Dog for Protection

German Sheperd...Big, Beautiful, Loyal and Protective, yet wonderful with my 7 yr old and 3 yr old. I have a great breeder in NC if you are interested!!

German shepherds are awesome with kids and very protective. We have two shepherds and a 15 month old. She loves her "woof woofs".

I've always had lab / shep mixes. They've always been wonderful family dogs plus very protective. I have also had a Golden Ret. Great family dog as well and they get big. I love love love my dogs but .... I have always thought a dogs 1st job is to protect their family.

I have to say that I think a good old mutt is the best. I know that some dogs are considered more of a deterrent than others, but most criminals will go for an "easy" house, and any barking dog will make your home less desirable. We had a hound dog that was super friendly, but when my husband locked himself out of the house one day and had to 'break in" he said he heard her growling and would have turned back if he hadn't known her! Of course, as soon as she saw him she just looked confused as to why he was coming in through the window.

One key point that I don't htink anyone mentioned is that if you are going to get a dog and want them to protect you AND be safe around your child you need to treat the dog the right way. Our dog was a family member. She had rules (no going on the furniture, no eating off of our plates, etc) but she was well loved and lived IN THE HOUSE with us. We also taught our son to treat her the right way. As a result, she was his best friend.

It is also important that you feel comfortable around your dog. He/She needs to know that you are in charge. When we got our dog from teh Humane Society they offered training classes and gave us a video about basic training. I would highly recommend where ever you get your dog from that you take part in a basic training program and be PATIENT and CONSISTENT. Above all, have fun with your dog. They can increase the happiness in your life immeasurably.

I just wanted to throw this into the mix....how about you and your daughter taking some form of martial arts? you'll feel much more confident and worry less about your daughter being able to defend herself in any situation! plus, when the dog barks you'll be ready to kick a$$ if you need to!

We have a Boxer that we got from a local Boxer Rescue - he's a great protector and looks mean, but couldn't be more sweet. He has become my 4 and 7 year olds best friend :) We knew we wanted a Boxer from doing breed research, but it took us a few tries to meet the 'right' one - rescues are great for finding a specific breed of dog because a. they're much cheaper than a pet store, b. you can meet your potential pet before you commit, c. and for us, it was great getting an older dog (he was 4 when we adopted him) rather than a puppy - puppies are a LOT of work! Not only that, but you can tell them what you're looking for, and when they find something that fits the bill you'll get notified. I do not live in a particulary bad area, but when my husband was travelling a lot for work I'd get a little nervous home alone at night and having a dog in the house made me feel much, much better!

Have you ever had a dog growing up? If not, you may have allergies and don't know it because you have never been exposed long-term to a dog that sheds.

I would recommend going to your local animal shelter and get to know some of the dogs. Take one of them into a private room and play with it, pet it, etc. If your skin starts to itch, your eyes start to water, and you start sneezing, then you won't want to consider that particular breed.

If the shedding breeds are an issue I would recommend one of the non-shedding breeds such as Standard Poodles, Airedale Terriers, or Giant Schnauzers. There are many other non-shedding breeds you could also consider.

We had two Airedale Terriers for 10 years and loved them both very much. Once had a drunk come up to our screen door and become very rude. Our oldest dog stood up on his hind legs and barked right in the guy's face. If he had been sober he would have been frightened, but because he was stone drunk he thought it was funny. However, he didn't enter the house and I always felt safe with them around.

Good luck finding the right dog for you.

C..

In lieu of having a gun in the house, I have a can of hornet/wasp spray up on a tall shelf in our bedroom (easily reachable to me, not the kids). It was recommended by a self-defense teacher because it can shoot 20 to 30 feet, so you can deter someone if you can spray them in the face before they can get too close (as needs to be with Mace/Pepper Spray). Not bad for $2-3.

We also have a dog, a Shih-tzu, but he is more likely to sleep through a break-in and then help them carry out the loot! LOL

Best of luck to you!

I would say Boxer. They are very sweet and loyal along with big and loud!

ANY dog that is bigger than a breadbox is going to deter thieves, and the larger the dog the better, even my goofy Labrador. Because even friendly dogs bark at intruders (I've always encouraged mine to, even though it annoys my mum), and intruders don't KNOW when a barking dog is going to be friendly or not. AND seemingly friendly dogs are often trained to attack on command. So even dogs like mine can't be trusted by thieves. Hehehe. He may well just want to lick them to death, but THEY don't know that. And I've taught him to jump on new people UNLESS I tell him *down* (he's trained, just not traditionally trained).

German Shepherd or Shepherd mix. We had one growing up and my M. said he was awesome "watching" me. We lived in the country on 10 acres and when I was outside he would make sure I stayed in a certain area by gently nudging me, lol. He let me climb on him and never even growled. BUT if any man that my dad didn't ok came to our house he went nuts and was quite scary! Our poor UPS guys could never get out of their trucks if he was out. He was also amazingly intelligent. My best friend also has a shepherd and 2 shepherd mixes. She has 7 kids at home(2 under 10) and they are great with the kids and with my kids(mine are 12 and 17 though, lol). She has pups right now that are mixed and I am trying to convince my dh to get one. We have 3 Boston Terriers and they are not very intimidating, lol. Good luck in your decision! Just make certain whatever breed you get to also get good training.

Well first, a dog is a lot of responsibility. There is also no guarentee with how they act around children without constant exposure. Plus if you get a "friendly breed" dog like a lab or a golden, then I would question thier reliability as guard dogs.

First - is there anything you could do to secure your own home? Replacing locks, additional locks, adding security systems and/or services? I would look into that first - sure there might be cost involved, but dogs aren't exactly cheap with expenses like food, crate, bedding, training, toys, etc.

Dogs are great, but remember, you will owe a responsibility to them as well. Make sure you know what you're getting into.

I believe that the biggest feature a dog brings to the protection table is his bark. Thieves, rapists, etc. HATE dogs because dogs blow their element of surprise! So in that regard--any dog will do--as long as it's got a bark box! Also, I learned this in a home safety class--go to the local discount store and find the most gigantic plastic doggy water bowl you can find. Bring it home and "turf" it up a little bit. Us a thick Sharpie to write "TINY" on the water bowl. Place this outside your door. It will make any prowler think twice about messing with your home. A home with a dg resident (even if he is fictitious) is just not worth their trouble and effort.
So I would either get a barker (collies bark--a LOT) or fake a dog!
(I agree with you about the gun issue--the only useful gun is a loaded gun and you can't have a loaded gun around kids.)

One thing you should know is that most dogs do not have to be trained to protect their home and family. They are naturally protective, especially of suspicious activities. If you get a large dog, make sure you get a dog that is good with children and people in general so that it will be safe around your children. Please consider going to the shelter or looking on petfinder.com for an animal rescue - shelter dogs are in need of homes, often rescue workers will already have a good idea of the temperament of the dogs they work with. Plus, and this is just my personal experience (I have 3 rescued dogs), rescue dogs are often grateful for a safe and loving home - and that much more protective when someone threatens it. Good luck.

I agree with CP - boxer all the way. We have a boxer and he DEFINITELY scares people away, just by his bark! And on the flip side, he is so gentle and loving with our kids. We actually got a boxer before we got married because when we were researching breeds, we found that boxers were wonderful family dogs and great with kids.

One thing though - they are high energy dogs that require a lot of exercise. If you don't want to go for walks or if you don't have a yard for the dog to run around in, a boxer may not be the dog for you.

Good luck! We always say that people these days are more scared of dogs than guns.

German Shepherd! They're great with kids and intimidating too!

Labs, Golden's or Shepards are all loyal and very good with children when raised with the family. I personally had a Rottweiler who was excellent with my son and children in general. He was socialized frequently as a puppy, trained in a class setting very early on and and also very protective. Although he was purchased for recreation and not protection.
On the gun note.....my husband is pro gun, and I'm on the fence. However, most people who are attempting to break into homes now a days have access to guns and are prepared to use them on the dog if necessary. Just something to think about.
You might want to consider getting an alarm also. Just food for thought.

If you have space for a big dog, get a doberman! They look scary and are fierce guarddogs but they are great family pets and super loyal. They sometimes use them in nursing homes to keep the elderly company and the dobermans have been known to tiptoe around the IVs and walk at hte slow pace of the elderly. So cute! Research them. My husband and I want to get one but have to wait to get a house first b/c they get big!

Oh, and also, if you're really worried about safety of the child, you might wan tto get a puppy so you can socialize it and also have the dog grow up with your child so he's more attached and less likely to turn on him/her. That's what I would do. You'd have to wait a little bit for the protective factor but you never know what already grown dogs might do..you'd have to be a lot more careful with your selection.

Even something like a lab will protect you. It's in all dog's nature to protect their owner and there house. You don't need a so called "aggresive" breed. Go to the shelter and pick out a larger breed dog that gets along with your family and seems like a confident, self assured dog. I heard a study once that people are more afraid of black dogs, like a black lab vs a yellow lab, and I think it seems to be true. Our black lab is over 12 yrs old and people sometimes still act more nervous around him then other dogs and truly he is almost half grey now!!

I would recommend German Shepards, but you have to get them as a puppy so they grow up with your child. They are very protective dogs of their owners and they would protect you.

I am pro dog. We have 3.

I was raised with dogs my whole life. One thing I've learned is, you don't have to teach a dog to protect, give them love, gentle obedience and they will take it from there.

I personally would get a mixed medium breed. If you do decided to go that route, adopt from a shelter that has tested the dog's temper with other dogs, people and kids.

Just really sit down and make sure you are ready to take on that responsibility of taking care of the dog along with financially able to provide proper vet care, including heart worm and flea preventive.

Wow I can feel your pain. I'm sure sorry that you are not able to move right now. We will be moving in about 2 weeks for this very reason. I stay at home and home school my two young sons. This area is getting bad and I'm not only worried about our safety but I don't want our boys growing up in gang bang land.
I would recommend a German Shepard. I've had several and they are very loyal dogs and super watch dogs. Get a puppy and let them hang out with the children. Also really pay attention to training while the dog is still young and easy to manage. No jumping is a good first rule.
If you don't want a big ole dog, then any dog will do for a good set of ears that bark. Pugs are good family dogs and are good barkers without an ear piercing sound. As for guns I feel the same as you but decided to take a gun class and learn about them to not be so afraid of having one. Common sense and practicing good safety will keep you and your family firearm safe. It might be worth just taking a class to learn about it. And I disagree with you not being able to shoot another person. If someone was going to harm or take your children away you wouldn't think twice about it.
Best Regards,
C.

We have a Yellow Lab and this is our second one. They both are/were as loving and patient as could be and yet someone comes to the door, drives in the driveway, ect then you would think he is/was the most vicious animal there is. I also lived in an area with a fair amount of crime and was alone alot and felt very secure especially the night someone came knocking on my door at 3am, Hooch scared the guys so bad!
I also saw a lot of German Shepards mentioned in other comments and i agree with that too. We had one when i was little and she was very protective and also very great around me and my friends.
Have the kids participate in the caretaking of the dog, my oldest daughter feeds him in the morning and my youngest in the evening. They get his water, help brush him and other small chores and this helps the bond. If I get mad at the kids and maybe yell at them then go to hug them, he steps between us. It is great because if he will protect them with me, I know he will with a stranger!

I would go with a German Shepperd, Golden Retreiver or a Labrador if you like big dogs. These are very protective dogs and very good. I happen to have a Yorkie and the way he barks, people think I have a pitbull! lol
Yorkies are very protective with children and family in all. Sometimes we don't even know that someone is coming, and he is already barking, and the visitor is just parking the car!!! He is amazing! It is a great experience for the children. I don't regret getting him at all, even with all the hard work :)

My sister has a rottweiler since he was born and she has three kids and I bring my daughter by there and he is so protective over those kids. If someone is trying to get in the back yard he barks. And if your back there and he doesnt know you he will not let you near the babies. and if one of the kids fall he is over there checking to make sure that they are ok.

I would be cautious. I'm not sure how a "gaurd dog" does as a pet. I had a Rottweiler when I Iived alone, just because I loved the breed. Someone DID break in to my house once when I wasn't home and apparently, he just let them LOL. What he would've done had I been home, who knows. So basically I guess you can't count on a dog to "protect" you, because of their breed. I've seen small dogs who will try to rip your leg off faster then the bad rep pit bulls. So I would really do alot of research before making a purchase. Talk to a vet, or dog trainers for advice. If poosible it may be best to have the dog trained, even just a little if you're looking for peace of mind. Either way it is a HUGE responsibility to have a dog regardless of reason, and with a small child you really have to be careful. Good luck to you!

I grew up with German Shepherds. They are wonderful, loyal, gentle, yet protective dogs. They were bred to protect their family, but they are GREAT with kids (as long as the are socialized when they are puppies). They have a lot of energy and they do shed quite a bit, but they are by far my favorite breed! One of my GSDs growing up would let kid sit on him, pull his fur and tail, and just loved all the attention and so patient with them! I can't wait until I can get my Shepherd (it will be a while before I can, but I'm excited!) Although I do believe that the way a dog is raised is the how he will act, just make sure you do research on where you are getting the dog. Protective breeds could come from unpredictable lines, depending on where you get them. Make sure you find a reputable breeder that does not have a history of overly aggressive dogs. I also think if you are getting one for protection, it's important to get a puppy that you and your family will raise - it helps the bonding process. I hope this helps! Enjoy your dog!

I am a dog behaviorist...so my recommendation would be a german shepherd (GSD). They are GREAT dogs. I have two myself. Very easy to train, great family dogs, very loud bark even if there's nothing behind it, and most of the dogs with this breed would lay their life down to protect the family. The GSD requires an experienced dog owner so if you've never owned a dog before this isn't where I would start...

The Schnauzer is similar in temperment to the GSD but you can find it in smaller sizes if the size if the GSD is too big. Great Pyranese (sp???) is also a very protective breed, yet loyal to the whole fam. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is wonderful for a watchdog but not necessarily great at protection. So that means the will bark but don't have much of a bite. Very wonderful temperment and family dog. It's a giant breed with a slightly longer lifespan than most giant breeds.

Breeds I would stay away from would be rotties...they are a breed that tends to bond with one persone vs the whole family, pit bulls...they have too many sterotypes against them and you have to deal with too many people judging you for your dog (however this is one of my fav breeds), Any of the mastiff breeds, they require a very experienced owner cause they can be large and stubborn, and finally labs...they are way too crazy to have around small children.

If you have any training questions please feel free to email me and ask...I love to pass on advice!!

Unless you really want the responsibility of a pet, I'd get an alarm installed. Some of the giant dog breeds have health concerns that require special diets and extra expense at the vet. They also have shortened life expectancies. Also, check with your insurance agent. Some dog breeds are a big problem for insurance companies, especially pit bulls and rottweilers. Best of luck in your search for a pet and please consider adopting an adult dog. There are plenty of lovely older dogs that need a good home.

everyone's suggestions are great - but they have all overlooked the original protector dog - the great pyrenees - I have a 3/4 great pyrenees and 1/4 anatolian shepherd dog, they have been faithful protectors of families and animals for 100's of years.

mine is 150 lbs, as tall as a great dane, has the loudest fiersest bark of any dog you have heard, yet my 2 year old can climb all over him, he watches my chickens, and they sleep on him, yet people will not get out of the car when they see him coming towards them.

also they are very low maintenence, designed to live outdoors on small food rations, they are low energy and never pull you on the lead.

they do however roam if you do not fence them in, bark at night if they are outside - to keep predators away, and are very independent.

I'd get an alarm with a remote and panic button! And the sweetest, most protective dogs I've ever had are a Doberman, Rottweiler/German shepherd, and a rott/mastiff. All were fiercely protective but great with kids, especially if you get a puppy. Now we have a mini pin, ego is also very protective but sweet and small.

You could consider getting a gentle giant such as a Saint Berhard, Bernese Mountain Dog or a Newfoundland. These are huge dogs with an overwhelming reputation of being GREAT with kids. They can be trained to bark, when someone approaches your home, but do not expect them to attack an intruder.
Because of their size they do make great deterrants though and their bark is low and rather impressive (they are not very vocal but can be trained).
All dogs require quite some commitement with regards to training and exercise - so be sure that you can do this, before you get one.
I grew up with German Shepherds which my mother trained extensively as "Schutzhund". Trained protection dogs are NOT family dogs and they to NOT mix well with small children. They are the living, breathing equivalent of having a gun at home and all interaction with kids should be closely supervised.
But as you said, a family dog, even if not trained to attack strangers, can be a great deterrant.
Good luck!

I would agree that either a boxer or german shephard would be great with your daughter. Both breeds are great family dogs but loyal and fiercely protective. German sherhards are VERY hairy though and shed quite a bit. Both are larger dogs (excellant deterrant for a criminal) and their barks are very loud, which is often enough to keep any would-be criminal from attempting a break in.

2 breeds- St Bernard and Mastiff. Both are huge and intimidating, but extremely gentle with kids and protective of their families. I had a mastiff/lab mix previously who was an excellent dog. Currently, we have a St. Bernard whose bark will scare the pants off you but my one year old can stick her hands in his eyes, up his nose or pound on him and he doesn't give it a bother whatsoever. My three year old jumps on him all the time and the most he'll do is get up and move. Granted these are the kind of dogs that take up space in a household (and the St. Bernard sheds a ton this time of year), but it is well worth it to us. He is a big teddy bear in our household, but last week I saw him send a teenager running from our property. Good luck!

We have three dogs currently. A mastiff, a great dane and a basset. All three are extremely protective of both home,yard and family. I have been shocked a few times by our basset breaking up my sons wrestling. She stands right by them and barks her fool head off til the kids either stop or we come as see what is going on. If you have ever heard a basset bark you know good and well it isn't something that can be ignored.
Now I do agree that you should stay well away from the mastiff breeds because like it was pointed out they are not a dog for beginners. There are a lot of dogs to steer away from due to their nature. Dogbreedinfo.com is a really good site to read up on various dogs.
Anyway to be honest if this is your first time having a dog I would go for a mutt via your local shelter. We had our mutt chow/husky mix for about 12 yrs and I swear she was the best guard dog I had ever come across. We didn't even get her for that purpose. We got her as a pet. But she was extremely loyal and loving dog. I have noticed that with a lot of mutts from shelters or rescues they tend to be very protective of those who rescue them.

I am shocked at the responses as no one deterred you away from getting a dog for the sole purpose of being a "guard dog". Bringing a companion into your life is a huge responsibility and a daunting task. It takes weeks, even months of searching for the right fit via Petfinder, rescues or your local Humane Society. A dog is NOT meant be left outside as they should be considered part of your family. Yes, guns are deadly! And if your new companion gets shot, then other issues may have to be dealt with. (That would be my only concern with having my child around a dog). If you are looking for something to compliment the Beware of Dog sign, there are barking machines that mimic the sound of that German Shepard that the other ladies recommended. Best of luck and most of all, learn how to protect your child and yourself.

I have an 3/4 akita/german shephard mix, and he is the most loving, protective dog i've ever had. Akitas are extremely loyal to their families, and in Japan, where they originate from, parents actually left them to babysit their kids. I have a 14 year old daughter, who I never worry about leaving home alone, as he would not let anyone who he does not know into the house.
My brother-in-law, not really believing how good he was with kids (he's protective of ALL kids, not just mine) was pretend hitting his son, while his son called my dog for help. First, the dog came up to him and barked in his face, making my BiL jump back. BiL resumed the pretend hitting, at which my dog grabbed hold of his coat sleeve, and physically pulled him away from his son. He also does not allow wrestling in the house (he will push himself between to break it up)
I now have 4 grandchildren, and my dog is 10 years old, but still lets the little ones crawl all over him, and has never shown any kind of aggression to them. I also trust his judgement on character, as the few bad apples that have touched our lives over the years, he has made clear that he did not like them.

k

If you aren't confident in your ability to use a firearm and have no desire to learn then no, it is not a good option for you. I think a dog might bring a false sense of security. Unless the dog is specifically trained for protection you can't expect a dog to react the way you might think under an intruder situation. Yes, a loud bark can be a deterrent but not always.

I would lean more toward securing your home/apartment better as a first step like Dan C. suggested. Making sure your doors and windows are secure and secured goes a long way. Criminals look for the easy way. Windows, doors that are easy to access make a home an easy target.
Add addtional dead-bolts, motion sensing lights outside, window locks (think they call them thumb locks), even a security system, etc.

Just to add about finding bullets, getting the gun etc. They make special safes that are small (that will fit under the bed) that use a code to enter or something like that so the gun is ready to go all you do it key in your code (or whatever it is) and you can access the gun easily while a child can not. But you have to be willing to learn how to properly use a firearm and practice with it. Because my bil knew what he was doing with a firearm he was able to protect his pre-teen daughter when the neighbor smashed thru the front window and jumped in the house right over her sleeping on the couch while he was drugged out and naked.

I too live in a neighborhood that is not the best of the best. We have a Siberian Husky. She is the sweetest dog in the world, but she scares people who do not know her. She just sits at the front door and many times will keep solicitors away just by having her sitting there (score for us!). She is wonderful with my 2 year old daughter and has been the best dog in the world. The only downside is the shedding, but if you are willing to get her groomed every couple of months it helps tremendously. She does need a lot of exercise, but if you were looking at getting out more anyway, you should be fine! Hope that helps!