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?

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen Oh dear! Well err ticking the guarding box there!

I’m not sure how much garden size would matter, your dog won’t exercise it self in a larger area so as long as it has walks and training then the garden is probably just a place to sniff around and sleep in and poo in 🫣. You could look for German shepards which are bred for family pets and not for their guard qualities. I’ve known both dobermans and German shepherds who were lovely dogs, certainly prefer their owners but still liked others.

@PallyRoe black labs are very high energy, I mean often they're a bit crazy (I'm a groomer & find them challenging & not just because of their size).
I would suggest a miniature schnauzer, they have big dog energy, and are very loyal, fiesty & are actually quite protective but also pretty lovely family dogs too. Real characters.
Every one I've met are clever little things & very trainable.
They are like small German shepherds.

A large black greyhound could well be mistaken for a doberman by those who don't know any better! I certainly find I don't feel intimidated by groups of youths when I'm walking him, which I might do when I'm on my own. A greyhound sounds like a good bet, especially if you can teach it recall and let it off for a run in the country park. And they curl up into surprisingly small balls. When they aren't stretched out full length on the sofa.......

Another Leo owner here. Obviously they have a huge physical presence but I’ve absolutely no doubt that outside of our home setting mine would be flight not fight if I was attacked. Home setting, he’s a very different dog. Guarding for mine is instinctive not taught behaviour. I agree that giant breeds are happy enough in smaller homes but you do need to consider their turning circles on tighter spaces. Currently we are at a relative’s house and so far mine has sent most things flying off side table height just by turning around… there are no longer any photograph displays left on any surface above waist height. Even without the physical heft of a Leo, something as tall as a Wolfie could redo an interior design aesthetic just as quickly 😁

Labs IME are about as loyal as a cat if food is in the equation.

I agree with you. LGDs can protect but they're not for a city environment, not for a small garden and daily walks.
I'd just walk my dog during the day and in well lit areas. (I've made the change from big LGD to small one.)

Show line Rottweiler could work. Lots of mental stimulation as well as walks helps keep them from getting bored, and also helps tire them out.
I certainly never feel unsafe out walking!

I have a GSD bred from protection/working lines and a brown Doberman. I think they both make great family dogs but I'd go for a Doberman again, purely because the GSD makes so much mess! So much hair absolutely everywhere. My doberman is people and dog obsessed - adores everyone and is such a happy, funny character. The GSD is more reserved and will bark at random strangers if approached, but is incredibly laid back and is the laziest dog I have ever owned. Even the cats bully her.

I have a 4 month old samoyed puppy. She's already around 14kg, will be closer to 25kg when grown. Needs about 1-1.5 hours of exercise a day, snoozes a lot in between and is fine with our smallish city garden. However, loves all people and would not protect you from anyone.

I understand what you mean, larger dogs tend to offer "scary dog privilege" I know no one would ever approach me when I walk my boy in the dark. I have a German shepherd and we live in a 3 bed terrace with a small garden. Today he's done 2 walks and 3 training sessions along with some off lead play with another dog, a ride in the car and some food based enrichment and he's now happily snoozing away on the sofa. As long as you research the breed and feel you can meet their needs I think a large breed is ok. Just bare in mind that it'll be up to 18 months before their bodies can cope with 2 hours walking a day so you'd need to up the mental stimulation to account for that