintence. Generally big dogs cost less money and little dogs cost big buck and I think people are into taking better care of what they invest more money in. I am not saying its right by anymeans. I think another reason is little dogs such as yorkies need good food for healthy shiny coats or other things like that. But some people just dont think they have to worry about needing specail food for a big dogs. All mine personally eat the same food. And they are each given a different vitamin for thier differnt needs. I actually have to feed my boxer somethign to help her skin and coat because she can get dry and itchy skin. I also like to make her eggs every once in awhile for her coat. In my opinion big dogs need pampering too

[ssguzzy828]

I guess i treat my two differently but only because they are both different. For instance i feed xaro iams because he stopped eating science diet and then someone suggested iams and he loves it. Macy gets science diet because thats what her breeder had her on and so far she still eats it up. Macy I can take more places with me cause shes only 2lbs but xaro is 105lbs so its a bit harder to conceal him in a dog carrier lol. I guess its kinda like when you have more then one child you love them all equally but they are all so different in their personalties and their needs. So yeah i fall under the category of treating them differently i guess.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

The rest of my family all have big dogs and they are all indoor dogs. They sleep inside and they spend as much time inside as they want. My family dotes on all their dogs like they are family members. We have labs, a rhodesian ridgeback and I have a standard poodle. My poodle is a big baby and he is treated just as well as the others. I feed them all the RC by breed...even the persian cat! When I buy treats I buy for everyone. I bought 5 bully stix today!

This will kill some of you who already think I am crazy but for his birthday, I treated my poodle who just turned 5 to a "doggy spa"! It was $200 and it is a posh van that comes to the house and he is pampered for three hours. Both of them have beautiful swarski crystal nametags. We waited in line for 45 minutes at the wags for wishes dog show to let my westie run the lure course. I had all of them with me. You will notice they are all included in my avatar and they show up in my stories, videos, and pictures.

I do not let my yorkies outside alone because they can fit through the fence or a bird of prey can carry them off.

My westie and my poodle get to go to dog beach more often and other fun things that the yorkies cannot do because of their size. My westie and my poodle are service dogs too and they go with us on vacation or when we are going shopping. I think they have more freedon because of their size.

[Ponyup]

Logan is my first dog so i can't say how I'd treat him compared to other dogs. However, my mom has two large dogs and a smaller cocker type mix. Only Taylor (the weimeriener) is an inside dog. My mom treats Taylor just the same as most of you treat your small dogs. Taylor goes everywhere with my mom and if she can't take her in the place she's going she leaves her in the car with the car running and the air on (we live in a small town so no one will steal the car). The reason a big dog wouldn't of been the right choice for me is because i live in town in a condo and i wouldn't be able to give them the activity they needed. My mom lives on a farm and spends all day outside and taylor gets to be outside all day with her playing. Oh yeah my mom's dog Taylor cost more than I payed for Logan.
My mom also has a barn dog, a border collie (annie). Annie lives outside in the barn. We have very expensive horses and it's annie's job to guard the barn and she takes it very seriously. If she doesn't know you and my mom's not home there is no way you're getting near that barn. She is a working dog who also helps herd the horses. She would not be content just lieing around the house all day. (my brother is finding this out with his blue heeler that's destroying there new home). The barn is heated (never falling below 55 and she has a bed that she shares with the barn cats)
And mom has Sally (a cocker mix) which we found on the road. Sally has to stay in a Kennel becasue she can't control her bowels anymore. She can get inside the shed and then has a dog run also. She looks kinda scraggly but that's because she was abused before we found her and you can't get anywhere near here with clippers or scissors. It might not be the best life for her, but it's better than dieing on the road or living out in the woods or being put to sleep.