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

I have a Dutch shepherd x staffy
she doesn't actually bark much but she's very protective. when we're walking in the woods she likes to explore but whenever im walking past someone she will appear out of the bushes until I have walked past the person then go off exploring again.
she's also stopped a workman coming into the house (I didn't want him there) by just standing in front of the door and refusing to move. he soon left. another time I was really busy and said no to a delivery driver giving me a neighbours parcel and he wedged his foot in the door and she just appeared at my side and just gave him this very low warning growl and this stare, again he was off like a shot. she's actually a big softie but she's very good at looking scary when she needs to.

A Northern Inuit- they originate from Husky, Malamute and German Shepherd. We had a lovely girl - sadly passed away now due to old age but she had the gentlest nature. She did look like a big scary wolf though (they later used the breed on game of thrones) and would be bark if needed, so she was a very effective deterrent but fab with the kids. They don’t like being left alone for long periods though so you might need a wee pal to keep one company ;-)

Rhodesian Ridgeback might be a good option. We've had two lovely ones.

German Shepherd. Our dog is nearly 13 and the biggest softy with us and our friends and family. Anyone else and he's either not interested or on guard. Bomb proof with kids, but the best guard dog I've ever known.
Dh used to work away and dd and I would be home alone all week, he saw off one attempted burglar and protected us from an assault by putting himself in between our attacker and dd and I.

I miss my bullmastiff. Soppy arse but she’d scare people frequently with just her size. Massive bark. Terrified of wind and plastic bags though! Very protective of DD but very hard to train

We have a fru fru type dog now - she’s way more viscous.....

We've got Pointers, a German Wirehaired and a German Shorthaired. Both of them are excellent guard dogs in that they'll bark, loudly, if there's a disturbance. They're actually pretty good, they don't make much noise for the postman or visitors, and know if I tell them it's OK and to stay in their beds not to rush the door, but anyone who lingers outside the house they'll bark at. We did have someone come into our garden at around 2am (back of the house, no reason for them to be there) when I was home alone without DH once and the dogs went ballistic, barking and really growling. Whoever it was beat a hasty retreat! They're soft as butter with us, friends, and toddler DS/friends' children though, really fantastic, patient, and kind. The GWP is probably the best guard dog, he's big, hairy, has a huge bark, and is naturally more aloof with strangers, whereas the GSP would like to be a lap dog really. I've no doubt the GWP would have anyone who actually meant us harm. They're not easy dogs, though, clever, stubborn, and bred to work so need lots of space, exercise, and to be kept busy mentally. Our GWP isn't typical of the breed as he's super chilled, but the GSP is "on" constantly and will entertain herself with bad habits if we don't entertain her sufficiently.

I grew up with a GSD. Soft as butter. Apart from the one time she heard me screaming (grandad was pushing me too high on the swing..)
She jumped off a balcony, breaking her leg and dragged herself to me and bit my grandad
She was incredibly gentle but if she felt anyone was threatening she would stand in front of me and look at me and then them to check everything was ok before she went back to sleep with one eye open

Here she is. When she was PTS my dad said he would never ever have another dog, he adored her

A chow chow! They bond with their owners but are wary of strangers. I heard a story about someone’s grandma having a chow that used to put its front paws on visitor’s shoulders and march them back out the house 😂 disagree with the chihuahua comments though, I’ve got one who’s soft as anything and wants to be everyone’s friend. He doesn’t yap, he’d probably welcome a burglar in with lots of licking. Or maybe he’s just a little weirdo! My rescue pug on the other hand is furious and hates everyone. But again I think he’s a quirky individual rather than typical for the breed!

I'd go for a lab or a German Shepard. Both have big, loud, deep barks and can be fiercely loyal to their family, while being total pussy cats when not threatened.

My old lab really showed his protective side when my son was a new born. A male friend visited one day when it was just me and the baby at home. Friend asked for a cuddle of the baby and our lab took exception to this and stood at my friends feet omitting a low growl and staring him out until he gave the baby back to me. Another friend experienced the same with her German Shepard. I have no doubt either dog would have attacked if we were serious under threat but were controlled enough to not to actually attack.

I grew up with a GSD

Me too. The best sibling I could have wished for 😍

As an owner of a Doberman I can attest that their bark is pretty formidable. Ours has seen off a couple of would be intruders but she is fantastic and soft with the DC (who are both pre teens now)

We haven’t had to train her in any sort of protection as she just does it instinctively, she will try to herd the DC when we’re all on walks which I find quite hilarious tbh.

She’s a big, loveable, cuddly, very large lap dog and one of the things I love about her is her gentleness with any smaller (and larger) animals.

However I will say that even though I’ve had dogs all my life she is my first Dobermann and it was quite rough going in the early days and they tend to need air tight boundaries. Once I understood her more it was much easier and training is very easy as she picks things up very quickly.

Jack Russel.

Ours goes fpr the charge and bark to any unusual noise but actually loves people and children.

All staffies and rotties ive come across have always been lovely too but seem pretty daunting

@IceColdFan please post a pic, I am Dobe obsessed 😀

In case you are ever tempted by the suggestion of geese read this first
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3719709-to-be-afraid-of-my-gander

You need to take into account laws around dangerous dogs when planning to buy an animal, anyone who feels even slightly threatened by someone’s dog, even if it’s on it’s own property, can report it and it could end up being executed or having a fine and restrictions imposed on the owners. Local people here have chosen to have alsatians, Akitas and Rottweilers, all of which try to kill nice quiet dogs, and act utterly demented and aggressive as fuck. Sounds like you want an aggressive dog that won’t attack your kids, but it’s always a possibility, so get one of those vicious breeds and cross your fingers.

Forget the dog.
Move somewhere less rural that you don’t feel scared to live.

Have you considered an American Akita? I have 3 Akita's. They're wonderful house dogs, loyal to family, and great with kids. My youngest pup is only 3 months old and he's like a big teddy bear. My older ones are almost 3, they look the part and have a hefty bark, but are in actual fact big soft babies who love to cuddle 😂

Have you considered a rhodesian ridegeback, amazing dogs, family dogs but also lion hunters

I grew up with a Doberman. Looked terrifying, was the softest dog I've ever met to this day. So gentle with new born babies, annoying toddlers and playful kids 😊 he passed away when I was 9, we were all devastated. Only draw back was we were broken into and the dog slept through the whole thing... thieves even passed our tv over the dog's bed!

We now have a border terrier... significantly less terrifying to look at, still very gentle
And good with kids however goes ballistic if anyone so much as looks at our front door. He sleeps in the kitchen and we feel very safe that no one would break in without us knowing well in advance. Would probably be put off by our canine alarm and move on!

No one should ever get a dog as a "guard dog".I'm the partner of a professional security dog handler and I live with their working dogs.A GSD and a Rottweiler no less.I'm genuinely gobsmacked at some of the suggestions on this thread.No police force would rehome a working line dog to a domestic home wanting a "guard dog".Also unless they are a working breed who are being actively worked then they shouldn't be kept outside.A non working dog deserves to be a happy pet.

You want a dog who's great with kids and a good visual deterrent get a french mastiff.We had one,he was enormous but the most beautiful softy you could ever meet.He was so laid back.I genuinely miss him.We had 5 wonderful years with him after adopting him aged 3.

GSD's are loyal dogs and can make fantastic family pets but they can be very indifferent.The current GSD my DH has is very different to the first one.He was affectionate but abit aloof.The current one is only interested in my DH and isn't bother by myself or the kids.They need loads of mental stimulation as well as physical so you'd need to factor this in.

The thing is, with a lot of breeds that people are recommending as being intimidating to intruders, they’re not, because yes they’re high drive alert dogs who would attack an intruder if trained to...but they won’t necessarily alert you that someone is there.

Realistically you either need a properly trained protection dog, which will cost you thousands if you can even find a decent trainer to sell you one...

Or just something noisy.

Intimidating looks do nothing if a dog just sits and watches an intruder silently.

Shar pei’s are beautiful soft family dogs but are protective of their family too. Had a couple and they’re big babies but bark when needed and would instinctively defend if needed tops. My brother has one and had young kids and she has a lovely bond with them. It is important to do research into the breed and the lines as they have a unique personality.

Depends entirely on the dog’s personality, I was brought up with lots of different breeds. The only one that would sound an alert and rip your face off (not literally, but possibly a toe) was a Jack Russell. My Labrador scares people because he’s massive and gets very excited.
I agree with another poster don’t move rural if you’ll be scared. Unless you can afford a fully trained security dog. A dog is a full
time commitment.

Jack Russell, hands down. Except you have children. JRTs are responsible for more dog bites to humans than any other breed. Mostly, I suspect, because they are underrated, and idiots think they're just "cute".

They're the best pets ever (sorry current dog), but if you don't have very good training, and the right animal, any dog can be a liability or a wimp. HTH