[MrsJohnnyG]

(including both walks, dog park time, yard time, etc.)

We like having our dogs as part of our family, so they spend most of the day indoors, sleep in our room, travel with us, etc.

But I've been surprised since getting our invisible fence just how much our puppies want to stay outside. I let them go out and come in when they want much of the time (I do have them sit for me first so it's sorta NILIF ), and they love spending HOURS outside!! Like probably 4 hours a day or more! Most of that time they're wrestling, sprinting, playing throughout some tall pappas grass, and going on various other adventures in the front and back yard, but a lot of time they just enjoy hanging out on the deck or the front porch.

Is it normal for an "indoor" dog to spend that much time outside? I'm guessing it will change once it gets hot here, not to mention once they grow into adulthood, but it's crazy that I figured an hour or two a day of vigorous exercise would be enough for them when they seem to thrive on so much more.

 

[sheltiemom]

Yeah, in good weather mine will be out a total of 4 or 5 hours, not always in one stretch, but sometimes. We've had so much rain this winter though, my yard is a mud pit, so on wet days they aren't out that much. During the really nice days we had last week I left my back door open and they came in and out as they pleased.

 

[Mdawn]

My dogs before Eddie and Uallis were inside/outside dogs. They just came and went back and forth whenever they wanted...at least in the warmer months. They spent most of their time outside honestly. The only time Dan wanted to be in the house was to sleep, eat or if it were storming. Montana, we had to sometimes "force" him to come inside. He wanted out all the time, even in bad weather. As he got older and his health got worse, we made him stay inside most of the time because of his seizures.

Uallis wants to be in more than out as he likes to hang out with us most of the time. Eddie is more of an outdoorsy dog and would be content outside most of the day if he were allowed. Uallis might spend an hour outside daily but that is because I take him out, excluding potty breaks. Eddie spends much more outside. When I'm home, I take Eddie out frequently, normally whenever he "asks" to go out. Last summer, Eddie could come and go as he pleased and he can even open the door himself. But now he's not very reliable with strangers coming to the house, so he can't be out unattended anymore. We are thinking about fencing in an area around our house so Eddie (and Uallis for that matter) would be able to come and go out the door as they pleased and still be able to "protect" strangers from Eddie. That is still up in the air because of money but it is something that I really want to do. Eddie acts so much better in the house when he's free to come and go out as he wants. A lot of times, in the summer, he just wants to go outside and sun himself and maybe take a nap... It sucks that he probably won't be able to do that this summer.

 

[MrsJohnnyG]

Sadly, mine want to play outside even MORE even though our yard is a mud pit! And yes, I should have clarified, that's not all at once... usually they'll play for a bit after their first potty, eat breakfast, then a walk then they want to play for an hour and a half or so. Then naptime, with another playtime either at the dog park or in our yard for an hour or so, and several hour-ish playtimes in the evening. I've never seen such tired, happy pups at the end of every day!

Dixon is older and she usually plays outside when they do, but she comes in a lot sooner... I'd say she is outside for at least two hours total every day. I feel so bad that we used to just walk her twice a day... now that doesn't seem nearly enough!

 

[jconli]

Roy is definitely an indoor dog, and except for pee breaks (about 5-6 times a day), and walks, he likes to be inside. Casey, our Siberian, does love the outdoors! In fact, he doesn't want to come in at night to sleep sometimes. But he can tolerate the cold-and even likes it.

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

They go out to potty in the yard whenever they feel like it, and everyone has at least an hour outside on the leash/at the park with us. Except the winter. Only our Elkhound will stay outside during the cold months. The rest do their business and bolt back in, and refuse most walks.

During the summer? I can't get them in from the yard even if I wave a squeak toy and a pig ear while calling them. If I pick up a leash all hell excitement breaks loose.

 

[Thracian]

It's hard to say, since I've only had Cue since November, and it's been cold and snowy most of the time since then. We do two walks a day (minimum) in addition to potty breaks. As the weather gets better, I'm sure we'll be outside more. We definitely aren't up to four or five hours, though.

And it just snowed again today.

 

[lizalots]

My doggie dogs spend several hours outside every day. They love their morning wrestling match and my house wouldn't look as purdy if they duked it out inside.

 

[poodleholic]

We do two walks each day, and then interactive games and some training in the back yard, as well as lounging time (I read, they play or lay around), PROVIDING the weather is ok. We live in FL, so, in the summer, it's out to potty, then back inside to the comfort of AC and the sofa! LOL The Poodles don't like the heat, and it's dangerous to be outside for the Shih Tzu.

Twice a week we go running on the beach, and on Fridays, it's down to Starbuck's, where staff there have a bag with two cranberry scones for the Poodles (Maddy and Beau), since they haven't met Lucia yet, and Luc doesn't like scones! I take them first to Starbuck's, then down to the waterfront by The Pier, where I sit and drink my coffee, read the paper, and the poochies peoplewatch (and show off!). Miss Lucia has her own special day where she goes with mommy without the other Poodles or Luc. We meet friends at El Caps, a delightfully quaint little bar and grille, for a (fabulous) burger and a beer, and good conversation. She's discovered that "dancing" gets her lots of attention, applause, and bits of bites of burger, oh yum! LOL

 

[Tankstar]

Depending on the day and time of year.

winter about 3-4 hours, we do about a 2 hour walk, then he hangs out as much as he wants int he back yard.

Summer could be any where from 5+ hours, depending on how long he wants to be outside. walks normall increase to 3,4,5 hours a day. if i dont have to work, Im out with the dog, swimming, hiking, or just hanging out (cant waste the warm wether as it doesnt last that long lol)

 

[Jessieanne]

Its hard for me to get my pup out alot. he has his potty breaks every 1 1/2 hours and gets a 20min walk every day. I say its hard to get him out because my husband works all day and I have two children under the age of 3 But on nice days I take the kids and the pup out for about an hour or so. I take him every where with me. I do as much out side time as I can.

 

[tirluc]

during the good mo my kids are out 5-6 hrs a day....we don't have a yard (fenced or otherwise) so they are never out alone at home but between the goosing and the dog parking and the time out w/ me in the yard they get lots of run time.....in the winter it's more like about 3-4 hrs but i try to make sure they get as much as i can.......

 

[Ganondorf]

My dogs can go in and out whenever they want, but they usually only stay outside for a few minutes. Sometimes Aeris will just stick her head out the door for a second and come back in.

 

[Donna5503]

My dog loves both --- the colder outside the better --- but then again he has a nice fur coat on all the time!

I wouldn't worry about the amount of time your dogs want to spend outside -- the fresh air is good for them!

Just make sure they have lots of water & adequate shade when it starts getting warm out & let them enjoy themselves!

 

[Toby4Life]

Toby would probably be an outside dog if left to his own devices. He just loves being outside in the yard. My SO tells me he spends most of his time outdoors while I'm at work, and when I'm home probably another 3 to 4 hours. I wouldn't be surprised if it was around 10 hours a day. Sometimes I force him to stay in, but I don't really see the point in it. I can't blame him to prefer the outside with all of the sights and smells; where he can run around and bark at other dogs and people instead of inside where all he can do is lay around.

 

[Entwine]

Misty can come and go as she pleases, but I'd say she spends an equal amount of time both in the house and outside. She seems to enjoy being inside to hang out with us, and being outside to explore and wrestle her giant toys.

 

[cshellenberger]

I keep my sliding glass door open during hte day the dogs go in and out as they please. Frank really only goes out to use hte bathroom, Angel will go out and play at times for hours and she likes to just lay on the patio right now. I don't think she'll enjoy that as much when it gets hot though.

 

[blackrose]

Blackie and Rose like to be inside towards evening. They go out late morning/early afternoon and stay out until evening. They love it outside. They would be happy if we moved outside with them I think.

Chloe doesn't stick around the house like Blackie and Rose do and since we don't have a fenced in yard, she isn't allowed a lot of outdoor time because it either means someone has to be with her while she is on a leash or she has to be chained up. But when the weather is nice and she isn't in one of her moods, she enjoys going out on her chain and sleeping.

This Basset Hound that we found, whom we've dubbed Levi, loves it outside as well. Right now he is camped out on the end of my bed, but he has his head resting on the windowsill of the open window and just looking out. He'd be very, very happy if we all moved outside with him. LOL

 

[KBLover]

Wally likes being outside in the spring when the weather isn't too hot. He'll go in the summer and have fun, but I can see him tire out faster, especially if he's running around.

I'd say he spends about 2-3 hours outside in the winter, and 4-5 hours most of the rest of the year, though maybe 3-4 hours in summer, depending on just how hot and humid it is.

 

[Sonn84]

between 6 and 8 hours a day depending on the weather if it is storming they won't stay out long. But if it is nice or not we usually go on multiple walks and then trails and mountain hiking more in the summer. If it is just in the yard they come and go as they want.