OK, realizing my animals are cats and not dogs the basics are the same here. I have a new central a/c I put in 3 yrs ago when I moved here. Guess what? I can't afford to run it now with the cost of gas, food etc. I have 2 fans and ceiling fans I keep running all the time. I have a large covered deck and my cats prefer to lay out on the porch most of the day. They come in sometimes and lay around but I guess they find it warmer in the house than outside as it is not long before they are back on the porch snoozed out. They get their shots when they are suppose to, they have food and water available to them all the time so I would say they are pretty happy hanging out on the porch.