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Is it okay to leave your dogs outside all the time? Reddit user WildSkunDaloon doesn't think so. They believe that people who keep their dogs outside all of the time are "total trash."
"It kills me to see my neighbors dogs out in the yard 24/7 just... Existing.. I know they're home but they just leave them there to die of boredom and absolutely beg for attention...ugh it breaks my heart because what kind of life is that for them?" They said keeping dogs outside is the same thing as locking them in a cage, but with more space.
WildSkunDaloon added, "I honestly don't see the point in getting a dog at all if all you plan to do with it is outta sight out of mind it in the yard till the day it dies."
More members of the Reddit community weighed in on the proper treatment of dogs, when it comes to the issue of keeping them out of the house. Some people think it's totally fine to keep dogs outside. "Their instinct is to be outside. It's not cruel to have your dogs outside if you're looking out for them," one person commented.
Another noted that certain breeds prefer to be outside over inside. "I own a husky and huskies are not at all indoor dogs. He thrives being outside and he would have it no other way. Even in the winter when it is storming, he prefers to lay out in the snow (instead of his well insulated, spacious dog house) because that's what he loves and was made for. He is so loved, taken care of and has everything he needs," they wrote. "Just because he lives outside, doesn't mean he doesn't have a good life and we are bad people."
Others agreed, depending on the circumstances. Farm dogs are used to living outside could be happiest outside in their element. "I grew up on a farm and our dogs lived outside full time with the exception of dangerously hot/cold weather," one user revealed. "Pretty sure they were about as happy as any dogs could hope to be."
However, some Reddit users thought that dogs should not be left outside all the time. "I have a couple of neighbors who just chain their dogs up outside 24/7. They're never given attention, or even let off the chain to run around. It breaks my heart that they spend their whole lives chained or caged in a small square foot area, with no interaction."
Some said whether or not you should leave a dog outside all the time depends on the circumstances. "If they are given enough space, 24/7 access to water, and appropriate shelter, I'm okay with it," one user wrote.
Giving your dog their own access to the house made it okay to leave them outside, one user insisted. "Personally I live in the suburbs and we have a doggy door for our dogs, so when the dogs wanna go outside and play, they can do that, but they don't get stuck out there because I forgot about them," they said.
Someone else said there's no comparison between leaving a dog outside 24/7 with necessities and the extreme of constantly keeping a dog in a cage. "I don't think a dog living outside, free to roam but with a place to call home where people feed it and provide outside shelter for it is anywhere close to the extreme of caging a dog all day while you're at work," someone chimed in. "Alternatively, people who keep their dogs inside 100% of the time are total trash," another offered.
According to the Pet Health Network, there are no really good reasons to keep your dog outside all of the time. "Sadly, often dogs are left outside by dog-owners that aren't putting enough effort into their pets," the site claimed. "Whether they're unwilling or unable to train and socialize their dogs, or whether they have unrealistic expectations of their dog's behavior, some people find it easier to just keep their dogs outside."
They also noted that dogs are pack animals, so when dogs are adopted, they want to be part of the "pack" that is the family. The site encourages welcoming their dog into their "pack" when adopting.
