Role of the dog in home defense

[xXxplosive]

Fred hit the nail on the head......"Not All People Can Train Them".

After all the classes and hours of training our GS.....all these dogs are much, much more capable than what most folks ask of them. It's the people who need the training, not the dogs.

We naturally give our dog both verbal and silent commands but just having a conversation with him in a normal tone of voice, he knows what we're asking. He knows what to do most of the time before he's asked to do it.......Genius....IMO....and better mannered than most people.

 

[Sav .250]

I`D say unless your dog is a trained "guard dog" any thing other than that`s it`s just being a dog.

Plus not all home owners have a brute . Lots of little guys out there. That`s not to say they can`t be little terrors. which only adds to their chances of getting hurt.

 

[JDBoardman]

I have had dogs all of my life - and all have been hounds. I was living in New York back in the mid 70's, and had a dachshund. One day while I was at work in the City, someone apparently tried to break into my apartment via the fire escape. I came home that night to be greated by a dog with blood all over her, blood puddles on the floor, and a blood trail back to the window. I never knew for sure what happened, but my dog wasn't hurt, and I had no further problems the rest of the time I lived there. Right now I have 6 miniature dachshunds and 3 salukis. The sound put up by this menagerie would give Freddy Kruger second thoughts.

 

[Blade First]

"I had the hardest time convincing my red-headed, stubborn, bull-headed, wife..."

Lots of redundancy there, my friend.

I married one, too...decades ago. They don't change and I wouldn't have it any other way. Mine's infuriating, irrational, highly-emotional and inconsolable for a half-hour or so...and then, it's all sweetness and light. Make-up interactions are almost worth it.

And, back to subject...I'm inclined to a medium-framed dog of the mutt variety for our next canine. Mutts are hardy, smart, sociable and quite able to serve as first-line alarms without freaking out when a grasshopper flies into the front storm door.

Last two residents were Jack Russells. Fantastic dogs who fight several weight classes above reality because, in their minds, they weigh eighty pounds instead of fifteen to twenty. Perhaps another Jack is in our future but losing two in two years is still a little too much to overcome.

This is a good thread if for no other reason that it makes me consider filling a gap in our home defense scenario.

 

[Badlander]

My thoughts are that I have A 90 lb dog in my fenced yard. The neighbors have no fence and no dog. Unless I am being targeted personally most thieves will rob the neighbors. If they come here and get past the fence and the dog the wife will just shoot them.

 

[OilyPablo]

My dogs give me a variety of warning signals. Just another security layer, IMHO.

The cat? He'd help the burglars carry stuff out.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

"I married one, too...decades ago. They don't change and I wouldn't have it any other way. Mine's infuriating, irrational, highly-emotional and inconsolable for a half-hour or so...and then, it's all sweetness and light. Make-up interactions are almost worth it.

Oh, the beauty of it is she HAS changed...she just hasn't realized it on several levels. I've learned to cope with it...in fact, I've also learned that she's pretty easy, in her own way, to be manipulated on some things. She has a problem with authority...and absolutely hates is when people tell her what she HAS to do and what she CAN'T do.

I sit back and smile whenever I see it coming!

One of my favorites was in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy, when the government gun control fanatics came boiling out of the woodwork. Never having shown even a smidgen of interest in owning her own rifle, she said "I want an assault rifle!"

Unfortunately for her, I wasn't about to jump in and buy her an AR-15 platform after they tripled in price. However, the prices have since come back down and I've got an evil black Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport and a 1,000 round hoard of ammo ready for her birthday next month!

Add this to our well trained evil black assault Pug, and she'll have home defense all wrapped up!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

LOL I got a guard cat. She up and at the door before the car turns off. She meows if it someone we know and puff up and HISS if they are unknown.

Now Dogs are great and I had one for years. I trying to talk momma into another one.

 

[david58]

We have a 100 lb, black Airedale Terrier, a standard Airedale, and a Rat Terrier. ANY unusual noise gets a riot of Terrier action.

The Airedale is generally a goofball, sometimes aloof. They are great companion dogs - real people dogs.

But never have seen such a mouthful of teeth - particularly on the big, black one. Some use them for protection dogs - just as with Pits, intelligent and tenacious (did I say "terrier"?).

And I have seen my loving, goofy, furball turn into a protector in an instant. You'd have to be brave, mean, and some kind of quick to kick one of those Terriers and still get your foot back. Part of why we have them is their noisiness and protectiveness - I would hate for anything to take my dogs from me, but part of why they are here is to protect. I would give my life to protect my wife and kids - sure hope it doesn't come to that, noble as it is. Same with the dogs.

But they are the first line of defense. Sneak into my house at night? You'd need night vision goggles to see the big un, I don't think you'd know he was there till he had you. If you see the flashlight, that means I am the reinforcements, the light closely followed by loud noises….

 

[C0untZer0]

Mainly my dog defends against invading ants, by eating the food my kids drop on the floor.

 

[SleazyRider]

… they are the first line of defense. Sneak into my house at night? You'd need night vision goggles to see the big un, I don't think you'd know he was there till he had you. If you see the flashlight, that means I am the reinforcements, the light closely followed by loud noises….

It's not sure, at least in my neck of the woods, that night intrusions are a common thing. After all, I believe the average rural home has a firearm at the ready, and I think one would be pretty ill-advised to break into a home at night.

I, as well as most of my neighbors, however, am guilty of complacency when it comes to matters of security. We leave our keys in our car, sometimes forget or don't bother to lock doors, and assume that a bump in the night is a bear knocking over the trash cans. But that makes us more vulnerable. A dog seems always to be in "condition yellow," and that is what makes them so valuable for protecting the home. If my home were to be burglarized during the day when I'm not home, however, I'd prefer that my dog not be present, as I believe the intruder would incapacitate the dog before proceeding. My insurance company can replace the other stuff.

When my dog sheds its mortals coils in another few years, I'll not be replacing it with another. So I'll likely beef up my alarm system and make other changes in my home security plan.

 

[Balrog]

One thing to consider as well, I bought a monogrammed dog vest through Sky Mall on a flight from Akron a few months back and have had it altered so I can place 2 Glock 17 mag holders, with each holding 2 mags. It is very reassuring to know that in an extended firefight, I am only a whistle away from 4 more magazines.

 

[Potatohead]

This is a great thread.

My dog problem: I have a shepard/ wolf looking hybrid thing. Was a rescue project. Wants to attack everyone and everything that is not in our family. I suspect any "would be" thieves would be pretty scared of her, along with everyone else in the neighborhood. Its actually bothersome.

One point I would like to make is that I think sometimes we put to much faith in "what our dogs would do to a thief"....when in actuality the dog would probably be laying their asleep from eating a raw meat burger laced with Tylenol PMs from the bad guy..

That's kind of my fear anyway, and I think it's based in reality for the most part.

 

[Warp]

This is a great thread.

My dog problem: I have a shepard/ wolf looking hybrid thing. Was a rescue project. Wants to attack everyone and everything that is not in our family. I suspect any "would be" thieves would be pretty scared of her, along with everyone else in the neighborhood. Its actually bothersome.

One point I would like to make is that I think sometimes we put to much faith in "what our dogs would do to a thief"....when in actuality the dog would probably be laying their asleep from eating a raw meat burger laced with Tylenol PMs from the bad guy..

That's kind of my fear anyway, and I think it's based in reality for the most part.

I can only speak for myself, but...I don't see how a thief would break into the house without having the dog bark, and without having the alarm go off, let alone how they would then place food in the house that the dogs eat, then wait for the dogs to eat it, then wait for it to work, then enter.

That seems like the kind of thing that only happens in books and movies/TV.

 

[Potatohead]

True. I was actually referring to backyard dogs, I shouldve mentioned that.

But we can probably all admit that we think our dogs are tougher than they probably really are. Especially reading some of the posts. Im guilty too, I think my dog could whip my SILs rotty (and tell her so quite frequently just for kicks). Her dad said my dog would stand no chance but I disagree wholeheartedly- mine's ALOT meaner.

 

[Warp]

True. I was actually referring to backyard dogs, I shouldve mentioned that.

But we can probably all admit that we think our dogs are tougher than they probably really are. Especially reading some of the posts. Im guilty too, I think my dog could whip my SILs rotty (and tell her so quite frequently just for kicks). Her dad said my dog would stand no chance but I disagree wholeheartedly- mine's ALOT meaner.

I wouldn't count on a backyard dog for much anyway. Houses have sides and fronts, after all.

 

[Potatohead]

Yepper.

 

[Deog]

My 50 poind queensland blue heeler will kill anything and everything that should not bearound his castle. Nothing can scare this dog, nothing, absolutely fearless.

 

[Potatohead]

My dog can whip your dog.

 

[ChefJeff1]

I think Unless professionally trained as a guard/attack dog, the best thing to do Is to train a dog to bark and then heel or lay down on his bed. My dog, a German Wirehaired pointer will jump up on and poke an intruder in the eye while giving licks, as he does with most guests. Unless, of course, the intruder is a bird, in which case it will be a massacre!

 

[leadcounsel]

Puzzled why a dog had to be put down due to a broken jaw. :banghead:

As for dogs, others have pretty much covered it.

Part of a layered security plan, excellent at being alert 24/7, scaring away the casual smash and grab thieves knocking at your door while you're home or away, waking you up when there's weird small noises or smells on the property...

Sure, serious burglars can bypass/kill/injure dogs either through violence or trickery. But no security plan is perfect.

 

[Bobson]

I've got two young kids (daughter turns four in a couple weeks, son will have his first birthday in March), and my wife and I have been giving thought to getting a dog in the next year or so, or maybe around the time our son turns three years old. We're fairly settled on a purebred lab. Not so much for the hunting/field work (I don't do much bird hunting at all), but mostly for just having a great family dog - plus we both really love the looks and attitudes most labs have.

Question is this: is a properly socialized lab still going to be protective to the point that she would raise hell if a stranger were to enter our home at night? I mean, every dog raised with a family can sense a stranger is uninvited in that sort of scenario, right? Reason I ask is I would definitely want the dog to be socialized wih both people and other dogs, but I would hate it (for obvious reasons, I think) if my dog greeted a nighttime burglar with a wagging tail just because we taught the dog to be friendly.

Are my expectations unrealistic? Or will the dog still "sense" it's duty to protect its family? I don't want or expect my dog to sacrifice itself fighting off an intruder. I do, however, want my dog to raise hell if strangers (to the dog) come around in the late hours of night when the family is sleeping - even if they don't actually try to come inside.

My brother has a Fila, and I know that breed of dog will do what I want - but I want a dog that will be as friendly with new, welcome guests as it will with family. I want a dog that can understand, even if it requires some reassurance, that not every new person is a threat.

Our dog will live in the house, by the way.

 

[Warp]

I've got two young kids (daughter turns four in a couple weeks, son will have his first birthday in March), and my wife and I have been giving thought to getting a dog in the next year or so, or maybe around the time our son turns three years old. We're fairly settled on a purebred lab. Not so much for the hunting/field work (I don't do much bird hunting at all), but mostly for just having a great family dog - plus we both really love the looks and attitudes most labs have.

Question is this: is a properly socialized lab still going to be protective to the point that she would raise hell if a stranger were to enter our home at night? I mean, every dog raised with a family can sense a stranger is uninvited in that sort of scenario, right? Reason I ask is I would definitely want the dog to be socialized wih both people and other dogs, but I would hate it (for obvious reasons, I think) if my dog greeted a nighttime burglar with a wagging tail just because we taught the dog to be friendly.

Are my expectations unrealistic? Or will the dog still "sense" it's duty to protect its family? I don't want or expect my dog to sacrifice itself fighting off an intruder. I do, however, want my dog to raise hell if strangers (to the dog) come around in the late hours of night when the family is sleeping - even if they don't actually try to come inside.

My brother has a Fila, and I know that breed of dog will do what I want - but I want a dog that will be as friendly with new, welcome guests as it will with family. I want a dog that can understand, even if it requires some reassurance, that not every new person is a threat.

Our dog will live in the house, by the way.

I'm bias for sure, but I think German Shepherds are a strong contender for best overall family pet/dog. I don't know that anybody can answer the question, individual dogs vary.

 

[frankiestoys]

I have two American bulldogs both are extremly loyal and loving family members, WTS they are also my first line of defense and personell defense my four year old daughter is never left alone in the yard w/o one of them. In the even of a night time break in they will give me sufficient time to prepare for a potentially bad situation . The rest is up to me...
One can never tell what would happen if I wasn't home , I post signs to beware of dogs everyware to protect an intruder... I surly wouldn't want to deal with Bear ( that's my male) empty handed

 

[Warp]

I have two American bulldogs both are extremly loyal and loving family members, WTS they are also my first line of defense and personell defense my four year old daughter is never left alone in the yard w/o one of them. In the even of a night time break in they will give me sufficient time to prepare for a potentially bad situation . The rest is up to me...
One can never tell what would happen if I wasn't home , I post signs to beware of dogs everyware to protect an intruder... I surly wouldn't want to deal with Bear ( that's my male) empty handed

What does WTS mean?