Dogs?

[Okiecruffler]

This may not be the right place for this, but it seems closer than anyplace else. I've always seen my dog as my first line of defense. Now I don't mean I have a vicious toddler eating brute in my house but I've always had a large, well trained dog in the house. Now unfortunately, my dog is old, she's still effective when she knows there is an issue, but she's also stone deaf. I work nights, so that leaves my wife and now the young prince at home alone at night. I don't want to wait until my Betsy passes away before I replace her. For one, I don't want there to be a year where all we have is a pup keeping an eye on things. For another thing, I've found that the young pup will take on much of the temperment of the older dog (not much different that humans in that I suppose). My question is on breed. My family raised dobies and chows, I don't care for chows, but the Dobies are high on my list. My neighbor has a very well trained and well bred rot that I'm quite fond of and I could get one from the same breeder. My wife has been researching the Fila, which I must admit to knowing very little about. My dogs are inside dogs, so I like a shorter haired dog. No offense meant to those who have them, but I've found boxers to be difficult to deal with.

So any opinions would be appreciated. And I appologize if this is in the wrong area.

 

[TAB]

its not the breed, litter, petagre...etc... the dog.

Find a dog with the right temperment is all that matters.

I've seen pits that are scared to death of anything. I've seen golden retrevers that were rabid beasts.

 

[Capitaine Nemo]

I never owned dogs but I'm looking foward to do it when I build my house. I got interested in the Rhodesian Ridgeback and Boerboel South-Africain breeds. If I was to select a puppy now, it would be a Boerboel. I'd like an all-around working dog that could do some guard and pulling work. If you're looking for a large short-haired mastiff you should get a look at the Boerboel. They're not as common as the Dobbie or the Rottweiler but they're certainly worthwhile, being bred as work dogs not too long ago in Africa. This breeder seems to have some good breeding lines.

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

Dags, Like dags????

 

[Okiecruffler]

Those Boerboels are sweet. Looks to be a serious breeder as well. I'd like to go with a high standard breeder for this dog (or dogs, we're considering a pair actually). I've usually gone with middle of the road breeders, except for my pugs, they were very well ribboned, but didn't make great watch dogs.

 

[Huckle2]

Well you ruled out mine when you mentioned "hair".
Our Shepherd is 11 y.o. now with hip issues. He is a 92 lb security system. I have never depended on him for protection, just alert me something strange is happening. He still does.
I have owned many breads from Nor. Elkhounds, St. Bernards, to Eskimo Spitz. GSD is my favorite, smart, tough, loyal, easily trained...but you gotta put up with the hair!
+1 on TAB's comment...you make the dog for the most part. You gotta be the "pack" leader.

 

[Okiecruffler]

you make the dog for the most part.

I can agree with that, my current dog is actually a dane mix. But I have found that some breeds are a little easier to work with than others. Boxers for instance. I love the look and build of boxers, but I've dealt with 3. Each has been easily destracted and tended to be aggressive toward smaller critters. I've worked with Germans, one of the smartest and most loyal breeds I've ever had the joy of working with. Probably the only breed I would ignore my hair rule for. I like Dobies because I was raised with them, I understand them. Very intelligent, but can be very, very dominant if you don't train them early. I'm even thinking toward Danes, although they are more clowns than guard dogs, their shear size intimidates most people. It's hard to decide because I actually just love dogs.

 

[Capitaine Nemo]

Like Huckle said, you must be the leader. I never owned a dog but I know that it's not the breed or the temperament that matters most, but the way you handle your dog everyday. If the dog thinks he's the number one, he won't respect you and listen to you and he may not fight with his life to protect you.

 

[qwert65]

any decent sized dog would do If you want a short haired purebred I'd stick with a dobe or rottie but all dogs are different. I was raised by a GSD great animal the one my parents have now useless, but their collie is great with a terrific deep bark It really is the dog/and making a bond so the dog wants to protect you

 

[Vic303]

Another vote here for the Rhodesian Ridgeback. But you need to get to know the breed first...

 

[C-D-P]

First off, dogs are a great deterrent. A study done in NY a few years ago showed that just owning a dog reduced the chances of someone breaking in by something like 70% (IIRC anyway).

That being said, unless that dog has been trained as a PP dog you can not rely on it to defend.

Dogs like all animals have that fight or flight instinct. What they do will depend on their mentality, training level, and the threat. If they see the threat as greater than they can handle, they will beat feet. If not they will attack. It depends on the dog, but some trainers say that 90% will beatfeet.

I am not saying your dog will run, but that is one way of looking at things.

There are breeds that naturally have a higher defense drive. Look to them.

Something else I have found is watch your breeders. While it may be easier to pick the mentality on a pure bred dog, they also seem to come with more health issues.

The best dog I have ever owned was a mutt. We think he is a Dobe lab mix but can not be sure. He took to bite work like a fish to water.

 

[hso]

We've talked about dogs in the past, but it's pretty far out of even our loose range here at NFW and I don't think it is on topic.

There are some great threads in S&T that have discussed dogs and breeds and training that would be good to pull up and read, though.