Inside vs. Outside

I made a comment on an online forum long ago that I've never forgotten. Actually, it was the response to it that stuck with me. I had made some reference to my "outside" dogs and another commenter took major offense to this. She stated that if a person is going to own a dog it should be kept inside where it can be properly taken care of. Basically she accused me of abusing or mistreating my dogs! She couldn't understand how I could possibly have some of my dogs inside the house, yet make others live outside.

Our outside dogs have plenty of food, shelter from the elements, and the freedom to run free. They are spayed and neutered, given the proper vaccinations, and get plenty of love and attention. In no way are they mistreated! We've learned over the years that some dogs just prefer living outside.

Angus, our first Rottweiler was meant to be an outside dog. When he was two years old he developed a tick-born disease called Ehrlichia. We treated him with massive doses of antibiotics to cure him, but the vet said the only way to keep it from recurring was to lock him in a pen or bring him in the house. We couldn't imagine penning him up. He would have been miserable. We had several other dogs at the time and they loved to all roam the woods together. So, we brought him inside. We had never had a large dog in the house before, but it was the beginning of a love affair for our family. He housebroke easily, immediately took charge of guarding our kids (and herding them when necessary), and fit right in to our family.

Our next two rotties, Esther and JJ, were destined to be house dogs from the time they arrived at our home as puppies. However, between the time we picked them out at the kennel and they were old enough to bring home, we got Betty and Veronica. Since we didn't want four puppies inside at one time, Betty and Veronica were kept in the back yard. It was only because of Veronica's tragic death that Betty got to move in. I sometimes wonder if they both wouldn't have ended up inside eventually.

The majority of our outside dogs have been strays that were passing through and decided they'd found a good home. Most of these dogs would never have been happy as inside dogs, not after the freedom they had already experienced. Daisy Mae and Hope were perfect examples of this and lived with us for quite a few years. I debated whether to try and make a house dog of Bella, but felt Hope needed her company after Daisy died. Perhaps if I'd moved her in that terrible day in the pasture might never had happened. I can't think about that.

Anyone who has followed this blog for any length of time knows about our current dogs. Alice and Mabel (and their ten siblings) were abandoned on the side of the road at Christmastime two years ago. Blue and Mama Dog (and her subsequent litter of puppies) the following summer. Suzy this summer.

I took pictures of Alice and Mabel in the back yard over the weekend. I caught Alice with her head in mid-shake in the first one. It's hilarious and looks like she's about to warp into another dimension! Hard to believe they're from the same litter, isn't it?