Soon, I'll be looking to get an (outside) puppy dog to:
 
1) Be a decent watch dog (medium sized)
2) A dog that's really good with little children
3) Fairly easy to train and not too much maintenance
 
What are some of the good, but inexpensive breeds?

 Those are all great attributes. Some dogs are more hyper than others.

  Some breeds bark and bark and bark all night long and all day,especially outside dogs who might see a rabbit or a frog and then its barking till' the dogs come home. Imagine that aunt who never stops talking, then imagine she's a dog....you get the picture...

 If I were looking I would get a more laid back animal. Not dead but close. 

Starise



If I were looking I would get a more laid back animal. Not dead but close. 

LOL!!
 
That certainly defeats the first option
 
1) Be a decent watch dog
 
 

Mesh

Starise



If I were looking I would get a more laid back animal. Not dead but close. 

LOL!!
 
That certainly defeats the first option
 
1) Be a decent watch dog
 
 

What do you mean?  A lazy dog won't chase, he'll just watch (which is apparently what you want). 

Best yard dogs are Mutt's. You really don't want a "breed" you want a good mix. Every breed is weak because they have been selected to "look" a certain way. Shepard's now have terrible back leg issues etc. 
Jack Russel's  are an exception ,  a Mutt breed, no 2 look alike. But not good yard dogs ( I have one) There more like a cat on drugs. 

We've had a few long lived yard mutt's that fit your description and they had things like Shepard, Lab, blue Healer, Border collie mixed in. 

Right now we have my son in laws Giant Alaskan Malamute, Stupidest dog on the planet, Barks all night and to smelly to let inside to shut him up. But he protects the Jack Russel from being eaten by the Coyotes. as long as he shut's up when I'm tracking with a mike.  


When picking an older dog, look them in the eye! You will get a feeling about them... Don't do this with Puppies.... you'll take them all home. 

Beagles are intelligent dogs, if I say so myself and they train easily.  they will bay and howl at animals in the yard and the neighbors' yards, etc, tho.

labs are quite intelligent too and are very loyal and great with kids.

of course you realize these are generalizations and ALL animals have their own individual personalities which could be extreme one way or the other against the generalities.

Beagle


Beagles are intelligent dogs, if I say so myself and they train easily.  

Yeah, right.
"Staaaay away from the becan.  Staaaaay away from the becan."
 
"BAD DOGGIE!!!!"

Cactus Music


Best yard dogs are Mutt's. You really don't want a "breed" you want a good mix. Every breed is weak because they have been selected to "look" a certain way. Shepard's now have terrible back leg issues etc. 
Jack Russel's  are an exception ,  a Mutt breed, no 2 look alike. But not good yard dogs ( I have one) There more like a cat on drugs. 

We've had a few long lived yard mutt's that fit your description and they had things like Shepard, Lab, blue Healer, Border collie mixed in. 

Right now we have my son in laws Giant Alaskan Malamute, Stupidest dog on the planet, Barks all night and to smelly to let inside to shut him up. But he protects the Jack Russel from being eaten by the Coyotes. as long as he shut's up when I'm tracking with a mike.  


When picking an older dog, look them in the eye! You will get a feeling about them... Don't do this with Puppies.... you'll take them all home. 

Thanks Cactus and Beagle.
 
I've always thought lab would be a good dog to have.....just wanted to see what else might fit.....