Which breed is the best choice for him?

Benign · 05-25-2007, 06:24 AM

Hi:
A friend of mine is a rich man with a big house and average sized yard. He needs a family pet and a guard dog. He never had a dog before and never had the experience with keeping a dog. As he is a newbie I suggested a Boxer but it seems his family doesn't like the bully type face (which I personaly love them).
What do you suggest? As I mentined the guarding ability plus being very safe with a human family who has no dog experience are the major issues.
What breeds do you suggest for such a family. He is trying to read some articles / books about training but I'm sure it will take a real world experience that he understands the mind of a dog so I think a very dominant dog like Giant Schnauzer won't work for him. Please let me know what do you think is the best breed for him.

Thanks
Benign

RonE · 05-25-2007, 06:36 AM

A "guard dog" implies some very specialized training and a dog that will attack on command. A "watch dog" is a dog that will bark, and perhaps sound threatening, to alert the family of strangers in the area. They are two very different beasts.

A basset hound, with its deep, thundering voice, can be very efficient in the second capacity.

Benign · 05-25-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

A "guard dog" implies some very specialized training and a dog that will attack on command. A "watch dog" is a dog that will bark, and perhaps sound threatening, to alert the family of strangers in the area. They are two very different beasts.

A basset hound, with its deep, thundering voice, can be very efficient in the second capacity.

Unfortunately in his country there is no pro trainer available for everyone. He has to import the dog and train it (with the help of some amature trainers).
He will need a watch dog as you said not a guard dog and of course he loves to have a family pet.
Thanks
Benign

sheltiemom · 05-25-2007, 07:26 AM

What does everyone need guard dogs for? I'm not meaning to be rude, I'd just like to know, because it seems alot of people are asking about guard dogs lately. Personally, I'd recommend looking for a nice family pet and then getting an alarm system, especially for a first time dog owner or a family with kids. Most breeds of dog will bark if someone approaches their house and be somewhat of a deterrant anyway.

OK, nevermind, I see you said watchdog in your next post. Again, if he just needs an alarm barker, most any breed will do. What are some of the other things he's looking for?

Jen D · 05-25-2007, 07:54 AM

Labs are a good first dog but like most dogs they need exercise not just running around on their own in the yard. I had a Lab for about 16yrs and she was very protective and goood with the kids.

Amaya-Mazie-Marley · 05-25-2007, 08:20 AM

I agree, as far as a watch dog, most any dog will do. I've had a variety of breeds over the years, and they were all very good about alerting me when they felt I needed to be alerted. Are there any more specifics he's looking for besides a great family dog and a watch dog?

Benign · 05-25-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amaya-Mazie-Marley

I agree, as far as a watch dog, most any dog will do. I've had a variety of breeds over the years, and they were all very good about alerting me when they felt I needed to be alerted. Are there any more specifics he's looking for besides a great family dog and a watch dog?

The main issues are :
The dog should be easy to handle, because the owner is not experienced.
The dog scares the intruders effectively, because the house is big and the intruders are attracted to the area very much.
The dog can bond to the whole family, because the family love to have a pet while never had one so they have no idea how a dominant breed can take advantage of them. There is no small kid in the house but the women of the family are basicly worried that they can't bond with the dog properly if he is too tough.
I know some of their thoughts migh look stupid but the truth is in their area/country keeping a watch dog / family pet is a growing culture and people aren't familiar to the dog psychology and their thoughts are based on the movies and they think all guard dogs are like tough Rottweilers or Dobermans and all family pets are like small Chihuahuas or Toy poodles. Labradors are extremely rare in the country. The herding dogs which are used as guard/watch dogs in the country are GSD/local herding dog mutts. Some kangals are found but they are rare too.
Thanks
Benign

briteday · 05-25-2007, 08:55 AM

OK, give us some additional clues...where do they live?

Amaya-Mazie-Marley · 05-25-2007, 08:58 AM

Exactly what country are they in? I honestly wouldn't reccomed anything to them like a Rottweiler or a Doberman because they require ALOT of training and wouldn't be good for a first time owner. I'm not really sure what breeds to reccomend. It sounds to me like they want a dog who will scare people away, so in my mind I'm thinking great dane and bull mastiff, thats about the size of dog that scares people away. Not very many people are afraid of dogs anymore, unless the dog is obviously an agressive dog. It sounds horrible, but if someone is really intent on breaking into someones house, a dog isn't going to stop them.

Benign · 05-25-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amaya-Mazie-Marley

Exactly what country are they in? I honestly wouldn't reccomed anything to them like a Rottweiler or a Doberman because they require ALOT of training and wouldn't be good for a first time owner. I'm not really sure what breeds to reccomend. It sounds to me like they want a dog who will scare people away, so in my mind I'm thinking great dane and bull mastiff, thats about the size of dog that scares people away. Not very many people are afraid of dogs anymore, unless the dog is obviously an agressive dog. It sounds horrible, but if someone is really intent on breaking into someones house, a dog isn't going to stop them.

He lives in Iran (middle east). Kepping guard dogs is becoming more and more popular and some starter breeders are working hard to feed the market but first of all the quality of the dogs they offer is not good plus there is no reasonable training classes in Iran. Most of the dogs that are offered here are mutts with recognizable GSD parts. Most of the muts have poor quality. I suggested him Golden Retriever or a Black Labrador Retriever. The reason is he is a first time dog owner and I think the breeds I mentioned are not so hard to handle (at least much easier than herding dogs like GSDs or very strong dogs like Rottweilers) and the Black lab will scare people because of the color and size and people have no clue how sweet a lab could be.
Do you think it's a good advice?
Thanks
Benign

chucky · 05-25-2007, 12:36 PM

there is no single breed that will meet all your reqirements, guard dogs, are not easy trained, and will not bond to ppl who are scared of them, actually i think females who don,t feel comfortable, around big dog will be first ones to get bitten, or worst.
also there is no dog that will stop determined intruder, all can be disabled one way or another.
what he wants doesn,t exist, he better of getting a cat and an ak47.

PsiElement · 05-25-2007, 01:13 PM

I think the best type of guard dog is one that barks a lot.. in the US I saw a survey once that houses with small dogs are the least likely to be burglarized.. because they bark and yip so much more on average than any other dog.

RonE · 05-25-2007, 01:50 PM

I've heard that, too.

Big dogs tend to think they can handle the situation themselves and don't bark to request backup. Esther rarely barks. Zeke (miniature schnauzer) barks at everything.

Snowshoe · 05-25-2007, 02:04 PM

Wow, those are alot of requirments from the dog.

Labs aren't meant to be guard dogs. I'm not sure that all labs would be good guard dogs, or even watch dogs.

Goldens are horrid watch dogs. They're so sweet natured, but they're also not protective either. (well, most of the better bred ones I've met would just let you do anything).

I'm not sure what to tell you. As been suggested before, guard dogs like Dobermans and Rottweilers are not easy to train. They require a firm hand.

Both CAN make great family dogs with the right family. They are not good "novice" dogs.

Benign · 05-25-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowshoe

Wow, those are alot of requirments from the dog.

Labs aren't meant to be guard dogs. I'm not sure that all labs would be good guard dogs, or even watch dogs.

Goldens are horrid watch dogs. They're so sweet natured, but they're also not protective either. (well, most of the better bred ones I've met would just let you do anything).

I'm not sure what to tell you. As been suggested before, guard dogs like Dobermans and Rottweilers are not easy to train. They require a firm hand.

Both CAN make great family dogs with the right family. They are not good "novice" dogs.

Yeah. If I had his house with the garden I would love to have a Doberman. (in the proper hand I believe there is no dog above a well trained doberman) Or maybe a bull mastiff or a great English Staffordshire Terrier. But he is a newbie and a dobe will train him instead!!!
Thanks
Benign

taurus · 05-25-2007, 03:09 PM

i recommend a german shephard. sounds like the right dog in all that you ask for

what is a gaurd dog for? to attack if someone intrudes.
not all thieves and robbers have guns.
i have personally been robbed by guys with knives, and what i believe was a fake gun, my family has been tied up and robbed on mothers day.

personally i know bad things can happen and that a good gaurd dog will keep most thieves away. if they are so determined that they use a gun and shoot the dog. my good nieghboors will call 911 and i will be held on to my 9mm.

again most thieves in my area will not attemp robbery if there is a gaurd dog home.

RonE · 05-25-2007, 03:14 PM

I think we're drowning in testosterone here.

taurus · 05-25-2007, 03:23 PM

why? because i've had bad experiences? or because i like to have a gaurd dog?

chucky · 05-25-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taurus

i recommend a german shephard. sounds like the right dog in all that you ask for

what is a gaurd dog for? to attack if someone intrudes.
not all thieves and robbers have guns.
i have personally been robbed by guys with knives, and what i believe was a fake gun, my family has been tied up and robbed on mothers day.

personally i know bad things can happen and that a good gaurd dog will keep most thieves away. if they are so determined that they use a gun and shoot the dog. my good nieghboors will call 911 and i will be held on to my 9mm.

again most thieves in my area will not attemp robbery if there is a gaurd dog home.

it isn,t your area where the guy lives, he is in iran,
you don,t need gun to disable a dog, any dog.

taurus · 05-25-2007, 03:34 PM

i was just anwering the question whats the need for a gaurd dog.

you dont need a gun to disable a dog, nor a man. but a man can fight and win and so can a dog

i know of people who would rob a house if the home looked vacant but with a big dog barking, they would rather look elsewere