Whether you live in cold country or in the desert, you have to take precautions when you choose to leave your dog outside most of the time. In my opinion, this is not the best life for most dogs, but if you choose it, you must consider some important factors:

In the summer. What recourse does your dog have when it gets too hot? Try going out and spending the whole day in your pet’s environment. Does it have a shady place to go? Is there fresh, cool water available? If you hung a thermometer in your pet’s living quarters, what would it read at about 2 P.M.?

1. Please give your dog a place to escape the heat. A mist system is the best solution in severe-heat climates.
2. Put in a pet door so your dog can come into a carrier inside the house without having access to the house itself. (Figure 41)
3. Buy a hard plastic baby pool and fill it for your dog. Maybe put some ice cubes in it.
4. Don’t take your dog for a walk or go jogging in the heat.
5. Don’t take your dog in the car and leave it unattended in the summer.
6. Absolutely don’t put your dog in the back of a pickup truck and drive in traffic.

In the winter. Make sure your dog has warm shelter. Don’t give it a doghouse so large that the dog can’t keep it warm with its body heat. Make sure its drinking water is always thawed out.