Am I a bad Mommy?!

[Kat81]

Ok I want your girls HONEST opinions. I have four dogs. All over 70 pounds. I have one that is an inside dog and three outside. I in NO way neglect my babies. They have a HUGE side yard with about ten trees and a pool and dog houses. Tons of toys. I go out there every day and play with them and feed them. Their fence is just a chain link so when I am outside gardening or whatever I am always talking to them. When i go to the lake or river I always bring them. When it is supposed to storm REALLY bad I bring them in or in the winter when it gets really cold I let them in. They are good in the house it's just a little much having four huge dogs running around. Anyway, my Mom and my sister thrive on getting together and talking about me. I don't know why they just always have. It pisses me off but what do you do? I just got off the phone with my sister and she invited me over for dinner. ( I don't really like her bf but only deal with him for her) I guess my Mom is over visiting for the day at her house and cooking dinner. I really don't want to go but was going to UNTIL my sister says " why don't you bring bones over *insert bf's name here* says you need to spend more time with him or he is going to get mean" First off they have no clue how much time I spend with them second it's none of their business. My Mom always makes comments to me too about having them outside when it's hot. If it is this bad with my furbabies what is going to happen with my skinbabies?! So those of you that have dogs am I evil?

[Alyssa]

honestly, i have never understood the 'outside dog' thing. i can not imagine leaving my dogs outside in the rain, snow, cold, etc. when i am not home i want to know that they are safe and sound in the house.

 

i am not judging you i just don't get it. to me, it's kind of like, well then why have so many? just have 1 or 2 and keep them inside KWIM?

[tlomlad]

no not at all if you think about it dogs were all orignally breed to be outside animals it us mostly here in the usa who have domesticated them. if lets say they had been inside dogs for a number of years then you moved them outside for good it might be hard on them at first but they would still adapt my fi has two big boxers who while are inside dogs love to be outside and have the run of the yard and sometimes dont want to come in so you are def not a bad mommy and the whole skin and fur babies thing LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

[Hartyt509]

No you're not everyone deals with it different. Mine are out during the day but in on a night and when I'm home and they are fine.

 

Tell your family to poke off and meddle in someone else's life !!

[TammyB]

I agree with Alyssa, I never understood having "outside" dogs. I try to sit in their shoes, sit outside all day even when you may not think it's that hot or that cold and see how if effects you, are you dying of heat or freezing cold. I know many dogs are fine outside, it's just not for me. IMO I wouldn't own a dog if I just kept it outside all the time.

 

Why did you decide to keep 3 or the 4 outside? If they are all over 70lbs why is the one inside all the time and the others outside? just wondering?

[Kat81]

I had two dogs. I had an ex friend that was very abusive to his dog so I stole it and nursed him back to health. FI had a dog. So that is the four. The one I keep inside is a long hair and she is older and has always been inside. She is 8 and doesn't handle the heat well. The other three LOVE outside and one of them won't even come inside when it's raining I have to go lead him in.

[caroline]

You'd best develop a back bone and tell them to go pound salt... Like you said, if they are like this now with your pets, I dread to think what they'll be like if and when you have baby-babies...

 

They should mind their own bloody business. And failing that, you should let their BS flow over you like water off a ducks back...

 

(ironic, this advice coming from me, who at this point in time would probably tear someones head off were I in your position!!! I'm stressed! What can I say?!)

[Kat81]

Thank you girls for your input. I really want to know both sides of it. I always see so many dogs outside with no form of entertainment and no attention. I shower my dogs with attention. I am out there ALL the time with them. I didn't think I was in the wrong...

[Kat81]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redheaney You'd best develop a back bone and tell them to go pound salt... Like you said, if they are like this now with your pets, I dread to think what they'll be like if and when you have baby-babies... They should mind their own bloody business. And failing that, you should let their BS flow over you like water off a ducks back... (ironic, this advice coming from me, who at this point in time would probably tear someones head off were I in your position!!! I'm stressed! What can I say?!)

LMAO sorry youre stressed but you just made me laugh

[ACDCDCAC]

i'm straddling the fence on this one.

 

on one hand i think that as long as you are attentive to your dogs needs, food, water, shade, shelter when needed, then i think you are in the right and being a good dog-mommy given the situation.

 

on the other hand, i personally am with tammy, dont see the point of having outdoor-only animals. but then, i am not outdoors much, so really, that's why i feel that way.

 

i can see if you were leaving them in extreme temps with no shelter or water, whatever, then i'd be hot at you! but it sounds like your family needs to be told to sod off