Cross Breeds

What breeds do you consider good outside dogs then?

I just saw a question about someone getting a doberman puppy and wanting it to be an outdoor dog.....Many people said that, that breed is not a good outdoor dog, that it shoud lt should be indoors. Just wondering but what breeds then, are considered 'good outdoor dogs?' I know a lot of people think dogs should be kept indoors 24/7 or supervised while outside, but some breeds/dogs enjoy being outdoors more than others.

Public Comments

1. All dogs enjoy going outside for a limited time. The answers were probably about a dog that lives outside 24/7. Any dog with short hair would have a hard time with the cold or heat. Also a dog with a short nose has a harder time in the heat.
2. golden retriever's or beagles
3. a doberman is a good outside breed of dog. Any big dog can be outside as long as you have a fenced in yard & its not outside all the time. I know some people like to preach that your dog should be inside 24/7 but thats not realistic. My dogs perfer to be in the backyard as opposed to being inside
4. dobermans enjoy the outside but no dog should be outside 24/7. if you are talking about dogs that enjoy the outdoors Border Collies Terriers Spaniels gun dogs ( labradors, spaniels) More good outdoor dogs http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-life-outdoors/page1.aspx
5. A dog that is doing a job (guarding, supervising/herding livestock) can be kept outdoors. A dog that has companionship and lots of opportunities for exercise can be kept outdoors (kennel of hunting dogs). No dog of any breed should be stuck in a backyard, with nothing to do, and minimal companionship. Ever.
6. Dogs want to be a part of your family and don't want to be outside all the time.
7. Dogs never should be inside 24/7. These dogs don't have to be supervised outside such as Labrador Retrievers , Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepards, Collies, and Great danes. there are many more to add on to that
8. This kind: http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=ACD-DOG-04
9. Collies and Huskies. They do not die of heartbreak each time you put them in the back yard and enjoy running and socializing with other dogs.
10. Do you mean a dog that is good outdoors 24/7? or a dog that like to be outdoors a lot? Outdoors 24/7 - none, dogs are pack animals and need to be with their pack. Outdoors a lot - any, depending on the breed, dogs like to be out doors, breeds like Pugs like playing outdoors but can't do a lot because of their 'squashed' up faces, they find it hard to breath. But dogs like a Border Collie and a Lab are great outdoor dogs and could be outside all day if they were aloud to.
11. Most medium to large size dogs can be outside dogs. This fallacy about all dogs living in the house can only be found in the USA. In Europe as well as the rest of the world dogs spend their entire lives outdoors or in kennels...no problems with any of them. As long as the dog has food, water and shelter, it will be fine. Hope I helped. ADD: Love it...when I go to Europe to get dogs I have to REALLY look and ask for a dog that was raised as an inside dog. Last winter while driving in the NW part of the country, in the show and bitter cold I noticed a herd of cows outside in a field...I also noticed something else that was not a cow, something big and white...a dog that lives with the herd 24/7/365 and protects the cows from predators. Is that not a dog, is that dog somehow different then the rest of the dogs that live in the house, fundamentally speaking?
12. A lot of dogs that grow up outside enjoy being outside more than inside. We had an outdoor dog that was a pit/golden retriever mix. We also had dogs that stayed outside all day but came in at night and they were miniature schnauzers and they loved to be outside.
13. most dogs shouldn't be strictly outside dogs- they don't get the attention they require, nor the training that makes them good pets. if someone were to be able to provide a dog the climate, attention, and training it needs, then there is no problem with an outside dog. however, this RARELY happens. the dog left outside usually lacks for SOMETHING, so it is not worth leaving it out. dogs that PREFER to be outdoors a lot are usually large, long or medium haired herding types- like Border Collies, GSD, Collies. this means that their owner should spend a lot of time outdoors though, not just the dog by himself.
14. Australian shephard, German shephard, I have cocker spaniels outside 24/7. But i made room in the garage for when it is cold.
15. I would absolutely agree that Dobermanns are not best suited to being kept outside in a kennel, as they thrive when they are with the human members of their pack. Not known as the velcro breed for no reason! Dogs can & do live outside, but it does depend on the breed, the suitability of the kennelling & how much interaction the dog has with its human pack. If the dog is left outside & largely forgotten, then the owner should not have a dog. If the dog comes inside during the day/works with its owner, then it is fine to kennel the dog outside.
16. The only dogs I have seen kept outdoors in a kennel were my grandfather's hunting dogs. (fox hounds, coon hounds, etc) The kennel was built off of a shed like structure, were each dog could go inside of his own separate house that was lined with hay & a wool blanket. The dogs were only brought into the house when they were kept in the heated basement during snowstorms. But they were working dogs, not pet dogs.
17. They should have the freedom to choose for themselves, like with a dog door. Dogs are pack animals and should be with their families in order to be socialized correctly and not become the neighborhood nuisance by barking nonstop trying to locate his people. I do NOT advocate outdoor only but many dogs do enjoy the great outdoors as part of their daily routine. But at all times while outdoors fresh water should be made available, especially in the summer, and a covered area to get out of the sun is also needed. If you have alot of trees to provide shade, that's even better. And you can't overlook the importance of water in the winter either as many fresh water sources will freeze quicker than the dog can drink them. Labradors are good outdoor dogs as they enjoy swimming, digging, running, etc. If you provide a kiddie pool for wading they'll have a blast but you'll also get alot of mud in the house. My neighbor has four border collies that live outdoors almost all the time (they let them in when its freezing cold or raining), and the dogs look like crap. I'm not saying that this breed doesn't enjoy outside because they are a herding breed, but leaving them out in the elements has their coats falling out, they bark at everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) and they drive me nuts. They are not socialized to anyone but the family. Flies are always around and biting their ears. Their old dog they had that they used to keep outside ALL the time, they never let that poor dog in, had nubs for ears because the flies ate at him so much. They finally put some repellant on him but he was not housetrained and they wouldn't even try. Not what I call a good owner. But I would suggest letting ANY dog in at least part of the day to allow for proper socialization and feeding (to keep vermin out of the dogs food). Unless you want an unhousebroken, unsociable brute of an animal.
18. I dont think any dog belongs outside 24/7.. with the exception of some working breeds (ex livestock guardian that is housed with the livestock).. dogs are pack animals and should be with their pack (in the case of the livestock guardian, the flock/herd is their pack). ALL pet dogs can be outside some while SUPERVISED. Some breeds thrive well to be outside most of the time.. as long as the person is outside with the dog. My hairless dog even enjoys outdoor time during fair weather. The thing you have to consider is the terrain and temperatures you have. If you live in a desert climate.. a husky would probably be a poor choice.. if you live in a colder climate, a doberman probably wouldnt enjoy being outside very much. You shouldnt get a dog that enjoys being outside tho unless you are an outside person yourself. Whats the point of having a dog if you're just going to toss it outside and ignore it??
19. It is not the breed that counts, it is the purpose in getting the dog. If you need a working dog to herd the sheep or cattle, or a hunting dog, or even a guard dog, as long as the dog is trained, cared for and brought in when the weather is bad there is nothing wrong with that. To purchase a puppy as a companion animal and leave it outside all the time is just wasteful and useless. Why bother getting the dog at all? You just end up with a dog who has so many behavior issues from being bored and unsocialized that it just isn't worth it.
20. Remember that dogs are social animals and want to be with their pack leader. You, the human owner, are the pack leader and should recognize that your dog does want to spend time with you! Yes, some dogs do enjoy being outdoors more than others, just make sure that your dog has plenty of water, shade and protection from the weather all year.