Protective family dogs

[Crazymummyto3]

We're considering getting a puppy that will be a family pet primarily but also one that will be protective in terms of a deterrent for burglars etc (I know all dogs will be protective to an extent but we're thinking more along the typical guard dog lines, a bigger dog etc). We were thinking German Shepherd initially but not sure now whether that is the right option for our family. Can anyone recommend another medium/large breed who would be a protector and good family pet with young children?

[Starbonnet123]

Have a look at welsh collies , ours is very soft especially with women and children but very protective of us and our property and my husbands van when he takes him out , he had a howl like a wolf when someone comes to the door

[BPSCSS]

@Puppywithattitude

We have a Vizsla, very living and affectionate with family but has a good guarding instinct. He is aloof with strangers until he gets the vibe that all is well and has a ferocious bark if something unusual is going on outside the house.
We had an attempted break in last year and he was epic.
They are a high energy breed though, don't get one if you can't run him everyday off lead.

Will second a Vizsla, seriously protective but not aggressive- amazing family pets.

[Branleuse]

A really good watchdog means one that barks all the fucking time though, no? A small yappy dog will indeed alert you to every time a leaf blows in the garden

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

My JRT X Dachshund is a fab watchdog - he's previously alerted me to a 2am attempted burglary the moment he opened the garden gate, and I can tell who is at the door by the pitch of his bark (slightly squeaky bark = excited because it's someone he knows and loves; barely bothers woofing or even getting up = lodger, big deep bark = anyone else).

Dachshunds give the biggest, deepest bark per kg - even the postman thought he was much bigger until he actually saw him.

Both JRTs and Dachshunds, however, can be quite variable with children, and are usually absolute twats with cats.

Mini Schnauzers might fit the bill though - they're barky little watchdogs, but don't tend to bite, and make good family pets.

[Branleuse]

staffie. I feel really safe with mine and she genuinely loves the children and is a proper family dog

[Tori2005]

Speaking as an owner of both our GSD looked the part, had the bark but when it came to it was soft as.... lovely with kids. Our terrier, looks like a teddy bear, LOVES kids, super friendly. Amazing watch dog and bark, if you broke in she would easily be bold enough to have a go. GSD would have licked you to death!

[Nonagoninfinity]

I have a mixed breed who is part terrier, part lots of other breeds. She's medium in size but has an incredibly loud bark combined with a terrier's alertness. We love her to bits and she's a complete softy.

Frankly her barking at the door etc mostly just drives us a bit crazy. She did however come into her own the other weekend when a decidedly dodgy character knocked on my mum's door. No doubt the noise she made gave him cause to think twice about coming back (it's just a shame she does the same to literally EVERYONE else)

If it came to it I very much doubt she would 'protect' us as she's a bit of a scaredy-cat but her bark would definitely be a deterrent.

[TheRosariojewels]

My smooth Collie is an excellent watch dog and is very protective. She is by far the best watch dog we have had, much better than our Doberman. We have had her since a puppy and she is great with our children and very tolerant of them. Our very own Lassie! As others have said it you want a proper guard dog they need intensive training.

[lockdownpregnancy]

Well said @TheVanguardSix 👍🏻
I couldn't agree more and similar to what I posted earlier.
I have a male labrador and he's so dopey and soft and just plain lovably stupid but if the doorbell goes off his bark is awesome!
The second you walk through the door it's just kisses from him but for the initial stranger you would definitely be put off entering my home!

[TheVanguardSix]

• scare off

[TheVanguardSix]

German Shepherds are beautiful, but you will have your work cut out for you and if you don't do the time, you'll have a nightmare on your hands. It's become a popular breed around my neck of the woods and I have developed a strong dislike for them because every (local) one, bar one rescue my 87-year-old neighbour has loved and worked with militantly for 10 years (she has been rescuing German Shepherds since the 1970s!) is aggressive. It's not the dogs' fault. It's the owners. They get this breed (or any breed) and they don't put in the work to help the dogs be the best they can be.

If you do get one, do the dog a favour and totally and utterly throw yourself into training it properly. There is no dog so amazing as a beautifully trained German Shepherd.

But my take-home advice would be: Get a male Labrador. They're gentle and loving, playful and sociable, an all-around brilliant family dog... with a perfect bark to scare of intruders and foxes.

[Puppywithattitude]

We have a Vizsla, very living and affectionate with family but has a good guarding instinct. He is aloof with strangers until he gets the vibe that all is well and has a ferocious bark if something unusual is going on outside the house.
We had an attempted break in last year and he was epic.
They are a high energy breed though, don't get one if you can't run him everyday off lead.

[labazsisgoingmad]

a lot to be said for terriers. my little poppy who sadly left us last year after 15 wonderful years was good as gold but certainly let anyone know who came to the house she was looking after us.
one day i was walking home up the old railway line where i used to live. a man was behind me and poppy stood guard against me and would not shift until he had gone past and walked into town.i did not think anything wrong but she obviously sensed something.
our terrier now people are very cautious of him and his bark certainly stops them in their tracks. he is a chihuahua x jack russell. my chihuahua makes a racket when needs be and he would tackle anything!
certainly think about a terrier or a cross breed not one of these posh designer cross breed but a good old fashioned mongrel

[Ihaventgottimeforthis]

Staffy - big bark and can have a threatening appearance to strangers/intruders, but lovely friendly dogs.

[Hoppinggreen]

My Goldie is very soppy and scared of most things but when someone came round the back of the house unexpectedly and he was out there he switched to guard dog mode in an instant. He has also got a bit aggressive when we were walking in the woods and a man came past acting oddly ( was drunk). He stood between us and the man and wouldnt let him past.
So you could have a GSD who wont protect you or a soppy Retriever who will.

[KitchenConfidential]

What are you meaning when you want protection?

Generally speaking, mixing a dog whose job is “protection” and expecting it to be a family friendly pet is a recipe for disaster.

[AriettyHomily]

My terrier is far more of a guard dog tan many of the big dogs I know!

[RunningFromInsanity]

Quite honestly a protective guarding breed is the last thing you want with children.
People get shepherds and cane corsos as they are great ‘guard’ dogs and then wonder why they act aggressively towards visitors to the house, and suddenly your children can’t have play mates over.

Pretty much any breed of dog from Doberman to chihuahua will bark if someone tries to break in your house.

Get a breed that suits your life style and exercise regime, and they will protect your house anyway.
A large dog and small children is a terrible idea.
Get a small/medium family friendly breed that you can actually enjoy.

If you are real user on a guarding breed, have you thought about a standard schnauzer? They do require a lot of training (as do most dogs)

[Spudlet]

@Saucery He was absolutely wonderful. Sadly, his breeder passed away many years ago or I would go to her for a puppy. Her dogs were wonderful.

Ddog is a spaniel and he is wonderful too, but if we have another after him (I don’t know if we’ll be able to, it depends how work and job hunting goes on) I’d love another lab. And if I can find one with her strain in its pedigree somewhere (that also meets all the other criteria above!) I’ll be well pleased.

[vanillandhoney]

What do you mean by protective?

Do you mean a breed that sounds off-putting (eg loud, deep bark) or an actual guard dog? Because dogs bred to guard (German shepherds, dobermans etc.) aren't the easiest of pets and if you don't train them properly then you could have a real problem on your hands).

But like PP said, labradors have deep barks and can "look" intimidating but will be soft as anything with your DC.

[Saucery]

@Spudlet, he sounds fabulous ❤️.
My Lab would be very wary of men when we were out together. Fine if they had a dog with them, uncharacteristically watchful and aloof if they didn’t.

[Grumpsy]

With the GSD though, unless you’re willing to put the time and effort in, and get support From a good trainer who knows the breed I wouldn’t advise.

They are big dogs, and extremely intelligent. There id a reason that there are a lot of GSDs in rescues, and that’s because people severely underestimate the effort required

[Abraid2]

My small terrier polices the whole village. Nothing gets past her, not even leaves or dustbins. Not a chance she’d let someone in to the house without a noise. Once they’re in and accepted by us, she’s soft as butter.

[Grumpsy]

I have a GSD. They are incredible with children.

Most people are terrified of him because of his sheer size and deafeningly loud bark (and he looks like a lion) but he’s soft as a brush in reality.

[StarSpangled372]

My spaniel/terrier cross is one hell of a guard dog!