Guard dogs?

[Mousey]

Alot of different breeds were used to guard everything from a german shepard,pitbull,akita,doberman,etc.
It depends on what kind of personality you wish to have. My dog is a service dog for my anxiety so I decided to train him to protect by command as well. He is great with friends,children and family if I give an ok they're my friend" command. And for friends and family some times you have to introduce the dog in the very beggining. Also if the dog meets a total stranger there is no guarntee that they will not attack if the dog isn't conditioned every day and on tight listening terms. Hope that helps

[Nikko]

You know what I find kinda funny...Phoenix is cross between Doberman and German Sheppard, two of the best breeds for guard dogs, but she is the biggest wuss and such a big suck, lol. I guess it all depends on how they were raised.

[Sharni]

I have Bullmastiff x Rott....he's obedience trained but never been guard trained...he's just naturally protective of his yard and family. I would not live where i am without him here. He lives outside...but does get to spend time inside with us...when we go to bed...he goes out to do what he does best *L*

He is a BIG boy and the look of his prevents most from testing if he bites...and quote frankly i'm not sure if he would or not (leaning towards the...he would side)

Depending on his reaction, some people he will permit and other he just cant stand, as to wether he gets to interact with people that visit or if he gets chained or locked away until they have left. He doesnt like most strangers...never has and i doubt he will change now.

[Jodi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kendalle i kinda dont think its fair to have a guard dog in an invisible fence, what if a little kid is playing and kicks a ball or something into your yard and goes to get it and doesnt realise there is a dog in there that is trained to guard. even if the dog doesnt bite it could scare the kid and put a fear of dogs in their mind for the rest of their life. at least a fence gives alittle warning plus it adds to security as well

I have to disagree with you. When you have a guard dog, you need to have signs up "Beware of Dog" "Guard Dog on Duty" etc. In fact, in NC, it's required whether you have a fence or not. And if someone is going to break into your house, a fence isn't going to keep them out... a dog is.

For our situation, we have almost 10 acres and a fence is not feasible. Not to mention, I wouldn't want a fence around our yard and property.

[Leo]

I really think any dog you get will work as protection.... I have 2 medium size Mixed-breeds that would protect me and the house from criminals, I also have a Pomeranian as back-up (for those afraid of little dogs). I guess my point is that you really don't have to look at a particular breed, for protection... you could go to the shelter and get a mixed breed that would protect you, just as good as a GSD, Dobie or Rott ..... Most dogs will protect their owners if the situation came around.

As for people breaking in.... statistically more break-ins happen during the day when no-one is home then at night when people are home (it is easier to steal if no one is around). I would rather someone broke in my house and stole my stuff, then broke in my house and hurt my dog that was trying to defend it... stuff, is just that stuff and can be replaced, but I could never replace my dogs, which is why we kennel them when we are gone. My dogs still bark, if someone comes to the door or a squirrel farts outside, so no one knows they are kenneled, just them barking I think deters people from stealing from us..

[Kendalle]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jodi I have to disagree with you. When you have a guard dog, you need to have signs up "Beware of Dog" "Guard Dog on Duty" etc. In fact, in NC, it's required whether you have a fence or not. And if someone is going to break into your house, a fence isn't going to keep them out... a dog is. For our situation, we have almost 10 acres and a fence is not feasible. Not to mention, I wouldn't want a fence around our yard and property.

I wasnt saying just a fence, and no guard dog. i was saying that it wouldn't be fair if someone just happened to go threw your yard (not that they should be but it is possible) and get attacked because they didnt know that a dog was even there or whatever... plus with a fence mr. burgler is trapped in with the dog...

[Ambieruns10]

Although there are breeds know for guarding, you don't necessarily have to get a pure bred. Katie is a mix but is very protective and great at letting me know if there is someone or something around that she isn't familiar with. Bruce, my pug, is the same way though. While he may not do a lot of damage, he will protect me as much as he can if needed. Im sure that Hope will be the same way.

Dogs, in my opinion, want to protect the person they love or the person that cares for them, no matter what breed they may be. While some may not bark or seem vicious around strangers, you might be suprised what they might do if they know you are in any real danger.

[Mel]

I don't think black dogs ACT scary - just LOOK that way to people trying to rob you!

[HappyDancer]

my 2 dogs are guard dogs...they weren't bought for that reason but they do a great job at keeping us safe Pup is so cute, hes really protective of Ash and me so he will put himself between us and strangers without missing a step...he barks at all the people at the door and when a man tried to break in he was all over it...he saved my life from another dog that wondered into our yard and attacked me...he is my superman...Lady is all about protecting the house and the yard...when we let her out to potty she first has to do a peremiter check then she runs back to me (ken says shes telling me its safe to go outside lol) and then she will do her business and then we play...if anyone comes to close to the fence she lets us know...they are part of the family, well loved and my babies and they protect us from anything they can

[Jennicat]

Also just wanted to add, please ask your friend to get a professional trainer's help on this, and not just get two big protective dogs and then encourage them to "guard". That scenario is one that is set up to end with a bite wound to an unsuspecting person, since your average dog owner doesn't have experience training these types of behaviors.

Usually, the owner will praise the dog for barking at someone who shouldn't be there, or challenging them at the gate, etc. Repeated enforcement of this trains the dog that being aggressive towards strangers is a positive thing, and it makes his owner happy. Next thing you know, some kid wanders onto the owner's property, and the dog is faced with a decision... and ends up attacking the child, and next thing you know, "killer evil rotties are slaughering children" is the headline in the newspaper.

[christine]

Yes properly train them with a professional trainer. That is how we did Maggie

[Riddick]

I own two guardian breeds, a German Shepherd, and a Beauceron. Both are excellent dogs, they have never been trained to protect, but are now the guardians of our house. It comes with age. Good guardian breeds that are also great family pets are, of course on the top of my list are German Shepherds and Beaucerons, Doberman, Rottweiler, and Belgain Malinois.

If you want to get your dog proffesionally trained, make sure you research what kind of guard/protection you want (there are several different kinds) and also when the dog is a pup SOCIALIZATION and obedience training are absolutely necessary!!! Both my dogs are CGC certified which makes them excellent at recall, doing what they are told. Without it, all you have is a aggressive, uncontrollable dog that can get you into trouble...here are my boys!!

[wellahart]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mel My uncle had the BEST guard dog. He was Great Pyr. He somehow just KNEW if you were good or bad, and the bad ones did not come in. He wouldn't let my cousins husband come in the house at all, and later we found out he was criminal. And he wouldn't let a group of maids in...later we found out they had stolen from my family. He just knew.

That's funny because my boyfriend has a Great Pyr. and all he ever did was lay there, lift his head and bark. My boyfriend said Bear did that from the time he was a pup....But they can be trained to do more since that is what they are bred for.

Don't get a golden! LOL Shadow is friends with everyone.
German Shepards are really good though. my dad's friend had one and she almost died protecting the family from a black bear that wandered into the yard.

[candyraver]

Thank you for all the great feedback everyone!
I'll definately look into a professional trainer =]

& Lyssa,your dogs are gorgeous !

[mulder]

my opinion on "guard dogs" is this. all dogs are loyal, all dogs WILL protect you, the smaller ones are just ineffective. any big breed dog will protect you. even when they don't seem it, you can't judge when it hasn't been tested. my lazy sweetie choc lab almost tore up my dad's mechanics arm when he started tickling me and she didn't understand.