My Dog’s Happier Outside…

So why can’t I leave him there?

All dogs need exercise. Some need a lot of exercise and should be taken jogging with you. Others (like my chihuahuas) get enough exercise running up and down the stairs. But no dog should be left alone outside for an extended period.

Dogs need social attention. If a dog is left alone, he can become antisocial. In order to form a bond with you, he needs to understand where he falls in the pack and what you want him to do. But it’s unfair to the dog to expect him to be good and well-behaved and not to take up too much of your time, and then to expect him to entertain you and keep you company during the few hours you are home. Dogs aren’t like cats–they can’t really entertain themselves or stay out of trouble while you’re gone unless they’ve been trained to understand what’s appropriate.

Any dog can easily dig a hole under a fence during the time you’re away, or a stranger or another animal could come into your yard and hurt the dog. Most dogs don’t know how to take care of themselves when they’re loose, and if they haven’t been socialized, could also hurt someone through aggression or fear. If they do hurt someone, you could get slapped with a lawsuit or be forced to put the dog down.

Your dog could also eat mushrooms, grass, or any variety of plant that could make him sick. In short, there’s simply no way you can keep your dog safe unless you can control the environment–and that means keeping him indoors, in a dog-proofed house.

And if your dog seems happier outside, take a look at his life inside. Is he getting enough exercise? Enough attention from you? If you keep him in his crate whenever he’s inside the house, then of course he’s going to prefer being outside. A crate shouldn’t be used as a prison, and if you play and interact with your dog indoors, and make sure he gets enough outdoor exercise as his size and personality requires, he’ll start looking happier indoors with you. And even if he doesn’t, remember that a dog isn’t a human–he’s more like a child, who sometimes has to do what’s best for him, and not necessarily what he wants.

An excellent article on the pros and cons of keeping a dog outside can be found at Inside Or Out? – Making Your Dog Part Of The Family by the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).