Although their weatherproof coats protect them from the elements, Porties should live indoors with their families. They may become bored when left alone for long periods of time; if the family is out of the house during the day they may come home to inventive destructiveness. Porties have a strong chewing instinct, and need to be trained to know what they are allowed chew on and what they aren’t.
A medium-size house and yard are best, but they’ll get along fine in a smaller home or an apartment if they get at least one long, brisk, daily walk to satisfy their instinctual need to roam, and to work of excess energy. When they get sufficient exercise Porties are fairly calm and contented indoors.