# A general dog question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783 "2011-08-31T20:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/1 "2011-08-31T20:59:29Z")
Since dogs are domesticated I can understand why in the world they don’t act like their wild cousins. But why do they seem to be so fixated on getting inside? Seriously, my pack loves going outside but just for a bit. After about ten minutes they seem to more concerned about the secret ingredient on Iron Chef than they do about scaring up dinner or just running around. And it’s not like I am an inside type of person. Matter of fact being cooped up in the house is torture for me. Why do so many domesticated dogs seem to act like being inside is close to heaven and being outside is some sort of animal abuse? The cats certainly don’t act like that. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/2 "2011-08-31T21:05:17Z")
I think it’s your dogs. 🙂 We’ve had two dogs (both of them have passed on). Both Max and Shadow really enjoyed being outside, and would gladly spend hours outdoors (and, on nice days, we’d let them). That said, Shadow was a true wimp about rain or snow, and had to be goaded into going out into the rain just to “take care of business”, before scampering right back inside. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/3 "2011-08-31T21:08:22Z")
Yep, I think it’s just your dogs. Voltaire loves to be outside shmooing around as long as I’ll let him. Well, if it’s really crap out he’ll be interested in coming in earlier, but generally he loves the outdoors. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/4 "2011-08-31T21:12:59Z")
My dogs (herding dogs mostly) have always liked to be wherever I or at least some other family members are. If we’re outside they like to be outside, if we’re inside by the fire, they like to be inside by the fire. If I’m up late writing they are sleeping at my feet under my desk. They’ve all been this way. Current puppy seems to gravitate toward my teenager, particularly when he (teenager, not puppy) is being noisy and jumping around. Teenager not around? Then he will follow some other family member. All humans leave the house? He will nap on the couch until we come home (and eat the cat food if we forget and leave it in reach). ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/5 "2011-08-31T21:19:38Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > All humans leave the house? He will nap on the couch until we come home (and eat the cat food if we forget and leave it in reach). Does your dog have the other half of this amulet that mine wears on his collar? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/6 "2011-08-31T21:24:46Z")
> [@peekercpa](#): > > Since dogs are domesticated I can understand why in the world they don’t act like their wild cousins. But why do they seem to be so fixated on getting inside? Seriously, my pack loves going outside but just for a bit. After about ten minutes they seem to more concerned about the secret ingredient on Iron Chef than they do about scaring up dinner or just running around. And it’s not like I am an inside type of person. Matter of fact being cooped up in the house is torture for me. Why do so many domesticated dogs seem to act like being inside is close to heaven and being outside is some sort of animal abuse? The cats certainly don’t act like that. That’s how dogs started, they were the wolves that didnt mind wandering into human habitations to get some food, without attacking humans. It proved to be a good evolutionary plan as dogs totally outnumber wolves today. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/7 "2011-08-31T21:43:47Z")
Maybe it’s the temp or humidity? Or, do your dogs act the same regardless of weather conditions? ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/8 "2011-08-31T22:09:06Z")
You are the pack leader. They like to be where they can keep tabs on what the boss is up to. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/9 "2011-08-31T22:46:29Z")
What breed of dogs? Dogs are pack animals but some breeds are more closely attuned to their “human” pack leaders- herding and many working-type dogs, for instance. They’ve been bred to work closely with their human and like to stay close to thems. Others are more independent - because they’ve been developed as independent workers (livestock guardian dogs eg) or are more used to functioning as a pack with other dogs - Northern breeds, some pack hounds, eg beagles. My dogs all prefer to be inside, even though I have a humungous fenced yard with trees, grass, toys and a little pond. They’ll go out long enough to sniff around and do their business, then want back in. If I go sit outside they’ll stay out as long as I’m there; they don’t want to go into an empty house without me. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/10 "2011-08-31T22:50:13Z")
My old dog just wanted to be where ever I was. If she was outside, and I was inside … she wanted in. And, oddly enough, vice-versa. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/11 "2011-08-31T23:04:05Z")
I agree, that dogs mainly (depending on breed & personality) want to be with their people. Even inside, my dogs will follow me from room to room… really entertaining in my tiny bathroom to have 5 dogs (2 of them over 75 lbs) gathered at my feet. When I’m outside, they all want to be out with me, in the same general area of the yard. That doesn’t always work out so well either, when I am engaged in my favorite hobby, photographing model horses in life-like set ups. I’ve had many pictures ruined by a giant dog dashing into the background of an 8" tall horse… ---
**Author:** ![Mgalindo13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@Mgalindo13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mgalindo13)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/12 "2011-08-31T23:09:56Z")
Same as most of the other posters, my dogs want to be where I am. My oldest like to bathe in the sun outside when it hits the patio just right, but otherwise she’s by my side. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/13 "2011-09-01T02:21:17Z")
It varies from dog to dog. We have had some that were happy outside for hours at a time. Others would relieve themselves and be ready to come back in. I think the biggest factor is where the rest of pack is. Nugget hated being outside by him self. Inside is dry and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/14 "2011-09-01T04:09:38Z")
I don’t think it is typical of dogs. They’re either following you or it’s too cold or too hot outside. > [@PapSett](#): > > I agree, that dogs mainly (depending on breed & personality) want to be with their people. Even inside, my dogs will follow me from room to room… really entertaining in my tiny bathroom to have 5 dogs (2 of them over 75 lbs) gathered at my feet. That’s adorable. My dog is like a shadow following me; the dog I look after is like a noon-time shadow in that she’s always _right in front of you_. You get used to petting the dogs as being part of going to the loo. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/15 "2011-09-01T11:24:03Z")
Regardless of breed, dogs always want to be on the other side of the nearest closed door. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/16 "2011-09-01T12:28:41Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > Regardless of breed, dogs always want to be on the other side of the nearest closed door. That, or they want to stand in the doorway to the outside. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/17 "2011-09-01T16:44:51Z")
The worse the weather, the more so. I have much less experience with cats, but it seems to me they love looking through an open door. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-general-dog-question/594783/18 "2011-09-01T16:57:56Z")
I just think dogs have different personalities. My two current dogs have gotten out of the yard and therefore couldn’t get back in the house through the back dog door. They stood at the front door scratching and barking upset finding themselves in such a predicament. The beagle mix I had before these two would spend all his time outside digging to escape and when he did, getting him back in the house was like taking away his favorite bone. However, I do think there is something to some dogs preferring to be with their humans. The two I have now are much more “needy” and underfoot than my previous pets.