Dogs Ews

[Girodin]

I actually prefer a dog that doesn't bark at every sound and shift of the wind. My dogs rarely if ever bark but when they do I know something is up.

My dogs hvae barked three times in the middle of the night. Once was a guy breaking into my car. He made a hast retreat but he had already broken my window. The second was one of the kids friends coming to knock on their window (this was before all kids had cell phones), and the third time they treed a racoon in my backyard in the suburbs.

All three times had me instantly out of bed and armed because I knew something was wrong. I know people whose dogs yap so much they dont even pay any attention to it even at night.

In the day time they will bark if they are in the yard and someone comes up near the fence and stays there for more than just a moment, particularly if it isn't someone who is regularly there ie the neighbors.

During the day they are inside. I can tell if someone is coming up to the door because they perk up before they get there. They run to the door when the bell rings. Someone would need to be more silent than a shadow to enter a dogs territory with out it knowing. Often when I am on walks they will perk up and stare in a direction. Sometimes I see nothing at first but in 10 seconds or so someone will come out of a garage or stand up from behind some bushes or something like that. It makes me think someone would have a heck of a time sneaking up on us.

 

[JWarren]

How do you rate terriers and other yapping dogs as psycho stoppers ?

Poor "Stoppers" but excellent as you amended into an EWS.

I have two Jack Russell Terrier females. They are the ultimate "Tactical Terriers." I've had them give me early warning for just about anything, and when they are not "on duty" they will entertain you to no end.

Both are spoiled rotten, and sleep in the bed with Jenn and me.


I always tell my friends how don't think much of them as home protection dogs that they don't HAVE to defend. They just have to wake me and get out of the way.

On a serious note, a couple years ago, we were broken into while I was at work. We were temporaraly staying in our hunting camp until the workers had the house we were restoring in livable condition. The pups were inside when it happened. There is evidence that whoever came in kicked my oldest JRT in the ribs and cracked a couple. She has been VERY wary of odd noises and strangers ever since.

I'd still love to have 5 minutes in a locked room with that guy.



-- John

 

[qwert65]

To me a larger dog is better just for the intimidation factor. esp. a breed with a reputation(deserved or undeserved) I think people are more afraid of being torn apart then being shot.
If I was casing a place the prescence of a dog would really deter me, granted you can poision them but if they're in the house and you have an alarm it'd be really hard.

Probably the best home defense I saw was an ex colleague of mine who had 5 TRAINED GSD (she was a schutzhund trainer) I'm still not sure if i've seen a better system (no alarm, but she did have a .357) I mean 5 dogs coming at you is nuts.
That being said you need a lot of room for that many dogs. +1 on what some posters said about the dog alerting you silently. my old rottie used to sleep in my bedroom and just let out a low growl(this is also good if you happen to be staying in a hotel or live in a residential area keeps the neighbors happy)

 

[USMC 1975]

I sleep pretty well at night knowing my burglar alarm is working.

Here is my alarm -

Chris

 

[PCFlorida]

We sleep real well at night, 2 labs and a rottie in the house, 8 rotties outside. They only bark for a reason, if they wake us up the spotlights covering the property are thrown on and HD measures kick in.

We love our dogs and they return that to us. As a previous poster said about someone hurting his dog when they broke in and wanting 5 minutes in a locked room, well, we are very rural. I'll take 5 seconds and 600 yards.

Then the 3 S's kick in.

 

[PCFlorida]

Beautiful GSD Chris

 

[rangertexas]

double post

 

[rangertexas]

Great discussion. I've come to persuasion after these posts that.

Yes dogs are the ultimate early warning system.

However a dog that barks too much just gets ignored and annoys the neighbors.

Dogs that only alert the owner when there is a genuine threat seem to be the best EWS.

I hope however a dog never has to take a bullet for any of us as I love dogs and hate psychos. Another poster mentioned about his Jack Russel get a cracked rib by some low life loser. Well tell you what I'll join you in that room and we can beat the hell out of him together, but only if I can go first! ha!

By the way check these dogs out (Caucasian Ovcharkas), they really do look like the ultimate form of animal body guard. However the "dog expert" in the video looks like a bit of a wally as he obviously is not strong enough to handle his own dog. Unfortunately this dog breed will get into the hands of the low life's and the witch hunt against pit bull terriers will now be transferred to this breed (mark my words).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYxRGV-kBc&feature=related

and one from the Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahwFujle7CE&feature=related

 

[mbt2001]

I have two Jack Russell Terrier females. They are the ultimate "Tactical Terriers."

That had me rolling...

My dog is fun, but useless for protection

That isn't as apparent as you think. Most people think that there dog is "useless" for protection because he isn't AGGRESSIVE. I would wager that if someone came in and assualted you, that dog would have something to say about it.

There is no "magic breed" for protection or watchdogging. I would steer clear of any dog that wasn't an ESTABLISHED BREED with GOOD Blood lines. Boxers, GSD, Rotties, Dobermans, BUll mastiffs, mastiffs, et cetera. The reason for breeds are RELIABILITY. My Boxer is very reliable with kids, elderly and people. If someone comes to beat me with a bat and my last hope is the dog, I have lost already.

Companionship is the reason to own a dog. EWS and protection are dividends.

The pups in Rangertexas post are a lawsuit waiting to happen and 2 americans always think that their is this obscure silver bullet, hidden knowledge that fixes / improves on everything. The breed (Caucasian Ovcharkas) maybe an "older" breed that hasn't had many of the undesirable traits removed through breeding. What we have today, are reliable breeds that have been tested over time and have the hard part already done. I also would argue that this breed is older than the molosser breeds.

 

[jeepster7567]

Anti Dog ????

It sounds like btg3 has "some dog issues".. lucky he didn't live in my neigborhood there are tons of yapping dogs. I prefer them to yapping kids!!

 

[btg3]

Sorry, as I was not trying to convey an anti-dog attitude. I've had 2 English Sheepdogs indoors at different times. My outdoor dogs have been:
Beagle
Brittany Spaniel
2 more Brittany Spaniels
Border Collie mix
2 more Beagles

The main reason I don't have a dog now, is that we are away frequently and don't want to arrange care for any animals at the present. (The cat has a bulk feeder and water and can go for days without attention.) But I enjoy the outdoors, have a truck, a fenced yard, and a dog would be a grand thing otherwise. With kids at college, we're almost empty nesters and I do foresee another dog in the not-to-distant future.

To further clarify, I confess to being anti-nuisance. IMO, anti-nusiance laws are there for good reason. If I worked nights and slept days, I would not be nearly as patient with yapping. In addition to the yapping, I cleaned up dog piles along my curb for over a year before I encountered the 5:00am culprit who said "sorry I don't have a bag" -- but I was prepared, handed him a bag, and waited while he picked up the "steamer". Thankfully it hasn't happened since, because at best, visitors to our house would step in it, and at worst, it got tracked onto the living room rug. That's when the lady of the house demanded action!

 

[308win]

That's why folks sit at home and watch their cat instead of the TV.

Or the cat sits and watches them from atop the TV as my Siamese used to do. He wasn't a good alert system but he also wasn't much into retreat either; he ambushed people he didn't know on more than one occasion.

We have two shelties and they are good "alert you" dogs. They will both bark at anything unusual or unknown; one will posture aggression but quickly scoot behind my legs if his bluff is called.

 

[jeepster7567]

RE: Anti Dogs

Btg 3 thanks for clarifying.. That sounds more reasonable.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

We have a male Jack Russel, so we get to know if anything comes within twenty yards oh the house. We live in a small town, nothing usually goes on at night, if he barks then we know something's up. He really just wants to play with everybody, he doesn't know that he secretly serves as the alarm.

A couple of times I have woken right up from a dead sleep about 10 seconds before he felt the need to bark at something. That really makes you think someone is in the house.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Think of the terriers as your early warning system, as mentioned, or as a diversionary or delaying tactic. But, despite what they might think, they are generally too small to function as an actual attack or guard dog, with the exception of very large ones like the Airedale. Never mind the dog, beware of the owner, I like to say.

 

[tacmedicp94]

I have a 120lb Rhodesian Ridgeback that is VERY good at alerting me when someone is outside. He will let me know some one is about to knock on my front door about 10sec before they actually do. However he is very gentle, my 2 yr old nephew rides him like a pony. It' my fiance's 10lb YorkyPoo that you have to watch out for, that little dog will grab ahold of your pants leg and WILL NOT let go. If I could put the YorkyPoo's attitude in my Ridgeback's body I would have one Bad A$$ Personal defense canine!

 

[Eyesac]

I trained my pit to quietly come to me and paw my leg and lick my hand. No barking.

hehe, that's just funny. I mean, I can see some value in it, but it's still funny.

 

[LawofThirds]

I love dogs but my wife is extremely allergic to them and so we cannot have one in the house and we're located on a busy street with a small back yard, hardly a good environment for a dog.

However, our 20 odd pound maine coon mix that we got from a rescue shelter has on more than one occasion gone to a window and gone into full "this is my house and I'll claw your eyes out" mode when an unknown person came to the door. Our neighbors still think we've got some sort of "mountain lion".

 

[ladykilla]

Just wanted to show a pic of my EWS.... 60lbs. of muscle, courage, and loyalty.

BTW, her name is "Fury"

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

mutts and their barking is similar to kids crying to me. different noises for different events. both my dogs have been bitten by copperheads and go nuts if the sense one anywhere near. and my lab husky barks so seldom it always gets my attention. the hound mix on the opther hand will bark if a leaf falls in her yard

 

[mbt2001]

I love dogs but my wife is extremely allergic to them and so we cannot have one in the house and we're located on a busy street with a small back yard, hardly a good environment for a dog.

The Soft Coated Wheaton (I believe is the name) has a hypoallergenic coat. http://dogs.about.com/od/dogbreeds/a/hypoallergenic.htm Also, a lot of terriers don't shed... Seriously check it out, might change everything. As JWarren pointed out, terriers are great watchdogs and in some cases guard dogs (pits, airdales). Doesn't hurt to speak to a breeder with a bottle of benedryl and see if wife flares up.

 

[gallo]

I have two dogs (bitches), a Border Collie and a GSD. I sleep very well at night. The GSD has a more acute guard instinct. I sometimes wonder if she sleeps at all at night since every time I go in the kitchen for a glass of water she is awake while the Border Collie is asleep. I also hear her tag jingle as she makes her rounds through the house. She seldom barks except at 0600 when she want to exit the house, so she doubles as an alarm clock for those time when I hit the alarm clock one too many times.

In favor of the Collie is that she is fearless and engages whatever the GSD deems a threat.

The downside to having big dogs is that travel on X-mas gets complicated because I have to board them and that is expensive. A small dog would travel with us cuddled on the back seat. Nonetheless, I like my dogs fine the way they are.

 

[springmom]

Terriers are excellent early warning systems. But don't discount what a "small" dog can do as a guard dog. We have Irish terriers; they stand about 18-19" at the shoulder. They are very good at early warning AND as "guard dogs"...I've had more than one peddler come to the door and decide to BACK UP once they saw the dogs standing at my knee.

There is a (true) story that was told on our Irish terrier email list...one of the members had gone off to work, and while he was gone, his home was broken into. The dog fought to the death with the burglar. Jack was killed by the burglar (not with a gun, with fists and feet, IIRC) but not before he took MAJOR chunks out of the guy's legs and hands and arms. The burglar was caught because he had to go to the ER for attention.

An Irish will gladly give its life for its people. They were used in WW I as messenger dogs, running between the front lines and the command posts. Totally fearless, and great characters.

In that, though, they're similar to most other terriers. If size is important to you, don't forget that an Airedale can weigh up to 70-80 pounds.

Just be sure that you are competent to train and remain alpha to a terrier. And that's easier said than done

Springmom

 

[WoofersInc]

Have 4 Chocolate Labs. They make a great EWS. If someone knocks on the door it is funny to see them jump back when 4 100lb dogs start barking. Course they don't know that the barking is saying "let's play"
Other than that they are great at letting me know if somone is coming close to the house.

 

[PCFlorida]

WoofersInc, Love my labs. You are quite right about how they sound on the other side of the door, big and mean. Though I wouldn't discount their ability to defend you, a black lab boy I had to say good-bye to last year (he was 14) showed his true defensive colors one time when there was a trespasser on my property and he started getting aggressive when I asked him to leave. 100 lbs of black lab pussycat ripped the crotch out his his jeans when he started walking towards me and yelling. I never saw the lab move from my side, he was on the guy before I could draw my Glock This from a dog that had never done more than chew up a tennis ball. I've decided our labs are have the ability to be as much as of a protector as our rotties, they just have slower fuses.