For now we have no dogs. When last dog passed began a huge fence addition and improvement by adding another fence line so we will have a four foot chain link inside the exterior six to twelve foot (varies height as terrain changes and blocks view from closest neighbors carport as last two residents turned carport into a smoking lounge as owner doesn't allow smoking inside) with just enough distance between the two can cut any grass with single pass of push mower but plan is fo put down heavy plastic covered with mulch or gravel and ic world goes sideways can fill that 36" gap between the two with dirt using neighbors backhoe like the dual fence filled with any local sand, dirt aggregate mix available used around military FOBs to have a crash proof,RPG resistant, bullet resistant barrier. Work from outside basically digging a moat to fill the area between fences is to be part of our SHTF plan. Trees falling in a winter storm taking out two sections and two years of medical "time out" has us delayed on fence thus delayed getting a pair of new dogs.
Have never had dogs that needed a sweater as have collars with RFID chips that unlock a "doggy door" that gives them access to my climbing cave. Door now has piece of 1/4" AR 400 steel in interior frame that's designed to hold a plastic lock out device from thieves if want more than the two electronic locking composite fiberboard hinging flaps their collars unlock to allow entering house. Usually have rottweiler/doberman/chow/ labrador mix of some sorts fo end up with 40 to 50 pound dogs with enough coat to survive a Georgia winter but not die of heat in a Georgia summer.
We also have a doghouse outside made of 3/8" pressure treated siding on outside, traditional shingle roof and a front porch with gabled roof so dog can lay on porch even if raining or sun beating down. It is insulated, interior is lined with 5/8" Durock fiber cement board and can open or close rear window for ventilation in summer or warmth in winter. If doggy door is locked out they automatically just know it and go to dog house (construction with mix of plywood, cement board and a layer of mixed scrap steel is 9mm ballistic rated ic they need to take cover from gunfire. There is also a 40 watt electric light I can turn on which for a dog is a lot of radiant heat.
Now we get to our dog wear, we own six ballistic vests that cover body and even have a head piece that can clip and strap on but none have liked the head protection besides being soft armor blunt force trauma would still kill or wound them behind being any good. It's a mix of sizes for medium to medium/large dogs in NIJ 2 and NIJ 3a and have pockets to up armor them and molle if want to have dog carry it's own supply of food/water or spare ammo for me. Good used police grade dog armor can be found at bargains as dogs get new armor when handlers do. If your dog is big enough to help protect the premises it deserves armor. Otherwise we choose mixed breed dogs that can tolerate our worst weather without a jacket.
