Should I move my indoor German Shepherd mix to live outside?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This will be a big adjustment and should be done gradually. Because the lower temperatures in the winter now it is recommended to keep them inside for most of the day. After the winter you may proceed with Bella being mostly outside if it not too warm but doing in time increments initially. You may start by just doing it for a few hours to eventually most of the time. Again, provided that it is not too cold or too hot for her to handle as dogs can be sensitive to drastic temperature changes. Good luck!

King is gorgeous! Thank you for including a picture! I think the answer to your question really depends on your lifestyle and King's personality. If you are an active person who can take King for regular walks/runs and King will have the opportunity for regular play daily, then living in an apartment may not be a problem at all. However, if you will not be able to offer King enough opportunity to run and play while living in the apartment, he certainly might develop some bad habits from being bored and not getting enough activity. Does King like to go to the dog park or doggie day care? There are plenty of large dogs that live in apartments and get more activity than those that live in a house with a yard, so I wouldn't use that as my deciding factor, but you may need to make some lifestyle changes to make sure that King gets the exercise that he needs. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can absolutely have a German Shepherd inside. However, keep in mind that they are high energy dogs so it will be crucial to ensure regular exercise and daily walks. For example, it would be good to at least give him 1 hour of playing/exercise time daily which may include long walks for instance. Generally, when picking up a new pup I just recommend to go with the puppy that appears to be the happiest to see you. Also, it is important to make sure the puppy seems happy and healthy which is why it is recommended to have them evaluated by a veterinarian after picking them up. Good luck! Nothing like a new puppy!

There will be a period of adjustment when you'll have to be patient with the dog as she adjusts to her new owner. Be sure to know in advance what commands your friend uses, what behaviors in response to those commands she knows, etc. Even if she is "housebroken" at your friend's house, she will not know the rules at yours. so be sure to teach her, and do not get angry if she makes a few mistakes as she learns. Have your friend bring Ana to your home several times before he leaves, so she can get used to it and you. If you have questions or concerns once she is with you, I can help. Just click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

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.

Dogs can be really nervous about kennels. I have always found that if you put familiar blankets in, and even climb in yourself and sit with the dog for a while, they realise that it is safe. He should come round to it with time, just don't force him into it as he will be scared.

As you said, as long as you take them out 2 to 3 times daily they should be perfectly all right. They are large breed dogs and they need space; they can be indeed adaptable but walking them for at least one hour a day is essential. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.