Is it safe for my dog to be outside all day and night? What's healthy?

Generally she should be fine outside, you live in a pretty warm area so she could stay outside all year round. snakes can be a real problem though, especially in the spring so you need to pay attention to that.

If his dog house is clean, and insulated then he should have no problem sleeping outside. Make sure you regularly clean it and wash his bedding to keep parasites at bay and do regular flea prevention.

That depends on where you live. If you have an insulated dog house that stays dry and gives protection from the wind and rain then leaving her outside during the day should be fine. I wouldn’t chain her since if she’s able to move around the yard she can keep herself warm with activity. I would keep her inside during the night so she can eat, drink and sleep somewhere warm and comfortable. As she ages she may need to be inside more since she may have arthritis and other medical issues that would make her more susceptible to getting sick or being painful out in the cold. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mona.

Keeping him kenneled keeps him safe from eating something he should not. When no one is home is very common and appropriate. While people are eating is realistic since it is only short period at a time. If you have a fence he stays in, maybe you can let him out during that time instead. Every night, depends on what he does at night. If he sleep in his bed or yours and does not eat anything or bother anyone, then this may not be necessary. however, if he chews things while unsupervised, it is necessary so he does not eat something that may harm him. It is hard to not feel bad, but keep in mind most people kennel their dogs during the day while they work and at night when they sleep for their safety

That's not a stupid question! It's great that your dogs get so much exercise! They will likely take enough breaks during the day that they will not over exert themselves, but there are some things that you can do to help keep them happy and safe. As you mentioned, make sure they always have fresh water available. Make sure they have shelter to protect them from the elements, secure fencing to help prevent them from getting lost, that they are microchipped and wearing identification tags in case they get out, and do not leave them outside during extreme heat, cold, or emergency situations. I also recommend speaking to your veterinarian about having them neutered as soon as possible, as this can help reduce behaviours associated with the instinct to mate (such as humping, urine marking, aggression and roaming away from home) and help keep them safe.

It sounds like you are doing the best you can to keep Ruby comfortable! Obviously being inside in an air conditioned environment during the heat of the day is ideal, but there are plenty of dogs who spend their time outside. To enrich Ruby’s life you could extend the duration and distance of your daily walks, and spend as much time outside with her as you can-play fetch, groom and pet her, even just sit outside and read a book with her by your side. She may enjoy obedience training as a way to bond with you and exercise her mind. Do you have any friends with dogs of a similar size? You could see about setting up play-dates if the dogs get along well.

Any animal left outside should have shelter, and while crating dogs can help with their anxiety, they should never be left in a crate for longer than eight hours at a time. Leaving a dog locked up in a crate all the time is abusive and will have detrimental effects on the mental and physical wellbeing.