[dobiegirl]

I currently do not own any dogs at this time, however, I am planning on getting a puppy in a couple of years. I am an experienced dog owner, having owned 2 dobermans in the past. I am very familiar with this breed and would only want another dog when the time is right. (I am waiting until we move and my daughter is a little older). The dobermans that I owned in the past were primarily kept outdoors. I have visited other boards on this subject and I have found that many people see this as almost a cruel act on the animal. I know that dobermans are a short haired breed and therefore get cold more easily than others. However, I live in northern alabama, which is a very warm climate. I had a very large fenced in back yard and a very nice dog house with a pitched shingle roof and cedar siding. My dobermans received plenty of attention, including obedience training classes. The dogs were brought in the house regularly for companionship and always in cases of extreme weather. I went outside to visit my dogs every day. I kept the yard clean. As puppies, the dogs stayed inside full time until they were several months old. I wanted them to be vaccinated, fully recovered from plastic surgery on the ears, and old enough to be a little more self sufficient. I believe that all animals should be treated humanely and be provided with clean, warm living conditions to live, sleep, and play. I, personally, do not see this as bad living conditions for any animal. I plan on keeping my next dog outside when he is older. I am going to have a huge fenced in yard and will be home full time for companionship and training. The dog will be let in the house very often. I want a dog strictly for companionship and for no other purpose so my dog will be well taken care of. I've had people comment to me that a reputable breeder would not sell me a puppy if they knew it would be outside. I just want some opinions on this subject, especially to those of you that keep dogs outside and to those who own dobermans. I would love to keep a dog inside but it is just so impracticle, especially for a dog that weighs around 85 pounds. We tried to keep my last doberman inside but there wasn't enough space and my house smelled like a dog all of the time.(just regular doggy smell, not from problems house training.) I know that is something you have to deal with when you own a dog but we felt it was better to keep him outside. He actually preferred to be outside. Any feedback would be appreciated

[natwimbly]

I can't see myself leaving my dog outside- I'm the type who has to have the dog inside with me- plus, I do bring him everywhere (my work allows this).

I'm sorry but I just can't agree with leaving a dog outside- my dog is a golden and weighs over 85 pounds, plus we have two cats and a huge cage for my two rats and a relatively small bungalow and yet we live quite comfortably. I don't have kids though.

Nat
Moderator- dog forums

[geminiluna]

Dear Dobiegirl,

It sounds like you are a very ethical and conscientious (future and past) dog-owner. I had two doberman/dane crosses that I got in North Carolina when my husband and I were stationed at Fort Bragg. When we received orders from the Army to move to Indiana, we had very little time to prepare ourselves for the move. But there was absolutely no question that the dogs were coming with us. We ended up living with my parents on their farm for a while. They had an indoor Rottweiler female. The female Rottie and my female Doby/Dane had some serious Alpha female issues that led to some very dangerous and scary fights. It was not an option for my dogs to stay inside. So we built a large doghouse with good construction-quality framing, insulation, etc., large enough for the two of them to stay comfortably together. We also ran heatlamps into this doghouse. THe bedding was never less than about 10 inches of cedar shavings. I kept a thermometer inside the doghouse so that I could monitor the temperature of their doghouse even on the most miserable of winter days. And by the way, I don't ever recall the temperature dropping below about 68 degrees in their doghouse even when the wind was howling with sub-zero temps outside.

AND - to top it off, this doghouse was placed INSIDE of a livestock barn. So essentially, they were living in a heated/insulated house within a house! What a set-up! And I constantly ran bucket-heaters in their water buckets so that they never lacked for fresh water.

I will tell you that these dogs have crossed the Rainbow bridge after wonderful lives. Their quality of life was not diminished AT ALL by having lived outside. I am now divorced, and have my own dogs again. I do keep them as indoor dogs now (Lab and Lab mix). I also have the room to do so. But I will never consider myself any less of a person for having kept my Doby/Danes as outside dogs. They lived very well, and never lacked for comfort. Ever.

It sounds like you will do your best to treat your dog(s) very well and provide them the best comfort possible. Not everyone can or wants to keep a dog inside. I'm sure I'm opening myself up for attack by saying this. But not even an ASPCA officer or representitive could fault you for keeping your dogs in the comfortable and clean conditions you're describing.

Enjoy your dog(s) when you do get to bring one into your family.

[dobiegirl]

Thank you SpecialK for your input. I was on a doberman pinscher board today and after describing the same scenario I was viciously attacked by other members. I was told that "this is america and keeping any dog outside is cruel" and that"if I were to place a dog, I would not place it with you". I think that is so sad. I am an animal lover and a very responsible pet owner. How many homes in america have dogs that live outside? I know more people with outside dogs than I do with inside dogs. My dog had a heatlamp in his doghouse as well and if it got really cold we still brought him inside. He had skin allergies that caused him to have unusually bad odor. It was not bearable to keep him inside all year round. I reposted on that board and I'm sure that I probably offended many people so I won't be going back there. Thanks for you kindness and understanding.

[Rottnbelle]

I am in agreement, and as I posted on the other thread inside dog odors and ailments related to air pollution have a solution. Check out www.ecoquestintl.com/frescaaire.
Lynn, Jugendliebe Rottweilers
Moderator, "The Dog House" and its forums
Breeder of Oz the Amazing", who is owned and loved by Dawn Fillips
Inga at Westminster

[DobeHugR]

Hi DobieGirl,
I want to commend you on doing your research up front & the patience to wait until your life is in order before jumping into owning a Doberman again.

In the past all my dogs from the time
I was born until August 2001 were outside
dogs, & the last one Angel a Aussie Shep
lived until she was 14yrs.

I now have 2 Doberman's That are 80%
House dogs.
The reason is simple, the personality of the Doberman is one that wants to be with you always.
They are bred to be "personal protection" dogs and to do that "job" they have an internal
Need to be with you.
By making them a yard "guard dog" it makes
some of them very anxious and worried that they are not doing something right, they feel this and show it in several different behavior's and most are not good.
A lot of Dobermans end up in Rescue because they won't stop barking outside, They want to be in the house where they can see you and know your fine.
Or they will dig, or chew things.. they will go out of their way to get you to get off the couch and go outside & see them over & over even if its bad attention, at least than they can see you.

Of course we all have Human jobs & things we need to do & they do adapt to being outside & without you for extended time, but they do
seem to crave being with "their" humans more than any other breed I've had.
Because that's what they think they are. LOL

The Doberman feels the same Temp as you, so if your chilled with a coat on outside they are already cold. In the house I wear sweats so I don't always turn on the heat right away but as soon as I have 2 Dobes snuggling up on my lazyboy with me I can bet the temp has dropped & go look & yep its under 65..
I work outside the home and have a patio room that they can go into & a Heat lamp over 2 Kuranda beds & blankets. They have a fenced Acre to play in. But they do pine until they can get in the house.

I will keep mine out when I need to get things done that does not need a Dobe nose poking in my way, but It takes patience to teach them its OK to without you, and as long as they realize you'll let them be with you soon they will be very happy dogs.

I'm sorry you got the Bit@hBite about them being outside, I can bet the person knows that they like to be with their Humans but does not have people skills to discuss it clearly.

In fact one of the reasons I bought my first Dobe is because I had only outside dogs & why would I change my opinion of 38yrs LOL
But found out that Dobe Rescues do not adopt
to homes that will not let them be inside to become a Personal member of the Family. And since the family does not live outside in a
dog house.....but I have since been Reformed.
LOL

Deb

[dobiegirl]

Well, it is nice hearing from another doberman owner. Only someone such as yourself can understand how special these dogs really are. I appreciate your input and your advice and yes, I am nearly reformed, as well. I really really want an inside dobie, I just have to convince the husband. The funny thing is that he works all day and I'm at home all day. Who's to stop me from keeping the dog inside all day long? hehehe. By then, he will be so used to it that the dog will sleep inside. I grew up with a dobie in the house when I was a kid so I know from personal experience how much this affects the human/dog relationship. There is no way that a dog and his human parents can be as close as they should be if the dog is outside all of the time. I want my child to have a dog of her own so she can experience the type of loving friendship and loyalty that I did when I was a kid. So, right now I'm still kind of confused about what I am going to do. If it comes down to it, I may go with a smaller breed of dog that I know that my husband would permit in the house all of the time. I guess that is better than no dog at all. I have been looking into Boston Terriers but my heart breaks thinking that I won't own another doberman. Nothing could replace them. I love Boxers too, although I have never owned one. Do you have any personal experience with Boxers or Bostons? Truth be told, if I had the money and time(hey, who knows? I could win the lottery) then I would have about three dobermans and three boxers. Well, we can dream, can't we? I would have a rediculously large house with wood or tile flooring and all of my dogs would be inside, warming by the huge stone fireplace and running around like cattle on my zillion acres of land. aaaghhhhh. I'd throw in a couple of great danes too. But, alas, I have to go and be realistic. crap. As you can see, I still have a lot more research to do before I can make a decision. Honestly, I don't want to get a doberman with the intentions of keeping it inside and then find out that doesn't work out and have to start keeping the dog outside. However, going with a small dog just doesn't appeal to me. I never have seen a small breed that I really liked. Grrrrrrrr...decisions decisions. Well, now that I am done with this novel I am off to do more research. Have a great day.

[DobeHugR]

Morning..
I have friends that have Boxer's & Bostons..
The Boxers are a lot like a Dobes, Maybe even more Energy they dont seem to be quite the couch potatoes as the Dobes are. And again they want to sleep in the house with their people.

They all seem good with the kids.
But I Like seeing the way the Bostons bond with the kids more. And the kids are more comfortable with the smaller dogs too.

From what I have picked up in your posts on what you have stated about the age of your child & the reactions of your husband on a House Dobe, I would probably lean to the Boston as a better fit for your whole Family.

A small dog in the house is easier for your daughter to learn about pet responsibility.
And If Your Husband gets bothered by it being under foot you should be able to keep it in another room easier than a Dobe that wants to keep its head on the 1 person in the room that least wants it there. lol

I wish my parents would of Researched before getting me a Sheltie when I was 5.. Our family was sooo Mis-matched.
We lived in a duplex with a back yard.. NO sheep LOL
The Sheltie's are working dogs too & with no Job All he did was Bark, Bark & Bark all day.. But that is a trait
with a tiny amount of Research my parents should of known about, but he was sooo cute they got him & since he was my dog all that brushing was my responsbility. I loved Shane & I had him for 10 yrs before he was killed chasing a car.

I now know the importance of getting a breed of dog that that has the Traits that will fit into my Family 100%

Deb

[dobiegirl]

Thanks for the advice, Deb. I still want a doberman so I am already working on my husband. I'll have him worn down soon and before you know it he will be sitting on the couch with a doberman in his lap. My husband is really a big softy, he just doesn't know anyone knows about it. I am already planning on moving this summer and I am going to look for a place with the right conditions for an inside dog. I think that building a small enclosed patio onto the back and having hardwood floors would be really nice. It's a lot easier cleaning poo off of hardwood than getting the stain and smell out of carpet and the enclosed porch would be a good place for the dog to stay while we have to go out. But if things don't work out that way then we will probably go with a Boston. They are sweet dogs.

april

[nirvanat]

My German Shepherds both refuse to come into the house unless it's stormy or cold outside. They like it much more when WE come OUTSIDE with them, because they can run around better. We have a one acre yard, and planty of trees for shade. When it rains and we aren't home, they are fine because we have a doggie door into the garage, where we put hay and blankets in the winter. German Shepherds really seem to prefer large open spaces compared to the indoors, so I don't think i'm treating them cruelly at all. The only cruel treatment as far as where they live goes would be to put the dogs on a chain.