Question: Guard Dog?

[JK]

Hey peoples,

After interrupting a would-be home invader this morning, Mrs Perm has lost all confidence in our place and with that an inclination to stay there, which I can understand.

Given the odd night or two I go out with the boys or are away from home, I think it's time to get her some companionship and protection and buying a dog is the best way I can think of achieving this.

She's keen on a Rottweiler whilst I would prefer a Rhodesian Ridgeback or Ballmastiff (keeping in mind we'd like to start a family sometime soon).

Anyone had any experiences with these breeds, or willing to suggest any other suitable breed?

Thanks,
CP

[am Bays]

The Pram Lady could do with some extra coin.....

If I saw her at your place CP I'd run away!!!!!

[Footy Chick]

CP

Nothing wrong with a rotty around the kids, provided you get a pup around the same time your due to get a child

yappers scare off would - be intruders more than big dogs, as they tend to be more territorial.

Buy Mrs C ( u like that name? she'll kill me!) an airhorn or something, more effective and you dont have to feed it...

edit: Where was BOONEY at 5am this morning...huh?

p.s: Hope she's ok...

[MightyEagles]

If you're thinking about starting a family and getting a dog, maybe start with a dog that is naturally small and as the kids get older, get a dog that are bigger in size and it also depends on how big the backyard is and the like.

[smac]

Ridgeback would be my pick from the ones you mentioned CP. My brother has one and little miss smac (now 18 months) has grown up almost riding on the dogs back. Great temperament with kids and has been know to chase the AGL bloke half way up the street. Sounds like just what you need!

[mighty_tiger_79]

CP the solution is easy, you just need to spend your evenings at home with the Mrs, rather then being out at the pub with the lads

[JK]

MT .. Im pretty good these days, but am not prepared to give those nights up completely

Cheers for the feedback guys ... SMAC, had a Rhody as family pet when I was a young lad and was just the most beautifully natured dog, am trying to swing the better half in that direction.

[smac]

MT .. Im pretty good these days, but am not prepared to give those nights up completely

Cheers for the feedback guys ... SMAC, had a Rhody as family pet when I was a young lad and was just the most beautifully natured dog, am trying to swing the better half in that direction.

Righto then, Rotty it is...

[Coorong]

My advice: FWIW

A. A Shepherd (about 8 weeks old)
B. Look at reputable breeders only, not those that put brother over sister etc (clean bloodline)
C. Part of the family is a must (ie some inside time)
D. Definately some obedience classes
E. I prefer "entire" male dogs but their natural instinct will prevail anyway
F. Must be treated as a family member

I had my shepherd for 9 years. and did all above. No other breed for mine is more gentle, loving or protective by natural instinct.

Geez. I am starting to sound like Psyber

[Booney]

My old man bred German Shepherds as a kid,and they are great intelligent dogs,wonderfully social and,as Coorong said,good bloodlines will give you a great pooch.

As a teenager I had a Rottweiler who was a one person dog,mine and mine alone.Never really socialised her with kids or other dogs and she,as a consequence was very curious,not aggresive,just curious and scared any one under 4ft tall.

My advice CP is,a dog will not be the answer for some years.A two to three year old dog will be hardly intimidating for the types who rome around backyards looking for goods to steal.If you choose to purchase a dog which already has some training it may not suit the family life style you are wishing to have.

I suggest making the yard secure,high fences,(line the inside top inch or so with barbed wire),good security doors and windows.You may feel like a prisoner in your own home,but at least your inside,and no one else can get in there.

[westcoastpanther]

We had a doberman kelpie cross, beautiful dog, loved me and my kids. Anyone else couldn't get in our yard though. Would take even my close mates a few months to earn her trust. She had bailed up a few people, never actually bite them but hell she looked nasty. We only ever gave her affection, but from somewhere she had a real nasty streak. Didn't worry me as we only ever got the good side. She was eventually put down after going our neighbours who had small kids there at the time, didn't bite but just too risky to continue doing it.

All that said, we've never had an intruder and even though she's been gone a couple of years, still no trouble. They must still think she's there!! My wife said she felt very safe with the dog around.

[westcoastpanther]

A two to three year old dog will be hardly intimidating for the types who rome around backyards looking for goods to steal.

Our dog was only three when we canned her, you wouldn't have come in our yard when she was one!!

[another grub]

people werent scared of the dog...they were scared of you wcp......

[Footy Chick]

A shepherd nearly bit my face off when i was 10 (got away with 6 stitches about 1 cm away from my eye), and i still dont like them, so i guess it comes down to personal preference too.

Im a cat person....

[Psyber]

We have never had a burglary in 20 years of owning Irish Wolfhounds. They don't make a lot of noise and lie around doing nothing a lot of the time, but the word gets around that there is this large dog in that house. The most recent 90cm tall at the shoulder and 80Kg.

They are really gentle with kids and tolerant of yappy little dogs and even cats who live with them, though they'll chase off strange cats.

Check out this style for matrching family to breed:

http://www.petnet.com.au/selectadog.asp

[WRxb0y]

Na, a Shepard is the way to go. I did have two of them way before we had kids. They were both pure breds from breeders, and they had a really good temprement. They both went to dog obedience, and passed with flying colors..
When the kids came around, we had no probs with them. Both the dogs were not raised as savage dogs, however they could turn it on and off when required (ie Intruders etc..)
We taught the kids about not being rough with the dogs, and the dogs loved it as they had an extra playmate to play with.
We however had to have one of the dogs put down, due to arthritis.. unfortunatellt it is a common thing with the breed.

Put it this way.. the Police and RAAF wouldn't use them if they were not good guard dogs !!

[Sojourner]

Ask 100 people what their favourite breed of dog is and you will get 100 different answers! Everyone has their favourite and different experiences.

My above all favourite is a Dalmatian and I am a member of the Dalmatian Club of S.A. Dalmatians are good as "Watchdogs" they will alert you to an intruder, yet as a breed they have no aggressive instincts unless you train them to be which isnt a good idea anyway.

Second on my list would be a "White Shepherd". Same as a German Shepherd only White. German Shepherds were originally bred from Whites, so it is quite possible for Black and Tan parents to give birth to White or even Black pups, they are not Albino, deaf nor prone to skin cancer as some unscrupulous breeders might try to tell you as they justify putting them down based on their colour because that colour doesnt qualify for competition.

A White Shepherd would be a great guard dog as would any Shepherd, as stated above they are not used as police dogs for no reason.

Rottweilers are striking beautifull dogs and great guard dogs, they are a different look these days now that docking has been banned and a rottie has quite a large tail.

A Ridgeback is another good dog, there is a shot of quite a number of them in DiCaprio's new film "Blood Diamond". Only thing to watch with a ridgie is that they attatch to only one person and that may or may not be a problem in a family, depends on the level of attatchment.

Dobermans are a good gaurd dog, so really are any Black and Tan dog, I once knew of a Black and Tan Dashchund that decided that he did not like the idea of the lawnmower bloke inviting himself into the backyard and proceeded to bite him several times drawing a serious amount of blood! Yet if you were known to that dog he was quite friendly!

My advice would be to only go through a breeder, or the club of the breed that you like, often they have ones available for re-housing that are high quality. Failing that the Hahndorf Dog Shelter is always looking for people that will re home their dogs! Somehow if you get a dog from a shelter they are often well aware that they have very much been rescued and are very much loyal companions!

[Psyber]

Ask 100 people what their favourite breed of dog is and you will get 100 different answers! Everyone has their favourite and different experiences. .My above all favourite is a Dalmatian and I am a member of the Dalmatian Club of S.A. Dalmatians are good as "Watchdogs" they will alert you to an intruder, yet as a breed they have no aggressive instincts unless you train them to be which isnt a good idea anyway.

My first wife and I bred Dalmatians. Great dog, very active and energetic, and great escape artists! And it takes years to get the white hair out of your clothes when you no longer have one. I always stop for a pat when I see one, even though my second wife and I moved on to Wolfies. We also had a Scottish Deeerhound at one time.

We are thinking of having a Borzoi next.

[Psyber]

Ooops - it appeared to not "Submit" and just sit there, but when I tried again the post appeared twice!

[Pseudo]

you need one of these hanging on yer front gate: