Outdoor Dogs in Cambodia: Heatstroke, Ticks, and Other Risk

Raising dogs outdoors may seem easy with fresh air, freedom, and plenty of space to play, but it also comes with challenges that I, as a pet owner, must carefully consider.

Dogs are especially vulnerable to extreme weather. During hot summers, they can suffer from dehydration or heatstroke, so I place a large bathtub in the backyard where they can cool off. There is also a sandpit under the mango tree, which provides shade and a comfortable spot for them to rest. On rainy days, to prevent skin infections caused by constant exposure to moisture, the dogs sleep under the rooftop where we park our car or in the front yard, where they are better protected from the rain.

For safety reasons, my dogs are never allowed outside the fences unless my husband or I are supervising them.  Most of the time, they go for runs or walks without leashes. Because they are well-trained, walking or running along the roadside without leashes is not a problem, even when there are people around.

Outdoor dogs are more likely to be affected by ticks, fleas, worms, and occasional colds. To keep them healthy, we regularly give them deworming, tick, and flea medications and take them to a veterinarian for health checkups. In Cambodia, if a dog is not seriously ill, a private vet can come directly to the house for treatment, which is very convenient.

Our dogs don't eat dog food every day. We only give them dry food when we have to work far from home for a few days or when we go on vacation. Most of the time, their main meals are chicken with vegetables like pumpkin, spinach, or other local veggies, and we feed them once a day. According to research, dogs that are fed once daily tend to have better overall health and may live longer compared to dogs that are fed several times a day. They show a lower rate of cognitive dysfunction and fewer health problems in multiple body systems.

We raised two outdoor dogs because we understand that dogs are social animals who benefit from companionship. We got them at the same time, and they love playing together. Charcoal, my half-breed Dogo Argentino/Belgian Malinois mix, is now 16 months old, and Blackie, an American Bandogge, is 18 months old. They get along very well and enjoy each other's company.

Training both of them together was very challenging because they are so playful, so I eventually worked with them one at a time. Charcoal and Blackie can be quite loud, but they aren't disruptive—especially compared to some of the noisy dogs in our neighborhood. I'm very thankful that my dogs are generally well-behaved. When they bark excessively, it usually means something is wrong. For example, one time they barked from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m., and when my husband went to check, he found a large python slithering across the fence into the front yard. That kind of barking has happened twice, and both times it was because of snakes. I can now recognize their different barking tones so well. 

Raising dogs outdoors can work in certain yards or farm spaces, but it takes extra effort, careful watching, and the right setup to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. My other two dogs, who live indoors, are just as happy and healthy as the outdoor one too. We just make sure to keep an eye on them and give them a good balance of exercise and playtime every day.