Should I have a guard dog?

[WiseOwl]

My buddy has a 130lbs bouvie (sp) and he is as sweet as can be but will beat someone into submission. This dog is super trained, loves kids and my buddy has funny lil code words that he uses. But that dog is awesome. If you know the history on them they are sheep dogs but they dont nip at the sheep, they head butt. This dog has knocked me on my butt many times and almost broke my leg once just bumping into me.....he is fast, agile and very very very protective. If they werent so big, we would get one!

[huckridge]

Monkeybird, you are absolutely correct about the training. The more I read about the Boerboel the more it sounds perfect. There's a breeder close to where I work so I think I'll go take a look and see how they react when I'm introduced. I do like the German Shepherds as well.

Thanks for the input.

[monkeybird]

If you get a dog for protection, be sure the dog is WELL TRAINED and bred for that purpose. I had a wonderful dog that would attack anyone who came on my property without my permission. He had no training, it was just his nature. After he dies, I purchased his great nephew who looks like his clone, but won't hurt a living soul. He's loving and sweet, but except for barking if someone approaches, his nature is to lick you and wag his tail.

Training is the key. If I were alone a lot, I'd want a dog for protection. But I'd have to find someone who knew what they were doing to train it.

[snarlbuckle]

We have always had dogs. That would be plural, yes, at the moment we have four. All our dogs were/are rescues and most have been protective. We have never been burglarized, either in South Florida or where we live now. They stay inside the house, and go outside when the wife is out taking care of the livestock or doing chores.
All dogs have different personalities, but the best protective ones we have had was Buster the boxer/bull dog (now deceased), and our current boxer Sweetie.
Boxers are loyal, good with kids, patient but stubborn, very smart. I could not imagine life without a boxer or boxer mix.
Besides, REAL men have 75 pound lap dogs!;)

I'll second that!

[rice paddy daddy]

We have always had dogs. That would be plural, yes, at the moment we have four. All our dogs were/are rescues and most have been protective. We have never been burglarized, either in South Florida or where we live now. They stay inside the house, and go outside when the wife is out taking care of the livestock or doing chores.
All dogs have different personalities, but the best protective ones we have had was Buster the boxer/bull dog (now deceased), and our current boxer Sweetie.
Boxers are loyal, good with kids, patient but stubborn, very smart. I could not imagine life without a boxer or boxer mix.
Besides, REAL men have 75 pound lap dogs!;)

[snarlbuckle]

Yes. I think that dogs make great alarm systems and great deterrents. My home security system consists of a dog with razor sharp senses named Rex and a 12 gauge. As an intruder, I would be pretty scared with 55lbs of 'mean dog' barking, growling, and clawing at me while I hear a guy yelling "Get em Rex!" and racking the slide of a shotgun.

The best part is that he's cuddly as all get out when its just me and 'approved' people at the house.

[eeyore]

I have a German Shepherd, very happy with her in every way. My only real failing with her is i did not provide enough training when she was young, it is clearly my fault not hers

[EX121]

Trunkmonkey, I wonder if they make a pick-up truck bed version?

[MustangGal]

ROFLMBO! I NEED one of those! LOL!

[huckridge]

Thanks MustangGal, you're right about the small dogs as well, we had Cavalier King Charles Spaniels that would lick you to death, but they did alway let us know when someone was coming up. We are also very aware of the responsiblity of the animals when things do go bad, we have horses, goats, chickens, sold all my cows due to drought, but I feel the protection I need to have for my wife trumps those decisions about what to do later. I also agree on the training part.

Matt In Oklahoma, Grandchildren and visiting children will alway be a concern and you are right about certain breeds. I've worked with too many chimps to even consider a trunk monkey, ha..ha man they can be some nasty critters.

[610Alpha]

Oh yeah I have got to get me a couple of those!!!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

IMO You need to take into consideration children or the possibility of children in the furture. There are breeds, such as chows that come to mind, that do not do well and develop tempers with age. Other than that it comes down to personal preference, all have strengths and weakness.

Maybe a trunk monkey :)

[610Alpha]

There have been similar burglaries in my area. My FIL showed the MIL how to load the shotgun...whoopty doopty imo....she needs to learn how to shoot it and should practice with it. I try to encourage them as much as possible but what do you do.

Looks like a good breed....definitely want one that will alert you so even a yipper dog that barks at everything would be helpful...I don't think that is what you are aiming at. You sound like you want one that will alert and protect. I would be much less likely to take a swing at this breed vs a yipper. I would love to have a dog but we live in town and I feel that it is wrong to have a dog in town where they can't run. I grew up with farm dogs that came in and out of the house and were free to roam the farm as they saw fit.

[MustangGal]

I love my GSD, but the most protective dog I ever had was an Akita. He was never really threatening to anyone who was not aggressive, but he would place himself directly between me and anyone he didn't know. Never growled or acted agressive, but if they had done something he thought was a threat to me, I have no doubt he would have attacked. Akitas are not known for being good with other dogs, though.

There is a huge difference in a dog for portection and a watch dog. A tiny Chihuahua could be a great watch dog, and could even deter the less determined.

Of course, you have to be sure you provide for your canine after TEOWAWKI or have a plan to euthanize. I think dogs could be a liablity and an asset in a PAW. A liability in that you have to provide for them, they could give away your position, they could indicate you have some supplies (after everyone else has eaten their pets), etc. On the other hand, a well trained dog could be a huge asset.

Training now would be one of your most important preps for your K9 companion.

[huckridge]

I hope this is the correct place to start this thread, if not will an admin. please move it the approriate place. I've looked and couln't find anything listed on here about this.

Here's the situation. I am gone 12 to 14hrs a day and my wife is home taking care of the home front. I read in our small local paper yesterday about a number of burglaries in our area. This seems to happening more often. It sounds like most thefts are for items that can turn a quick dollar. Things like window ac units, tools,etc...anything that quick to grab and go. We have a Border Collie that is a great companion but does not alert us at all when someone approachs. My wife does know how to protect herself and will (think 12ga), but I'm thinking of getting a dog that is specifically a breed that is a companion and also a guardian.

We live in a rural area with few neighbors, none within shouting distance. We've only had 911 for a few years (I don't count on that anyway) and our Sheriff's dept. which are all great guys have only 6 deputies to patrol the whole county. With this being said, we rely on ourselves to protect ourselves.

Any thoughts or suggestions will be helpful. One breed I considering is a Boerboel.

Thanks