njc110381 Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Don't get me wrong I like them. They're nice dogs and the ones I know are very well trained. The thing I find slightly uncomfortable about them though is that they never take to me. I can stroke them and they're nice but I just know they don't see me as trustworthy. Of all the other breeds I've spent a lot of time with they will all lie down and go to sleep with me there. You can mess about with their owners and they may look up but only for a moment to check all is well. I get the feeling that if I was to grab Julie or mess around in front of her Dobes they wouldn't stand for it? I generally read dogs very well and they like me. I'm not scared of anything but treat them with calm respect. With Dobes I'm always cautious not to give them a reason to react. I've known a lot of them - probably ten or more since I was in my early teens, and only one of those I would relax and play with like she was my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Household guard or personal protection / attack dog there is a big difference. For a household gurd you need something that makes a big din and looks mean but as soft as half melted butter, for the attack dog you need something that does exactly as its told when its told or you have a timebomb. technically it's split again - guard dog or watch dog. a watch dog is the one that 'makes a big din' always alert to slightest sound and will bark at drop of a hat to alert you to something. a watchdog can be anything at all, some of the smallest yappy types which i hate, are ideal watch dogs as they dont need to back anything up. guard dog traditionally dog that is left out at night to roam grounds or property or to be with a handler. not my dog, but one of my favourite breeds, and certainly an intimidating force is my mates american bulldog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 (edited) not many people come through the gate when my sisters jap akita is out.....and i dont blame them he is coming up to 2 years old now and he is a big dog, broad shoulders, rather large neck and a good thick head on him. he only barks (grumbles) when someone comes onto 'his' territory soft as anything with people he knows but very very protective of my sister (must know shes a wuss ) whenever we have people round he doesnt let them out of his sight and always gets on his feet at the first sight of an argument a cracking dog with plenty of love to give but i wouldnt like to try creep in the house late at night with the lights off Edited October 22, 2011 by TJ91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Having had 3 GSDs, 2 of them police dogs, I am naturally swayed towards the breed. The other one made a good beating / walking up dog and would take down a man. That said, if I was getting a dog purely for protecting the house and family I would probably opt for a lightweight Rottie, not the ox-like models that some favour. The reason being that a GSD will take the fight to the intruder and in doing so can leave the handler vulnerable as I proved in training exercises. A Rottie tends to stay with its owner, and while it might not chase after the scrote who has damaged your car, you won't get a bloody nose with one by your side. They were specifically bred as companion / guard dogs and still more or less hold true to that role if you properly socialise them. I've never seen a Doberman yet that I couldn't send packing. I'm not saying that there aren't any with bottle, but I've not met one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipmoff Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog & a Boerboel bitch. Both are excellent watch dogs the bitch is one of the softest dogs anyone could ever meet if you know her as is the dog. But if you are a stranger you aren't getting into the home. They are both fine with other dogs & strangers away from their territory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 my old man used to have a scrap yard and had two ridgebacks roaming about in their :blink: they were suposed to be a very old line that my great grandfarther braught back from africa long time ago, dont know how true that bit is but most me dads side has had them, they got poised in the end i dare any one to try and get past my patterdale! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Ive seen just one Akita dog and all it wanted to do was play but the owner said he wouldnt let it off the lead just in case another dog came round the corner and started something we wouldnt want to see. I would have one of them as a guard dog but I think there just a bit too big for me so Ill have to go for a GSD's as I think there smart and very loyal to its owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 oddley i know a game keeper down sarlf lol who has german shepards just for watch dogs, he used to have to camp out at his pens the ****** were that bad,, he had 3 courses in the first week lol not much trouble from then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Ive got a GSD x staffie x rhodesian ridgeback Shes big, black, fast, and very angry! A big softy to me and the family, but I dont trust her one iota with anyone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I challenge anyone to get past my wife! On a serious note - the whole "guard dog" this is fine with most stating "oh they are fine until someone enters thier territory".....that's great unless you have kids, as having kids means at some point one of your kids friends is going to wander through the gate unexpectedly to call on your kids and they will get mauled by a dog! A house near my mother in laws was burgled and had a big dog as protection, the burglars had an ingenious way past this "fearless" dog... They threw half breeze blocks at its head until it keeled over and died! If its an area that needs protection you are better off with locks and bars... Regards, Gixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) Your move ... Ridgeback x Mastiff. Great family dog, friendly with everything and everyone (unless you happen to be a rabbit or squirrel)... ...unless you start on him. He's never offensive but if he's attacked he will get very defensive. Basically don't come in uninvited unless you want a face full of barking dog, and don't pick a fight with him unless you can handle 55kg of muscle and teeth. Edited October 23, 2011 by -Mongrel- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 On a serious note - the whole "guard dog" this is fine with most stating "oh they are fine until someone enters thier territory".....that's great unless you have kids, as having kids means at some point one of your kids friends is going to wander through the gate unexpectedly to call on your kids and they will get mauled by a dog! Gixer It's a serious and valid point mate, and while my big fella barks at 'intruders' he's never tried to attack...all the same, our back gate has a self latching deadlock that has to be key opened and ditto the front door, you can't just walk in the front. I fitted the back gate lock 'just in case'. He's a big animal and while I trust him implicity, you can never trust any dog 100%. (That said the little Lab's more likely to bite someone IMO, she's just less tolerant!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 You can`t better a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Superb guard dog, ask anybody on here who knows the misnamed "Willow", and it`ll retrieve your birds as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I reckon a good guard dog needs a certain visual deterrence too. Dobermans score well there, possibly due to Hollywoods portrayal of them as some kind of devil dog. Max; And for an idea of scale, here he is meeting Lola for the first time; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 That's one tall Doberman. Ridgie cross is a good looking dog too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosshair Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I've got a GSD and a couple of Rotties plus four working Border Collies. As everyone knows that comes to the farm, do not get out of your vehicle if there is a sheepdog about. If you are sitting in your vehicle they will try and get in through the window to get you. If the window is closed they will rip the plastics and trims and anything else they can get their teeth into out of sheer frustration. As I live almost two miles from the nearest main road I dont get too many reps etc, but word does get around, most local farm collies around here are the same, very territorial and dont take prisoners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 That's one tall Doberman. Ridgie cross is a good looking dog too. He's "working stock" rather than a show dog. He was 60kg at one point, but we got him down to 55 now. Lola, the bitch, is about 42kg. She is short but she is very muscular, unfortunately she wants to show every dog she meets how strong she is and although she is totally submissive to the family she is very dominant towards other dogs. Lola is probably a better guard dog, she won't take her eyes off visitors. When we had plasterers in recently she spent two days just staring at them whilst Max ignored them after a few hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I had a Canary Presa. Hardly barked, the look was enough. Bit of a handful though. think you mean a presa canario mate. for me personally the best guard dog is a staffy, despite all the bad press they get thrown at them not all staffs are owned by drug dealing chav, both of mine are friendly to visitors and great with kids but are great guard dogs and would die to protect the mrs or me especially the mrs. i couldn't ask for better really, there great and due to the stigma they've got not many people would chance it. atb gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berties Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 Dogue de Bordeaux,just the look of these bad boys will strike the fear into a would be intruder,a colleague of mine bred them for a few years. they were made famous by turner and HOOCH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 Has to be a GSD for me. Our last old lad (longhair) was as big as a bear and as daft as a brush. Could trust him with anyone even the smallest of kids. One in a million that dog On the other hand this shorthair bitch I have now is an absolute bar-steward! Wouldn't trust her as far as I can throw her . She's the softest dog you can imagine with people she knows, but woe betide any strangers trying to set foot in the drive or car . Our parcelfarce delivery bloke has seen her on numerous occasions when the wife has opened the gate to take a parcel and she's just laid on the concrete. This particular time the wife wasn't about and driver decided he'd come in the gate - BIG mistake! Wife heard the '******* hell' from upstairs followed by the frantic rattling of the gate. Fortunately he got out in time, but he had to admit he was very surprised how quickly she could change. She now has a tally of 6 people - one poor bloke left with the seat of his pants in tatters - comedy style . He was an unfortunate visitor who was early and told not to come in - just assumed the dog would be fine, despite barking and with all her hackles up :blink: . The others were all smart arrises who said 'she's fine, I can really read dogs and they really like me'. To them 'don't put your hand in the car, she will bite' or 'don't try and stroke her, she looks ok but she will bite' are seen as a personal challenge . Sorry mate - you lose, I did tell you . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) Dogs are usually very tolerant of young kids, even ones they don't know. If you have a dog thats not you have a problem but they seem to pick up more on the vibes. I have found very few dogs that will go for a stranger if they drop their hands and allow the dogs to sniff them. But that requires a degree of confidence on the part of the person concerned. Put your hands down and gently tap your knees and the dog will come to you, in its own time, and have a good sniff. Then its fine. Stroke it and give it a tickle behind the ears. After that every time is sees you it will be looking for a tickle. Raise your arms and it will see it the other way. People scared by dogs will generally pull their arms up out of harms way and that is the wrong thing to do. Its very much a case of confidence, I deal with quite a few agressive dogs but I have never been bitten yet.(touch wood) Its very true to say if you show fear they will sense it. Edited October 23, 2011 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
working dog Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 German Shepherd for persistence Belgian Malinois for speed Dutch Herder for a lump of muscle that can do damage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Why do so many people feel the need for a guard dog? I wouldnt trust any dog with children around after what happened the other week. I was humping my ladders around the back of someones house with the owner and her cocker spaniel went potty at the noise of the ladders, it went for me and i nearly dropped the ladders. She (the owner) was shocked and said she had never seen it before, i dident believe her. It made me realise that it doesnt matter what the breed, they have all got wild and madness in them. I reckon good locks and alarms are better than any dog, the cons outweigh the pros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzy518 Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 (edited) Bet no one would mess with this bad boy!! Edited October 24, 2011 by ozzy518 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Why do so many people feel the need for a guard dog? I wouldnt trust any dog with children around after what happened the other week. I was humping my ladders around the back of someones house with the owner and her cocker spaniel went potty at the noise of the ladders, it went for me and i nearly dropped the ladders. She (the owner) was shocked and said she had never seen it before, i dident believe her. It made me realise that it doesnt matter what the breed, they have all got wild and madness in them. I reckon good locks and alarms are better than any dog, the cons outweigh the pros. A barking dog is a great deterrent but I see more and more people walking round with weapon dogs. I live in NW London and the number of young scumbags with scumbag dogs is getting really noticable. You must be the only bloke who has been savaged by a cocker spaniel. Next time it happens stare it straight in the eye and outstare it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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