Bush Baked Beans is having a contest called, "Dukes All-Star Pet Contest." At first glance, it sounds like a wonderful way to describe your family's great relationship with your dog, except for one thing; one of the prizes is a doghouse.

This sends the wrong message!

Most of us know that when a dog is a part of the family, a doghouse is unnecessary except in a very limited way. The symbol of a doghouse encourages people to keep dogs as backyard lawn ornaments instead of a household member. Yes, I know it's better than nothing for the dog left out anyway, but if a dog is part of the family, they don't need it!

Please visit the link below for more information and respectfully ask that Bush recind the dog house and offer to build a fence, pay for a year of vet care or obedience lessons so that a dog who is part of the family can stay that way.
http://www.bushbeans.com/beaninfo/entertowin.jsp

You can also suggest that they donate to Dogs Deserve Better's Chain Off 2006 campaign at:
www.dogsdeservebetter.com/30days.html

Thanks.
Penny from Dogs Deserve Better, Dunkirk, NY

I disagree, a doghouse is protection from the elements when a dog is outside.
I have two dogs and they both enjoy and perfer to spend most of thier time in the yard rather than in the house, in fact in the house they get rather depressed.
By state law if they are going to be outside they must have shelter, hence a doghouse in my back yard which protects them from the sun, it in no way symbolizes anything other than the fact an owner loves thier dog enough to provide protection when the dog is outside.
A person who is neglecting thier dog more often than not does not provide shelter for them or as you say useing them as lawn decor.

Outside dog or inside dog they can still be well loved and cared for by thier families.

Just because your dog is part of your family and inside your house does not mean your a good owner.
Just like a dog being outside does not mean its yard decor or the owner is somehow bad.

1 Hour Ago

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I disagree, a doghouse is protection from the elements when a dog is outside.
I have two dogs and they both enjoy and perfer to spend most of thier time in the yard rather than in the house, in fact in the house they get rather depressed.
By state law if they are going to be outside they must have shelter, hence a doghouse in my back yard which protects them from the sun, it in no way symbolizes anything other than the fact an owner loves thier dog enough to provide protection when the dog is outside.
A person who is neglecting thier dog more often than not does not provide shelter for them or as you say useing them as lawn decor.

It symbolizes someone who doesnt love their dog like a family member. You wouldnt leave your grandma outside 99 percent of the time, so why would you leave your dog outside. They are part of the family arent they? Dogs who are "outside dogs" are exposed to the elements, exposed to humans who could do them harm, exposed to other harmful things. Bring your dogs inside.

Here it is the law to have shelter outside for your dog if it goes outside, I would think other states have the same so it hardly symbolizes you do not care for the animal.

Also my dogs have thier own door they will come in when they are darn good and ready to thanks.
However they choose to stay out about 99% of the time because they are dogs!
They like to run around and play chase the squirrls and do all the things doggies do.

Now while I am against dogs who live in a chain or in a very small area or the families have them outside and do not spend a good amount of quality time with them outside.
But overall just because the dog is outside or an "outside dog" does not automaticly mean neglected or not cared about etc.

I think it is horribly cruel to keep a large breed and naturaly active animal inside the house 99% of the time and only take it out for walks when you as the human have time
Put the poor thing outside and give him a doghouse for shade and let him play.
You know assuming you have a safe fenced yard.

Here it is the law to have shelter outside for your dog if it goes outside, I would think other states have the same so it hardly symbolizes you do not care for the animal.

Also my dogs have thier own door they will come in when they are darn good and ready to thanks.
However they choose to stay out about 99% of the time because they are dogs!
They like to run around and play chase the squirrls and do all the things doggies do.

Now while I am against dogs who live in a chain or in a very small area or the families have them outside and do not spend a good amount of quality time with them outside.
But overall just because the dog is outside or an "outside dog" does not automaticly mean neglected or not cared about etc.

I think it is horribly cruel to keep a large breed and naturaly active animal inside the house 99% of the time and only take it out for walks when you as the human have time
Put the poor thing outside and give him a doghouse for shade and let him play.
You know assuming you have a safe fenced yard.I would like to read that law. I think you are mistating it. Otherwise you're making it sound like a very bad law, I'd have to see it to believe it. Generally laws requiring shelter are for dogs that live outdoors. My dogs have no need for a 2x4' dog house, because they have a 1200 sq foot dog house available to them day and night. If you have dogs like you describe that prefer to lay out in a dog house, to give some shade with fresh air, that's fine, but I don't think a dog house should be mandatory for all dog owners and I never think it should be used as a dog's main or only source of shelter.

I would agree with the OP that giving away a dog house as part of a prize package for alleged dog lovers is in extremely poor taste as it gives the message that dogs are meant to live in boxes outdoors.

"Shelter to allow the animal to remain dry and protected from the elements. Such shelter shall be fully enclosed on three sides, roofed and have a solid floor. The entrance to the shelter shall be flexible to allow the animal's entry and exit, and sturdy enough to block entry of wind and rain. The shelter shall be small enough to retain the animal's body heat and large enough to allow the animal to stand and turn comfortably. The enclosure shall be structurally sound and in good repair"


That the technical definition of "shelter"
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stustx42_09.htm

Texas law requires simply the animal have access to shelter it does not specify that the animal must be outside a certain amount of time to require that shelter but that they have access to it within means to keep good health.
Which as we all know when it gets past 100 degrees in the summer if you have a real furry dog it takes no time at all for them to need it and badly.


I do not belive dogs are ment to live in boxes outdoors but then again I do not belive they were ment to live indoors either.
But since we as humans created them we have to care for them in the best way we possibly can.
Best way possible does not always mean confining your pooch inside a house ( or crate as is very common) like a prisoner while your at work for 12 hours a day 5 days a week.

Is the give away in poor taste? Not if your a dog owner who wants to supply shelter for thier dog when they are having thier outside time it isnt.
The yard is thier playground think of a dog house much like a covered pavillian at a playground.
Just because it isnt used a lot dosnt mean its not a great thing to have for when it is needed.

I have to agree with Ayrlin. I think it's cool when a dog has his own little house in the yard. My dad built our doberman one and painted it to look just like our house. It was way cute. It had comfy carpet and blankets in it and everything. If we were gone all day and had him outside, he would be perfectly fine in the yard and if it rained, he had his house. I think you guys are crazy for not wanting your dogs to have a doghouse...

If we were gone all day and had him outside, he would be perfectly fine in the yard and if it rained, he had his house. I think you guys are crazy for not wanting your dogs to have a doghouse...I would never consider leaving a dog outside all day when I'm gone. Thus, no need for a dog house.

"Shelter to allow the animal to remain dry and protected from the elements. Such shelter shall be fully enclosed on three sides, roofed and have a solid floor. The entrance to the shelter shall be flexible to allow the animal's entry and exit, and sturdy enough to block entry of wind and rain. The shelter shall be small enough to retain the animal's body heat and large enough to allow the animal to stand and turn comfortably. The enclosure shall be structurally sound and in good repair"
You didn't provide a link to that ordinance, but I found it with a google search, http://www.unchainyourdog.org/Laws.htm. Read the paragraph right above the one you quoted. They are specifically talking about outdoor dogs "confined within a fenced yard" and the law was created to prohibit chaining dogs outdoors. It doesn't have any bearing on owners of family dogs.

You didn't provide a link to that ordinance, but I found it with a google search, http://www.unchainyourdog.org/Laws.htm. Read the paragraph right above the one you quoted. They are specifically talking about outdoor dogs "confined within a fenced yard" and the law was created to prohibit chaining dogs outdoors. It doesn't have any bearing on owners of family dogs.
That is only for those two cities, the state has laws then some cities have more laws, like those two you can not chain a dog up, here however a dog could live its whole life on a chain and it isperfectly legal.
And no the law is not for outdoor dogs only it is for any dog who is outside for any period of time that it may need shelter, a dog who is outside for an hour is not an outdoor dog but without shelter can still get heat stroke which you as a owner would be arrested for if the dog had no shelter.
Shelter is defined as I stated above.

That is only for those two cities, the state has laws then some cities have more laws, like those two you can not chain a dog up, here however a dog could live its whole life on a chain and it isperfectly legal.
And no the law is not for outdoor dogs only it is for any dog who is outside for any period of time that it may need shelter, a dog who is outside for an hour is not an outdoor dog but without shelter can still get heat stroke which you as a owner would be arrested for if the dog had no shelter.
Shelter is defined as I stated above.

But if you, as the dog owner, was paying attention to how long the dog was outside and how hot it was you, as the dog owner, could bring the dog back indoors where it is safe long before the dog suffered heat stroke. The dog house is only necessary if your dogs are outside and you aren't paying attention to their condition. My dog hates being outside without us being out there with him but my moms dog loves to lay outside in the sunlight. She pays close attention to the temperature of the day and how long she is outside and has her come in if it's been too long in the heat. Getting a dog out of sunlight will not help with heat stroke, a dog can have heat stroke in a covered dog house too simply by being out in weather way too hot for the dog. Although I don't see anything wrong with a dog house, per se, I do think the primary function of a dog house is to keep the dog outside and separate from the family and I really highly doubt dogs enjoy being outside in 100+ degree weather, 30 or below weather, rain, snow, sleet or thunderstorms. I think if the dog doesn't seem to want to come in it's probably more that he was trained to stay outside than he's truly happy to be sitting in a little wooden house in the rain.
Our state has dog ordinances too but they don't require a shelter for the dog unless the dog primarily lives outdoors. There's no need for my dog to have a doghouse, he lives in our home. He sleeps in our bedroom. He's protected, warm/cool and dry in the same way we are.
I don't think you're a bad dog owner. I don't believe that dogs have any business being out in bad weather. They're domisticated animals and ill equipped to handle themselves in extreme heat or cold or stormy and wet weather. No more than a child could.
Mary

I think my two puppies like to be outside most of the time because I'm a meanie and do not allow play inside the house , course far to many things get broken when doggy play suddenly erupts out :stinkeye:
You know the usual no running, no barking, no getting on furniture ( cept thier couch) no chaseing of cats.
They are bored outta thier little gords in here, outside they have thier toys and a yard not to mention thier little pool to splash in, course they still perfer the little fish pond to thier much larger pool :stinkeye: working on that.
Course it may have a bit to do with we lived in an apartment before and poor Jack only got out when he went for his walks and on weekends down to the lake, he never ever ever wanted to come back inside after a day of fun.
I dunno maybe it is an area thing, almost everyone on my street has at least two dogs and everyone has dog houses.
When owners are home dogs are inside, when owners are not home dogs are outside were they can play.
Within obvious reason of course you wouldnt put a tiny 2 pound dog out all day, you would come home to no dog and a hawk having a good dinner.
Overall for the mental health of my dogs allowing them unlimited access to time outside has made a massive improvment on thier physical and mental health. Looking back at the days when my dog was an apartment dog I feel bad, because honestly without even knowing it I was being cruel to him, he had no desire to be inside all the time but it was forced on him.
They are part of my family and as part of my family I do not try and treat themlike something they are not, nor do I keep them in a manner which is unhealthy for them.
Inside all the time for my two is unhealthy, they get fat and depressed.
Maybe other peoples dogs are happy inside, mine are not which is obvious since they can come in at any time and choose not to.

Yeah, it could be a regional thing.

I know around here, when we do fence checks on someone wanting to adopt one of our foster dogs, we look to see whether or not there is a dog house on the property. If there is, they will almost always be turned down because in our area a dog house generally means the owners leave their dogs outside unsupervised for many hours.

I even have a kitty cat house:lol: , course I have no kitties that go outside but it is there for if anyone wants to use it!

Dogs have personalities too. Our dog Elsa sometimes just to go outside and sniff around and play or something, even if she doesn't have to "go." We don't leave her unattanded for much time, usually someone is out there to play with her or to watch her while doing yard work of something. But if my parents are working in the yard, Elsa might play wiht a toy or just lay down in the shade, or she might decide to go to the door and "ask" to be let into the house. We don't have a dog house for her, because like I said she is never unattended anyway, but what if someone wanted to have a doghouse for their dog so she can go in and out of it while they are busy with yardwork or something? It is not the thing itself, but whether or not its presence is abused or not. While I don't think it's is wrong for a dog owner to buy a dog house, as long as the dog i still primarily a family pet residing in the home, I do think that the giveaway of a dog house could be misconstrued by some that dogs can be made to be primarily "outdoor" and non-dependent pets, and they shouldn't be any more than cats should.
To the original topic, dogs have personalities too, and some like being outside a whole lot. On Christmas day we were at a relative's house and they had just gotten this adorable puppy that looked like a crawling teddy bear. And she kept wanting to go outside! It was so cute! It was drizly out too, and they went out with her and then brought her back in in a few minutes, but she kept going to the door asking to go out and play and sniff around. For some dogs it is probably boring indoors. For some, not.

It symbolizes someone who doesnt love their dog like a family member. You wouldnt leave your grandma outside 99 percent of the time, so why would you leave your dog outside. They are part of the family arent they? Dogs who are "outside dogs" are exposed to the elements, exposed to humans who could do them harm, exposed to other harmful things. Bring your dogs inside.

This is just a nutty statement. I had a doghouse for my dog who was in my house 95% of the time in the winter and 75% of the time in the summer. Doesn't mean I didn't love him like my child. And owning a dog house doesn't mean that the owner leave the dog out all the time.

My dog liked having somewhere to go that was enclosed in case he felt like napping or whatever. And it's not like I left him out there for hours upon hours at a time.

Jeeze, why do people like to assume and judge all the time?

It can be like a playhouse is for a kid. I had a playhouse when i was a kid. that doesnt mean i was made to stay out and in it all day. Though, I am sure there are horrible cases of child abuse which happen, you can't directly make any assumption just from seeing a little house.

I disagree, my dogs love the doghouse in the backyard. My older dog likes going out back and sitting sitting the doghouse for shade on hot days or while its raining.

Hey, "Girlie." I do agree with you that there are much better prizes than a doghouse, and it definitely has a bad connotation, as most people I know with dog houses have them because they don't pay enough attention to their dogs.

But I don't necessarily agree with you that if you love your dog as a part of your family, you shouldn't let them roam free outdoors a good amount of the time. My family has had quite a few dogs over the years; some wanted to be indoors a lot of the time. But most wanted to have some freedom occasionally and be able to run around and play. To me, keeping a dog indoors most of the time is like keeping your child indoors most of the time. It's not healthy.

Also, you're right there are things outdoors that can be harmful to dogs; but at some point to have to find a balance, to give them enough freedom, while trying to keep them safe. Again, it's like not letting your teenage child go to the movies because there are people out there who could harm him/her. Sometimes you have to take small chances to give your pets/children the freedom they need.

I even have a kitty cat house:lol: , course I have no kitties that go outside but it is there for if anyone wants to use it!

I love that! I may just do that too; there are a lot of outside kitties in our neighborhood (I'm too scared to let my cats roam alone though). They hang out on a lot of neighbors' porches, so it'd be really neat to have a house for them at my place! Great idea! :)

This is just a nutty statement. I had a doghouse for my dog who was in my house 95% of the time in the winter and 75% of the time in the summer. Doesn't mean I didn't love him like my child. And owning a dog house doesn't mean that the owner leave the dog out all the time.

My dog liked having somewhere to go that was enclosed in case he felt like napping or whatever. And it's not like I left him out there for hours upon hours at a time.

Jeeze, why do people like to assume and judge all the time?

I second that. I've never had a dog that didn't want to be outside most of the time. They've always loved having a doghouse where they could lounge and nap in the shade.

Also, I never got the concept of "outside" dogs and "inside" dogs. I think all dogs are, ideally, "outside" dogs and should we work toward helping them live that freely - doghouses promote that.

I second that. I've never had a dog that didn't want to be outside most of the time. They've always loved having a doghouse where they could lounge and nap in the shade.

Also, I never got the concept of "outside" dogs and "inside" dogs. I think all dogs are, ideally, "outside" dogs and should we work toward helping them live that freely - doghouses promote that.


Exactly! Dogs were always "outside" animals until humans selfishly decided it was fun to bring them in as companions and playthings. Don't get me wrong - in today's world, dogs are now domesticated and should have homes and families, but they should still be allowed to do what dogs do and go play outside! I can't think of a better human-family than one who would have both an "inside" home as well as an "outside" home for their animal family members!

It has nothing to do with being selfish. It has to do with respecting the dogs as pack animals who thrive on companionship rather than isolation. Of course they should be allowed to be dogs and play outside and go for walks and do everything else dogs do. Just don't cut them off from your family and banish them to live apart from the pack.

Oh I definitely don't mean anyone who goes out to get a dog today... they need good homes! I meant originally... very long ago ... :) Guess I didn't need to include that little *slight* rant sentence in there; I just wanted to explain that dogs' natural instincts are still "outdoors," since they haven't been domesticated long enough to have 'let go of' a lot of that yet...

people who win the dog house and then neglect their dog would have been likley to do so anyway at least now when they leave their dog out day and night it might have some shelter.For most dogs being in a house all day can be pretty boaring even with walks and most dogs enjoy being in the garden.Mine will usually bark when they want to come in again.so when used responsablly dog houses can be a good thing.