Will my indoor dog struggle adjusting to living mostly outdoors?

It would have to be a gradual process but a dog who is used to living indoors likely won’t adjust well to being an outside dog. He will be used to being around you all the time, and will probably bark a lot for attention. I personally don’t recommend doing this, it’s not best for him.

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.

Drako is adorable! I'm so happy for you that you can now bring him indoors. First thing to do is make sure he is up to date on his flea treatments. You don't want him to bring fleas into the home. You will likely have to train him not to go potty in the house, as he will be used to going to the bathroom whenever he wants outside. I will put a method below that I recommend for potty training puppies, but it can work for Drako as well. You will need to make sure he has a water and food bowl, and you can get a bed for him to sleep on inside. Enjoy having him indoors, I'm sure he will love being around you all the time! Potty training: Start by keeping Drako on a regular feeding schedule, and taking away his food between meals. Take him out to potty first thing every morning, and once every two to three hours at first. As he gets better with going outside, you can let him out every four to five hours, but never let him go more than eight hours without going outside to potty. Always make sure he goes out after meals, first thing when he wakes up from a nap, last thing before bedtime at night, and right before you leave the house. Take him to the same spot each time to go potty. His scent there will encourage him to go. Stay with him outside each time he goes to potty, at least until he is fully house trained. When he goes outside, praise him and give him a treat.

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.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would definitely provide a heat source for them in the winter, especially if it is going to hit freezing temperatures. I worry about hypothermia if there is no heat source. I would also provide an insulated area for them. Small dog houses can be built quite easily and still be low cost. There are many templates online of how to build a dog house with insulation. Dog beds, blankets and another dog to keep warm with would help as well. If the temperature are too low outside, it is not advisable to keep them outdoors as this could result in hypothermia and even lead to death. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be happy to help you further!

This is a good question! I can certainly understand why you would want to take Bella Marie with you when you move out, and it is possible to take her with you. It will be an adjustment for her to go from living with three dogs and your mom to just you, but she can adjust. If you are concerned that she may get lonely and can afford to do so, after you are settled in your new home, you can get another dog so Bella Marie has company in the home. If she is your shadow, she is very attached to you, and I'm sure she would miss you if you left her behind. I think it would be fine to take her with you, just understand it will take her time to adjust to a new home and situation. Give her lots of love and attention, and consider getting another dog if Bella Marie appears lonely and it's something you can afford.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Jack Russells, as you know, do not grow much of a winter coat. They do get a bit of a thicker coat that provides some protection, but they are not able to withstand cold winds & rain. If Bella is provided, & will use, an insulated dog house like an Igloo, she should be fine. Place blankets, & not straw in the dog house. If you can, it would be great to add a heated pad made for dog houses, or a heat lamp to keep Bella comfortable. If the temperatures are going to be especially bitter, or there is prolonged rain or sleet, please consider bringing her indoors.