Gundog-sleep inside or out?

[KsHusker]

I cant imagine kenneling a dog all year just to use them two months. My dogs are pets first and hunting partners second.

This - thats why when purchasing a dog (which I hope to buy one soon since I could not breed my present dog) I care more about personality - they are a member of the family and hunting season is only 2 to 3 mos long....they need to be household members I and everyone else can get along with the rest of the year.

Calm setters suit me just fine - though if I ever get more land I can see myself having a brittany or two as that is the first dog I ever called my own - parents brought one home when I was in the 1st grade - did some bird hunting with her and was introduced to the sport as I/she got older, she was a helluva an athlete - only dog I've seen that was able to chase down cottontails and catch them on occasion (Hey I was in gradeschool - the dog went everywhere with me, ha - )

 

[Recon]

Its funny you asked this I never even considered not allowing my hunting dog to stay in the house because I looked at him as part of the family, however while home for the holidays my dad mentioned that a breeder friend we have specifically told him hunting dogs don't make good house dogs. Of course I debated this with him to no avail I believe any properly trained dog can both be a hunting dog (2-3 months a year) and family pet the remaining time (9-10 months) Dogs are pack animals at the end of the day and well around here my pack ALL stays inside.

 

[PheasantWhisperer]

Mine do a little of both. If its nice out and I go to feed em in the evening, sometimes they go lay in their houses in their kennels and so I just leave em out. If its rainy or cold out and they are at the fence looking at me, I let em inside. And my girls go steal em for sleeping buddies too. Better than a fake stuffed animal I guess. But I have a fenced in backyard thats 130 x 55. And I leave their kennel doors open usually so they have room to run. Sometimes they prefer that to being cooped up in the house. The little setter gets hot too.

 

[BRITTMAN]

Inside.

Young dogs are crated inside at night for the first few months and when we leave through their first year to year and a half.

All three sleep in our bedroom at night. They have dog beds in certain corners and in the back of the closet that they can call their own.

 

[Crossing shot]

Mine do a little of both. If its nice out and I go to feed em in the evening, sometimes they go lay in their houses in their kennels and so I just leave em out. If its rainy or cold out and they are at the fence looking at me, I let em inside. And my girls go steal em for sleeping buddies too. Better than a fake stuffed animal I guess. But I have a fenced in backyard thats 130 x 55. And I leave their kennel doors open usually so they have room to run. Sometimes they prefer that to being cooped up in the house. The little setter gets hot too.

I live in the country and have a fenced in yard. Best thing I have ever done for the dogs.

 

[Chestle]

Inside. They are Labs, like the OPs new dog.

We do have a good dog door to the outside so they can come and go as they need to do night or day. Door goes out into a fully fenced acre.

It helps to have a wife that doesn't freak out about Labrador hair though.

 

[SALLYSUE]

My girl Miss Dee sleeps in our bed she is family

 

[Left and Right]

With a GSP and Pointer no my dogs are not house dogs they have a heated garage they stay in. Live in the country with 5 acres of electric dog fence, of course they are allowed in the house for a visit and some pets but they are most happy outside. They are not even really house broke have 0 manners when it comes to the family's meal time. This works best for my family I don't have to rush home to feed the dogs or let them out I can send a neighbor over to feed and check on them. They run and play whenever they want never had to cut any of their nails and stay in great shape.

There assholes in a vehicle and are always in a kennel in the truck or else I would have a pointer laying on the dash. Being that there assholes I also don't take them anywhere no family camp outs or family get-togethers, nothing.

It doesn't bother me but it bugs the wife and kids some she ended up picking a griffon as her next dog that she has plans for it to be a house dog traveling companion to horse shows. Works for me I can still hunt it and it's not some useless mutt. Should be here in march

 

[Peter M]

With a GSP and Pointer no my dogs are not house dogs they have a heated garage they stay in. Live in the country with 5 acres of electric dog fence, of course they are allowed in the house for a visit and some pets but they are most happy outside. They are not even really house broke have 0 manners when it comes to the family's meal time. This works best for my family I don't have to rush home to feed the dogs or let them out I can send a neighbor over to feed and check on them. They run and play whenever they want never had to cut any of their nails and stay in great shape.

There assholes in a vehicle and are always in a kennel in the truck or else I would have a pointer laying on the dash. Being that there assholes I also don't take them anywhere no family camp outs or family get-togethers, nothing.

It doesn't bother me but it bugs the wife and kids some she ended up picking a griffon as her next dog that she has plans for it to be a house dog traveling companion to horse shows. Works for me I can still hunt it and it's not some useless mutt. Should be here in march

Wow left and right !

Not trying to offend but I would not want to be a dog in your house . I am happy to hear your dogs at least have a heated garage .
The reason your dogs are not well behaved in domesticated settings is due to the trainer / pack leader you. Your dogs most likely give you the finger while hunting they don't respect you.
You should try socializing your dogs and see what happens. Or better yet get help from a pro trainer.

 

[SALLYSUE]

I with mine pretty much 24\7 and being with her that much they learn a lot.

 

[Peter M]

To the OP this is my 6th springer all have been inside .

 

[Left and Right]

Wow left and right !

Not trying to offend but I would not want to be a dog in your house . I am happy to hear your dogs at least have a heated garage .
The reason your dogs are not well behaved in domesticated settings is due to the trainer / pack leader you. Your dogs most likely give you the finger while hunting they don't respect you.
You should try socializing your dogs and see what happens. Or better yet get help from a pro trainer.

I am a pro! "in my mind anyways"
They get hunted and hunted lots they defiantly respect me in the field as I am holding a lightning button but seldom get past vibrate and tone.
We all hunt differently and this forum being more geared toward pheasants it's about the last bird I hunt or have opportunity's to do so. I do like my dogs to range far as long as in control and have self-thinking.

I really don't want to walk down there do you?

Sheading and muddy feet are just not a requirement for dog ownership in my house or truck.

they get lots of love just in different ways.

 

[PheasantWhisperer]

Depends on the dog too. Gotta realize that. Like I said, mine do a little bit of both. Just depends on the day, the weather, are they beat up from hunting, etc...But my vizslas are way better mannered naturally in the house and truck. The little setter, even though she's a puppy, is a bit short on manners. She will get the training and obedience to do things how I want her too. But even the vizslas as puppies were way more obedient than she is. But the male setter I used to have was very well mannered indoors. Just depends on the dog.

 

[Peter M]

I am a pro! "in my mind anyways"
They get hunted and hunted lots they defiantly respect me in the field as I am holding a lightning button but seldom get past vibrate and tone.
We all hunt differently and this forum being more geared toward pheasants it's about the last bird I hunt or have opportunity's to do so. I do like my dogs to range far as long as in control and have self-thinking.

I really don't want to walk down there do you?

Sheading and muddy feet are just not a requirement for dog ownership in my house or truck.

they get lots of love just in different ways.

Glad to hear that, Beautiful family and great looking dogs .

 

[Left and Right]

Glad to hear that, Beautiful family and great looking dogs .

Thanks Peter.
Had a few springers growing up as a kid they were all house dogs and great hunters. One was from a family that couldn't handle the dog and another was from field trials. I wouldn't say the field trial dog was wrecked but it sure had some issues, not fun having to find your dog hiding in tall grass because its afraid to get back in the vehicle. It was a ball of stress at times There wasn’t enough human contact.