Where does your farm dog sleep-- in or out ?

[MissouriFree]

When I was kid ( southern illinois) my dogs sleep under the porch year round. I was a kid and never thought much about it so was wondering where does you farm dog sleep. To me a farm dog goes where he wants *when he wants but is usually there when you want./ Sometimes comes back all chewed up from a battle with a snake or groundhog but always comes bck and always recovers,.

[homemade_mamma]

Sounds just like our dogs! They used to sleep under the porch nearest the furnace vent. I couldn't believe that was all that comfortable for them, now I have an igloo house on the porch for them (2 dogs, a blue heeler and a rat terrier) filled with hay and they love it. In the summer they still like under the porch or just where ever they are laying at the moment.
As for inside, a no no. They are used to being outside. I think bringing animals in and out in the winter is going to nothing than make them sick. Plus, they are dogs not kids LOL!

We don't buy dog food either. Sounds crazy but they are fat and happy on scraps and the wild beasties that live around here. A rat terrier is 10x better mouser than any cat I have seen :)
Oh and groudhog fights are the worst, that and coon. Thems viscious animals. We have had badger around too but I haven't noticed any fights between them.

[fnfredux]

My dogs sleep as follows:
1 GSP (Spot) and(and one Walker (Sammy) , in the basement (confined to one room) with a doggie door to a pen.
Three GSPs upstairs, two in our bedroom, Sunshine and Wings (never will be a surprise visitor), and one confined to the bathroom because she gets into things. Like laundry, trash, carries my shoes around.
One Jack Russell cross in the basement in the room with the pellet stove., great little mouser, FIERCE.
My goat dogs (believe it or not, Millie the B&T and Big John, Lab/Pyrennes), sleep outside MOST of the time. When it gets down to the low teens I have to blockade their doghouse entrance while they are out during the day. If Millie gets in that doghouse (about six feet long and only 2'X2' tall and wide) I cannot drag her out, she's around 100lbs.
Millie and Big John are GREAT to have around, they HATE coyotes. They'd prefer to sleep outside even in the bitter cold, but I won't let them, they join Widget by the pellet stove.
Everybody would LOVE to live outside, all of the time, BUT, there wouldn't be a rabbit, squirrel, fox or bird within a mile. My GSPs LOVE to chase anything that will run. Sammy tho LOVES to KILL things, ergo the pen.
And that thing about battles? Yeah, we had one girl, she'd ALWAYS come back beat up, every time we let her run, it cost us $100.00 at the vet. And she really hated SKUNKS...
I had my girls Sunshine and Wings bring me a little gift of a baby rattler last spring. And I do believe(the vet too) that Sunshine was snakebit (rattler or copperhead) a couple of years ago. Right front paw, it was QUITE a mess. Basically with a virtual pack my dogs CAN'T all stay outside.
Oh, Millie and Big John both are "volunteers(Sammy too), and BJ taught Millie all about herding goats. I think Millie taught BJ all about harassing coyotes tho.
This year tho, NO GOATS in the HOUSE! I finally have an arrangement that will allow any early kids to stay warm OUTSIDE the house. I am so happy about THAT! Last year tho I did have one little girl that remained "house trained" until Late spring when I let her start hanging with the other goats. Then she lost her "house manners". My husband would laugh at how she'd climb the stairs to "her" room.

[MissouriFree]

Sounds just like our dogs! *They used to sleep under the porch nearest the furnace vent. *I couldn't believe that was all that comfortable for them, now I have an igloo house on the porch for them (2 dogs, a blue heeler and a rat terrier) filled with hay and they love it. *In the summer they still like under the porch or just where ever they are laying at the moment.
As for inside, a no no. *They are used to being outside. *I think bringing animals in and out in the winter is going to nothing than make them sick. *Plus, they are dogs not kids LOL! *

We don't buy dog food either. *Sounds crazy but they are fat and happy on scraps and the wild beasties that live around here. *A rat terrier is 10x better mouser than any cat I have seen :)
Oh and groudhog fights are the worst, that and coon. *Thems viscious animals. *We have had badger around too but I haven't noticed any fights between them.


mine were rat terriers also .. totaly fearless. lots of scars around the mouth from those Ground Hogs. Coons , yep they are bad an smart. I remember one time an old she coon had one of the dogs on its back and was sittin on top just swatting the dogs face back and forth. My granpa who lived in a one room shanty close to us had to climb into the brush pile and drag the coon off with the crook of his cane.

they slept under the porch in the dirt and were fit and happy. no dog food other than what we had left from the table. they were brothers. Noobody's dog went in the house that I know off.

did your ever come back in all swollon up from a snake bit ?

[fnfredux]

I feed my dogs well, they do their jobs. Big John and Millie are looking pretty plump now, they've been supplimenting by *finding some good pickin's from the hunters' leavings.
I also make sure they see the vet at least once a year and have regular bath, fleas and tick meds and vaccinations. They are my responsibility. Even the ones who just wandered in. They help me, they should get "paid".

[homemade_mamma]

mine were rat terriers also .. totaly fearless. *lots of scars around the mouth from those Ground Hogs. Coons , yep they are bad an smart. I remember one time an old she coon had one of the dogs on its back and was sittin on top just swatting the dogs face back and forth. My granpa who lived in a one room shanty close to us had to climb into the brush pile and drag the coon off with the crook of his cane.

they slept under the porch in the dirt and were fit and happy. *no dog food other than what we had left from the table. *they were brothers. *Noobody's dog went in the house that I know off.

did your ever come back in all swollon up from a snake bit ?

Gotta love those terriers! My girl trixie thinks she can take on anything too. Lately she has been barking all night at the coyotes. So with the exception of her loving to keep us up at night she is a super dog. My DH says they are the only dogs smart enough to stay alive. ;)

I don't know much about snakes. I have only come across a few garden snakes. The old timers say that this area used to be prime ground for rattlers. Until they started turning more ground into row crop. My FIL told me a story about when he was younger. Lived here in my house. He watched a bull snake crawl up the driveway while standing up. (you now how snakes can slither with their head way up in the air?) This snake had it's head about 6ft. off the ground and still had more tail on the ground! Slithered right up the driveway and under our old boxcar.

So I guess I couldn't say if she has been bitten by a snake. MANY scrapes and scars on her though.

I have a question. Many times in the summer her belly is bright red and almost rash like. She is completely hairless on her belly. What could this be. Weeds? poison ivy? (very likely around here)
I noticed she would get bright red kind of like that when she was in heat. But we have had her fixed for a few years now. any ideas?

[MissouriFree]

I wish I could help you but those days are over 50 years ago . don't remember to much about Chip and Whitey.. guess who had the brown head.

[remington]

Could be stinging nettle. It causes a rash and irritation.

[homemade_mamma]

Could be stinging nettle. *It causes a rash and irritation.


I have heard of that. I will have to find a pic to see if it looks familiar.