You're clearly not fencing over 3,000 lineal feet of backyard though.

Guesstimate on my part once you add posts, concrete, a gate, and someone to put it in. I could DIY, but I have way to many projects going already including finishing my basement.

Clearly not enough time spent out in the doghouse! :D:pSmileWavy

Ehhh.. 'its just an animal'... if you're already under that mindset then do the puppy a favor and not even bring it home. As Sammy said, they are social and pack animals not solitary. And just because a they can survive outside in a doghouse in the shade with 90 degree ambient temps doesn't make it right.

With the benefit of heat, air conditioning and a roof. I lived in Tulsa for 4 years...similar climate. Regarding the dog you mentioned with the leg issue, I don't believe anyone suggested a dog should be restrained in-doors like veal. Assuming you live in a residential area, yes, you should fence the yard for him/her and use it for exercise and bathroom (by the way...even though it's an animal, you'll have to clean up the poop daily also. Pinworms are no fun for your dog).

And one obvious omission....why not just get a dog that doesn't shed or dander as mentioned previously? That way it could live a normal, social existence as part of your family. Indoors to sleep and eat, outdoors to play and exercise. Seems rather logical, no?

If your mindset is that it's just livestock...you're wrong. Over the last thousand years or so, they've become quite domesticated. If there's another reason you can't bring an animal in the house, why not get a goat?

My wife is yet to encounter a dog that at least doesn't give her itchy, watery eyes, including some of the hypoallergenic ones. My kids seem to have inherited that from her. A dog inside is not an option.

I'm not going to argue the fact that a dog is an animal, I know that to the hardcore dog lovers they're on the same level as people. My mom is in that same department, and it's made visiting their small house a nightmare with my family. Small house, Golden Retriever, hair everywhere, allergic wife and kids, mom that thinks her dog (child) will die if it goes outside.....good times. One of the reasons why we rarely visit the house, and why I'm rather sensitive to the topic. I really like and enjoy dogs, but in my book people > animals.

But let's face facts here, neither of us is going to convince the other that we're wrong. I found my answer regarding the fence, so let's just move on.

Matt, If you put in the underground wire, it would be wise to draw it up on paper where you buried it exactly. I have had a couple breaks in mine over the years and it can be a major PITA to find the break. I have about 2000' of wire in mine and it goes under three stone driveways. Australian Shepards LOVE to chase things.... It takes about a week for our dog to figure out that there is a break in the line at which point he will start chasing cars, motorcycles, deer, taxiing airplanes etc. The dog getting himself killed would suck, but would not be the end of the world...... Having to pay for the mandatory teardown of a customer's aircraft engine and a new constant speed prop due to a prop strike could be devastating financially.

We are on our second collar, but suprisingly they hold up pretty well considering our dog takes a swim in the pond multiple times each day in the summer.

My dog hangs out with me in the hangar/workshop nearly every day and usually sleeps on a foam pad in our garage during winter and thunderstorms, but he spends most of his time outdoors. Every time I sweep my workshop, I end up which a huge pile of hair. Our house would be a muddy/hairy/smelly mess if that dog spent any time in it.

Once an outside dog, always an outside dog. They love to come inside, however. I have an 8yr old female chocolate lab., short hair, 90lbs.

She would love to have a yard, with a dogloo.

Edit: I'm not pandering my dog.

I've had a number of invisible fences.. Get it from Walmart or Cabelas or the like MUCH cheaper than the brand name ($150 vs $1500). The wire doesn't have to be burried at all FYI..
My labradoodle doesn't shed BTW,, hypoallergenic .. she sleeps on my bed so does't see alot of outdoors unless I'm playing with her or hunting

Like most others, I see no reason to buy a dog only to force it to stay outside. Its not fair to your wife to have the dog around if she is allergic and your child will quickly grow bored with the dog and not spend any time outside with it...especially during in-climate weather. I am guessing that once the weather gets bad, the only human contact that dog will get is when you take its food out a couple times a day. Not a good life and a waste of money for you.

Regarding invisible fence: I have one, and it works well. There is a lot of training involved though. You cant simply crank the voltage up and walk away, expecting the dog to train itself. Also, the idea that you can train the dog to obey boundries without any kind of fence is a gamble IMO. You can never be 100% sure that something wont come along and entice that dog to disobey its training...perhaps another dog. For me, it wasnt worth the risk

While on this subject, for those that do use invisible fences, PLEASE dont run the fence out to the front sidewalk. This is just not neighborly. People like to take walks around the neighborhood without having a barking dog charge within 3 feet of the sidewalk every time we pass with our child or pet. Keep dogs in the back yard so that your neighbors can enjoy the sidewalk. The added benefit is that you dont have dog piles in your front lawn. :D

FWIW, here is a link showing the tool I made/used to bury my 2000' of wire. It worked pretty good and even buried the wire across three stone driveways.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/339489-tool-burying-invisible-dog-fence.html

I will join the others urging you to NOT get a Golden or Lab - sure a dog is an animal, BUT they're on the same level as people in terms of their need for social contact. This is not an issue of intellectual capacity; it is an issue of emotional need -- and yes, they do suffer.

Will your wife react to a poodle or other very hypo-allergenic breed?

So your wife AND at least some of your kids are allergic... and you think it's a good idea to get a dog. :rolleyes:

I can see Tim's perspective, and with the amount of time he spends outside and in the shop, his dog probably gets a fair amount of attention. The situation you've outlined, not so much.

[QUOTE]My wife is yet to encounter a dog that at least doesn't give her itchy, watery eyes, including some of the hypoallergenic ones. My kids seem to have inherited that from her. A dog inside is not an option./QUOTE]

Then why even get a dog?

If you went to a shelter to adopt one you would be declined.

Sorry but you and your family are not good candidates.

You come off selfish and self indulgent.

Can I quote myself here? I think it's insane that I'm being insulted because I intend to keep an ANIMAL outside. Sorry guys, I know you love your dogs but it's still an ANIMAL. Not a person, not a child, an ANIMAL. I know a lot of folks with outdoor only dogs, it's why they grow long hair in the winter and shed for the summer. As for the amount of time my family would spend with it, who are you to judge?

I'm not going to be dragged into the nutty animal lover debate, I get enough of that with my mother. I got my answer, so for that I say thanks. I'm done with this thread.

Matt.
Nobody should insult you...that isnt fair to you. But with that said, you might consider the wisdom of "dog people".

What if a person logged onto the 911 forum here and stated that he wants to buy an early 911 for his only car. He then states that he has no mechanical ability, only has $5,000 to spend and has three kids and a wife. Oh, and he plans to park the car on the street all year round.

The response that he gets wouldn't be what he wanted to hear, but that doesn't change the wisdom and sincere intentions of people who have more experience in these matters. What would your opinion be when he blew off all the 'stupid 911 people' and did what he wanted?

Your mother may be a "nutty animal lover" and it is true that some people take it too far, but the fact remains that probably most of the people who are commenting here have a good balance view of pet ownership and have seen the negative outcome when people who are not empathetic to the needs of pets ignore sound reasoning and do what they want anyway.

get a cat

every one from "animal lovers," to "dog people" to professional scientists who study animal behavior is telling you the same thing

one more time - it is not about fur length or insulation -- for a few breeds, especially, it is about social isolation

There is a profound difference between a working dog an a pet.

A working dog has a job that occupies it's time and gives it purpose. It will do just fine living outside.

Your entire family is allergic.

They will not be less allergic because the dog is outside.

They will go outside to play with it, have a reaction and leave.

Your family is not a good candidate for a pet dog.

Sorry but that's a fact.

You should under no circumstances get a dog as a pet.

WTF? Having a dog in the backyard is as American as apple pie.