Indoor or outdoor pets?

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I live on a farm so my dogs and cats spend alot of the time outside - the cats actually are barn cats and rarely come in the house. The larger dogs stay outside and in their dog house. When its really cold or rainy i do bring them in but...They were gotten for protection of the cattle and horses from wolves and coyotes. They're provided food, water, a heated shelter, bedding and alot love. I spend time every day playing with them and loving them, feeding and grooming. Our dogs are free to run the yard and the cattle yard. It would be pointless to have a dog to protect the cattle if it was tied up all the time or inside all the time. Theyre beloved family pets but they are also working dogs. I noticed a few people indicated we should keep our dogs tied when i posted about one of our dogs being stolen. I can see that if i lived in the city close to a road where theres lots of people but in a rural area where theres few people lots of space and land ...it seems cruel to keep them tied. They know their boundaries. I know some people have dogs indoors all the time others have them outside all the time and others have them partly in and partly out. Its different every where. What do you do with your pets?