My friends' family is getting a dog, possibly two. And they are most likely to be two huskies. They are wondering if it is okay to leave them out in the backyard all year round. And any tips for cooling them off in the summer hwen it gets hot?? tanks everyone :P

I don't think it's fair to domestic dogs to spend all their time outdoors but if given the right things, they can survive. To keep cool in the summer, provide shade, lots of water, and have their coats shaved short. An automatic waterer or something heavy and spill proof is important. Most dogs can spill a regular bowl. If not checked often, on a really hot day, a dog can get heat stroke without water. In the winter, buy coats for the dogs (if bitter cold although Siberian huskies can take it colder than most dogs) and have a nice, warm, dry, dog house.

okay, ill tell them that. :D

Also they might want to get them a little "kiddy" pool. We has a German Shorthair Pointer and she loved to lay in it during the summer. They could have a lot of fun in that.


annie

The best watering bowls are the automatic steel ones for livestock. My shepard and beagle love it. Mine are totally spoiled, but for the winter I do have a heated water bowl that screws to the wall, but I have to replenish the water in that one. Even though our kennel has tree shade at certain times I also have a tarp covering another part of the kennel. Ok, I also have an old window AC that cools the dog house/tool shed. It's thermostat controled and only kicks in above about 85F. The dogs are usually laying in their holes before that temp. hits. It's worked good enough where we don't have to worry about them when we gone out and it's 95 in Aug. There's been days that even all that doesn't work and when the panting gets too fast and furious.....in the house for the day. Our kennel is about 18X56..with huskies I hope your friends can plan for a large kennel.