Which Dog is Perfect for a Private House

In this article, we will discuss what kind of dog to get for a private home. It is absolutely certain that pocket dogs such as Yorkshire terriers or Chihuahuas are not suitable for outdoor keeping, as are large-sized dogs with a thin, smooth coat or none at all (such as the Chinese Crested). With home content, everything is not so critical.

Therefore, a dog for a private house should, firstly, not be too small in size, and secondly, it is better to choose a pet with a thick coat and undercoat if he has to live outside, even with a warm enclosure. But the purpose of the animal is also important. Since some owners need a guard dog and a watchman, while others need to get a companion animal.

Street guard dogs of private houses

Guard dogs for a private house are animals that announce the arrival of a stranger with a loud and menacing bark of their owner. If necessary, these dogs can even detain the ill-wisher for a long time if he tries to enter the owner’s home. Watchdogs are large pets, very strong physically, determined and fearless. They have distrust in their blood and even aggression towards strangers. Among the popular watchmen are the following breeds:

• Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Representatives of this breed are creatures with a dominant disposition, and therefore it is better to start them for owners with tremendous willpower and a rather tough character. For training Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, it is better to involve experienced dog handlers. A well-bred Caucasian treats all members of his family and other animals in the house adequately and calmly. But the uninvited guest can get it: if such a dog feels aggression from him, then he can attack. Caucasian Shepherd Dogs are pets with good health, they perfectly tolerate the cold, but in the heat, they feel unwell, do not require frequent grooming. Their average life span is 10-12 years;
• Moscow Watchdog. These large dogs are good-natured to all family members, loyal to regular guests at home, but wary of strangers. Loyal and fearless Moscow watchdogs, sensing that the owner is in danger, will fight to the last. Such pets give a voice only in case of justified need. Caring for Muscovites is not difficult, but it is impossible without it, otherwise, the dog will look untidy (combing at least 3 times a week and bathing at least 4-5 times a year are required). This breed is excellent for outdoor keeping;
• Canary dog. Large guard breed of dogs that protects the owner’s house from strangers. The Great Dane can be kept in an outdoor enclosure with a heated booth, but not chained. The animal should be able to explore the local area. Dogs of this breed are adequate to the children of their owner, but they can not be called nannies. Therefore, it is best to have these animals for families with grown children, but not babies;
• Central Asia Shepherd Dog (Alabai). Alabai are strong and courageous defenders of the lives of their owners. Thanks to their excellent health and a thick, hard coat, they are often turned on by residents of private houses. These dogs are easy to care for (not during molting, they need to be combed out no more than 1 time a week, bathing – a couple of times a year). Central Asian Shepherd Dogs, as a rule, love to play with children, but inadvertently can harm the baby, for example, knocking him down. This must be taken into account by the owner. Alabai requires training from an early age, and under the guidance of either an experienced and strict owner or a dog handler. Even educated Alabaevs often have clashed with other animals, so it will be better if there are no other dogs or cats in the family.

We have listed only four-guard dog breeds, although there are actually more of them. So, to guard a private house on the street, you can pay attention to these breeds, whose distinctive qualities are fearlessness and the ability to decide in a second what to do with an uninvited guest:

• Chow Chow
• Tibetan mastiff;
• Dogue de Bordeaux;
• Bullmastiff;
• American Akita.

Guard dogs for living in the house

The owner of a private household has a choice: to settle the dog directly in the dwelling itself or to equip an aviary and a warm booth on the street. We have already mentioned animals for outdoor keeping, but now we will consider which breeds are good for guarding a private house with living indoors during the cold season:

• Neapolitan Mastiff (or Neapolitano Mastino). This is a powerful and fearless breed, but with a character that is subservient to the owner. Mastino can show real malice only as a last resort. At normal times, this is a rather phlegmatic and even clumsy dog, which does not require excessive physical exertion. The Neapolitan Mastiff does not tolerate extreme cold, so in winter it must live at home. Dogs of this breed love children, but can be jealous, so the owner should always give them his attention;
• Dogo Argentino. A snow-white breed of dogs, the distinctive qualities of which are a strong dominant character, passion (Argentinean Great Danes are excellent hunters), good health, and the ability to always fight with an opponent who threatens the owner’s life. Dogo Argentino – dogs that should be got physically and mentally strong owners. Often, representatives of the breed do not like other animals and can behave cocky. But with the right upbringing, Argentines are quiet and non-intrusive creatures that behave quietly towards family members and animals. They do not tolerate cold weather, therefore, they should be kept in frost only in a warm room;
• Great Dane. A giant breed of dogs, its representatives should live in a large city or country houses, as they freeze in the cool season on the street due to short hair. Great Dane scares away ill-wishers from the owner’s housing not so much with their open aggression as with their huge dimensions. Sensing the approach of a stranger, the German would rather bark deafeningly than attack him. Usually, Great Danes have excellent relationships with all family members, in most cases, dogs of this breed do not have a tendency to dominate. True, a potential owner should know that the age of Great Danes is short – about 6-8 years;
• Doberman. These dogs are natural guardians, although some attribute to them fighting qualities and excessive aggression. Well-bred from an early age, the Doberman is a balanced animal, reciprocating with the owner’s kindness and affection. However, the Doberman is distrustful and wary of strangers. Doberman is easy to care for, suitable for a private home. At the same time, in the summer it can be kept in the yard, but it is better to take it into the house for the winter (an alternative is the construction of a warm dry aviary, but home maintenance is preferable). Doberman dogs can be hostile to other dogs, so it will be better if there are no other animals in the yard and in the house.

Other dogs that can guard the owner’s house and live in it in the cold include the following breeds:

• Cane Corso;
• Giant Schnauzer;
• Boerboel;
• German boxer;
• Shar-Pei.

Companion dogs for families with children

Of course, not all owners want to have a guard dog in a private house or in the yard. Whatever one may say, such animals are not suitable for everyone. In particular, for families with small children, it is better to give preference to a companion dog:

• Sheltie. This kind little dog for a private house is almost an ideal pet. The best qualities of the Sheltie are friendliness, harmony with children and adults, good learning ability, affectionateness, playfulness, desire to please the owner. Sheltie – voiced and mobile dogs, absolutely not aggressive, but able to create a lot of noise if a stranger appears in the house. Sheltie can be kept both in the house and in a warm outdoor aviary;
• Boston Terrier. Another medium-sized breed of dogs that must be kept only in the house, but can be released even in cold weather for a walk in the yard, wearing warm overalls. The Boston Terrier is a dog for a private home with children, friends, and getting along with other pets, in a good curious way. One of the positive qualities of the Boston Terrier is the ability to behave well, even with or without owners. These dogs do not spoil or spoil things in the house;
• Labrador retriever. We can say with a high degree of confidence that this is the best dog for a private home and a family with children. A large Labrador with thick hair can be kept outdoors, it tolerates frost well but needs constant communication with people. And if possible, it is better to keep him in the house. Kindness to people (both friends and strangers), love for all master’s undertakings (traveling by car, swimming in a pond or out-of-town walks), dedication, and playfulness are the best qualities of retrievers;
• Samoyed dog (Samoyed). Thanks to their thick long coat and luxurious undercoat, Samoyeds can be kept in the yard even in the most severe frosts, because where this breed was bred (in northern Russia), the temperature sometimes drops below minus 40-50 degrees in the winter months. And the Samoyeds do not care! The Samoyed is an excellent dog for a private home with children: active, cheerful, absolutely not spiteful. In addition, the representatives of the breed have excellent health and a fairly long life span (up to 15-16 years).

We list other dog breeds for a private house in which children live:

Small dog for a family with children: Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, French Bulldog, Beagle.

Large dog for families with children: Golden retriever, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Collie, Bernese Mountain Dog.