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Post by RealPitBull on Dec 20, 2007 14:47:40 GMT -5
Pit Bulls are NOT cold weather dogs. They should be outside for potty, play, exercise, and training in the cold weather, not for extended periods of alone/yard time. They are most definitely NOT "outdoor" dogs. Many Pit Bulls would do well to have a coat to keep them warm - please see the post on the Cool Stuff board for suggestions on coats. So keep your Pit Bull inside this chilly winter season - snuggled on the couch with you, where he belongs!
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Post by bullymommy25 on Jan 6, 2008 21:17:30 GMT -5
You'd be amazed how many people don't know this... My bully winters with me, under the blankies!!
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Post by emilys on Jan 17, 2008 11:14:27 GMT -5
well, my old girl Lulu really loves the snow. We used to go x-country skiing together. Puppy Mr Peabody though born in California, seems to like it as well. "cold" is relative. Around here, 20-30 degrees (F) would not be considered cold if the wind isn't too bad. of course, we don't stay out too long
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Post by pitbullowner on Jan 21, 2008 8:46:24 GMT -5
Hi, New to the site, I never heard of this, My grandparents had a pit bull many years ago and he stayed outside, of course he had a dog house and plenty of blankets inside of it. he always seemed fine being outside, Grandparents had three other dogs at the time and they stayed inside. Pit bull was found waondering the yard one day.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jan 21, 2008 9:01:53 GMT -5
It also depends on the weather in the area you live.....but take one look at a Pit Bull: is there anything about their looks that says, "I'm a cold weather dog" ? They have virtually NO protection from the elements. They are much happier as indoor dogs, at least indoors when they weather is too extreme in either direction.
Many people do keep Pit Bulls outdoors, in kennels, but I'm opposed to this unless there is a true necessity and the kennel set-up is professional/heated. I do not believe there is ever a good reason to keep dogs chained.
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Post by pitbullowner on Jan 21, 2008 19:35:53 GMT -5
It also depends on the weather in the area you live.....but take one look at a Pit Bull: is there anything about their looks that says, "I'm a cold weather dog" ? They have virtually NO protection from the elements. They are much happier as indoor dogs, at least indoors when they weather is too extreme in either direction. Many people do keep Pit Bulls outdoors, in kennels, but I'm opposed to this unless there is a true necessity and the kennel set-up is professional/heated. I do not believe there is ever a good reason to keep dogs chained. Oh well his dogs were not chained, just inside a pen, I used to get him out and walk him. i autally just got a dog that was going to be killed, couldnt see that happen, but i rent and can not have dogs inside, but I made a big box that is heated, and its on a closed in area. away from weather. but for some reason the dog just lays on the pine stray in the pen, I do not get it, i did let her in lastnight Shh dont tell my landlord.. its about 30 degrees here right now. the heat should help her if she will just go into the box.
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Post by coolhandjean on Oct 4, 2008 15:17:34 GMT -5
Our dogs did fine last winter, but if I still lived in PA, I definitely wouldn't leave them outside.
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Post by Courtney on Oct 4, 2008 17:15:44 GMT -5
My older pit-cross Zoe absolutely loves the cold...goes nuts in the snow (not that we get much here!).
But I can see how the pups might have trouble. They don't have much fur and certainly don't have an undercoat like Zoe.
I guess we'll find out this winter how they do! I hope I don't have to put coats on them :S
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 5, 2008 8:51:49 GMT -5
You'd be surprised how many emails I get asking if Pit Bulls can stay outside all year long in colder climates. I admit to scratching my head at questions like this.....IMO NO dog should be left outside all the time, temperate climate or not. But Pit Bulls, with their short coats and oftentimes bare bellies are particularly susceptible to the cold. All about common sense and taking precautions.
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Post by Courtney on Oct 5, 2008 12:31:17 GMT -5
I could never keep my dogs outside. I have a few family members who keep theirs out all year and it makes me so sad. Granted, they are Malamutes and German Shepherds...a little better suited to cold.
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Post by coolhandjean on Oct 5, 2008 16:43:43 GMT -5
If my house were bigger, then I would invest in a bunch of crates and bring all my dogs in at night. However, right now that's not a possibly, so, they stay outside. They do fine. My one dog hates being inside, this summer it got really hot and she's old, so, I brought her inside to get a break from the heat, and she just paced the whole time. She's never been an inside dog kind of dog.
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 5, 2008 18:18:25 GMT -5
Hey Jean, hope you didn't take offense to my comments Just expressing my opinion - of course there is a right and a wrong way to do things whether you keep your dog indoors OR out; as a counselor, I instruct the average owner to keep their Pit Bulls *in*doors. Not implying that people who leave their dogs out as a matter of course are 'bad' owners. Just wanted to clarify.
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Post by hammer4 on Oct 5, 2008 22:36:58 GMT -5
Malamutes are bred for the cold, i.e. snow, as they are native to Alaska..I had one a long time ago. During the warm months here in so. cali, he went nuts..but as soon as it cooled down he was more comfy. What he really liked was the snow up in the mountains.. ;D As it is, we don't need to worry bout that cold stuff, very rarely does it get below 40 here..
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Post by valliesong on Oct 6, 2008 23:20:17 GMT -5
I would never leave my guys outside, no matter the weather or where I lived. They just crave companionship way too much, and pit bulls attract too much interest as far as beligerent neighbors and thieves. You just never know what will happen when they aren't in your sight. I've heard too many stories of dogs being stolen, poisoned, blamed for property damage, shot, etc.
We even had a tiny apartment in the city, the first floor of a small rowhome, and kept all three of our dogs inside - a pit bull, a pit bull/shar pei mix, and a foxhound. Briefly we were up to four dogs, with a foster dog. I just put the foster dog's crate on top of one of my dogs' crates. Two people, four dogs, and about 350-400 sq. ft. Fun fun. But we survived!
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 7, 2008 8:00:41 GMT -5
When I was growing up, we kept all our dogs outside. Their shelter was dog houses, and then we had a heated/attached/redone garage that wasn't used for cars, so they dogs also stayed there. I absolutely hated the fact that my dogs couldn't come inside.
Now, as an adult, my dogs will always be indoor dogs. I adore having them inside with me and look back at my younger years and wish so much that my other dogs could have experienced the indoor life. I couldn't bare to keep my dogs kenneled/chained.
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Post by coolhandjean on Oct 7, 2008 19:42:16 GMT -5
No problem, Mary. I didn't take offense at all.
I was just saying my opinion on it.
My parents had a no dogs allowed inside rule.
This house has a crappy lay out. Not much space for anything. It sucks.
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Post by juliet2097 on Oct 28, 2008 19:44:04 GMT -5
I live in South Texas and out winters are not typically strong. My dog is 5 1/2 months old and prefers to be inside and I prefer to keep her inside also. Last night was fairly cold (for this area) at 40 degrees. This morning I let her out to take care of business and she would not go into the yard. She pawed and pawed at the sliding door until I let her in. I think she would rather hold it than be cold! Spoiled yes but I took her out a little later when the sun came out. I will keep her inside most of the time.
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Post by emilys on Oct 28, 2008 23:49:34 GMT -5
I certainly wouldn't keep a short haired dog outside for any length of time without excellent shelter. But, my old girl Lulu has always loved the snow. Apparently, critter smells are more pungent in the snow? That's the way she reacts anyway. She loves to catch snowballs. In our younger days, we even went x-country skiing together.
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Post by thedarkness on Feb 11, 2009 15:49:55 GMT -5
Sense I live in the dorms at the moment my pup has to stay outside in a pen. It's gotten pretty cold here, enough to leave a film of ice on her water, but the cold doesn't seem to bother her as much as I thought it would. She has a dog house to go into and another dog to cuddle with so I don't worry as much.
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