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Unconditional love is quite rare for people, but for dogs, it's ever present. For my entire life, my dogs have been my companions, my best friends through thick and thin, and my confidantes for when the world seemed a weary place. No matter my mood or if I grouse at them, they always look at me with those sweet, expressive eyes. If I need comforting, they are right there, nestled against me, giving me loving licks. Should dogs be indoor dogs? You betcha!

No, I'm not advocating that they stay in the house all the time. My dogs now are young, ages two and three. They need, and want, to run and play. They love to be outside, chasing the squirrels and barking at the passersby. As much as they enjoy the great outdoors, though, they also want to cuddle and be inside. In fact, many times, my youngest dog chooses to stay in the house while her big sister decides to remain outside. When inside and not playing, both dogs love to be at my feet, sleeping or watching the television.

My dogs are family. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them, and they are treated just as any good mother would treat the children she loved. Recently, California has been going through a stretch full of unhealthy air days. I wouldn't dream of leaving my dogs out during that month, anymore than I would human kids. My girls got a little indoor crazy, but it was the right thing to do, to keep them safe and healthy.

Many people object to dog hair, or they whine about how playful their dogs are when they first come home. That's a loving greeting, wild and eager affection for their human companion. I can't imagine it being any other way. Give me that wagging tail over a spotless and flawless floor any day. No dog hair in the house is akin to no child's toys on the floor. What's a child without their toys?

A friend of mine just told me that he's getting a new bedroom set, including new mattresses. For the first time in the lives of his dogs, he's not going to allow them to get on the bed. I cringed. What is that going to feel like for those dogs, who have always gotten up on the bed and slept with him? I shudder to think of how they are going to feel when he barks at them to go sleep in a corner, or maybe even closes the door on their dog crates to keep them from jumping up on the bed.

I couldn't do it. I always have to think of how my actions will affect my dogs. That's how much they mean to me. A new mattress just doesn't matter as much as my dogs' happiness does.

My dogs sometimes like to just come in for a while when I get home from work. They like to share some love and then go out and play some more before dinner. Then they like to come back in and be with 'Mom'. At night when it's time to go to sleep, they wait eagerly for me to pat on the bed for them to come up and take their spots. They take turns being at my feet or being up high, where I can rub their tummies.

Unconditional love doesn't come around all the time. For me, that means it's important to return that love, and part of that love is having my dogs around me, in my environment, not kept outside where our exchanges are limited to games of fetch and waves through a window. If that means there's some dog hair on the floor or my mattresses get a little stained, then so be it.

Should dogs be kept indoors? You betcha!

Learn more about this author, Marcia Studley.
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