Personally, I have had far better bonds with my dogs that have lived in the house than those who lived outside. These are the dogs that have meant the most and been the better hunting dog in my experience. Yes as older pups and dogs they occasionally get to sleep in the bed, after they have earned it. Especially on hunting trips, they're excellent foot warmers.

Kudos to DIVA! It's raining today or I would be in the field with my dog. She is currently laying on her rug not 15 feet from me. Tomorrow: I'll load the truck and when I drop the tail gate she'll jump up into her crate, ready to go, all full of energy. We'll drive out to the quail fields and she'll do just fine, hunting like the vetern she is. Last Saturdayshe found 4 coveys and for this part of the country; that's a good day. I hope rifleman was tongue in cheek when he said, "dogs can't learn both house and field manners". The red setter guy from Maine, Diva, and myself can allclaim the opposite.