Boxers Being Outside?

[Pasdar's Mom]

I haven't been around here in a while, but I need some advice and I know the people here will be able to help.

I have a three year old male Boxer named Pasdar. At the end of this month I am moving in with my boyfriend, who isn't used to dogs being around. He likes dogs, he just hasn't had one in years. And he has a cat who, in her 11 years, has never been exposed to a dog.

He's got his mind set on building a doghouse for my two dogs (I also have a female Bulldog named Chloe who is about 1 1/2). I know the dogs can't live outside in the yard - although he does have a huge yard and privacy fence - but he seems to think they can spend most of their time out there. We're in Texas, so it gets pretty hot during the summer. We have found an air conditioner made by a company called PetCool, that can be attached to the doghouse to keep it cooled off like inside the house.

They each have their own crates, and are used to being inside the house, and in their crates when no one is home. I am still going to insist they are in their crates, inside where they are sheltered from the heat, when we aren't around. But I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the whole air conditioned doghouse situation, or tips and ideas for helping them adjust to being outside on a regular basis. Pasdar loves being outside, but I don't normally let him run outside for very long, because I've always been worried about the heat situation. Chloe has never adjusted to being outside, but I think in the long run, personality wise, he will be okay with her spending more time inside than Pasdar. Which is why he is my main concern.

Anyone have any ideas or thoughts about the best way to handle this situation?

 

[sgbtab]

IMO I would not let my dogs live outside especially in texas both of those breeds are short nosed animals. I hope you can find a solution.

 

[Pasdar's Mom]

IMO I would not let my dogs live outside especially in texas both of those breeds are short nosed animals. I hope you can find a solution.

Oh don't worrry, I'm not going to let them live outside. But they will be spending time outide, which they are not really used to right now. Especially during the heat of the day, when we're at work, they will be inside in their crates.

My main concern is having them make the transition to not spending all of their time inside with me.

 

[K8IE]

I agree with Trish. I would think that your BF would know how you feel about your dogs and would understand that they need to be indoors with their family and where they can stay cool or warm as needed. It is ok for them to play outside, but in the Texas heat they will be miserable. The air conditioned dog house is a nice idea, but do you really think your dogs will want to be outside all the time after they are accustomed to being inside with you all the time? It will be a harsh thing for them to try to adjust to so abruptly after being indoor pets for so long and they could suffer severe anxiety and/or weather related health issues and will not understand why they have to be outside now. I would think that your bulldog may have even more issues than your boxer in that they are so short nosed (even more so than a boxer), but that heat will be hard on them both. And even with the idea of the air conditioner, they may not use it, even if it is cool in the dog house, they may run around and try to get attention from the people inside and overheat themselves very quickly. I really hope that you can explain to BF that you are a package deal, you and your dogs, and that you won't throw them out in the cold (or heat.) If for some reason you just can't get your babies to be kept inside I would get a good pool for them, the air conditioner and cooling beds, etc to try to keep them cool when they are outside. Good luck!

 

[Cindy Creel]

I see several things that I want to comment on. First the dogs will be moving to a new place. That will be very difficult on the dogs by itself. Then putting them in the yard that they are not use to will present other problems. They do not know about staying outside or being in a doghouse, because they have never experienced that. I would try to work out something to keep them inside and away from the cat. We have to keep the dogs and our cat separated, and it works fine. Is there a chance that if the bf will not let them stay in, you would be willing to not move in? Just a thought. They will not do well outside. Especially in the Texas heat.

 

[PMdC]

Outside...

Well, I live in Portugal and, for sure, I don't let my Duffy outside, at all. In principle during the day I let her stay wherever she prefers to be, inside, outside, downstairs or upstairs. What I end up noticing is that in the peak hours for the heat she prefers to be inside and downstairs, coming up to my home office sometimes looking for some petting and going back downstairs again where it is cooler. She only goes to the yard early in the morning and then again late in the afternoon to take a nap under a tree. Walks during the afternoon are out of question and, taking her to the beach it is very rare and only when I go very late, after 5pm.

She really hates the heat, and, being honnest, boxers are not really the best dogs to cope with the Texas sun. Being short nosed they can't even get rid of the heat the same way as other dogs do. If I were you I would really allow her inside the house. Bear in mind that boxers can develop skin irritations due to sun exposure and it is not difficult for them to become dehydrated. Even long walks in the summer under the sun are not advisable.

 

[Pasdar's Mom]

First the dogs will be moving to a new place. That will be very difficult on the dogs by itself.

I have moved with them before, and it didn't seem to phase them at all. I'm not saying this time will be the same, but they have been through a move before, and settled into the next home just fine. And my current roommate has a cat, so they are already familiar with cats. His cat, however, is unfamiliar with dogs.

We have to keep the dogs and our cat separated, and it works fine.

Will you share with me how that has been accomplished in your home?

Is there a chance that if the bf will not let them stay in, you would be willing to not move in?

Considering I'm moving next weekend, have nowhere else I could move into at this late a date, and this is the man I plan to be married to within the next year, no.

If your dogs will be inside in their crates all day when will they be left outside?

Part time in the evenings and sometimes on the weekends. I'm not talking about having them living outside full time. A lot of people seem to be missing that. My boyfriend seems to think they can be outside, and I'm still working on him. He's never had a dog like a Boxer or a Bulldog - a dog that is so heat sensitive. I understand this issue, but I'm still working on him. My question was how to help them become accustomed to spending some time outside - not living their entire lives there.

Where will they sleep?

In their crates, as they do now.

I think it would be so mean to kick your babies out now, they wouldn't understand, and neither breed could tolerate the heat.

They aren't being "kicked out." But they will need to spend some time outside. Again, I'm asking for ideas and suggestions to help them adjust to that.

And allowing one to come in and one stay out is even worse. Not only would your boxer not have you, he wouldn't even have his friend!

I didn't really think of it that way. Although with their personalities, and past experiences, I think he'd be happy to have some time to himself outside. From the few times I allowed him to spend any extended time in the backyard, that has proven to be the case.

I really hope BF allows them in, or else I would not move in with him.

Like I said above, that's not really an option. But I'm here because I care about my dogs and the best way to help them handle these changes. And I'm not just going to leave them outside all the time. I'm just looking for suggestions to help them adjust to spending some time outside. Right now "outside" just means "go to the bathroom."

Or, if you choose the BF, please consider re-homing your pups through a rescue so they won't suffer so many changes. :(

I know you have their best intentions in mind, but I don't see how giving them away to strangers (not an option) would be considered less of a change.

Sorry if mean sounding, I hope you can find a good solution.

Thank you. That's why I came here.

 

[KENNY DAVIS]

keep cool

If they must be outside and its hot you must do your part to make their time outdoors cool and cozy. I breed rabbits and I have froze two liter bottles of water for them to lay against, it gets hot in Florida too. keep water in shade and shade for them. I also keep a floor fan out on my porch keep bugs away and a breeze blowing! Back porch stays in the shade and the concrete stays cool to. Keep working on the guy! ask him how he thinks the cat would like it out there! if they cant find a cool area they will dig down till they do.

 

[beausmommy]

As long as the pups are kept inside during the heat of the day, I don't see a problem with their being outside in the evenings. I know my boys would love it. They have a blast playing outdoors. Your dogs will probably enjoy being able to roam the backyard and have optional shelter with a/c for when they get pooped. I'm glad to hear that they will be sleeping indoors. There are too many unsavory characters that would like to steal our babies. I would also keep the gate padlocked when the dogs are outside. Many of us here at BW take our dogs on walks or to the park daily, so they are outside for some time at night. My dogs and I generally stay at the park for about an hour and a half. I'm sure your pups will be fine! Just remember to give them lots of hugs and kisses to let them know that they haven't done anything bad to cause the change in their lives (we all know how sensitive they can be)!

 

[NFBoxerMom]

My guys all love time outside, but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them outside unsupervised even if they did have appropriate shelter.
Aside from temperature/weather concerns, I worry that they would get out of the yard, or that someone would let them out or take them and I worry especially about allergic reactions from bee or wasp stings.
We've had some pretty severe reactions in past. If one of my guys were to get stung when I wasn't there to give benedryl at the first sign of hives, the swelling could cause severe respiratory distress. I would hate to come home to find one of my babies ill or worse.