What "outside" & child friendly dogs are good for kids 7-13 yrs old?

Question

Our family is considering getting a dog that we would keep in our fully fenced back yard with a dog house. We want it to be a watch dog at night, that doesn't bark at every little movement, and a dog that will be a great friend to the kids during the day. Hopefully one that will be easy to train to not crap all over the whole backyard, but to do his duty in a designated spot. :) As far as weather goes, we live in Idaho and so we do experience a few months of winter, as well as some fairly hot days in the summer.

Answer 1

While I keep my dogs indoors (and I have 10 of them in with me) there are some breeds that do best out of doors. You may want to look into a husky type breed, samoyed, or other of the more northern breeds. Herding dogs tend to be too social to be left alone like that. Most of your hounds as well. Maybe a working dog or hunting dog. As mentioned above, any dog needs interaction. Make sure that you spend at least 2-3 HOURS outside with the dog each day. Not just when the weather suits YOU. There is nothing wrong with teaching a dog to stay outside most of the time but to be able to come in on occassion - as in on a rainy day to come in and play with the kids in the den - after having the feet wiped off of course. If you do go with an outdoor dog, you may want to get 2 - a few weeks apart so that they will not be lonely and will have a playmate. Set up things to interact with in the backyard - stack of hay that is not near a fence (so they can climb), a tunnel, some balls of different sizes, etc.

Answer 2

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What "outside" & child friendly dogs are good for kids 7-13 yrs old?
Our family is considering getting a dog that we would keep in our fully fenced back yard with a dog house. We want it to be a watch dog at night, that doesn't bark at every little movement, and a dog that will be a great friend to the kids during the day. Hopefully one that will be easy to...

Answer 3

What some of the above posters are saying is true - we know more about dog's mental capacity and social needs now; and they really shouldn't be kept as outside only dogs, in a dog house.

They are as needy as people as far as needing social interaction. It's not going to matter if you get a child friendly dog or not if you plan to keep it in the backyard all the time - sadly, it's isolation and boredom is going to turn it into an overexcited dog that jumps up and scares your kids (overfriendliness at finally seeing someone to interact with -and then your kids will learn to avoid the dog), or a not very well socialized dog that has a risk of biting your kids.

I'd say skip the dog and look into security systems.

Answer 4

I agree with some of the posters in here you should not make a dog stay outside during the winter or summer or fall or spring. A dog should never have to stay outside all the days of its life it should never have to be tied up or trained to be a gaurd dog it will do that on its own but only if you show it enough love and effection. Dont teach your kids that dogs belong outside all the time they should a part of your family. I have 8 dogs and they came inside at night and if it gets to hot during the day or if it rains during the day they are never outside constantly unless I on vacation and even then I have some one bring them in and let them out.. You seriously should look into s security system instead of a dog....

Answer 5

Any dog can be trained to go in one designated spot if you do it right.

A GSD that's well trained (German Shephard dog) might be good. If properly socialized they are great with kids, and make excellent watch dogs.

However, any dog that is left tied up and alone all day will eventually become unsocialized. You will have to make up for it somehow, but I don't know how you could. Any dog that's left alone in a backyard I would not trust with my children. That goes for a Rottweiler or a Golden Retriever.

Speaking of, I wouldn't recommend a typical kid breed like a Lab or Golden Retriever. PLEASE don't get a Lab or Golden Retriever!! Breeds like that will drive themselves nuts if left alone in a backyard.

I also wouldn't recommend any sheep dog or herding breed, as these breeds tend to see small children as sheep and ... well ... they want to "herd" them. They will also suffer mental illness, like Retrievers, if left alone.

Answer 6

Dog training are excellent and very helpful to build you a stronger relationship with your dog. Read more https://tinyurl.im/2yvas

After I started training my dog, he became very attached to me and loves to stay by side as long as he can. But just going to them won't help. You have to practice what they teach you outside of the class and you need to keep up with it at least every now and then after the class ends otherwise they'll just go back to previous habits. This course is a really good place to go for dog obedience classes. It get's your dog around other people and dogs to socialize while getting the training you need. As for electric collars, I would say to not get one. In my experience, they're only a negative effect on your dog. I mean of course you're going to need to correct your dog, but being positive and encouraging your dog works a lot faster and easier.

Every dog is different, so unless you have a german shepherd or a really smart dog, it might take a while to train her. You might get frustrated with her, but go easy. She's still a puppy and has a lot of energy. A backyard or somewhere to run will help her get rid of a lot of energy that might cause her to misbehave from boredom.

Answer 7

I have a Lab sheppard hybrid. She is just about everthing you described.. German sheppards are good watch dogs and they can be very loyal. the lab and the golden retriver are excellent family dogs. Dont let size fool you. They can be those gentle giants.

She so so gentle that I keep in the house with me until she wants to go out. she is "My baby" and I would not think of letting her be all alone out side all day she would jump the fence to find company. I once heard a saying there is nothing worse that a lonely lab. if you want it to protect you you have to treat it like family other wise it won't care

Answer 8

There is very little that sickens me more than seeing a dog kept outside. No matter what the breed, this will make them unsocial and a possible danger to kids and others.

Tying up a dog and leaving it outside all day, like a worthless piece of trash is SICK.

Asking a dog to be a 'great friend' to the kids when they choose to bother with it is childish and stupid. Dogs don't work that way. Tie yourself up to a tree for a few months and come back, tell us the range of feelings you have.

Lonliness
boredom
sadness
fear
neglect
worthlessness

Answer 9

I do not think dogs should be kept outside 24/7. During the day, I keep mine out, but at night they are inside.
Newfoundlands are great family dogs, but they are very large and need a lot of care.

Answer 10

Golden Retrievers are my favorite. Child friendly and still a good watch dog. Likes the winter too. I live in Canada and thats what I've grown up with all my life...I'm 23 now.