Dogs in Las Vegas? Too hot? (apartments, condos, townhome)

olecapt · 02-03-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasNV

yea but the thing is I have a dog so I'd probably have to keep the a/c on 24/7

Nahh dogs don't care about anything up to 85 or so. Probably prefer it warmer. Its humans that like 72. We run here much of the summer at 80 where we are not and 76 where we are. Keep the fans cranking. Worth three or four degrees. .

lvkewlkid · 02-03-2007, 06:45 PM

my dog doesn't need the A/C on all the time and if he gets dry, he just drinks some water, then he's fine.

Mrs. Mom · 02-04-2007, 10:26 AM

I have a lab and a golden. We have been here 5 years. We have a big waterfall and very shallow pond in the backyard that they pretty much live in the summer. We had it concreted and then covered in large stone so that they can be in it and not ruin anything.

yellowsnow · 02-04-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mom

I have a lab and a golden. We have been here 5 years. We have a big waterfall and very shallow pond in the backyard that they pretty much live in the summer. We had it concreted and then covered in large stone so that they can be in it and not ruin anything.

That's a great idea! How often do you drain it for cleaning?

Mrs. Mom · 02-05-2007, 02:53 PM

You don't have to drain it. It is sort of like a pool. It has a huge pump and filter system. It is really big---we have a big berm (sp?) in the back yard so we had landscapers cut out the middle and create a waterfall that lands into a shallow pond. Then the landscaping all around is tropical. We have a firepit, bbq, basketball court (half) but no grass.

yellowsnow · 02-05-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mom

You don't have to drain it. It is sort of like a pool. It has a huge pump and filter system. It is really big---we have a big berm (sp?) in the back yard so we had landscapers cut out the middle and create a waterfall that lands into a shallow pond. Then the landscaping all around is tropical. We have a firepit, bbq, basketball court (half) but no grass.

I love this! Pretty and my dog would love it! I don't want grass either. Too much work and it drinks too much!

PinkString · 02-07-2007, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasNV

wow I hope it isnt anything close to $250,, I just have a 1 bedroom apartment

Depending on if your apt is upstairs or downstairs has alot to do with how much you will spend on a/c in the summer. If you are upstairs, you will definitely spend more to keep cool.
And depending on how the sun hits your place, what kind of window treatments, solar screens,etc you have also has alot to do with how much or how little you will pay.

You don't have to keep your a/c down to 78. I find that to be chilly for some reason. I keep mine at 80/82 in the summer. 82 is night time temps and i use a oscillating fan in the bedroom to help circulate the air.
And like olecapt said, dogs tend to like it warmer. I have cats and they go downstairs where it's naturally cooler in the summer and hang out less upstairs.
And of course in the cooler months, they live upstairs.

Mrs. Mom · 02-07-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

I love this! Pretty and my dog would love it! I don't want grass either. Too much work and it drinks too much!

Thanks. We do really love it. It gives us a tropical feel in the desert. We did not want a pool because I have a little one with special needs and it just scares me too much so this shallow option was perfect for the whole family. My older son loves to play Navy SEALS with his friends in the backyard plus they have the basketball and in the middle of that we had a hole put in for a removable tetherball pole. The waterfall/pond divides the yard in half. The noise from the waterfall sort of creates a noise barrier between the two when we have other families over as well. The 'kids' area has all of the above and the other side has the bbq and firepit plus large planters/benches for seating. We have the average size backyard for here but doing this let us cut into that berm and actually make it useful. It was fairly expensive to do---a little over 25K in total but it has been well worth it as it has added multiple 'rooms' onto our house. Not to mention, I never have to worry that the dogs will run out of water in the summer

The plants are all on bubblers so water use is low except for waterfall evapporation which is about 10%

LizzyVegas · 02-09-2007, 10:06 PM

I have a couple dogs and they prefer it outside (as long as there is water) anytime of year ... remember it's a DRY heat.
OT we are graduating to no grass in the yard except one island under an established olive tree and I really like the way Mrs. Mom's landscape sounds. Did you design it yourself, or have someone you would recommend?

yellowsnow · 02-10-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizzyVegas

I have a couple dogs and they prefer it outside (as long as there is water) anytime of year ... remember it's a DRY heat.
OT we are graduating to no grass in the yard except one island under an established olive tree and I really like the way Mrs. Mom's landscape sounds. Did you design it yourself, or have someone you would recommend?

I want to know too! That would be a great alternative to a pool or even in addition to a pool!