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Old 11-01-2008, 07:26 PM   #1
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Default I Need a Guard Dog (smarty gets serious here)

I need a guard dog. I live in the safest part of a dangerous city. I'd rather not give more specs about the area b/c I'm terrified and getting paranoid. In the last year, someone was mugged and shot right on my street in the daylight, my downstairs neighbor had his apt broken into while he was there, another neighbor's car was stolen, and there are petty crimes too. I do my best not to walk any place alone and have some sense of security living on an upper floor. In about 6 months I'll be in a position to move to a different city, but I'm scared to buy a house in any area now b/c it's easy for anyone to break into a first floor window or door. I do have an alarm system, but it doesn't do much good b/c it took the police 40 minutes to get here when 911 was told the first floor intruder was still in my building.

I saw a story on CNN today about a woman whose German Shepard attacked a man who was in the process of raping her in her own home (with her infant son in the same room). I have no doubt she and her baby would have been attacked further and likely killed if not for the dog.

Thus, I want a guard dog. He will have a yard, but will sleep inside. I will go to whatever training necessary to keep and train him. I will never leave him unsupervised with any smaller dog. I'm obviously writing this in a mindset of being terrified in my apt every night for the last 3 years, worsening in the past year. I will certainly do my homework before taking any steps to getting a guard dog.

Please, I just wanted to share and ask if any of you have experience owning larger "guard" dogs. what breeds are the best in terms of guarding? (In terms of just "watching" I think yorkies are great b/c they bark at intruders, but I want a deterrent "guard" dog too). Thanks so much!
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Old 11-01-2008, 07:32 PM   #2
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We have 2 Boxers, 1 Doberman, and of course my Holly girl! My hubby wanted a dobie not only because he had one several years ago, and wanted to own another, but because of they being a guard dog. Our boxers will bark and act very mean but basically they will lick you to death if you come in the house. Training has been good with Bella (Doberman) so far. But anyways, here is a link, I am sure among many that you could find about guard dogs. This is the top 10 Best guard dogs, Dobermans were #2 (hubby saw and was very proud of that fact, a guy thing i reckon) so...here it is.
Top 10 Best Guard Dog Breeds
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Old 11-01-2008, 07:34 PM   #3
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If you want a dog to protect you it has to be your friend a dog will protect it's owner that cares for it not just throws it in a yard & feeds it. You will just end up with an aggressive dog that will be in the papers one for killing someone.
There is no reason at all you can't have a large breed with a small one Just never leave them unattended & teach it to be gentle.
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Old 11-01-2008, 08:47 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by browniesmom622 View Post
If you want a dog to protect you it has to be your friend a dog will protect it's owner that cares for it not just throws it in a yard & feeds it. You will just end up with an aggressive dog that will be in the papers one for killing someone.
There is no reason at all you can't have a large breed with a small one Just never leave them unattended & teach it to be gentle.
No, no-- I apologize that I wasn't clear at all. I'd never just leave a dog outside. I meant that he wouldn't be stuck in a small apt or house all day. He'd have roomy inside and outside places to call his own, in addition to our walks. I would absolutely love on him a lot!
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Old 11-01-2008, 08:49 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rscaggs View Post
We have 2 Boxers, 1 Doberman, and of course my Holly girl! My hubby wanted a dobie not only because he had one several years ago, and wanted to own another, but because of they being a guard dog. Our boxers will bark and act very mean but basically they will lick you to death if you come in the house. Training has been good with Bella (Doberman) so far. But anyways, here is a link, I am sure among many that you could find about guard dogs. This is the top 10 Best guard dogs, Dobermans were #2 (hubby saw and was very proud of that fact, a guy thing i reckon) so...here it is.
Top 10 Best Guard Dog Breeds
Great link--thanks so much! I'm glad to hear your crew gets along well! I really like doberman.... Another dog I've always been obsessed with is the akita, but i've never seen it on guard dog lists. Maybe it's not common enough..
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Old 11-01-2008, 08:55 PM   #6
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Sweetie, I think we all understand what you are saying. Think it was just a side comment. Since you are a single female, (I assume) I don't blame you. Once our daughter gets out of pharm school and has a job with her own apartment, I wouldn't mind if she wanted a doggie to protect her. I wonder if it is possible to just get a larger doggie from a rescue and train it in obedience. I know I have heard of mixed breed doggies protecting their owners. Just a though. Sooo sorry that you are scared. Not a good way to live. Glad you have light at the end of the tunnel. Hugs, Joanne
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Old 11-01-2008, 08:59 PM   #7
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I know of at least 3 Akitas in our small town. Two just moved in right across the street from us. Scares me to death. They seemed friendly enough one morning when they were lose out of their pen, but I am so scared of them being around my Yorkies. I have two senior girls that would just as soon bite another dog than look at it. Size doesn't matter. After the first bite the deal would be on.
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Old 11-02-2008, 12:40 AM   #8
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I know someone with Akita's and they can be very intimidating! Especially the big boy dog! There are lots in our area and I find the dark coloured (black/brown brindle) to be the most menacing looking, though they can be good dogs if well trained. Kahn one of our friends dogs will let anyone in but once there he will pin you up against the wall and keep you there til told its okay (and this is how he treats friends!!!)! They have a very loud voice and appear very frightening and I'm sure they would protect their home and owner if anyone were brave enough to break in, my friends dogs have never been tested though as the mere sight and sound of them is enough to deter anyone!!!
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Old 11-02-2008, 04:42 AM   #9
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I know someone with Akita's and they can be very intimidating! Especially the big boy dog! There are lots in our area and I find the dark coloured (black/brown brindle) to be the most menacing looking, though they can be good dogs if well trained. Kahn one of our friends dogs will let anyone in but once there he will pin you up against the wall and keep you there til told its okay (and this is how he treats friends!!!)! They have a very loud voice and appear very frightening and I'm sure they would protect their home and owner if anyone were brave enough to break in, my friends dogs have never been tested though as the mere sight and sound of them is enough to deter anyone!!!
Joanne, thanks so much for the support. Yup, I'm a single gal (hmmm, gotta work on the single part ) 2 akitas would be a lot for anyone to handle-- i'd be concerned for your girls too if they got off there leashes

Piptickle, thanks for the input -- "Kahn" is such a great name for a big dog! Cracks me up, though being pinned down wouldn't.... hmm more food for thought. The 2 I fell in love with when I was a child were ice white, but they don't look as menacing as the darker ones!
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Old 11-02-2008, 05:48 AM   #10
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There is a very intimidating but very gentle breed called Leonberger. Those dogs are about the size of a Saint Bernard or a Mastiff but don't slobber. They are very family oriented, can be kept in an appartment (just take everything in tail height off the shelfs ) and need not as much exercise as a German Shepherd or a Doberman. Once they are trained they will protect you with the sheer mass of their body and a scaringly big mouth in a head the size of a Yorkie. On the other hand they are called the 'gentle giants'. I have had such a Leonberger and she was the best dog I ever had (before I had Yorkies of course .) Funny thing was that her best friend was a Yorkie and it was hilarious to watch them play. Downside of this dogs is that they need to be groomed a lot and shed quite a bit in spring...
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Old 11-02-2008, 05:54 AM   #11
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I had a Shar-pei and she was serious guard dog, but she was also very aggressive with everything but her family and children. I could tell you all kinds of stories! She was a fighting dog and she was not trained that way either. We gave her all the love, food, water, and TLC she could ask for, but she just turned out mean. When my mom would answer the door, she would charge in front and stand right beside her. Right before my mom would answer the door, my dog would look at her as if to say "Just say the word and I will."
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Old 11-02-2008, 05:57 AM   #12
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I also heard that black dogs are more likely to be passed up in the shelters because they look intimidating. My friend said that she takes her big black lab and her friend's big black dog out on walks and people will cross the street to avoid her. Maybe get a big black dog?
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Old 11-02-2008, 05:58 AM   #13
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We use to have a Siberian Husky(he looked exactly like a wolf)...and people use to be afraid to enter our house. Little did they know our Siberian would have let anyone rob our house as long as they threw him a steak on their way out LoL BUT it was good knowing that people were afraid of him. Have you thought of buying a BEWARE OF DOG Sign and putting it on your door? Sometimes thiefs are deterred just by seeing that. (even if you dont have a large dog)
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Old 11-02-2008, 06:02 AM   #14
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Have you thought of buying a BEWARE OF DOG Sign and putting it on your door? Sometimes thiefs are deterred just by seeing that. (even if you dont have a large dog)
That's a great idea and there are also devices that simulate the bark of a bunch of big dogs...
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Old 11-02-2008, 06:24 AM   #15
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I also read about black dogs being passed up in shelters. When I was pregnant with my first child, I had a black lab/german shepherd mix named Peewee. He was amazing!

My first husband and I worked weird shifts - I came home to an empty house at 10m. I got home one night and PeeWee came running up to the car (my first clue - he was OUT of the house) When I tried to get out of the car, he leaned against me and absolutely would NOT let me enter the house. He actually growled at me and kept pushing me back to the car.

I finally went to the neighbor's house (before cell phones in 1975) and her husband walked with me to the house and, yes, it had been broken into. Nothing was taken, and I don't think the burglar made it into the house - the bathroom window was broken and open, but you could see on the wall inside where Peewee had scratched it up going after the burglar thru the window.

Peewee was my hero! When my son was born he thought the baby belonged to him! My son learned how to walk holding onto his collar and he was a great babysitter!

I know this is long - but I believe you can have a great guard dog and also a beloved family pet at the same time.

Good luck in your search.
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