Dogs for defence

[Jonathan]

Hop this is the right spot it was as close as I could find I know a dog can be a good piece for home defense but the question i have is this would you pick one just as a warning system to let you know when someone is around your house or would you want one with the size and willingness to go after someone trying to come in on your place i could see good and bad on both sides so I wanted to see what some more experienced people would say

 

[jontte]

my old one was a mix between german shepard and spanish mastif,he had the size and willingness to defend the territory,then he got unfortunately sick and now my oldest son got himself that South American breed dogo-argentino,not yet the size,but shows clear signs of protecting it's territory and the pack
it comes down to what your need is and are you willing to put down the effort in training your new friend,but a larger well trained dog is a fantastic companion and safety aswell.

 

[Brent S]

The problem with a large aggressive dog is there are too many lawyers in the world. I love dogs, and like the early warning, but don't want to deal with a lawsuit over a bight. If we ever have a shtf situation, the rules would change.for now I'm stuck with this protector inside the house . Luckily I have two real dogs outside. They are ok when I'm around, but think they would be more protective at night.

 

[jontte]

yeah,that's the problem of today;vermin called lawyers

 

[Jonathan]

That the thing I was thinking but then again the way the laws around here are if someone tries to come in on you you have the right to defend your self and your family and I was thinking a good guard dog could stop someone at the door or window if it is a house dog

 

[Maverick]

I like rotties and dobies the dobie inside and the rotties outside, dobies don't handle the cold thus staying inside in the winters, my dogs don't growl they just show teeth, if they do growl it's already too late. during the day they are playful unless they feel them or family is threaten, the night is a 180 they rule.

 

[Jonathan]

Does the rottie stay outside all the time I always heard that Dobermans are bad to turn on you have you seen any of that

 

[Arcticdude]

I have a 90lb English Lab. He's extremely protective of my wife. If I'm not around he won't allow a man to come near her. He isn't that protective of me, guess he figures I can take care of myself. He's never came close to biting yet but I'm sure he would do whatever he needs to if we were in any real danger.

 

[Brent S]

You never know what an animal is capable of when they feel threatened. My favorite was a news story about a year ago. A dog started to attack a little kid and the family cat whooped but on it. You wouldn't think a cat would be protective. Who knows, maybe there's hope for my little pansy pit!

 

[Jonathan]

The little ones can have the most fight in them no doubt but is it worth it to have one that has fight in them but with the size and strength to actually take a man down I could see some good points to it but a few problems with it two

 

[Maverick]

Does the rottie stay outside all the time I always heard that Dobermans are bad to turn on you have you seen any of that

Never had a dobie turn, they are about as a one family dog as one can get, they bond very tight with the family. The rotties have dog doors going into the barn and shop including the mud room in the house so they always have access to the warmth, they generally stay in the barn among the horses, they like the hay, the barn stays between 59-65 in the winter.

 

[Jonathan]

Would you think the Doberman or the rottie would be the kind to go after someone who did not belong on your place have you put them through protection training

 

[Maverick]

Dobie's are faster, smarter, higher jumpers and more determined than a rottie, the rottie has brute strength, weight and like the dobie will fight to the death, the rottie handles the cold better and work as a team to keep dangerous animals and predators away from live stock, like the dobie it's always better to have more than one since they work as a team. German Shepard's are also excellent dogs though I chose the rotties for outside over the shepards for it's weight and the rotties seem to handle the cold a little better plus the shepards hair tends to collect more snow.

 

[Jonathan]

Have you put them through protection training or do you just let their instinct to protect handle it

 

[Maverick]

only the dobie

 

[Jonathan]

Would you think the dobie would be quick to attack

 

[Maverick]

Not always, depends how it was trained and/or how good it's instincts mature within your family unit, you don't want a dog that's going to snap attack, our dogs pretty much draw the line in other words they get between the perp and the house or one of us and show the teeth in a since stop and turn and walk away if the perp advances or shows sign they are going to advance they will attack, the dolbie is ultra protective of children and the Wife, the dolbie will not allow any stranger near her and I mean no one if I'm not around, that's instinct.

 

[Jonathan]

So did you let you kids and wife play with the dogs to let them get close to them and where they ever a problem with the kids maybe playing to hard

Also the one I am kind of looking at for a guard dog is one called a old white English does anyone know about them

 

[Maverick]

Yes, the family played/plays with them, they still are family pets just that they pull double duty, the dogs must grow with the family and be part of it, animals learn by socializing, without socializing then one devoid's the animal of instinct and trust.

 

[Brent S]

One thing to keep in mind Jonathan, don't get too caught up in the breed. Yes some have a natural tendency to have certain traitors over others, but they are individuals. Each can have its own 'personality'. I've had several dogs in my lifetime. Some pure breads and some mutts. I think the way you raise and handle them makes more of a difference than the breed. As Maverick said, they are social animals and they are a sponge absorbing how to fit into your world. With some training you can make almost any dog a good watch dog and protector. Rite now I have three mutts rescued from the pound. One a large mostly pit, a large mostly collie, and a small pit that thinks it's my child and sleeps in bed with me. The collie is true to its nature and is a really friendly dog that loves people and attention. The large pit is a lot more reserved with people, but loves the family. It is smart to get an animal that's got a natural inclination to do the job you want, as it will be easier to train them. Just remember though, a good trainer can get any dog to understand what you want it to do.