Dogs in the Villages
 

We are looking to move to the Villages. We have 2 dogs (18 lbs each) They are used to a yard so we are looking at courtyard villas. However, there are other homes (not villas) that we like but not sure if they would be good for us.

We are in our mid 70's and concerned with having to always walk the dogs as we get older.

Thoughts?

If you are concerned now, just remember that you aren’t getting any younger.

Dog parks?

Hi. I will walk them for you. Contact me.

There are a lot of posts on TOTV about dogs.
You don’t want to let your dogs out unattended - 1) it’s too hot and 2) there are predators who will grab your dogs.

One option, add a birdcage with a turf area for them to do their business - make sure there’s a sprinkler zone so you can rinse the turf

Veranda homes are also fenced.

There are dog runs for dogs to run free safely.
People use an invisible fence to keep dogs in their yards.

But they don't keep coyotes and/or alligators out so you still have to be out there with them. It's best to leash walk them as most do.

As long as you remain outside with the dogs while they're running free on your own property, and can bend down to pick up their crap so they don't stink up and destroy your yard, a courtyard villa might be fine for you.

You will never be leaving your dogs unattended outside, unless your entire back yard is covered with a "birdcage" (a netted frame that stretches high over your yard to keep insects and predators out). Even then, you probably wouldn't want to leave them unattended, since bobcats and bears don't really respect nets when they see something tasty on the other side of the net.

A courtyard villa will probably be your best choice simply due to more of them being available. A villa on the end of the street or on a curve tends to have a bit larger yard. There are homes with fenced backyards. However you cannot add a fence. Just ask your realtor.

Check out Doggie Doo Run Run. Some people take their pooches there a few times a day. My pooch got too old--not me yet --to visit. https://doggiecaboodle.com/dogpark/doggie-doo-run-run/

We live in Pine Hills in a ranch/cottage with totally fenced back yard. There is one for sale on the street behind me. There is another neighborhood like ours off O’dell near Havana. Also designers with fenced in backyards in Pine Ridge or Pine Hills. This was before the Veranda models were introduced

We also have two dogs so we installed an invisible fence. phone 3528043393.. Sure at $2100 it was expensive but worth it. With the invisible fence we where able to buy a normal 3/2 home with a nice backyard the dogs can run around in. Training took about 6 weeks, and after that they stay in the yard.

Nash Loop in Hemingway have houses ( ranches) with enclosed yards

Not practical or realistic over the long haul.

When we first moved here in 2022 we had 3 dogs. We have since lost 2 of them but we did choose a courtyard villa because our dogs are used to going outside for exercise but not necessarily on a leash. As our dogs aged and sometimes had to go outside in the middle of the night I was very grateful not to have to put them on a leash at 2am! Luckily our dogs are not barkers nor do we leave them outside unattended to bother the neighbors.

A CYV on a corner with a bigger yard is your best bet. I have one in Bonnybrook where you do not see predators roaming around. That's not to say it could not happen but unlikely. So the area you buy one is very important. In my area a corner CYV has 2 Dalmatians.

Either a courtyard villa or a veranda home would be your best bet. I am in a veranda, home and the backyard is completely enclosed, and quite a few of my neighbors have dogs. But please keep in mind that in Florida, I would never leave the dog or dogs outside unattended because of the wildlife around.

In addition to villas, there are homes south of SR44 called Verandas that are designer homes with fenced back yards. Also, north of 44, in the village of Pine Hills, there is a street Wise Way where the designer homes have fenced yards. Also the Village of either Hadley or Hemingway, Nash Loop, has homes with fenced yards. Preferable not to walk them, especially during summer months (May to Oct) when their paws can get burned on the pavement.

We are not fans of dog parks. A nice amenity for some but how do you know that the participants there have had their anti-parvovirus & other medical needs met? Not to mention the aggressive dogs that their owners think are cute, or are “just being dogs” when they misbehave

That certainly happens at every dog park we have been at here in the Villages.

Dog walking in the Villages
 

Dog walking as you get older.

We have a 7 lb schnoodle who doesn't like leash walking that much. We live in a patio villa at the end of the street that dead-ends into a privacy fence, so we have privacy fence along the patio side of the house and along the back of the house. We put our own decorative, movable fencing with gates at the front of our patio and between the house and fence in the back yard. It stands about 3 ft tall and works to give her plenty of room to run. HOWEVER, it doesn't keep predators out!! A large hawk tried to take off with her right in front of me one day. Fortunately, the wing span got hung up between the house and privacy fence, so it corrected and flew away. Our dog is NEVER outside by herself anymore. Coyotes and bobcats can walk on the tops of the privacy fences, owls and hawks fly in, snakes come in under the fences. It requires constant vigilance!!

All Veranda homes are fenced. Some very large yards. They are much larger than the Courtyard Villas.

We have many owls and Eagles in the area. I see them daily. They have been known to pick up dogs right out of your backyard. Never leave them out unattended.

The only places that are walled in are the Villas, all others are "no fences allowed".

Small dogs, court yard villa or not
 

We had a house with no fences but were able to put up a wrought iron fence outside our lanai, the full length of the lania, about 20-30 feet wide and 3 feet high. Our little mini schnauzer loved it.

Dogs can be trained to wear booties that protect their paws. Some dogs take longer than others to figure it out, but they can ALL adapt with proper training.

Walking a dog is much more than merely exercising it. It's also reinforcing who is the pack leader. It is also reinforced socialization with other people and other pets. How would you like it if you were forcibly homebound, not allowed outside your own property except maybe once a month to be forced into a densely crowded area where people are dancing and music is piercing your ears? and then forced back into relative silence and isolation for the next month?

Invisible fences don’t keep gators out. The courtyard villa option is far better, plus smaller home they won’t have as much to take care of.

If you take suggestions on a "specific neighborhood" that have backyard fences, as some suggest, Buyer Beware!

Our Realtor alerted us to avoid "an area" as the highest tax rates in the Villages. So glad to have had that Realtor! Who wants to pay MORE taxes?

However, your doggies probably come first, so it may not matter at all to you. Fences are no real deterrent to preditors. Ask any rancher in Ocala!

What you are looking for is called a Veranda. Veranda’s are Designer Homes with fenced in back yards. They are only available south of 44. There are many to choose from in both Preowned and new. Since there are now about 25 villages south of 44 there is a large selection.

We have a courtyard villa and our dogs are in and out all day. No problems whatsoever.

There are several dog parks within golf cart range. We chose a courtyard villa and our dog loves it. It’s nice to just let her out before bed and not have to walk her. Some courtyard villas have a fairly good sized courtyard.

The city people comments in here are awesome, thanks for the laugh. Keep them coming.

We let our dogs out in our unfenced yard unattended for hours. We also don't pick up crap but a few times a week. The only possible worry my wife has (not me) is the dogs swimming in the lake with the gators, but they are pretty good about not going for swims.

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. Unless your dog is a runner, you'll be fine.

Maybe not desirable but perhaps a family member could take one/both when the time comes.

Hi
We are living in our second Courtyard Villa. These properties are wonderful for dogs. We have one dog that’s about 15 pounds and the other is 85 pounds and they both can easily stretch their legs and do their business if they need to. We do walk them and take them for socialization and exercise at a nearby dog park… one of which there are many here in the villages. They both love the golf cart ride to the dog park.
I hope you find a great home and welcome to the neighborhood.
Larry

An often overlooked option, but expensive, is you can put a birdcage around your yard with a 5' knee wall. Essentially you are fencing it in. It's allowed. Everyone with a pool does that (knee walls of different heights or none at all). But you are talking many thousands to do that.

The new Garden Villas are also walled in yards, good for doggies

We just moved down from the NE and have two dogs ourselves, both larger than yours. We are also younger and don't mind walking them, but we did buy a Veranda home for them to be able to have a yard which they are not used to (we come from an urban environment and previously lived in a condo so we had to walk them 3-4x/daily, in rain and/or snow).

A few things to consider:
-It's hot here and depending upon your dogs fur, color, and tolerance they may not want to be outside much so walks are only really practical in the morning and evenings - anything between 10 AM and 6 PM might be much for them.
-Unfortunately there are few sidewalks here and most of the pavement, including multi-modal (walking) paths are blacktop (i.e. paws will burn).
-Grass type: up North the have the nicer (my opinion) Zosia grass which dogs likely prefer as it's softer and smaller blades. Down south it's pretty much all St. Augustine which are thicker blades and only mowed to 4" so littler dogs might find that grass type a bit...tricky?

My recommendation is to buy a home with a fenced yard, either Courtyard Villa or Veranda, and would strongly preference pre-existing up north not only for the lower up front cost (e.g. paid bond) but also the dog consideration (i.e. Zosia grass, more mature landscaping/shade, etc.). As another poster mentioned, sometimes bird cages will include a grass patch or other area they can use so you don't necessarily need a yard too.

We bought new - and love it - because we're younger and live close to Eastport, but we also needed to sink money into our floors, lanai, etc. and one of our dogs still won't "do his business" in our yard - so we need to walk him - while the other does, but she isn't a fan of the grass (St. Augustine).

I hope that helps. The Villages is very dog friendly, but please note the pavement gets hot here, there are predators/hawks (as someone else mentioned) , and time outside for both walks/yards is typically limited, with a focus on "doing their business" and a bit of sun, unless early morning / late evening hours.

This is a very good question. I’ll give you my experience. I moved here in 2012 with a five year old beagle who loved the outdoors. My only option, in my view, was a courtyard villa. But I found one with a grass backyard; not concrete. Best decision I ever made. I just had to open the patio door and my dog had access to his backyard. I didn’t have to walk him every time he wanted to go out. I did walk him a lot; but I never had to when he just wanted to pee. I always referred to it as”Bob’s yard”. I’m still here, but old Bob is gone. I now have an adopted dog named “Coco” who enjoys the yard just as well. In my opinion, a courtyard villa is a great option for a dog lover.