I (me, a husband, our 6 yr. old son, our boxers...Zar, 85lbs, Pecas, 55lbs. and our newest addition, our permanent foster boy Nicky 75lbs), all live in a 850sq ft house. We have a HUGE backyard that is not used unless we are ALL out there! Number one: we NEVER leave our dogs unattended in the yard. Number two: they don't give a darn that they have the biggest yard around...they want to be with us...crammed into our little wee, wee house, taking up the couch and chairs so sometimes I sit on the "doggie costco beds" so I do not disturb them sleeping. Or they are on our beds... taking up all the space so we have to sleep along the edge. BUT... we are all together, cramped but together. No one is outside looking in..wondering "why am I out here...what did I do wrong..I love them and just want to be with them?" "I cry and bark,dig,pace because I am lonely, why can't they just GET IT???!!!
My three big dogs are happy to be part of a loving family, they are treated as such..a family memeber. Who cares how big your yard is...not mine..they have an enormous yard but would rather be with their family. I would not have it any other way. Why have a dog if it is going to be left outside?? "Oh.. my dog doesn't like to be inside... horse crap!!! Dogs are extremely social animals.. that's the human's excuse for being tired of being a responsible owner, or it's just tooo much effort now. If you don't want your dog inside with it's family..get a stuffed toy.