What kind of puppy would you get for a 7 year old boy?

[BlacksheepCardigans]

Re: the inside/outside dog thing - just to let you know, virtually no good breeders will sell you a puppy, and very few good rescues (at least in my area) will adopt out a puppy, who is intended as a pet and is going to live outside. If you can find a breeder who will sell you a non-livestock guardian dog or non-hunting dog if you tell them it's going to live outside, I would have doubts about the breeder. It's considered a VERY basic requirement, along the lines of "Will you ensure that this puppy has regular veterinary attention." I certainly won't place any puppy or retired dog in a family that intends it to live outside, in a garage, or be tied out, and I'm not odd or picky. In fact, since I don't require a fenced yard I'm one of the more flexible in my group.

I'm not trying to be involved in any debate about whether you can have a happy outside dog. I'm just telling you that, from the point of view of the responsible AKC breeding community, it's already been decided. Of all the hundreds of breeders I know, none will sell a pet puppy to be an outside dog.

 

[Frosty]

My sister tried to adopt from a shelter and they turned her down because the dog was going to be kept outside.

Whatever breed you decide on, do a bit of research. Some breeds like Huskies and Shiba Inu have a very strong prey drive and can be difficult if not impossible to keep from eating your other critters (poultry, cats...) I learned that the hard way and some of my cats and poultry paid the price for my stupidity.

 

[EweSheep]

We had outside dogs in kennels and they love it outside as much as inside. As long you provide reasonable shelter that they can get out of the cold and wind and rain, have plenty of fresh water, feed twice a day, then you have provided the three basic needs for the outside dog. However the most important need of all dogs, inside and out, is the human socialization And care. Give all four needs, you will have a happy dog!

Our kennel was an old chicken coop, fancy by most farms and we converted it as a little house LOL. My Dad's workshop was on the other end of it and it was GREAT. Pallets were built with pads for the dogs to sleep on. Had concete floors for easy cleanings. Every dog has a window in his pen. I think we had three narrow runs and one big run for momma and puppies. Dad rewired the coop house and installed a few windows on the west side of the building. If it gets so bitterly cold, the coop house would have the kerosene heater in the hallway to keep the chill off but not too warm that the Collies would shed early.

Its too bad that shelters place too much restrictions on the dogs/cats. They put too much restriction on me when I was looking for a Siamese kitten or cat....that I can not give them shots, must take it to the vet at every sickeness, must feed this type of food, etc that it was not the best interest for me to adopt one. So I went to a breeder.

Do your research and take it from there.

 

[User66184]

A Chaweenie. A Chiuaua Mix With Dashhound. Very Adorable I Have One Myself.

 

[secuono]

The best dog for anyone is the kind you just click with. Beagles dig and like to escape. They are cute and friendly, but follow their nose under the fence and miles away.
I'd say go to the local animal shelter, take a look around and ask to take a few dogs out to the play area that you feel a connection with. No one breed is guaranteed to have everything you want. It depends on the individual dog.
A dog under 15lbs might be too small and frail for a kid to play with at the drop of a hat. A dog over 70lbs may also be too much. If the dog will be outdoors, it needs to have some weight to it, medium coat and not have a strong prey/hunting type instinct.
Seriously, just go to shelters and see what dog you both notice picks you out that fits your needs. Pure bred guarantees nothing, mutts tend to be a great mix of breeds and usually end up perfect pets. I also wouldn't bother with a puppy, they will needs time for manners training and potty training. They can be mouthy, jumpy, yappy, random. At least with a young adult, it's pretty much what you see is what you get.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
That is the primary reason so many shelters are full....they put unreasonable restrictions on adoption of dogs. Then they have the nerve to whine about not having funding for all the animals. Why is it perfectly acceptable for a LGD or hunting dog to live outside but not any other breeds? Do they not have the same fur, doggy feelings, or social needs as an AKC pampered pup or pound puppies?

Dogs have fur for a reason, they have highly developed scenting for a reason, they have a natural ability to survive outdoors~they were designed for outdoors living. Forcing a dog to live inside exclusively is like keeping any other kind of animal in an unnatural environment~caged, essentially~for our own pleasure. There can't be anything more cruel than keeping an animal caged up in a box, no matter how roomy or luxurious, while one is at work all day and never letting them see the light of day until they get their potty walk.

Not natural, not kindness, not anything that any logical person would construe as the proper way to keep a dog. That would be just like keeping a horse in your house at all times...after all, it's an animal too and it needs socialization too. And...heck! It's cold out there! Horsey needs to be inside on the couch during that snow storm too!

It may have been decided in the breeding and shelter community that this is the proper way to keep animals healthy and happy, but that doesn't make it right. It just means there are many, many people out there expecting dogs to act like humans, live like humans, socialize with only humans.

 

[mcm]

Have been reading all the recommendations for your son's companion to be. I would like to say first off, that if your son wants a dog that strongly, please
don't make the dog stay outside. It might want to sleep in your son's room or just be with the family. I have had terriers, bassett hound, German Shephard,
cockapoo and so on. Pretty much of a mix over the last 30 yrs. Labs and retrievers are wonderful breeds, but they do shed quite a bit, need a little more exercise since
they are hunting breeds. If your son had allergy problems, it would break his heart to get a puppy and then have to lose it. No dogs are hypoallergenic.
You should have less health problems with just a clean healthy dog. My childrens' best friend of all was Number one, a shephard mix. And, number 2 a Great Pyrenees
The pyrenees is a big, loving non hyper breed. It can help watch over your chickens while still being a friend and protector of your son.
I hope a visit to a local shelter will have the perfect "that is the one mom" and your son begin a lasting, loving responsibility and forever memories.

 

[True Grit]

Regardless of what kind of dog you do end up getting and how you keep it, if your little boy has a vision of the dog being HIS and HIS best friend etc, it is very important that he be the one to feed the dog and do the basic training. That way the dog will bond more quickly with your boy. I would let him do most of everything at the beginning and then the rest of the family can treat etc, once the dog knows who his master is. If Mom does the feeding, the dog will be Mom's dog.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Have only read the first page. There is no single ideal dog breed, if there were, ALL dogs would be that breed. (Same for chickens, cattle, horse and any other type of animal.) Read up on a large number of breeds, and start making a list of specific things you like or would prefer to avoid. While characteristics do vary from one dog to another within a breed, and behavior characteristic of a breed is not an absolute, it DOES give you some insight into what you are looking for, and also looking to avoid. It is interesting that you stated you wanted a medium or smaller dog, but within a few posts you have a number of suggestions for breeds that are what most would consider a large dog.

Check out the breeds of dogs any of your friends have, and whether you think they are good or poor choices. Good luck!

 

[justbugged]

I grew up in a family that the dog was required to stay outside. We were living in a single wide mobile home with 7 people in it. There wasn't a lot of room for anyone. As adult I regret that I followed the example that I had been given with the first few dogs we had. I wish they had been allowed to be a bigger part of our lives inside the house. Dogs are social, and if they don't have a pack of other dogs, then their pack is the humans that feed it. A number of members have pointed this out. Also short haired dogs are not overtly suited to living outdoors. At this point in my life I have no regrets that my dogs live inside with me. If I couldn't allow the dog inside, I would not have the dog.

As for breeds Do your research. Even if you get a mixed pound puppy, you will at least have a clue about it temperament. Learning about what a dog was bred for is essential to knowing if you can live with some of their quirks.

On the other hand, i think every boy needs a dog like Puppy.

Puppy doesn't know that he is a bit larger than most Yorkies.

Puppy a Komondor. I must say this is not a breed for a beginner owner. He will talk back at me and will do things just because he can. Also once you have a Komondor your house will never be quite as clean as it was. But after having one bout of bowling for chickens as a puppy, he has never been mean with a chicken. He is a indoor dog, because we are stuck living in suburbia.

Puppy does have his moments when the Yorkies drive him crazy. But I am grateful on the days when they all get along.