A: NO!! Just because the weather is nice doesn’t mean your dog should be relegated to the backyard.
Dogs are social animals. Letting a dog live in a yard with little or no human companionship is one of the most psychologically damaging things an owner can do to a dog.
Dogs have the ability to learn and to be housetrained. They are happier, safer, and feel more secure and contented, inside a house, with people.
When dogs are left outside, they display many more behavioral problems, such as digging, barking, whining, chewing, and trying to escape. Dogs left in the backyard are also harder to train because they don’t have the opportunity to develop a strong bond with humans. Sometimes they become so fearful of people that they may become aggressive.
Good dog owners should keep their dogs in the house with them, including sleeping inside the house at night. You don’t have to entertain your dog constantly. Dogs just want to be near their human companions.
Never tie or chain your dog outside. Dogs that are tied up suffer extreme frustration which can result in hyperactivity, and sometimes aggression against you, your family or friends. Dogs that are tied up cannot escape from other animals or people who mean to do them harm. They can also easily become entangled and do bodily harm to themselves.
If your dog is going to be outside in the yard for any period of time, provide him with a shady place, a dog house for rainy weather, chew toys or bones, and plenty of fresh water.
Make the time to train your dog so that he is well behaved inside and out, and is truly a member of your family.