re: Were inside dogs a thing back in the 80’s?

Indoor dogs were present in the 1980s, but far less prevalent compared to today’s norms.

The shift toward indoor pets tracked alongside the growth of mainstream pet stores. Pet spending in the U.S. grew from about $2 billion in 1985 to over $20 billion by the early 2000s. In 2024, pet owners spent $152 billion.

The frick they don’t.

We have an almost 12 year old pit lab mix. Maybe the most docile dog I’ve ever met, never barks unless a strange car pulls up. We went on a walk the other day when the index was up over 100. We were taking a bit too long getting back in, she was already at the door, and she yelped at us to let her in. First time she has ever alerted us to something she needed in nearly 12 years. We ran, let her in the door, and she sprinted to her water bowl.

If you have a long hair dog, they should not be left outside in this heat. It’s too hot for them.

When I was in HS in the mid 80's we had a cocker spaniel that lived in the house with us.

Without reading the whole thread,
To append my response, wife’s family had inside dogs when she was young, small ones.

We wonder if it’s heavily influenced by rural/suburd.

I only remember 2 people having completely inside dogs from my childhood. My uncle had a dog named Snoopy and my neighbors had a dog named Fifi. Otherwise.... most people that had dogs kept them outside. My uncle that had Snoopy also had some rabbit dogs. They stayed outside in some cages with some dog houses made out of plastic barrels.

quote:

---

I don’t remember anyone having inside dogs when I was a kid. Nowadays it seems like most people have an inside dog if they have a dog.

---

The house I grew up in had multiple dogs that thought they owned the place, and that was the seventies.

Always had inside dog..

Growing up we had a sweet Doberman that was an inside dog. All the rest were outside mutts. Equally loved

quote:

---

Dogs is constant attention and stress and neediness. Don't want that.

Plus petting a cat feels so much better than petting a dog. The fluffiness.

---

Crazy cat men are weird.

In the 1960's most farmer wives seemed all have a chihuahua inside