Different climates mean different costums for animals.
By marguicha
@marguicha (215331)
Chile
May 30, 2017 5:24pm CST
When I wrote about getting a dog, a couple of mylotters thought I was mean by having them live outdoors.
I remembered my loved Misty and how she hated to be indoors. She felt trapped and she got claustrophobia.
The first time there was a big storm with thunder, I opened the door and asked Misty in. But as soon as I shut the door, she became restless and I had to open it again. As all this usually happens in my country when it is Winter, it was either me with a cold or Misty at ease.
We finally made a deal: I turned on the outdoor lights and kept the curtains open so that she saw me.
In Santiago, where I live, winters are very mild. It never snows and I am cold when people at the other side of the planet are very warm. A vet I asked about it told me that German Shepherds have a thick winter coat that will keep them warm in winter. From then on, I did not worry.
9 people like this
9 responses
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
30 May 17
Its your choice but i think the dog should be kept indoors and only left outside for a few hours a day.
But then again, i also believe cats are indoor animals and hate when people let them outside.
3 people like this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
30 May 17
@NJChicaa my grandmothers cats leave the yard and sometimes takes hours to a day to come back. I dont like it. Plus all the fleas and ticks. Nope. Im good.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (115962)
• United States
30 May 17
Dogs are companion animals for sure. But I confess I do let 2 of my cats outside. I started doing it 14 years ago when they were babies and now they won't share a litter box with the other 3 indoor-only cats that I have. They just go out to do their business and maybe soak up the sun a bit before coming back inside. They don't leave the yard.
2 people like this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
30 May 17
Three people entered my home some days ago, climbed a fence and got into my bedroom. That is worse than just stealing a dog from the patio.
2 people like this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
1 Jun 17
@Kandae11 I think most dogs bark but don´t bite, unless they are trained to do so. But I think that a barking dog will keep away most of the intruders.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53679)
•
31 May 17
@marguicha It is worse, but I am wondering why the dog thief wasn't bitten.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (158876)
• Boise, Idaho
31 May 17
Our winters here are usually pretty mild too. But not so this last winter. Animal are odd during storms. Some people swear that horses can predict weather changes. Dogs have fur so not so bad to be out in the cold.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
31 May 17
I have a close terrace in winter and have many covered places outside the house. Misty never got wet. And she preferred to be outside even with storms and with earthquakes.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (158876)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jun 17
@marguicha ......I would too I think.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
1 Jun 17
@celticeagle But she wanted me near her. She always followed me wherever I went.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
30 May 17
My Father raised German Shepherds and they were not always in the house but only in the winters, but the winters were very cold with lots of snow in our climate Marguicha. I understand about your climate.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
31 May 17
We NEVER have snow here, and we have 32°F for a couple of hours at dawn a few days in the middle of winter. Misty had a house but preferred to sleep as near my bedroom so I had to have a shelter for her that would suit her.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
31 May 17
@TiarasOceanView Some people said I was very cruel! But if Misty had been asked, she would have said she was perfectly happy
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
31 May 17
@marguicha Yes I understand and do not fault you for it at all Marguicha. It is different climate and all.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115962)
• United States
30 May 17
I don't see what the point of having a dog is if you are only going to have it live outside. Install an alarm system if you want something for security. Dogs are companions, not security. They deserve better than a lifetime of living outside.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
30 May 17
I don´t live all my life inside my house either. Maybe it depends on the climate and the customs too.
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
31 May 17
Then a German Shepherd sounds just right..And you did say you wanted one of that breed
2 people like this
@prashu228 (37526)
• India
31 May 17
That's a sweet dog, I agree with you.
Here people won't keep their dogs inside the house.
I never snows here.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
1 Jun 17
Many we know take excellent care of their outdoor dogs and cats. Their animals are accustomed to being in colder weather at times and they do have the coat for it in many cases.
We do not have outdoor only pets but have cats that like to be in and out. We can't argue with them. The dogs are always inside, which is our choice here.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215331)
• Chile
1 Jun 17
I think there are dogs with scarce hair that could be cold in a cold weather. It does not happen that way with German Shepherds or many other long haired dogs. They are meant to be in the cold.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
1 Jun 17
@marguicha The winters here can be very harsh, so we would not have dogs outside only. However, we know some people with proper kennels and dog houses who have dogs outside all year long.
