If you was to recommend a ‘guard dog’ which breed would it be?

[Chezacheza]

I’m separating from my husband but he isn’t moving out till new year. Me and my two dc under ten will be moving quite rurally and I’m a bit worried about being in my own with the two kids at night.

The dog will be a house dog, we will have lots of space outside. I don’t want it to actually attack people just put people off thinking about breaking in.

Growing up abroad we had pit bulls but I know they are banned here. We never had any issues with them and found them really intelligent, loving funny dogs which I still feel really fondly about.

What dogs have you got that look like they would be a problem but are actually daft idiots

Thanks

Jack Russell. No competition 😂

South African mastiffs / boerboels - beautiful dogs, fantastic family dogs. Short haired, trainable, excellent with kids. Look the part.

@magicstar1

A German Shepherd. They’re the most loyal, protective dogs ... but they have a soft, silky, playful side too.

I’ve always considered this breed but worry about arthritis.

I’d love love love another pit but obviously I can’t have one here. Bloody idiots ruined it

That's a good point about the geese.

I've found female boxers to be protective and vocal, while also being very soft with loved ones.

Unless you rear a dog from a pup, any dog big enough to look menacing could pose a threat to young children.
Far too many end up in rescue. Maybe a burglar alarm or CCTV would act as a deterrent.

@Moreisnnogedag

South African mastiffs / boerboels - beautiful dogs, fantastic family dogs. Short haired, trainable, excellent with kids. Look the part.

Oh what a fine dog! I shall have a read about him.

Staffies make crap guard dogs, they would just shriek and lick an intruder to death.

I wouldn't go for a rottie either, they don't tend to bark and they are not a breed for novices. They are difficult to read - i say this as someone who owned two and i work with dogs. But then you are used to pitties - their personality is more akin to the staffy.

What about an american bulldog? If you like dogs that are mad as a box of frogs, good natured but a formidable size. No good with small children though, would definitely play skittles with them.

Id honestly go for a labrador, will be a good family dog and protective .

GSD and dobermans are intelligent yet highly strung dogs that can tend towards nervousness.

Saying all that, every dog is an individual.

If you want a fearless dog that wont hesitate to rip someone's fave off, go for a Chihuahua

Really the best guard dog for your property is just one that barks a lot but then you have to put up with them barking a lot as they dont know the difference between the postman and a burglar.

In which case you want a standard dachshund. Most bark (quantity and volume) per pound of dog.

@Chezacheza have you investigated the crime rate for the area you’re moving to? I’m a country girl at heart and have always felt safer here than when I’ve lived in a city. In 37 years in the same house my parents have had nothing worse than an opportunistic theft from their unlocked garage about 24 years ago. A motion-sensor outside light and a gravel driveway seem to be enough of a deterrent since. In my own house (12 years) I’ve even managed to leave my keys in the outside of the front door overnight, because I’m an idiot.

Nothing wrong with getting a dog if you want one, and it makes you feel safer, just wanted to reassure you that it’s generally pretty safe out here in the sticks anyway. I hope it’s a lovely fresh start for you and your dc

Omg the south African mastiff - absolutely stunning creatures. I met one, soft as a teddy bear, happy for cudfles etc however the owner said he was quite scary if anyone went on their property. I imagine they would cost £££s

My daughter has two Spaniels and a Lhasa Apso. Lovely dogs, but they make a hell of a noise if anyone comes near the house. Surely you want dogs to raise the alarm, not to savage people.

@VeggieSausageRoll

Jack Russell. No competition 😂

I had one called trixi and when I think about her it still cracks me up. Every time I would leave the house she would drag a pillow of the couch and start humping it. I used to watch her through the window then knock on it loudly and show my stern face and she would slink of your her bed - shame faced! 😂😂

[quote Sunbird24]@Chezacheza have you investigated the crime rate for the area you’re moving to? I’m a country girl at heart and have always felt safer here than when I’ve lived in a city. In 37 years in the same house my parents have had nothing worse than an opportunistic theft from their unlocked garage about 24 years ago. A motion-sensor outside light and a gravel driveway seem to be enough of a deterrent since. In my own house (12 years) I’ve even managed to leave my keys in the outside of the front door overnight, because I’m an idiot.

Nothing wrong with getting a dog if you want one, and it makes you feel safer, just wanted to reassure you that it’s generally pretty safe out here in the sticks anyway. I hope it’s a lovely fresh start for you and your dc[/quote]
It’s actually a really quite area. I think she will be for comfort more than anything.

Leonbergers are my favourite big breed. Gorgeous dogs and soft as butter but they look intimidating.

@ErrolTheDragon

Really the best guard dog for your property is just one that barks a lot but then you have to put up with them barking a lot as they dont know the difference between the postman and a burglar.

In which case you want a standard dachshund. Most bark (quantity and volume) per pound of dog.

They are wonderful dogs - we had them growing up and so long as you socialise them and train them they are fantastic. Big softies but with a proper bark.

Just one word of caution carefully select your breeder - they can be bred as pure property guard dogs and you are much better going to a breeder that breeds for family dogs. Tbf you can normally tell by the website.

@ShesMadeATwatOfMePam

Leonbergers are my favourite big breed. Gorgeous dogs and soft as butter but they look intimidating.

Shall have a look!

This thread is so interesting thank you!

@Moreisnnogedag

They are wonderful dogs - we had them growing up and so long as you socialise them and train them they are fantastic. Big softies but with a proper bark.

Just one word of caution carefully select your breeder - they can be bred as pure property guard dogs and you are much better going to a breeder that breeds for family dogs. Tbf you can normally tell by the website.

Thank you.

@TheoriginalLEM they are in the £1.5 - 2k region for breeders that register them with the South African kennel club equivalent. Partly though it puts people off buying them for property protection.

I’m busy saving up

Definitely a group of geese. They are weapons-grade loud and fucking scary- you could put them at the bottom of your garden. The people near us (in the Highlands) when I was growing up had geese and they were fabulous.

Another vote for the German shepherd. Generally good with other dogs & stable, highly intelligent, very protective & if you train them well very very good guard dogs that can be agressive when needed but not when not. Just a really good all around dog.

We had our flats fenced off around the garden (in notting hill) for Carnival every year & had a guard with GS inside. Ive got a smallish terrier & the dog watched my little one snuffle around looking very unimpressed. He even made an almost growling sound at her at one point.

Anyway, I got chatting to the guard & asked if he minded looking after my terrier while I popped out for a bit. When I got back after an hour or so & the two were sitting there good as gold, side by side. Ive never seen her so well behaved! Generally just very sound dogs.

Dobermanns are sweet, & Rotwelliers cabn be lovely too. But GS have the edge for me.

@TheoriginalLEM

Staffies make crap guard dogs, they would just shriek and lick an intruder to death.

I wouldn't go for a rottie either, they don't tend to bark and they are not a breed for novices. They are difficult to read - i say this as someone who owned two and i work with dogs. But then you are used to pitties - their personality is more akin to the staffy.

What about an american bulldog? If you like dogs that are mad as a box of frogs, good natured but a formidable size. No good with small children though, would definitely play skittles with them.

Id honestly go for a labrador, will be a good family dog and protective .

GSD and dobermans are intelligent yet highly strung dogs that can tend towards nervousness.

Saying all that, every dog is an individual.

If you want a fearless dog that wont hesitate to rip someone's fave off, go for a Chihuahua

Tbh I think I’d be scared of a rotty. Even though a friend has one and is soft as muck I’ve seen two that were ruined really by their owner and it frightened me. I’ve had pits and never seen that behaviour of mine - but then I never kept mine in cages and used to carry them around as puppies in my dressing gown pockets when I got up!

Chihuahua - no chance it will bite my kids!

I have an Akita. I wouldn't really recommend it as a dog, particularly for first timer. He is the trickiest dog I have ever come across but in time we are bonding and he's becoming a great version of the breed. I'm missing the cuddles that my Rottweiler insisted on.

That being said, he is an excellent guard dog. He watches. Only barks when necessary and could kill ten men I'm sure. They don't trust strangers and are wary of anyone on the property. He also howls like a wolf so that scares people.

Google Belgian mals for the best attack dog but they take some training. I think more than an Akita bit my vet has two and jokes they would never get an Akita.

Seriously, though, I'd just get a Labrador. They have a really impressive bark but are also obvs v trainable so you could programme them to bark whenever there was a person loitering.

They'd actually be delighted to meet a burglar and probably show them straight to the telly in exchange for cheese and a friendly word, but the intruder hopefully wouldn't realise that and be scared off!

No knowledge of guard dogs but my parents have had a few Leonbergers as they bred them they are huge, adorable, hug monsters and fantastic with kids the adults always came over to investigate crying children, but they sound as big as they are so an excellent deterrent and they weigh so much even jumping up to welcome an intruder (very possible they would) they'd likely knock him down. They are very passive but can be a bit bit slobbery, that trait seems to vary quite a lot between individuals though.