Home under contract, spending month of August looking
 

We are looking forward to our visit, to pick out our new home for the remaining years of our life. We have visited twice and have fallen in love with your community. We are leaving the beach for the life style of The Villages. We are not sure whether it will be a Designer home or a Courtyard Villa but our two puppies will have allot to do with our decision, as they need to have the freedom that a Condo could not provide.

We are concerned that our puppies will not be secure in a Designer home as a Courtyard Villa is enclosed. We would love to get some input from other pet owners who have had the same situation and what decision they have made. Any input would be appreciated.

Cajun Girl &Philly Boy

We have 2 large dogs and live in a designer home. One can be trusted 100% off leash the other not so much. So potty breaks are on/off leash with them. Walks are always on leash. We have an enclosed lanai they love to hang out in during the day and we also have an expanded patio slab with a railing all around and a gate. In the cooler weather they like to hang out there. If you like to just open the door and let them do their business you would definitely be better off with a courtyard villa or a designer with an electric fence where you would need to monitor them. All depends on what works for you and the pups.

If you think a designer might work I know of a drop dead gorgeous turn key coming on the market in August.

We have a CYV and it's been great with our dog. It seems that it is a whole lot easier than it would be without a fence.

What size are your dogs? I wonder with two big dogs if everyone might be more comfortable with the space of a designer and lanai.

Our big dog loves to chill out on the driveway on a line and watch all the neighborhood action. We make him come inside when his fur's hot enough to fry an egg on (kidding, folks!). We have a non-stretched designer with non-stretched lanai, and he uses a lot of floor space between the chairs on the lanai. I think we might be cramped in a villa, esp. on the lanai.

With small dogs we wouldn't have a problem with a villa, and the fenced-in part would be great.

We have two big dogs. 85 & 65 lbs. Live in a cyv and we are all very comfortable. We do take the dogs to doggie do run run most every day for our walks.

There you have it. Opinions are all over the place. You'll just have to go with your gut. I'm sure it will work out well. Happy hunting!

did you stay in a cyv while you were here..it might help with your choice

We always had fenced in backyards for our two 20lb dogs before moving to TV and when we first started looking I was sure we would buy a CYV. In the end, however, we wanted a bit larger home and DH wanted a larger garage. Our designer has a very small yard. It took awhile for us to get used to taking the dogs on walks rather than just opening the door and letting them out. Now it is no big deal. We all enjoy their morning and afternoon walks (especially the dogs since one of our neighbors has treats for them when we pass by). The walks have been good for all. If I had mobility issues, I'd probably get a cyv but for us the designer home, garage and lot location were more important to us than the enclosed backyard.

We have 2 cockapoos, 15lb and 20lb. When we bought last year there was no question as to what model to buy. CYV was the only way to go because of the dogs. At our Wisconsin home we are on a corner lot with a cyclone fence so the dogs see a lot of activity. That's the only thing they miss in the Villages, since there is only one window in the guest room that faces the street. We installed a doggie door in the lanai so they can go in and out as they please if we leave the sliding door open just a little. This might not be a good idea in the summer heat leaving the door open, but since we are seasonal residents and don't use the AC much it works for us.
They don't get as much exercise in our courtyard, but they love riding to the Brinson-Perry dog park and playing with their dog friends.
Another plus is that there are usually more dogs in the courtyard villas and neighbors are willing to dog sit for each other.

All of my friends that have dogs chose the courtyard villas because of their dogs. You can just let them out and not have to worry.