Outdoor Dog vs. Indoor Dog

[Conan]

I grew up with outdoor dogs. Our best dog was an outdoor dog. A golden retriever. He was amazing. We had a few acres and he stuck around. We spent a lot of time with him every day. He was allowed to sleep in the laundry room when it was cold in winter, and when he got old. He slept outside my bedroom window otherwise. He lived 16 years, and I'll be honest... every dog since him has paled in comparison.
A Golden pup will turn you into a dog lover asap

 

[Aquatic_blue]

If you're nervous around dogs it makes them nervous too, which is possibly why you're getting mixed signals from them. Add that to a nervous dog and you'll get a bad result.

In your case it might be easiest to start with a puppy or very young dog, since that should be easier for you to deal with and puppies are more malleable in dealing with people. I agree that something like a retriever or lab might be a good choice, as they're generally very friendly dogs.

That is probably what is happening. Dogs are usually good at judging character.

This is good advice! Thanks =)

 

[Aquatic_blue]

I grew up with outdoor dogs. Our best dog was an outdoor dog. A golden retriever. He was amazing. We had a few acres and he stuck around. We spent a lot of time with him every day. He was allowed to sleep in the laundry room when it was cold in winter, and when he got old. He slept outside my bedroom window otherwise. He lived 16 years, and I'll be honest... every dog since him has paled in comparison.
A Golden pup will turn you into a dog lover asap
View attachment 1932486

Sounds like a sweet dog! Gorgeous, too!

 

[igorsMistress]

I think it depends on why you have the dog. I can get past the shedding, bed hogging and occasional mess indoors. We allow our dogs inside, they have a doggy door to come and go as they please.

I suppose we treat them like human children. We talk to them and they understand, they sleep with us, and go to the hardware store, feed store, etc.

We've had a stray that we took off the street that preferred to be outside all the time and a working dog, hunting, that preferred the outdoors unless it was very cold or hot.

Provided the dog isn't tied up, has shelter, gets fresh water and plenty of food I don't see a reason not to have an outside dog. It's just not our thing. We enjoy our pets and being empty nesters, they're like our kids only better

 

[wyoDreamer]

Have you had the old English Setter to the vet lately? Incontinence could be a sign of kidney issues, especially at this age. I encourage you to have this checked out before it reaches a point of no return.

Thanks for your concern, yes he has been to the vet regularly. He began peeing in the house when our Shepherd was on Steroids and went incontinent. The shepherd was literally leaking pee as he walked around. I believe the smell of dog urine influenced the Setter to pee on the pellet stove, the couch and the chair. I know it was the Setter because he lifts his leg, the shepherd always squats. The shepherd is now off the steroids and in control of his bladder. The setter hasn't pee'd in the house for a long tome, but with his age we just figure it is better to keep him kenneled at night and not deal with any "accidents".

 

[chickens really]

My three big dogs are outdoors weather permitting and indoors at night or crappy weather. I have a walkout basement with an area for their crates. Only my Maremma sleeps on the floor without a crate.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks for your concern, yes he has been to the vet regularly. He began peeing in the house when our Shepherd was on Steroids and went incontinent. The shepherd was literally leaking pee as he walked around. I believe the smell of dog urine influenced the Setter to pee on the pellet stove, the couch and the chair. I know it was the Setter because he lifts his leg, the shepherd always squats. The shepherd is now off the steroids and in control of his bladder. The setter hasn't pee'd in the house for a long tome, but with his age we just figure it is better to keep him kenneled at night and not deal with any "accidents".

Ah yes, the scent is definitely an attractant. Have you tried Nature's Miracle? It's an enzyme that actually digests the scent molecules, so you'll be getting rid of the scent on a molecular level. Your pet store should be able to loan you a black light, like forensic scientists use, so you can actually see the urine and the areas that need to be treated. You may not be able to smell the residue after you clean it with normal household cleaners, but the dogs definitely can, and they will keep going back and marking the same spots. And don't use anything with ammonia in it - that is what urine turns into, over time! Good luck!

This info is by way of letting OP know how not to let an indoor dog turn into an outdoor dog by "accidents," lol! Puppies make mistakes in the house. Keep a good enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle on hand and clean up promptly. NEVER "rub his nose in it" or swat with rolled-up newspaper or anything else. Ask yourself, Whar Would His Mama Do? Clean up and prevent accidents, and you'll do fine!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I grew up with outdoor dogs. Our best dog was an outdoor dog. A golden retriever. He was amazing. We had a few acres and he stuck around. We spent a lot of time with him every day. He was allowed to sleep in the laundry room when it was cold in winter, and when he got old. He slept outside my bedroom window otherwise. He lived 16 years, and I'll be honest... every dog since him has paled in comparison.
A Golden pup will turn you into a dog lover asap
View attachment 1932486

How did I miss this??? I agree, there is nothing like a Golden!!!
Mine was the model for my obedience class for 15 years. Uh-oh, I am tearing up! Gentle, sweet, smart, gorgeous, awesome. On the front page of the local newspaper twice. Sigh. Mostly an indoor dog, but outside with us whenever we were. He was just family. Funny story: too big to bathe in the tub, so we used to take him to the car wash. DD would hold him and wash him, I would stand back and spray him. Gentle setting, of course. He loved it! Also loved being vacuumed with the hose attachment. Good thing, too, Goldens are HAIRY! Lol, thanks for the memories.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I use the enzymatic cleaner when cleaning up animal messes. It does make a huge difference on repeat pee problems. And always check their beds - especially if they have more than one in the house. I went to vacumn the study and found that one of the dogs had been using the nice, new, fluffy dog bed as a pee pad. The hardwood floor underneath was soaked and it has stained horribly.

When we got our Irish Setter puppy, he was 7 weeks old. And house trained - by his dame. There were 2 bitches with pups in a 1/2 acre pen with 2 dog houses. The mothers moved both litters into one dog house (13 puppies totals) and raised them together. As the puppies got old enough, a momma dog would push the pup outside to pee, then clean it up before letting it back into the dog house.