What is the most effective guard dog?

[p35]

I had an Akita for 14 years-puppy through death of old age. Incredible dog, friendly to my friends, never needed to chase off a bad guy- who would enter a yard with one of those in it? Problem is, they love to fight other dogs and can't be trusted off leash. My current GSD is obsessed with doing as he's told, which makes him a lot easier to live with. God help you if he thinks you're threatening a family member, so he has to be watched around the boy's friends, but he's a lot less trouble. I love Akitas, but they're too much dog for most people.

 

[Sunray]

"...Rottweilers..." My ma's neighbour had 3 of 'em. One was nuts from being abused as a puppy. Not one of the dogs would dare tangle with the guy's cat though. It ruled the house and all three dogs knew it. The guy's son's buddies weren't afraid of the dogs, but were terrified of the cat. Anybody who might have broken in would have faced the cat and its three lackies.

 

[pete f]

any dog that barks at the right times. a dog that barks when the kids get off the bus everyday after school and barks when the leaves blow by the window is worthless, A dog who senses hostility or nervousness is great.

WE have had a few, one a black lab the kids on the block would ride like a horse, take swimming in their pool and take all the abuse any kid could throw at it with never a growl or a show of teeth, but when something got him mad or agitated, he would pull you out of bed to make sure you knew something was up.

One night late, he pulled the covers off us and stood up and put his paws on the window sill, letting us know we had a "situation" I pulled off his collar and opened the window. he was out like a flash and had a burglar by the shin in seconds. After a brief tussel the thug managed to get in a car and was driven off. Dog walked back up to the window holding the lower leg of his pants and his left shoe, covered in blood. Cops found the burglar at the local trauma hospital with his calf muscle more or less stripped from his calf.


We have a little mutt, part jack russel and part who knows, that is the wifes indoor dog, I have a yellow lab, the lab is the muscle and the yapper is the brains. That little dog has the most uncanny nose and ears, last winter it alerted to the front yard, the only thing out there was the neighbors cat in the snow fall. Once he decides that something is not right, then the lab just walks up and pays attention. If the little one does the happy dance that someone he knows is back, then the lab will not move, the little dog barks the big one will move.

I decided sometime ago I will always have at least oone dog in the house, just need that to keep the attention level up.

 

[Pilot]

Belgian Shepherd. Its very difficult to get good German Shepherds these days. Many GSD's have been overbread here in the U.S. The Belgians are good guard dogs, veey smart and not nuts like many GSD's here.

 

[trueblue1776]

+1 to Pilot,

Thats the reason why I didn't get another rottie, CHDJD is rampant among most of the standard security breeds these days, and average lifespan is going down. We opted for the American Bulldog because it has the temperment we want, and it isn't a well tracked breed yet, which means most of them have the health of a mix breed. My dogs pedigree goes back for six generations and then stops, the NKC who is largely responsible for the American Bulldog documentation program in the US, will register a 7/8 pure dog, which is fantastic for the overall heath of the breed. The AKC should try that with working dogs like Sheps and Rots, get a little genetic diversity.

 

[dognose82]

it all about the shepards for me

seems like everyone here is posting the same thing.....german shepard. theres probally a reason for that. im certainly bias (my father's partner was a shepard), however, there are alot of strong points to them.

1. large enough and loud enough to be intimidating.

2. smarter than most breeds

3. loyal as all get out

4. and most are not only good with children, but tend to be very protective of them as well.

5. personally seen lots of evidence pictures from the ER of what one pissed off shepard can do.


that being said, I do agree with those that have said that dogs are your early warning system. i dont think that any dog owner is going to let his buddy possibly get hurt if he can avoid it.

let your dog do the barking and your gun do the biting.

that being said, one more of my opinions, every shepard that I have ever owned I have no doubt in my mind that he would fight to the death for me. they are most certainly mans best friend.

 

[tellner]

In the book "What Dogs Know" the author reports a film he saw of a dozen attack trained chihuahuas. Sure, you might stomp two or three of them before they hamstrung you and pulled you down. St. Peter would take one look at you and say "You go to Hell."

 

[Cosmoline]

Working line GSD's and Malinois top my list. Though all sold in the US will have AKC papers, avoid GSD's bred to AKC breed standards or English standards. You want strong European working lines, preferably Belgium, German and Czech.

The AKC standard Shepherds have basically become their own breed, and don't even look like the real thing. They tend to be "pointy" nosed with a very angulated back and seem to walk on their haunches. They're also quite narrow in profile and it's difficult to tell the sexes apart.

The working line GSD's tend to come in a wider variety of coats from sable to black and tan to bi-color (though not pure white). They're stockier and more muscular than AKC show shepherds. Their heads are more massive.

 

[grislyatoms]

Great Pyrenees

A male will run 120 pounds, 30" at the shoulder. Great with kids and known members of their "flock". Incredibly strong. Quite intelligent.

They do not like strangers, 2 legged or 4 legged, and they are excellent livestock protection dogs.

Better have a tractor trailer full of chow to keep them fed, though.

 

[kronckew]

i've got two greyhounds, very friendly, love people and wouldn't harm anyone. usually. normally they do not bark, but if something unusual occurs or strangers come around, they are unbelieveably loud. noone can get close without me knowing. i do not really think they would actually bite someone unless they were really worked up, but they are my early warning system & can be quite intimidating. they are also impossible to run away from unless you can run at 45 mph. they are deadly on rabbits, hares, and small deer and are also used to hunt coyote. i've got a sign on my door that says 'my dogs can hit 45mph halfway to the gate - can you?' 140 Lb. of dogs of any breed are a turn-off to burglars. there are easier places to break into.

Blue:


Millie:

After all that, i'd not recommend greyhounds as a guard dog. family member, yes, guard, no.

if you are intending to get a dog, then tie them up outside 24/7 and not train or play with them, don't expect any loyalty or protection (which is different than aggression and meanness). also remember that you are liable for what they do just like if you were using any other weapon. if you are not willing to let the dog into your family and act as his pack leader as pack Alpha, you are better off getting a 12 gauge. be very careful if you have kids, even the best and most loyal dog can only take so much tormenting.....

a dog is a long term commitment and requires love and understanding, not a designer accessory that you can change on a whim or ignore if they become inconvenient.
(click the 'cave canem' below for greyhound sound effects, or the 'semper' for more music)

 

[Captain America]

I would go with either a German Shepherd or a properly socialized Rottweiler. Both will fight to the death before they will ever let harm come to a family member. A socialized Rott won't be aggressive for no reason, and they are solid, gorgeous dogs. They are an excellent working breed, as well.

Both breeds recognize danger and are quick to respond. I would make it a coin toss between both. Neither will fail you.

 

[tellner]

I have two German Shepherd mixes. The older one has already driven off burglars at least twice, and protects our house from the mailman six days a week without fail They're great dogs. Many medium to large breeds with good protective instincts will do the job of four legged alarm system and deterrent very well.

It's like a gun or a knife, within certain broad parameters there are many different ones that will work. What's important is that the tool or dog is one that performs well and works well with you. It's at least as much what you do as what they are. Do you practice with the gun so that you can hit what you're aiming at? Do you love, train and care for the dog so it loves you will protect you?

 

[molossus]

My first post on one of my favourite subjects.

Definitely a German Shepherd. On my 4th one. Two were working dogs when I was a handler with the prison service. My latest, Zeus, I got as a rescue dog a couple of years ago. Very vocal and protective of the family.

My wife has a black and tan Jack Russell. Follows the shepherd everywhere and likes to think he's tough but only when his "big brother" is about!

Nice to be here

Regards
Rich

 

[Kestrel]

Never mind - found the answer.

 

[freedom and guns]

THIS

http://gunblast.com/Bulldog_Pug.htm DOGS ARE UNRELIABLE CREATURES THAT WILL BITE YOU AS MUCH AS ANY INTRUDER. DON'T BE PRIMITIVE

 

[cmidkiff]

How about one of these?

Serves as well as any to let me know that there's someone around the house, and I don't have to worry about him mauling one of the neighborhood kids.

I'll never own another dog that's capable of inflicting real damage to a person. Had a Chow at one time, had to get rid of her after she tore through a screen door after the mail man and jumped a fence going after a neighbors visiting grandson.

 

[das028]

"DOGS ARE UNRELIABLE CREATURES THAT WILL BITE YOU AS MUCH AS ANY INTRUDER. DON'T BE PRIMITIVE"


HUH???

 

[03Shadowbob]

My doberman was the best guard dog I ever had. Very loyal, great with kids, listened/obeyed most family members, 75lbs all muscle, and looked mean. She had no quit in her at all. Great dog. BUT my GS was a great dog too. My most loved dog is my 105lb female lab 10 years old and still going.

 

[Cosmoline]

"DOGS ARE UNRELIABLE CREATURES THAT WILL BITE YOU AS MUCH AS ANY INTRUDER. DON'T BE PRIMITIVE"

HUH???

If that were true, I'd be armless now and my head would have been torn off. Instead I've been licked savagely many times and bruised by the happy paws of fun.

The dog in general offers hearing, smell and a sixth sense better than any human man ever born. A house or property with dogs is extremely difficult to sneak into. The true guard dog offers the added bonus of being able to call the bluff of an intruding human and fight back effectively. But *ANY* dog, even a little wee one, is tactically better than no dog when you need to defend a homestead.

When it hits the fan, GIVE ME RIFLES AND DOGS.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Dog Control...

das028:
"DOGS ARE UNRELIABLE CREATURES THAT WILL BITE YOU AS MUCH AS ANY INTRUDER. DON'T BE PRIMITIVE"

Dogs are 47 times more likely to injure family in your home than intruders.
J. Sugarman, Dog Control, USA
S. Brady, Citizens against Dog Violence, USA.

 

[tellner]

Only if you have a psychotic dog or a criminally bad owner. My dogs love me. I love them. We protect each other because we are Pack. They've driven off intruders before and protect our home from the mailman every single day

They are also the first line of defense. Anyone breaking in has to silence and get past both of them. That gives me and my wife all the time we need to grab our life preservation equivalent and take the necessary action. That's why we buy them the expensive kibble and take them to the vet when they are sick. It's been The Arrangement between Man and Dog for about 50,000 years, and it still works.

 

[Jeff]

The Tosa Inu is the easily the most feared dog on the planet. It is a true fighting dog (same class as true fighting pitbulls) but weighs around 150-180 lbs. They would also make a very good guard dog. Only breed of dog known to typically kill pits in a pit. Much better manstopper than a much smaller pit, however. http://www.tosa-inu.com/

The Fila or an imported, native Tibetan Mastiff would be tied for second.

Canary dogs (Presa Canario) would be up there, also.

Anatolian Shepherd dogs, Bully Kuttas, Kangals, Akitas, Dogue de Bordeaux, Ovtcharkas would fill out the list.

 

[tellner]

There's more to being a good protection dog than being big, strong and having sharp pointy teeth. Loyalty, trainability, the basic mental capacity to differentiate between real threats and other stimuli. If you are looking for a dog to protect the home and not just an auto-mobile weapons platform you have to add in the capacity to turn it on and to turn it off

 

[Cosmoline]

One problem with those big fighting dogs is they're really big. A large intact male can become Alpha over its humans if care is not taken. Noses can be lost, and ears and fingers without any real malice on the dog's part. And there are more practical considerations. My rule is I have no dog I can't pick up and carry to the vet myself or hoist up by the scruff if needed.

Also, it's not best idea to pick a family protection dog from FIGHTING DOG lines. Those dogs may be interesting pets, but they were bred to fight and kill other dogs in matches or serve as war dogs. They're ancient and pretty primitive lines.

In contrast, a dog such as the working line GSD or Belgian Malinois is a much more modern creation, designed to perform an array of tasks in the modern world and on the modern battlefield. They're intensely owner-fixated, straining hard to listen to and understand every little command. That comes from a long line of continental shepherd's dogs that had been bred to defend the herd and perform complex tasks in response to the owner's commands, even from a great distance. Those lines were intentionally chosen in the late 19th century to create the ultimate working dog, able to perform almost any task. You will never find a better combination of owner-focus, prey drive and keen intelligence. I love the big Mastiff breeds, but their first concern may or may not be what you want. They're bred to be unleashed onto foes or giant boars or other dogs, not to perform complex bark and holds, remote sentry duty, or to deliver the precise bites the owner requires.

Plus, you don't really need a 150 lb. dog to neutralize a human. A good GSD or Malinois in the 50 to 80 lb. range is more than sufficient, as many thousands of criminals have discovered when the K-9 unit comes.

 

[Jeff]

No dog, and I mean NO dog, under 100 lbs is going to be a match for an enraged 300 lb schizophrenic or meth-head.

Just in case, it's nice to have the larger molosser breeds-- but only the proven guard dog varieties. There are plenty of big brute dogs that can't be trained for adequate guard duty.