Dogs living outdoors with comfort. How?

Hello!

We were thinking in getting a dog here for our property, we need it for security basically with boars, not humans, and I have some converns of they sleeping outdoors.

First, let me state than on this property there were always dogs around. My grandpartents and uncles always had some: mastiffs , german sheperds, doberman, teckel, dogs without known race... lots.

So, why am I asking anything? Because on that time, I think nobody ever thought about dog comfort. The dogs just were there, helped with some tasks or were around, and slept wherever they could. They had two "dog houses" and not any dog liked those ever! They just slept where they found. But now I read here and there blogs saying about dogs social life and whatsoever, and that being outdoors is horrible etc etc.

I am not into that debate, if I have boars by night, I need the dogs outdoors, that is for sure. But thinking about this, I thought that maybe here in permies you have some suggestions about setting a place for them to sleep, or dog houses models, or any idea... or maybe what my family did was the right thing to do, just let the dogs to be around

We always had a dog house for our dogs.

Our first German Shepherd had a house made out of two doors.

During the winter we had hay for a bed.  As far as I remember he slept in the dog house.  In the winter we used a light to heat it.

When we raised German Shepherds, we had pens inside a barn. Though they were usually free to roam the yard.  I don't remember if they sleep inside the barn or outside or just anywhere they wanted.  

I think people that have dogs are obliged to give them four things.  Comfortable shelter, clean water at all times, good food, and companionship.  I don't know a lot about your climate with regards to temperature, but a place to stay dry is a must for any dog's health and comfort.  If it's cold, they need a suitable house that they can use or not use, whichever they choose.

I have dogs, and my LGD usually sleeps outside unless it's really bitterly cold.  She gets too warm in the house, but I let her sleep inside if she likes.  The other dogs don't have her heavy fur, so they stay inside in the winter all night, and some days.  In the summer, they usually want to sleep outside, but I still let them come in if they want to.

I know people that use dogs to hunt boars, and they always use multiple dogs, and even then, they have dogs get killed by boars.  If you have a problem with boars, I would say you need several big strong dogs.

The biggest ethical question for me as a dog trainer is that you select a breed that was MADE for this sort of lifestyle.   Independent minded guarding breeds are one example.   If you get a dog (like my breed, German Shepherds) that are bred to work and be in close contact with their people for prolonged hours,  that's not a type of dog I would like to see kept outside and I think that will be unfulfilled needs for that dog.   And make sure the breed is compatible with your climate ranges.   Even some seemingly similar breeds have a big variation in their social and group needs,  like huskies vs. malamutes.  

If my own pigs are any indication they'll have 0 fear of a dog. Also, be prepared for barking. We have a great pyr/anatolian that we have to force inside the house at night otherwise he barks so much we can't sleep. I'm sure he'd bark the pigs away out of their sheer desire for silence. So, noise is a consideration.

I have a dog that sleeps outside as well. We built a house for him, which he ignores. He prefers to dig a hole and sleep in it...
But it's important to provide a place where he can get out of weather when he wants to.
We do get bitterly cold every so often and so we built a "platform" for him to lie on. My dog is half shepherd and he won't sleep in the house because he wants to watch everything: the platform is in his favorite spot to lay and it's about 10cm off the (paved) ground- it makes it much less cold, and I put blankets there for him (some people also use straw).

Heather Staas wrote:The biggest ethical question for me as a dog trainer is that you select a breed that was MADE for this sort of lifestyle.   Independent minded guarding breeds are one example.   If you get a dog (like my breed, German Shepherds) that are bred to work and be in close contact with their people for prolonged hours,  that's not a type of dog I would like to see kept outside and I think that will be unfulfilled needs for that dog.   And make sure the breed is compatible with your climate ranges.   Even some seemingly similar breeds have a big variation in their social and group needs,  like huskies vs. malamutes.  

Hola Heather! People here used mastiffs for this sort of iifestyle. I don't know if mastiff is really meant to this or not, but it was my option as it is what I have known. But I admit that I am no expert

We have had all of the above. We have loved all our dogs, but the more time in the house, the more they become part of the family.
Our 100% outside dogs used igloo dog houses, not only did they use them, but we still have them 30 years later.  We live in N California, so it's the heat we have to worry about. My husband used old pipe, and an old garage door to make a open air shelter built on a concrete pad, so they could stay dry, and always have shade.
I think if your dogs are a working part of your house it ok.  Not all animals need to be only pets, some are happier having a job. I think (totally not an expert). Observation is the key. We can't ask our animals what they need, or how they feel, if only. So we have to observe.  You can tell if a dog is happy usually. I'm not saying this very well, but basically the dogs will let us know what they need, if we pay attention.  A hungry dog constantly scrounges, a cold dog is huddled up in a tight ball, a board or anxious dog is constantly pacing, you know what I'm saying.  Dogs are pack animals, so if the family isn't there pack there should be more than one. Other than that I would provide the basics, and go from there.  
I feel the fact that you posted this shows you are a good and caring dog owner, and will do well. Good luck

One night in northern MInnesota it was supposed to hit 50 below F.   My wife let our wolf/ husky mix into the cabin.   In 10 minutes he was miserable and at the door. I opened it, and he ran outside and buried himself under a snowdrift.  He was fine in the morning.

If the dog is large enough to be a guard dog most of the time it will find it's own comfortable bed or shelter.  I am guessing your property has a variety of buildings and things where the dogs will make their favorite resting place.  If you want to make a dog house they may or may not use it but it will be there when they need it.  The dogs might chose the dog house or they might choose the porch or a barn or a shed.  If the weather is cold you can scatter some hay or an old blanket or a fancy dog bed pillow, but the dog will decide if and when it wants to use those comforts.

Dogs get winter coats for the cold weather.  A large dog, if protected from the rain and wind, will be fine most of the time.  Yours will be working dogs and their job will be working at night to keep the boars and other predators away.  If they are working and playing at night they will be sleeping during the day and a dry sunny spot even on a cold day may be their favorite place to sleep.

When I was a kid in Michigan in the winter our dogs, German Shorthair Pointers, would find a dry spot on the driveway and sleep in the sun.  After a nap they would run around and play in the deep snow and then head to the driveway for another nap.  They had their dog house, built into the side of the garage, where they slept at night and the two dogs would keep it plenty warm inside even on the coldest nights.  A piece of canvas hanging over the door opening would let them in or out when they pleased but would keep the wind out.  Occasionally during a very cold storm we would bring them inside for the evening while the family was watching TV but by 8:00pm the dogs would get up and want to go outside to spend the night in their dog house, they never wanted to spend the night in the house.

Moral of the story, make sure they have some sort of shelter when needed but let them live free and they will get by without a problem.

John’s post reminds me of the outstanding German documentary, Happy People: A Year in the Taiga. This film by Werner Herzog opened my eyes about humans and dogs helping each other survive and thrive in the cold.
My shepherd sleeps indoors because I project my ideas about comfort onto her. No turning back now!
Thanks for all the helpful perspectives in this thread.

Hi Amy,

To be fair, this wasn’t our dog.   As far as I could tell, he was his dog and we were his friends he would visit several times a week.  My wife interpreted him showing up that night as him needing help.  

Well, certainly not a dog guru here so I tend to go off what practices I see from friends of neighbors. Most folks around us have between 40-500+ acres, and many Amish are around too. The folks that I see have working dogs pretty much all have some sort of shelter for them, whether a dog house or a spot out of the way in a barn or garage.

My friend, Caleb, has got a Great Pyr and a beagle and they both live outside and hang together, sleep together, etc. They are not inside dogs and from what I’ve seen only want to go inside if there are cooking smells… we are getting a purebred Great Pyr this weekend from his dad (posted about him having more in the Midwest regional board and being near Kansas City.)

So, we’ll have a weaned 2 month old puppy from working parents, to join our 3 month old Lab/Pyr mix. So far, the one puppy we have sleeps on top of our 3 week old bottle calf! The calf lies down in the foot or so of hay in the loading shed, and five minutes later the pup has a warm bed… my wife is the dog person, and she agrees that no dogs come in the house. They can go inside the garage like the two cats do, or the rabbit house or the tractor shed, but not the house.

Both these dogs will be working dogs. We only have the one beef calf for now, but chickens are coming this weekend and coyotes are a real possibility in our area, although we haven’t seen any yet. Our dogs are made for colder climates and guarding other animals. They will be fed well, have shelter from inclement weather and receive good care, meds as needed, attention from our 10 year old kids, and a job to do.

The new pup’s mom has a doghouse near my friend’s house and their poultry area but she lives outside. The dad is another story… he generally stays out with the goats and sheep and might dig a hole to lay in, but has no real interests observed other than hanging out and napping during the day among the flock, and patrolling most of the night. He’s not very social with strangers especially, unless he hears kids screaming… then it’s bad news for strangers near his family. That’s basically what I want in a dog… minds his job, protects livestock and family, and doesn’t run off.

Others may have different goals or ideals, and that’s fine. Our dogs are investments in a sense to protect our animals and family, so we want them to feel happy at doing a good job and valued as friends/family/coworkers. Just my two cents!