[BigKahuna13]

I wouldnt doubt that this topic has been discussed already but I just would like to know if a dog that is kept in an outdoor kennel during the winter is better suited for cold weather and cold water retrieves. I ask this because on some of my last hunts this year, my dog who is kept indoors on the couch, would shiver alot after water retrieves. I would ofcourse cut the hunts short. I see that some dogs are on tv with icebergs floating next to them and they dont seem to be uncomfortable in the least. Do genetics have anything to do with this or does a dog that is kept outdoors naturally grow thicker hair?

 

[Brian Courser]

I don't know about physical differences but my dog are inside dogs. I think it makes them better hunting dogs and dogs in general. I wait to see what others think

 

[BonMallari]

we have always had inside dogs...one of the biggest differences is an inside dog is comfortable and sleeps anywhere it can when indoors...an outside dog when brought inside is nervous and curious about their new surroundings and is unsure about floors and normal household sounds like pans dropping, babies crying,and any alarms or bells from timers or phones etc..

the other side of the coin is when an inside dog is put outside it sometimes feels its being punished (along with major guilty feelings by the owner) and once an outside dog gets a taste of the good life inside is reluctant to go back outside

 

[gregjohnson]

I've had both inside and outdoor dogs. I think my dogs that were outside usually developed a heavier coat and tended to handle the cold better. However, I would also agree with a previous post that a dog benefits from a lot more interaction with the family from being kept inside. There are advantages to both options.

 

[PocketLab]

I believe keeping your dog as close to the family is an absolute must. Teaches the dog all sorts of communication skills, verbal and non verbal. I do, however, usually kennel my pup when I'm not home. During hunting season, when its cold, she is kenneled outside. When we are home she is inside. It works for us, more than comfortable inside, sleep with the 5 year old, tries to get in the tub with the 1 year old. And comfortable outside, good coat, no issues in the cold. Full disclosure, you can't get much more South in Louisiana than I am so cold is very relative...... She did shake ice last year in Lake Mechant.

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx




.

 

[Nor_Cal_Angler]

we have always had inside dogs...one of the biggest differences is an inside dog is comfortable and sleeps anywhere it can when indoors...an outside dog when brought inside is nervous and curious about their new surroundings and is unsure about floors and normal household sounds like pans dropping, babies crying,and any alarms or bells from timers or phones etc..

the other side of the coin is when an inside dog is put outside it sometimes feels its being punished (along with major guilty feelings by the owner) and once an outside dog gets a taste of the good life inside is reluctant to go back outside

I believe keeping your dog as close to the family is an absolute must. Teaches the dog all sorts of communication skills, verbal and non verbal. I do, however, usually kennel my pup when I'm not home. During hunting season, when its cold, she is kenneled outside. When we are home she is inside. It works for us, more than comfortable inside, sleep with the 5 year old, tries to get in the tub with the 1 year old. And comfortable outside, good coat, no issues in the cold. Full disclosure, you can't get much more South in Louisiana than I am so cold is very relative...... She did shake ice last year in Lake Mechant.

I agree...

When I am not home, my dog stays kenneled outside. He has free roam from his dog run to the garage (I build his run on the side of the home that has garage access) He gets a healthy dose of "outside" weather, mornings when I leave it can be as cold as 30 out.

When I get home he comes in...he interacts we me and the friends or family that is over. I let him sleep inside and he faithfully chooses my bed for about the first 15 min. then jumps down on his own for his bed on the ground.

I dont think it hurts his hunting, his drive is the same, his attention is the same, his mannors are the same. I think a balance is nice.

I started him as an outdoor dog only, unitll the age of about 2 and then he came indoors...dont know what caused me to switch it but it didnt hurt anything in my opinion...I do however agree, getting him to sleep outdoors when I am home is quite the challenge now. I cant speak for when I am on duty at the FD..he is alone for 24 Hrs..my neighbor checks in on him around 6pm, checks his water, and feeds him his last 2 cups...always says he is doing fine.

Just my thoughts.

NCA

 

[Obabikon]

I know this is a little off the OP, but after just losing a dog at age 3, I can attest to one other aspect of the inside/outside issue:

Whether they live to age 3 or 13, your time with your dog is already way too short. Why miss out on 90 percent of your day-to-day life together by keeping them outside?

 

[Marissa E.]

My dog is inside.

BUT its 20 or below out, with horrible winds, and 8 inches of snow right now
... and every 10 minutes I'm letting my dog out. He goes out and lays in the snow, wind, and cold for a good 20min-1hour depending then barks to come in, then he runs around the house like a wild buffalo with our beagle (the only time she likes to go out in the cold is when she's rabbit hunting) and then 10 minutes later he wants out we do the same thing over and over all day... So I guess he is really an inside outside dog... I like him inside, he likes himself outside.

At night he stays inside and sleeps in his crate.

My buddy has a 6 year old intact lab who lives outside (has his entire life) and to me he looks no different than any other intact lab, he does shed more in the summer, its icky. He also smells more.
I look at him and see no difference in his winter coat and the 'winter coat' of my inside dog, both look good and thick but my dog smells way better and his coat shines more... but thats jmo.

 

[dnf777]

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx




.

[Each] day mankind and the claims of mankind slipped farther from him. Deep in the forest a call was sounding, and as often as he heard this call, mysteriously thrilling and luring, he felt compelled to turn his back upon the fire, and to plunge into the forest. . . . But as often as he gained the soft unbroken earth and the green shade, the love of John Thornton drew him back to the fire again.

Jack London

 

[Mike Tome]

I have an inside dog... and the cold doesn't seem to bother him. on cold weather hunts he wears a vest. He's hunted all day and made retrieves in air temps in the teens. He gets out of the water, I take off the vest and dry him off, and put the vest back on. I'm always attentive to him for hypothermia, but it's never been an issue.

Last week he swam for over 10 minutes and over 1/2 mile after a cripple goose. I was worried about him getting cold and was there to help out with the boat, but in the end the goose was diving on him and too close to help out with a killing shot. He eventually got the goose, I hauled him in the boat, dried him.. .and he started looking for the next birds to come in.

I don't know how they do it. This inside dog seems pretty cold tolerant.

 

[BHB]

Mine is an outside dog 90% of the time, though it is California. It can and has gotten down into the high 20s here at night. Where we hunt is a little colder, more likely in the teens at times. He doesn't seem to show any like or dislike to either. He is always ready to go and I've never put a vest on him.

The only thing he really likes is to be with me(I wonder why sometimes!). I let him in for about 2-3 hours every evening while we watch tv. That's all it is. They just want to be with us. That's the only reason I can see that he wants to be inside.

BHB

 

[2tall]

DNF, thanks for posting that passage! It prompted me to look up some Jack London books to download on my kindle. Guess what, they are among the freebies!

My dogs are mostly "inside" but I found they do better with extremes of heat and cold to spend the largest part of the day out in the kennel when not training. They focus better in training, stay off of each others nerves better, and function better by acclimating to the weather before workouts. I would love to have Indy with me 24/7 but he is much better off this way and I believe happier.

 

[J. Walker]

we have always had inside dogs...one of the biggest differences is an inside dog is comfortable and sleeps anywhere it can when indoors...an outside dog when brought inside is nervous and curious about their new surroundings and is unsure about floors and normal household sounds like pans dropping, babies crying,and any alarms or bells from timers or phones etc..

the other side of the coin is when an inside dog is put outside it sometimes feels its being punished (along with major guilty feelings by the owner) and once an outside dog gets a taste of the good life inside is reluctant to go back outside

It's funny you say this. I am training a dog for a friend of mine. He keeps the dog in a kennel outside. When I first brought the dog home, I brought him into the house since it had gotten brutally cold. The dog locked up on the hardwood and tile floors: just stood stiff and wouldn't move. Once on carpet, he was fine. I literally had to carry him to the carpet. He actually stood on the carpet and stuck his head around the corner to drink from the water bowl on the tile floor.

 

[BigKahuna13]

Thanks for all of the responses. When I go hunting I always use a vest. Even if for concealment purposes. I totally understand that an indoor raised pup will be better adjusted and will learn its place within the family ranking. My dog is well suited for laying on the couch and calm behavior during down time. This spring I was thinking of putting the dog outdoors while I was at work and thought that due to extended time outdoors she may develop a slightly heavier coat for next falls hunting season. Even though her coat seems pretty thick already. Again Thanks for input and if any one has any other thoughts keep em commin

 

[7pntail]

Okay a follow up question: Do indoor dogs that sleep under the covers (Yea I admit it--no wonder we don't have kids!) handle cold weather as well as those that don't?

My labs tend to get cold even with a coat. I think outside dawg's develop a better coat and are more acclimated to the cold. Having said that, ain't gonna happen- I am used to sleeping between a Lab sandwich. On the rare occasion that the wife gets frisky, it is tough to budge the ol guy. http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif