Moving with 2 dogs who are used to a yard
 

We are considering a move to the Villages. Currently staying here for a few days looking at property. We know there is a limited amount of housing with fenced yards in what we are looking at. We are considering something without the fenced yard but not sure how our 2 dogs will like it. They are on the small side 16 lbs each but are used to being just let out to do their thing. We do walk them on occasion but that is not the norm. Anyone make the move to the Villages with this issue.

I am a cat lover, but will add my 2 cents. Florida has leash laws, please understand these. You can get an invisible fence which will probably keep your dogs in BUT it will NOT keep predators out, and yes we have predators. A CYV might work, but you need to be aware of the property lines and the neighbor's access to their property. We also have large birds of prey you will need to be concerned about.
I will now turn this over to all of the dog lovers, but please be careful with your fur babies.

We moved here with 2 small dogs about the same size as yours, but elected to purchase a home without a fenced yard. I would never let them outside on their own as there are predators here that the fence won’t stop. I’d recommend resetting both your expectations and the dogs by getting out and walking them. They will enjoy the time with you. You could also try getting them used to the golf cart and take them for a ride.

There are multiple dog parks that you could take them to and let them run off leash unless they are not other dog friendly.

We're in a courtyard villa and that's what I'd choose if I had a dog (I love dogs, I've always had dogs, but our last baby passed away).

I have seen bobcats (30 lbs and strong) in the dark hours, and eagles in the day.
Gators if you're adjacent to water, too. Be careful leaving your pups out unattended for long periods. As the other poster mentioned, an electric fence would do if the yard isn't fenced, but again you may have unwelcome visitors.

Best wishes.

I would buy a home with a fenced-in yard. A lot of the villages in the south have fences. We are in Hawkins and most homes seem to have a fenced-in yard. Although it is advisable to be outside with them (especially, if they are tiny), it would be good for them to be outside in their own fenced-in yard without a leash.

Bobcats, foxes, eagles, owls, a variety of hawks, coyotes.

Do your dogs a favor and either don't leave them out unattended, or don't bring them to the Villages.

If they are small, a courtyard villa may provide enough space for them outside and a secure walled in area. Or, look at the veranda series (they are building more and more of them because of their popularity...there are 20 available right now). Basically a designer home in a walled in villa setting. We let our pets outside in the area and it's perfect for them.

Seems to me that your pups have trained you - and the big question is whether you are prepared to retrain yourselves and the pups in order to meet the pup's needs. Should you consider a purchase which would need outside renovations to accommodate all - remember to read the area's deed restrictions and external rules to see if what you think you would do will meet the requirements. It also seems that lots of pet owners have figured out what they need and found it - am sure you all can, too.

We all wish we could just open the door and let them out but nope, gotta get up, put on the leash, take them for a walk, put up with the heat and hot roads, rain, other dogs, bring home the poop and save it for garbage day. They will enjoy it but not sure if you will.

Another FYI, our summers heat up pavement and our fur babies paws, if it's too hot for your bare feet, it will also be too hot for them.

We came down with 2 dogs also. We got a corner lot court yard villa that had a nice grassy back yard. In the new section the verandas have walls also. The dogs are free to run around but if they are small they should be supervised as the hawks can carry them away.

It’s hot. Our dog likes to lay on the concrete in the lanai.
Dog wont want to be outside long, get the house you want - don’t worry about the fence

Can we please stop with the recurring scare story of eagles and hawks carrying away your dog. A bald eagle, the largest eagle, can not lift a sixteen pound dog off the ground. It could catch it on the ground and injure or kill it on the ground. But dogs are not the preferred prey for eagles. We have tens of thousands of dogs and you are not hearing about them being carried away by eagles or hawks.

Eagle Flight and Other Myths, Alaska Department of Fish and Game


How much weight can an eagle carry? – Wildlife Damage Management

If a Fenced Yard is Important to You . . .
 

If a fenced yard is very important to you, you might want to rethink being in The Villages because of your dog situation. Many other communities permit fences such as Spruce Creek South (a gated 55+ community) which borders The Villages and there are many other communities close by from which to choose.

Good luck.

Eagles vs. Alligators and Coyotes
 

We also have 2 small dogs and for that reason, we chose a courtyard Villa. We were lucky to find one with grass. There is less wildlife on the north side of TV if you want to take that into consideration.

My home is a corner lot with a large grass fenced in yard and dog door built into the house. Unfortunately, I am moving to Sarasota. I have my home advertised for sale here on TOTV and Zillow. I would be happy to show the home to you if interested. 880 Nash Loop. Many people in the villages have dogs and I have found it to be a wonderful place to live.

My husband and I bought a courtyard villa since we have 2 large dogs. The fence is very secure and gives privacy. I am not a fan of letting my dogs out leashed in the heat or rain. As long as I have a dog(s), I will have a fence.

Buy a Veranda home, they come up for sale often and have great fenced yards. I have doggie doors and they go when they need. Great yard for ball play. We also walk them and do doggie parks. Veranda is the best for dogs.

Fenced housing
 

There are now building cottage homes with fences, i.e. cottage verandas. They have some in DeLuna and maybe they are building some in Richmond? I believe some were built in the Citrus Grove area, not sure which neighborhood(s).

Get a Villa. You…and your neighbors…will not be happy otherwise.

Pavement too hot for dogs feet
 

Great you mentioned the pavement being too hot for pups feet.

We bought a courtyard villa so our dogs can go out and wander around freely like they were used to. Now mine are bigger than yours so I would still be concerned about your small dogs and birds of prey.

The pets come first…………. It’s not them that want this change so keep them as Happy as they are now! When we bought, the fence was priority #1 for ours!! The fence first and then moving in.

Courtyard villas, verandas and newer patio villas south of 44 have fenced yards. I would not recommend ever leaving a dog unsupervised even in your own yard for all the same reasons mentioned in the other posts.
Get a couple of leashes and get out with your pups and meet all your neighbors. You will be glad you did and so will your dogs.

I moved here with two dogs who were used to the backyard. Now one loves the walks, the other not as much (older dog). One thing not mentioned is a lot of people use dog strollers. You can get your dogs from point A to Point B without burning their paws, being victims of prey, etc. Take them to a dog park or walk them in the shade, like I do. I thought it was silly when I first saw the strollers, but this way, both my dogs get to go out and walk the amount they want.

Do your due diligence before you buy their or you will very unhappy

Agree with you, However an adult eagle can carry a 25lb dog.

Thank you for saying what I was thinking. I have a 5 lb. I have a leash (long) I hook my baby inside the house. I put him on it and I open the door check the yard let him out. I stand at the door and keep watch. Once a day I take a golf cart ride and I let him roam. He loves it.

Why save for garbage day? Dump in the toilet and flush🤷*♀️

The thing is, as others have said, there are many predators here in Florida...... the biggest problem for your dogs, because of their size, is coyotes. They are crafty, and will watch until they know your routine, and if your dogs are out alone, they will snatch one. The only way I would let a small dog out alone is if I had a walled courtyard villa. No fenced yard, anywhere in Florida, would be 100% safe.

You may want info for part of your situation and work with your sales person - also why would you take info of this importance from people on this site - time to make a decision in your own- just saying.

There is 1 house on Nash Loop in the Village of Hemingway. It has a totally 6ft. high fence around the whole backyard. We are the only street with this. This is
not a villa. It is a ranch home. It also has the golf cart garage

Speaking of predators, there was a panther passing through a yard in the middle of the night caught on a home security camera over in the Del Webb community off 441 about a month ago.

Look to locate in a veranda style home. Hawkins, St Catherines, Citrus Grove and more..

I was in exactly the same situation two years ago. You have two options. First option is either a courtyard villa or a bungalow villa. Courtyard villas are typically two bedroom two bath, bungalow villas are typically three bedroom two baths, both have fenced in backyards. The next option is what I chose which is a veranda. All of the verandas are south of US 44 in the newer section of the villages. Veranda homes are designer homes with fenced in backyards.

We had the VERY same concerns. We bought a veranda home on a golf course and they do just fine. But... we also started walking them, which we had never done before, and they absolutely love it and it's great exercise for us all!! Some people complain about dogs peeing and pooping in their yard, I respect that. Mine go in our yard but we walk for the exercise..

We have two hawks and an eagle that sit frequently near the lake in our backyard. Our yard is fenced, and a bobcat jumped the fence one evening, We have a very large dog, so it didn’t scare us. However, most definitely your dogs would have been in danger. We have photos of a black bear, and a Florida panther in our neighborhood prowling. There are a lot of cameras on people houses in the area, so people do get photos of the wildlife.

Just remember when walking your dogs. Don’t walk near water. You can’t out run a gator. They are faster than you think. Also, put on a fur coat and walk barefoot, to see how your dogs are feeling. Most likely will need to walk early mornings. You can fry an egg on the concrete at times and it will burn your dogs paws.

An electric fence is the answer. My son has two very active Australian Shepards and an electric fence keeps them “contained” perfectly. I don’t know of an instance when they didn’t stay “in their yard”.

To be truthful, but blunt, and not trying to sound rude, but if you let your animals out without a leash and allow them to do "their thing", you are asking for trouble.