Is it OK for my dog to live outside?

Well, that depends on whether you and the family are prepared to move all the furniture out into the back yard and live out there too! Unless you are, then the place for your dog is inside the house, with the rest of the family. Dogs, just like humans, are social animals. It is not humane to ask your dog to spend most of her time alone. Dogs need to be with their people in order to be psychologically healthy!

Of course, most of us have to troop off to work for most of the day, and our dogs have to be able to cope with being alone for a number of hours - which they can do if they have had adequate exercise before we leave and have some interactive toys to keep them occupied during the day. But that's all the more reason why they should be in our company whenever we are at home.

What if you have more than one dog? Is it then OK for them to be ‘outside dogs' because they have each other's company? Well, it is better than being totally isolated, but dogs have evolved over more than ten thousand years to be in the company of humans. Most of them would probably even prefer to be with people than with other dogs.

Dogs who are prevented from being with their human families tend to have behaviour problems because of the stress, anxiety, frustration and boredom that they suffer. Common problems are excessive barking, destructive behaviour, escaping, and uncontrollably excited behaviour when they finally do get a chance to interact with people.

If your dog is an outside dog, bring her inside. Your dog will be happier and better behaved, and your relationship with her will improve. If you think ‘There's no way I can bring her inside - she'll bounce all over the place and destroy the house!', talk to us about ways to introduce your dog gradually and calmly to the great indoors.