Looking to see how people take care of man's best friend during our summers. I am in the process of buying my first home. It has a good sized yard so I am thinking of getting a dog.
Specifically a boxer, but from what I have read they don't do well in the heat. However on the same search there seems to be hundreds of Boxers for sale in Arizona. So they can't be that fragile right? I can keep it inside worst case scenario.
It's best that you have a mainly inside dog. Its not just because of heat but also coyotes, all the insects (our ticks alone carry a ton of diseases like Lime disease) and spiders (I lost a dog to black widows before). Plus its just nice to let your best friend live inside.
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This definitely rates about a 9.0 on my weird-sh*t-o-meter.
Ah thanks... I didn't even consider pests like that at all. Can definitely see spiders, scorpions and such being a problem. Well kind of figured I would be getting a short haired dog because I mainly wanted to keep them outside (not during the summers of course). But from what I have been reading Boxers don't do well inside. What type do you have?
I have a pit bull, Gizmo, right now. But I have had a Boxer, Rottweiler, 2 Pugs, a Bloodhound all through out my life. If you train them right any dog is good anywhere. All my dogs have been mainly indoor dogs. It just comes down to how willing you are to work with them, it's just like raising kids.
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This definitely rates about a 9.0 on my weird-sh*t-o-meter.
I have a St. Bernard, which is obviously not a dog at home in the Arizona heat. I keep her mainly inside, and give her lots of water, especially when she's been outside. If it's a hot summer day, I won't risk taking her out. If I take her on a 15 min walk on a really hot day its too much for her (lays down and pants for 30 min).
If you do keep your dog outside, or even let your dog out in the summer, be sure to keep it safe. Make sure there is a place in your yard that is shaded most of the day, it'll stay a little bit cooler there. Also be sure to keep a big bowl of water out for the dog, and make sure it is never empty. I know also that my dogs like cooling off in the pool, so if you have one letting them have access to it is nice. All in all its still best to keep them inside if possible.
+1 to what Tj said. Give them a shady spot and plenty of water, a pool is even better.
If you live in the city then you don't need to worry as much about the pests and coyotes.
Honestly, you really should be more concerned about HEAT than critters getting your dog. I say this though, after loosing a dog to a rattlesnake. It's really wise to take all caution into consideration but pay particular attention to the heat issues. Bring your dog inside with the AC when it's hot.
Dog door so they have access to the AC. Our Golden/Chow mix spends most mornings outside, but as soon as it really starts heating up, she is in the house until the sun goes down, goes without saying, lots of cool water available.
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