Please tell me which dog should i buy for my kids aged 4 & 7. I am not keen on keping the dog indoors.?

Question

We have a big garden outside, so space is not a constraint.

Answer 1

7 is a great age to get a dog,, 4 is ok but iffier, only because if you get a pup the dog is going to grow much faster than the 4 yr. old will. But with young children and/or young dogs, you will need to work with both the dog and the kids to teach them respect for ea. other. Personally I would recommend golden retrievers, one of the best kid/family dogs on the planet. Labs are good too. But between the two, goldens tend not to cling to one family member over another quite as much as labs do. But even a golden, care should be given to the 4 yr. old to teach them never to bother dog while it's eating. Even though a golden you can usually poke out their eye while eating and they remain fine,,, a dog is a dog, and it's just not worth the risk. When i sell a pup to family with young kids I threaten to come out and take my puppy back if I find out they mess with it while feeding. As far as outside goes, you're maybe not ready yourself for a dog. Dogs have a huge affinity for people and want to be part of the group.Whatever the breed if you keep it detached and outside, when ever you and the kids go out there it's going to get excited and want to jump all over you, anything for your attention. Try talking to other families with young kids and dogs ( especially goldens) I think you'll be pleasantly surpirised. They love to swim, play ball, ride in cars, social with other people and other dogs, hell they'll even be content to sit with you on the patio at the end of the day and share a brandy and cigar. Here in Colo. most of the dogs in the avalanche programs are now goldens. But then again, there's the true story of the young girl swimming off the Calif. coast, got in trouble, yelled for help, and someones Lab swam out and pulled her back to shore, kewl thing was,, the dog was blind.

Answer 2

You will have to compromise.
The climate where you live is the decider.
Healthy dogs have a combination of the two, inside at night and outside during the day (Weather considered)
Your lifestyle would have changed the moment you bought your first kid home. Consider the impact of a dog entering your home as a lot less of an impact, and more of an addition.
To avoid dogs wrecking the inside of your house, think about what you would need to do to the backyard. Muddy patches or low areas that get wet and soggy are gonna be sooooo bad for your carpet. You have two kids that, at their age, are probably just as messy as any dog. Prob worse, really.

Small dogs tend to yap a lot when left alone. NOT GOOD if you have close neighbours.

I have always had "Staffordshire Terriers" and "Labradors" they are very different from each other, but both will, love and protect and play with your children like family should.

Answer 3

A pet should be a part of the family, if you don't want it indoors then don't get one. They need to be part of the family. That includes being inside. After all you don't keep your children outside just because you have a big garden and space isn't a constraint do you???? Exactly.... I'm not quite sure your ready to be a pet parent. Too many dog owners ooh and ahh over the cute dog and then pretty soon it ends up in the backyard alone and unhappy or with behavioral problems.

Answer 4

Basset Hound. My sister just got one and she has 2 kids, ages 4 and 9. It just lays around all day, and it is a puppy, calmest puppy I have ever encountered. I have a 6 year old, our small dogs are a Yorkie (pretty calm now, but was a little hyper as a pup), and a Boston Terrier (loves to play and get into EVERYTHING)! Good Luck. Try the shelter, they have lots of dogs that want loving families!

Answer 5

Why are you not keen on keeping the dog indoors,hair or odor ?
there are several breeds that don't shed (poodle). I have three small inside dogs plus 2 cats (you would never know I had inside pets unless you saw them, my house is fresh smelling due to Frebreeze & plug ins plus I air their bedding daily) & one border colie outside but he stays on his cot in the garage at night,he is a rescue dog & doesn't like being inside. He feels his job is to protect us. He is very mildmannered & extremly smart. My son was in the driveway when a strange dog came up & my son got scared & yellled can someone help me ...the dog jumped the fence (which he has never none)to get to him! This was out second Border Collie our first came from the pound & was also an outside dog my nature.

Answer 6

Number one you don't buy a dog for kids that age unless they are old enough to accept the responsibility to take care of them and 2 you don't buy a dog for kids to be outside. I wouldn't even think about buying a dog at this time at all.

Answer 7

If you are not going to keep the dog inside--DO NOT GET A DOG IN THE FIRST PLACE. "Big garden"? BIG DEAL. A dog is a pack animal and therefore needs to be part of the human pack....in the house......unless you keep your kids outside all the time or something.

Answer 8

I think that cockerspaniels are great for kids as well as beagles....but in winter months dogs should not be kept outside all day...if you must then have a dog "igloo" with a special self heating pad for dogs placed inside of a dog bed, and dog booties. at night when its bedtime you should always bring the dog inside to sleep. of course i am not saying to ignore the dog all day ...I figure you need to keep it outside due to nobody being at home during the day ...if there is someone home the dog should be kept indoors all the time.

Answer 9

I'm just repeating what others have said. If you don't plan on keeping a dog inside, then you don't need a dog. Dogs should not be strickly outdoor, it can cause alot of social problems for them and it is cruel. Until you decide you want to let a dog live in your house, then a dog is NOT for you.

Answer 10

I believe that most dogs should be able to come into the house but there are a few dogs out their that can be outside dogs and I mean a few. Akita's for one are great dogs and good with kids but get fairly big and protective. Any husky or most hounds. Be very careful there are some dogs that people love that cannot be outside all the time. So do your homework and expect to spend lots and lots of time with your dog or its cruelty.