How common is it in your respective country to keep a dog outside?
June 10, 2025
I have seen a wide range of situations, including typical indoor types of dogs being kept outside, day and night. How common is it in your country to keep dogs outside?
14 comments
Depends. If they’re pets – then uncommon. If they’re working dogs – then very common
In Germany it’s very rare to have dogs outside, because gardens are not really fenced down in a way that they won’t escape. Also, there are dog thieves, and other animals people don’t want to let their dogs unattended with (skunks, for example). In Italy (I am half-half) it’s more common, especially in the south, where dogs are still seen sometimes as “just” dogs and not life companions, but however, burglars (of which there are way too many) are known to throw a poisoned piece of meat to kill the dog before entering your property, so many have started to keep them inside, too.
Very common. Never heard of someone who lives in a house and keeps a dog thats not about cat-sized (peckingese, pug, maaybe poodle) inside.
Pretty unusual for dogs only being kept as pets, but common for herding or hunting dogs. Hunting dogs are often a hybrid between a pet and a working dog qnd that often reflects in their upbringing. Many hunting dogs are kept mostly within the home, but occasionally live outside, whenever their owners are gone for longer amounts of time, so the dog can do the deed somewhere. Another advantage is, that the dog usually stays calmer, when the family is gone for some time, when they are outside and can see their surroundings rather than being contained by a house build for humans.
Very uncommon. Unless they’re working dogs or live on a farm. But even then, they get to stay inside if it’s cold or raining.
Common in countryside but still they are freeroam. Livestock guardians are extremely rare. Only ones living mainly outside are sleigh dogs pulling tourists who are mostly seen as money making devices instead of pets.
Netherlands: noone does this, seems sad and cruel to keep a pet dog outside. I’ve never seen anyone do this, unless it’s some hunting / herding dog maybe
Ukraine.
Common in villages. Also unfortunately common to leave them out on a chain. They do have dog houses, but still. Older people do it, you won’t be seeing it in younger households.
Uncommon within neighbourhoods, common for farm dogs or guard dogs.
I lived in the French countryside and there were a lot of barking dogs behind fences but I think 95% slept inside.
In the UK, never heard of a dog sleeping outside.
It’s still a bit rare to have dogs outside, but usually yes it’s not uncommon especially in villages.
Pretty common if you live in a family home. People who live in homes like that usually keep normal sized dogs, not those tiny constantly shivering rat-dogs. They usually have a dog house, kennel or heated garage or something where they sleep, and some people let them inside for the night or for certain periods of time, so they’re not just enduring the elements nonstop. When I had a dog he slept with the cats in the garage, they were all black and white so they looked like some strange animal family, it was very cute.
We do have sheperd dogs who run outside from spring to autumn. but a dog holder would face legal trouble in winter unless they provide shelter.
though shelter can be outside, like a covered area that is protected from wind. often a semi-outside cattle pen, so they can stay with their herd.
a dog alone in the winter is very likely to die. -30C are only fun for huskies.
Very uncommon here. My neighbors kept their dog outside, but it was a Malamute and didn’t mind mild Norwegian winters at all.
14 comments
Depends. If they’re pets – then uncommon. If they’re working dogs – then very common
In Germany it’s very rare to have dogs outside, because gardens are not really fenced down in a way that they won’t escape. Also, there are dog thieves, and other animals people don’t want to let their dogs unattended with (skunks, for example). In Italy (I am half-half) it’s more common, especially in the south, where dogs are still seen sometimes as “just” dogs and not life companions, but however, burglars (of which there are way too many) are known to throw a poisoned piece of meat to kill the dog before entering your property, so many have started to keep them inside, too.
Very common. Never heard of someone who lives in a house and keeps a dog thats not about cat-sized (peckingese, pug, maaybe poodle) inside.
Pretty unusual for dogs only being kept as pets, but common for herding or hunting dogs. Hunting dogs are often a hybrid between a pet and a working dog qnd that often reflects in their upbringing. Many hunting dogs are kept mostly within the home, but occasionally live outside, whenever their owners are gone for longer amounts of time, so the dog can do the deed somewhere. Another advantage is, that the dog usually stays calmer, when the family is gone for some time, when they are outside and can see their surroundings rather than being contained by a house build for humans.
Very uncommon. Unless they’re working dogs or live on a farm. But even then, they get to stay inside if it’s cold or raining.
Common in countryside but still they are freeroam. Livestock guardians are extremely rare. Only ones living mainly outside are sleigh dogs pulling tourists who are mostly seen as money making devices instead of pets.
Netherlands: noone does this, seems sad and cruel to keep a pet dog outside. I’ve never seen anyone do this, unless it’s some hunting / herding dog maybe
Ukraine.
Common in villages. Also unfortunately common to leave them out on a chain. They do have dog houses, but still. Older people do it, you won’t be seeing it in younger households.
Uncommon within neighbourhoods, common for farm dogs or guard dogs.
I lived in the French countryside and there were a lot of barking dogs behind fences but I think 95% slept inside.
In the UK, never heard of a dog sleeping outside.
It’s still a bit rare to have dogs outside, but usually yes it’s not uncommon especially in villages.
Pretty common if you live in a family home. People who live in homes like that usually keep normal sized dogs, not those tiny constantly shivering rat-dogs. They usually have a dog house, kennel or heated garage or something where they sleep, and some people let them inside for the night or for certain periods of time, so they’re not just enduring the elements nonstop. When I had a dog he slept with the cats in the garage, they were all black and white so they looked like some strange animal family, it was very cute.
We do have sheperd dogs who run outside from spring to autumn. but a dog holder would face legal trouble in winter unless they provide shelter.
though shelter can be outside, like a covered area that is protected from wind. often a semi-outside cattle pen, so they can stay with their herd.
a dog alone in the winter is very likely to die. -30C are only fun for huskies.
Very uncommon here. My neighbors kept their dog outside, but it was a Malamute and didn’t mind mild Norwegian winters at all.