I agree with Checkers completely, well said. My dogs are outside from when we go to bed around 11 pm and they are out all day while we are at work, all other times they are with us. They are perfectly happy to be out. Most times when we are home the door is open for them to come and go as they please, my female spends more time out and my male tends to be in more. I think as long as they have a warm, dry and comfy place to sleep, there is nothing wrong with having them out. There are places in the world that have very mild climates with no snow and freezing temperatures. I often find my two have pulled their bedding into the middle of the lawn, they do it in winter as well, and there they sleep together, they have their dry warm kennel, but no there they are out under the stars, they run around in the rain, by choice, and they swim in the pool when they want. Here, if you don't have a yard for your dog and you have to work, you simply don't get one, I first heard about crating on boxerword and I must admit I was shocked. I find crating a dog for 8 hrs at a time far more cruel than letting them run freely in their own yard all day. On thinking about it, I can understand the need, considering you can't very well leave your dog out in the snow while you are at work. Personally I would still not do it, I would rather not have the pet, but that is my opinion and until now I have kept it to myself. All our situations are different and our methods of keeping our pets are too, it is not to say we love them any less or better than the other, or that one person is more correct than the other. I really don't think it is fair for everyone to jump on Alan or anyone else for that matter for having their dog sleep outside. I am sure there are many more people who have their dogs sleeping outside but don't say anything exactly for this exact reason.
Alan to me the dogloo sounds like a great idea, we don't have them available here that I know of, but I am going to have a look into it as well.
Lisa
Sugar & Ray