Ticks are usually not found indoors, but instead in outdoor settings like backyards, trails, and wooded areas. American Dog Ticks, among other types of ticks found on dogs, are a concern for both humans and pets.
What We Know About American Dog Ticks
Male Ticks usually die once they mate with a female; but female American Dog Ticks lives in grassy areas with little tree coverage. They can live up to two years if a host is not located. As with other types of ticks, they do not fly or jump, but instead crawl from the ground up. They feed on a variety of warm-blooded hosts including deer and humans and even domestic dogs. They are predominately brown in color with white "veins" on their back (shield).
Adult American dog ticks commonly feed on humans; but they do not transmit Lyme Disease; however, they can transmit other pathogens including the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia - similar to Lone Star Ticks. Adult male and female dog ticks are active from April-early August and can be found in grassland, bushes or under leaves.
There is the possibility that your dog was bitten by a dog tick if your active dog becomes lethargic or unable to eat or sleep. Symptoms usually begin to appear around 6-9 days after a tick latches on to a dog.