by Memee

Created on: February 19, 2009

Regardless if you purchase a dog for protection or companionship neither purpose will be served if the dog is outside. I, for one feel a dog placed outside in the yard on a chain is a form of abuse. A fenced in yard is a good place for the dog to explore yet it does not provide the dog with the exercise it needs on a daily basis. Dogs of any size and breed require planned exercises on a daily basis as well as bonding with their owner.

We have a dog named Boomer, a large German Sheppard who has free rein of our big old house. He is in every sense of the word a "guard dog" and he also holds the coveted title of a cherished companion to my husband and myself. He lives inside our home and protects it from the inside out. We rarely lock the doors when we leave or when we retire for the night, no one would be dumb enough to try and get past him. His sheer size stops even the biggest and bravest of our friends from walking in the back door without our presence. My husband is a retired police sargent who headed the K-9 unit in a city of thirty-three thousand people. Boomer is the son of that now deceased K-9 dog named aptly named Quick.

We chose him from a litter of eight because of his legacy and due to my husband's fond attachment to his father. Because he was runt of the litter I was niaeve in believing he would not get very big. Topping the scales at about one hundred fifty pounds on his last visit to the Vet makes me laugh at that silly notion four years ago.

Dogs require companionship much like humans and the only way to accomplish that bond is to have them indoors. They are amazing animals with the desire to learn and please their owners. When you allow your dog to live within your home they become very savy about your daily routine. There is enormous pleasure in having your dog greet every morning when you get out of bed. I am the early riser in our home, therefore I am the recipient of a cold nose nuzzling my hand as I feel my way to the kitchen and the coffee pot. It is a comforting gesture forever reminding me I am not alone in the pre-dawn hours.

There is a sense of security having a dog indoors, they not only let you know if someone is at the door, they can detect odors that could save your life. In the winter Boomer loves to place his paws on the floor registers for warmth after a trip outside. My husband use to call this big brute a sissy when he sprawled out in front of his favorite heat source. That playful name calling ceased when Boomer detected and "informed" us when our furnace malfunctioned. Methodically pawing at the register vent in the floor while he cermoniously sniffed the air saved us and our home from a fire. He has also honed his skills when it comes to "people food", by reminding me I have something baking in the oven. His uncanny ability to pace in front of the stove works better than any timer I set to remind me when the pork chops are done.

I am a strong proponent for having your dog live indoors with you. With a little time and patience they can be a wonderful part of your life. Ultimately they will be deserving of a warm bed and companionship inside your home with the rest of your family.

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