Is a larger dog right for us?

[PallyRoe]

This has been a topic of conversation in our house for a while, but we seem to keep going round in circles. Apologies in advance if the post is too long.

For context - we currently live in a three bedroom Victorian terrace with a small to medium garden (not a postage stamp but not huge either). We will likely be living here for the next five years but then plan to move somewhere a bit more rural and a larger house. Luckily we live very near to a large country park.

We are in the position of having lots of time. DH works from home and I’m currently a part time student.

Two dc aged 11 and 8.

Currently have a 3 year old JRT. She is dream, was not hard to train (she has all her good citizen awards) and adores the dc.

The area is ok but seems to have been getting worse the last few years. There have been incidents of people being attacked in the local area, including a poor woman in the country park. DH would like us to get another dog, a larger one that could protect us in a pinch, he especially worries when I am in the woods early morning or later in the evening.

I’m not sure our house/garden is right for a large dog. I would actually love one apart from that. I enjoy training/exercise and always wanted to join the agility classes etc. (but our girl is a terrier only in name it seems and would rather snuggle in the sofa! 😂)

I have vetoed two of DH’s breed choices (German Shepherd, Doberman) despite them being gorgeous dogs, based purely on the fact that the KC website says they need large homes/gardens and I wouldn’t want to be doing more than two hours of walking per day as well as the training sessions (I’d read that they need to be constantly on the go/entertained). I liked the look of the Eurasier but it seems they are very rare.

Does anyone have any breed suggestions of another dog breed that could be happy with a smaller house that we could look into?

I wouldn’t get a dog for protection. The breeds you are looking at are high energy, incredibly clever working breeds. Dogs that are naturally protective will be anxious, nervous wrecks in the wrong hands. They also tend to be naturally wary of strangers which will be a nightmare for having friends over.

I'm not sure getting a dog for protection necessarily works, and IME the most unlikely dogs are the ones who step up in the moment of crisis. Just having a large dog with you probably wouldn't hurt, but the protection breeds (Malinois etc) need a lot of training to bring out the best in them.

As for garden size, I've had a big (35kg) dog with a small garden. It was fine - lots of walks with plenty of off-lead time. It did mean turning out for a walk twice a day even when there was snow blowing along horizontal to the ground, but it was worth it to have the dog in question.

Getting a dog for protection is a really bad idea.

Dogs that are bred as protection/guard type dogs are generally not good with strangers or house guests and can be aggressive towards other dogs.

Not what you want when you have children (and their friends) the house.

Sorry, I probably wasn’t very clear in my first post. I was looking for suggestions of larger family dogs that are ok with a smaller house/garden, and two hours walk/exercise a day plus training sessions.

DH has it in his mind that a larger dog might protect me. I think maybe a large dog may work as a deterrent so I feel a bit safer walking through the wood on my own. I’m under no illusions that they definitely will, it just might make me feel a bit safer.

But I absolutely don’t want a working protection dog doing bite or guarding work etc. (which is why I have vetoed the high energy working breeds like German shepherd and Doberman).

I have had a PM about a black Labrador which is close to what I was looking for , so I will look into that. Thank you.

Dogs do not protect

Only highly trained protection dogs protect

Most dogs react out of fear , run or fight ( bite)

*standard dogs do not protect

I will re clarify as protection trained dogs or perhaps livestock guardian breeds ( utterly unsuitable pets)

Greyhound ✅

Also, only protection-trained dogs protect. Soooo many people confuse reactivity/fear with protection.

So much this! I see so many people saying “he was barking to protect me,” or similar no he was barking because he’s scared.

Get a Manchester Terrier. They are the root stock of a doberman, but much smaller -up to 10kgs. They look and sound intimidating, but were designed for people living in small houses with small gardens in the 19th century. They have a strong guarding instinct, but don't have the aggression of a doberman. The only snag is it's very hard to find a litter!

Don't get a dog for protection. If you do want a dog for protection your best bet is to get another JRT, fail to train it or socialise it properly, and make sure that it is always slightly scared and anxious.
Don't get a dog for protection.

Ok. I’m sorry if this is rude but it really seems people aren’t reading my words. And I’m sorry for the exasperation, I must have poorly worded all my posts, because I’ve not been understood.

It seem to be the word ‘protect’ in my OP that’s throwing people off. Please read the rest of the words.

I do NOT want a protection dog. I do NOT want a guarding breed. I understand that dogs don’t do this unless trained and that dogs trained to do this are unsuitable for family homes.

I specifically asked for recommendations of a FAMILY breed that might work as a visual deterrent and make me feel a little safer walking in the woods with my little JRT.

I do not want a dog that is bred or trained to ‘protect’ or guard me.

The crux of my post was asking whether people thought it would be fair to get a larger dog due to the size of our house/garden and our current situation, and what breed would be happy with the time I could provide (as mentioned above, two hours walking/exercise and additional training sessions - including agility classes if the dog was happy to).

I had a helpful PM about black labradors being perfect for this and perhaps ok with a terraced house and small to medium garden given the nearness of the country park.

This fits perfectly what I am looking for. A friendly family pet who is larger than my JRT, and who may serve as a visual deterrent, but whose main purpose is to be an addition to the family.

Choose the dog that would fit your lifestyle. Most would be fine with that so look at the breed traits. Don’t be focused on the ‘job’ of protection as very few would do that. Some would bark, some would bolt. Some would wet themselves.

Protection has to be taught. Any other aggressive displays are guarding and a rescue will be able to help you out there!

I have had a PM about a black Labrador which is close to what I was looking for , so I will look into that. Thank you.

I mean, no offence to any Labradors out there but they're hardly threatening or a deterrent to anyone they're more likely to run up to any intruders or attackers and lick them to death, or be bribed away with food.

I would be looking more at breeds like Rottweilers personally - a bit more "intimidating" in terms of their appearance and size, but incredibly soppy and great pets when trained properly.

I was going to say a lab would suit you, maybe a show family line, chunky variety not the working lines.

I was going to suggest a berner, but you said 2 hours walk a day and they wouldn't like that much exercise. But if your husband likes dobermans maybe the Swiss mountain dog or berner would appeal to him, get a female though as the males do tend to guard.

Apologies and theanks for the clarification, @PallyRoe e. I actually think that a JRT is your best bet as a visual deterrent. Among larger dogs, the ones that are best as family pets are naturally the ones that are shittest at being/looking tough. Ie, gundog types. Terriers have a reputation for being noisy and snappy, which is a better deterrent than a soppy gundog.
If you did go for a guarding type breed (Doberman, German Shepherd, etc) your responsibility would be to train it as far away as possible from its protective impulses, to help it feel calm and to regard you as its protector rather than vice versa.

My lurcher/staffy cross wasn't big but had an impressive bark and looked sort of streetwise tough!

It's not you, OP, it's people reading your first post and rushing to comment.

A show-line Rottweiler might do the job. I have known a number who are utterly soft and gentle, but they still look intimidating - the guarding has been bred out of them to the extent that people active in the protection sports complain that it's almost impossible to find a 'proper rottie'.

Thank you for the suggestions 😊 I will look into them.

I’m happy that the Labrador would not actually defend me or attack anyone, silly as it seems I just thought someone seeing a woman walking a larger black dog might think twice in the evening. More of a placebo effect for me as recent events have made me wary.

I’ve heard that the show line would probably be best.

Absolutely.

My black lab sounds like a vicious dog if he hears someone outside at night, however there have been many times that I've had to drag him out of the postman's van because he's hopped in hoping to go on a round....

I’m happy that the Labrador would not actually defend me or attack anyone, silly as it seems I just thought someone seeing a woman walking a larger black dog might think twice in the evening.

I get your thought process, but I really don't think a Labrador will give off the impression you're hoping for. They're soppy buggers who are more likely to run up to strangers for food than they are put them off approaching you.

I have 2 black labs, a male & a bitch. They are complete softies but they sound fierce with their huge barks, being black can be intimidating to some people, and they female looks quite scary when her ruff is up.

The male, not so much, but he always steps between me and anyone/dog he views as a threat to his resource. He may even growl on occasion. Before he kisses you to death.

They are fab dogs. Oh, and like you, our garden is not massive but we are right on the doorstep of a park and woodland walks.

It all depends on breed, I'd rather take on a larger dog than a JRT in a fair few situations.

I've got a border terrier and a big foxhound. The foxhound sounds impressive but is an absolute wuss and scared of her own shadow. But when someone comes to the door her bark is impressive so would put people off from burgling the house. However the terrier is the one I'd not want to piss off, she can be vicious and is very reactive to dogs she doesn't know and definitely takes umbrage to people she doesn't know in her space.

A dog for protection isn't usually a good thing to have with a family, any dog bees for protection, even if not trained for that specific purpose will naturally 'protect' its family. Any dog can be dangerous, even a golden retriever in some situations. Rockweilers can make lovely pets but you need to ensure they are trained well, as amongst other things they are big strong dogs who can easily knock over small children and drag you down the road on a lead if they wanted to.

Why would a black dog be more intimidating? (And apologies once again, OP for rushing to comment too fast eithout seeing your second post.)

I have a lab. She goes up to everyone and talks to them. Rolls over and shows her tummy. Not much help protecting me when on the floor. I would be more scared of the JRT at my ankles.
Lovely dog though. Great family pet. But would lick anybody, threat or not.

I've a scruffy lurcher (Hancock type but not bloodline) who seems to make people look a bit nervous, assume due to pale eyes and street dog appearance. Then he literally melts like a puddle at their feet crying for a tummy tickle.
He's smart, does agility and has a cracking bark that he does on cue so a breed that might suit.

He's distinctly medium sized, but they come bigger!