In general, housedogs make better pets. They get the most attention and training, and they bond to their humans more easily. However, though most dogs do enjoy being housepets, it is not possible for everyone to keep an indoor dog, nor do all dogs need/want that. Over the past 20 years or so, much of our society has grown to expect that pet dogs are kept inside, but if a dog receives enough attention, it doesn't matter where he's kept. The negative feelings about outdoor dogs come from our observations of the dogs we see in chainlink pens 50 yards from the house, the ones who never seem to get attention other than at feeding time. Not all outdoor dogs live that way.

When I was growing up, nearly all our dogs were outside dogs, but they certainly
didn't want for attention. (I can only think of one childhood friend who had an
indoor dog.) My mother gardened a great deal and when she was at home, was very
often outside; my father had a shop in the garage and I can still see old
Jeffrey the Cocker mix lying on the cool garage floor at my dad's feet. We kids
played outside most of the time and the dog was always included in whatever we
were doing.

Though our dogs are all housedogs now, and that's how we prefer it, there have
been times in my adult life when I didn't have that choice and I had dogs who
were primarily kept outside. I've also had dogs who much preferred to be
outside unless the weather was really frightful. As a matter of fact, our
12-year-old collie insists on staying outside for most of the day. For my own
peace of mind, he sleeps indoors and I keep him in when the weather is extremely
hot, cold, or wet.

There are many farm dogs, sled breeds, hunting breeds, and other working dogs
who are kept outside with absolutely no ill effects. Obviously some breeds must
be kept indoors due to their physical characteristics. Toy breeds are unsuited
for the outdoors, as are whippets.and other breeds with low body fat and short coats.

While I think most everyone agrees that keeping a pet dog inside makes it easier
to see to it that he receives enough attention and training, it's not fair to
suggest that an owner who keeps a dog outside is by definition not a good owner.
I have certainly known dogs who lived inside who were not treated well. The
important factor is attention, not the location of the dog's housing.

All that said, please don't get a dog if you do plan to put him outside alone if you don't spend a great deal of time outside yourself. A dog is a social animal, and while he doesn't necessarily need to be kept indoors, he does need lots of human companionship!

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