My family and I live in a quiet residential neighborhood that is great for walking dogs. We currently do not have any dogs of our own, but do have a rabbit in our house. Our rabbit is in a cage, but does come out to explore and often to be held. If I am caring for your animal, our rabbit will remain in it's cage. We have an attached garage that is heated, so if your dog is used to a crate, it could be kept in our house or in garage. We do not have a fenced in yard and our backyard includes a small wooded area and a field, so I would keep your dog on a leash while I am outside with them. My stepson is allergic to cats, so unfortunately I am not able to care for cats in our home.