Best Dog?

Shih tzu yapper,thats what we have(Schon) :worship: .Totally fearless,but needs a Great Dane or such to back him up.They make an impressive sight to yahoo schmuck type criminals,burglars and vandals.
BooBoo

Yes, they are!!

I think I need to be more specific when I say hound doggie --- I always mean scent hounds, esp. bassets, coon hounds, beagles. Beagles are the sweetest and most serious of the bunch , while bassets are just downright hilarious --- and coonhounds just look so soulful and around here, let the chickens live in their doggie houses while they lounge around outside looking Handsome and Noble. :haha:

But with all the scenthounds I've known, a single one can sound like an entire herd of wild buffalo charging at you at 90 mis an hour, looking for blood. Esp. from the outside of a dwelling. :haha:

They're pretty worthless in terms of actually chasing down and prosecuting the criminal. But they sound so bad, you likely won't have problems with the criminals in the first place. And you'll be enormously entertained in the process.

I had such a dog.He was a trained guard dog at a business,they closed down and I got him.Very large dog with excellent breeding.Trained to attack anything that came by when the gate was closed,but a fluff ball to all comers when they opened the gate.Dog was a product of great breeding and professional training.Best guard dog we EVER had,and Ive been lucky in having had some great guards.GS is a fine animal.
BooBoo

Chihs as a rule don't like ltitle kids- most of the toy breeds don't. The ones that tend to tolerate kids better are the larger toys- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pugs are the BEST with kids- neither of them are known for being especially barky.

A large dog is more of a visual deterent, but some of the medium-sized ones can be good as well. A wellbred GSD is an INCREDIBLE animal- but will take a lot of training to really realize their full potential.

Have you thought about a Standard Schnauzer instead of a mini? They are not large, but are a decent size and might be a good compromise. They are part of the AKC working group, and DO need training- any dog will- but could work well. If you are concerned about handling a large dog, do NOT get a GSD- or a BC, or an Aussie. Most of the large working and herding breesd are very quick to sense when you are less than confident about working with them, and take over. BCs and Aussies aren't always HUGE, but they are very intense- most of the serious working breeds are. (Also avoid: Any of the Belgian shepherds (malinois, tervuren, groendahl), Australian Cattle Dogs, airdales and the other large terriers.)

My breed of choice, Corgis, can be a nice dog for someone who wants a big dog in a small space, but they are VERY determined, confident, tough dogs. They are good with WELL BEHAVED kids- most of them will tolerate mischief up to a point, and if adults don't intervene and stop the kids from being pesty (I've WATCHED this- Daisy, my Summer's granddam, wpould sit and let her 5 year old 'owner' tug on her ears, put bows on her, do ANYTHING but if she started getting rough and an adult didn't intervene (even just a VERBAL reprimand), Daisy would very gently take the little girl's hand in her mouth and hold it until Riley settled down.), THEY'LL settle the kids down.

A rare breed that might work for you is the Entlebucher- it's the smallest of the four Swiss Mountain breeds, about 50 pounds, smooth coated, and a very nice, medium energy level. Generally very good with kids and very healthy, but can be quite hard to find in this country.

Unless DH is home all the time to deal with a big dog, I would not suggest getting one. You BOTH need to be comfortable with whatever dog you choose, and compromise is in order.

PS: A Golden or Lab with PROPER temperment should NOT defend you or your property. Many *WILL* in a pinch- but if a golden or lab behaves in a way that makes you think they MIGHT be a good guard dog- they do NOT have the temperment the breed is supposed to.

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"Dogs may not be our whole lives, but they make our lives whole." Roger Caras

A schnauzer is good as is a yorkie cause they dont shed. Schnauzers come in differant sizes.

We have a Lab and a yorkie. The lab is guard dog and the yorkie is the early alarm.


Mrs Whodunit

I had an Australian Shepherd that was the most protective dog ever.
When my daughter was two or three she got out of the house and walked the block to downtown. My wife panicked and asked me where she was. I looked quickly around and said that she was ok because Gal was with her.
We looked up the street, the dog was next to my daughter and people were walking across the street to get around them. No one would get within 20 ft with that dog there.

I've never met a dog that I didn't like. I would get a big main dog AND a little back up dog. The more the merrier.

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Having had many breeds over my life time; smallest 3 lb chihuahua to a 200 lb Irish Wolfhound), the best dog I EVER had was a Doberman Pinscher. I raised Dobes for about 10 years.

Dobes are the strong silent type, naturally protective and contrary to popular belief are very good with children. They are EXTREMELY protective of what they deem as their "pack". They are extremely intelligent, always alert and quick to assimilate into a new family.

The most appreciated behavior of my Dobe was that he did NOT bark unless he truly recognized a danger. Then the bark that would come out was enough for some people to go to the other side of the street so as not to have to pass him. He always waited, silently for someone to approach.

There is no coat maintenance to worry about, give them run of the yard or a good walk and they are fine. (I lived in an apartment his whole life and he loved the tennis court and going camping.)

A good diet and they stay fit as a fiddle for their whole life.

I currently have an "alarm" chihuahua. He's enough to let me know if someone is around the place. However, I will say chis are really NOT fond of loud, active children in their space. The chi is a breed that really doesn't like other breed of dogs also. They are very brave and will take on anything no matter the size of the opposition. Lion-hearted they are for sure.

I have seen more bites and damage to humans from small toy breeds than from the larger ones. The larger breeds always get the attention because of the AMOUNT of damage they do. The little guys cause little bites but a lot more of them. Must be those people who insist on petting the little guys cause they're "cute". My min pin nipped a lady at PetSmart one time cause she just reached right over to pet him without asking if she could. No one usually just reaches over to pet a Dobe or large breed dog.

I'd rather have a Dobe in my yard staring at someone so they have to "guess" if they should enter than a noisy little alarm they could step on to silence.

Just my 2 cents.

Take a peek at this site of the AKC. A great place to look at different breeds and see if you like they way they look, and would they need lots of grooming,what is the primary task they were bred for etc.


http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm

Be aware that world wide, there are many hundreds of breeds not recognzed by the AKC and it should not be your only source. The United Kennel Club recognizes others and The Kennel Club of Great Britain is a great place to check out too. Good books are still the best!

LQ

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" Live in the Sunshine,
Swim the Sea,
Drink the Wild Air"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing." D. Duck

Had a red dobie too,got this one from a breeder because she wouldnt raise pups,excellent pedigree.Absolutely wonderful with kids,and would bark and back away from threats until she was trapped,then watch out.Never saw her get backed into a corner though,people catch on real quick that antagonizing a Dobie is a bad idea.But she would let kids ride her,pull her ears,tail,etc,and if it got to much just get up and leave.Marvelous dog that was!Dog who would die willingly to protect her kids and family,but never looked for a fight.
Just never try choking chains or newspaper smacks,A GSD will respond OK to that and get the idea,A dobie wont,they are willing to do ANYTHING for praise,but freak out with punishment.I think thats why some people who own Dobies get attacked,they tried to overpower them,doesnt work at all with a Dobie.Im not a dog pro,just my observation,FWIW.
BooBoo

I totally agree with you that the small breeds bite humans more often but because they don't do as much damage, don't tend to get the press. Absolutely true, IMHO>

I've had a Doberman and she was wonderful too. They are spooky when someone turns around and didn't know it was standing behind them the whole time. hahaha

Karen

Having had many breeds over my life time; smallest 3 lb chihuahua to a 200 lb Irish Wolfhound), the best dog I EVER had was a Doberman Pinscher. I raised Dobes for about 10 years.

Dobes are the strong silent type, naturally protective and contrary to popular belief are very good with children. They are EXTREMELY protective of what they deem as their "pack". They are extremely intelligent, always alert and quick to assimilate into a new family.

The most appreciated behavior of my Dobe was that he did NOT bark unless he truly recognized a danger. Then the bark that would come out was enough for some people to go to the other side of the street so as not to have to pass him. He always waited, silently for someone to approach.

There is no coat maintenance to worry about, give them run of the yard or a good walk and they are fine. (I lived in an apartment his whole life and he loved the tennis court and going camping.)

A good diet and they stay fit as a fiddle for their whole life.

I currently have an "alarm" chihuahua. He's enough to let me know if someone is around the place. However, I will say chis are really NOT fond of loud, active children in their space. The chi is a breed that really doesn't like other breed of dogs also. They are very brave and will take on anything no matter the size of the opposition. Lion-hearted they are for sure.

I have seen more bites and damage to humans from small toy breeds than from the larger ones. The larger breeds always get the attention because of the AMOUNT of damage they do. The little guys cause little bites but a lot more of them. Must be those people who insist on petting the little guys cause they're "cute". My min pin nipped a lady at PetSmart one time cause she just reached right over to pet him without asking if she could. No one usually just reaches over to pet a Dobe or large breed dog.

I'd rather have a Dobe in my yard staring at someone so they have to "guess" if they should enter than a noisy little alarm they could step on to silence.

Just my 2 cents.[/QUOTE]

booboo, correct in my experience. Dobes DO NOT respond well to negative feedback, it is not a good idea to hit a Dobe too many times. They'll tire of it quickly and the ramifications are not pleasant. However, they learn best when given positive discipline, they learn very fast. (Compared to a Basset Hound who is the most stubborn breed I have ever had.)

As for children, they could ride the doggie all day. And when the dog tires of it, you're right, they just get up and go somewhere they can't be reached by the children.

Karen, I have had the "standing right behind you" thing freak out plenty of my friends over the years. I always had to laugh because the dog would just be standing there looking at them. And the folks would jump right out their skin! As I said before Dobes are very quiet dogs. They walk quietly too. I alwys loved to just sit and watch as he ran free. So graceful.

Quick story>I had a neighbor with a Great Dane. Real braggart. He was always wanting me to let the dogs "race" each other. Said his dog would leave my Dobe in the dust. Well after about 2 years of this, one day I decided "what the heck". Took the dogs to a field. He actually wanted to give my Dobe a lead time before he let his lose. HAHA! He released his dog, then I hesitated a split second and let my Dobe lose. As his big old loping Dane was rounding the bend, my Dobe T-boned it. All we saw was Dane legs upside down and a "pleased" Dobe trotting back to my side. (Dobes are notoriously QUICK.) Never heard from the guy again. Gosh I miss that dog.

:haha: I love these stories! LOL Again if you look at the history of the breed you get some good insight as to what they are bred for and what to expect. Dobies ARE wonderful dogs! They are just a big terrier with some old german type farm shepherd, greyhound(which is why they are so fast!) and pointer in them plus rottweiller. I think this is one of the best results ever developed from a single person setting out to make a breed of dog. And look what this Tax Collector/Dog Pound keeper gave us. A wonderfully versatile dog...loving, smart, beautiful and with the guarding intincts fully intact. He got sick of having to travel through rough, dangerous areas and wanted a dog capable of protecting him and his tax collected monies from ruffians. He wanted a dog that would be a Miniature Pinscher in looks and braveness but much bigger. Well, he succeeded and we are much the better for it.

Dogs are wonderful and we are lucky to have access to so many wonderful breeds today that used to be out of reach.

LQ

__________________
" Live in the Sunshine,
Swim the Sea,
Drink the Wild Air"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing." D. Duck

well, pits are very people frindley, so dont be fooled into thinking they are guard dogs. Try a great dane, or if you can keep the dog in check, get a previously abused mutt, and love on it till you puke. He'll trust you and no on else.

I gotta tell you, I love my big dog. We have a boxer (German bred, military trained) and she is by far the best dog we have ever had. Great with the baby and very protective of the house.

I grew up with Chi's, German shepards, borders, collies and many mutts. The only dog that ever topped our Sami Jo was our Cocker/Dacshund mix. I have a thing for big dogs though. My dream dog is a Ridgeback!

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~Jessica
Wife, mother, wanna be farmer, sometime photographer, less often writer, avid reader.
Isla Giatta on Etsy

Border collies come with smooth coats too, if you can find one. We have a smooth coated border collie mix. She is great at guarding us and will bark at anything that does not belong, including birds and geese. she "tells me" when the cat or chickens get out and she plays with the kids all day long. The problem with border collies is that their juvenile stage is nearly 3 years long instead of the usual 18 months. They also require a lOT of attention and exercise. they are too smart for their own good and can get bored very easily. Ours likes to eat the couch pillows, the kids shoes or the pool filter when she is bored. She is an excellent playmate for my children, tho. and she protected them from a vicious GSH at the vet when she was only 4 months old. About the hair, I will say that our collie (her long haired companion) is very easy to keep. He does require brushing once or twice a week, but his hair is so easy to vacuum and sweep that he makes up for himself. He usually just sheds his undercoat, which is like wool and comes off in soft clumps. If he didn't smell like a dog, I would consider trying to spin it! He is a great dog too. Highly protective, obedient, faithful and instinctual. He makes judgements about people and barks at people he does not like. He also remembers people if they have been here before and does not bark at them if he knows them. He is amazing with children. He will not hesistate to defend us, and has done so twice. Be careful with collies, tho. Some breeders were not so scrupulous about whom they bred and there are some poorly bred collies out there. If you find a good one, tho, you will have a real gem. Good luck.

Our Great Dane Buster had a dog house he stood on, on the back wall of bathroom,he had knocked out bathroom screen because he wanted to be petted when you came into room.Always amusing when a new family guest had a big head stick into window first time while sitting on the stool .Always made sure they met him first(no problem,he met everyone when they first came in yard)
A BIG GOOFBALL,we will have another Dane someday. :worship: GSD and Dobie certainly were tougher than the Dane.
BooBoo

I know! Well, not quite that long for ours, about 2 years or a bit more. We got Allie almost 3 years ago (in december). She finally quit being so annoying a few months ago. Her chew marks will always be a reminder. :haha: No shoe was safe. :no:

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Our Border Collie Huck had a very short juvenile period. I guess that's because he had such a rough time as a baby (he was dumped...I have no idea how long he'd been on his own when I found him, but he was wet, hungry and so covered in cockle burrs that some had caused scabs in his "arm" pits). He never chewed up things he wasn't supposed to, he was housebroke with little effort in under two weeks and he is a wonderful companion. My husband brushes him out every night because he gets so many sticktights in his fur, but they both enjoy the time spent together.

Our Border Collie/Blue Heeler Tippy is only six-months-old so I have no idea how long her juvenile period will last. Right now she is a VERY energetic and alert pup who loves to play with her big brothers (Tom more than Huck). She has slick hair and is a tri-color. It's a good thing she doesn't need brushing as much as Huck since she hates it so much!

They are both wonderful watchdogs and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. In fact, we are in the process of adopting another Border Collie.

I do have to say a few words of praise for our Tom. He is a Black Lab mix that hung around the barn for a couple months before letting us get close to him. He was thin and had an eye injury when I was finally able to convince him I was a nice person with food. Took him to the vet and discovered he'd suffered severe blunt head trauma. We suspect someone hit him because he would cower (sp?) if you came toward him with anything in your hand. As a result, Tom is not as smart as he should be, but he has a heart of gold. Not a mean bone in that dog's body despite the treatment he's been subjected too. He's not much of a barker, but does alert me to strangers or cars that come up to the house. I do believe he would protect me if necessary, but doubt anyone would come close when they see this 70 lb. black dog with the massive chest running at them!

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A dog is what you make him! We have two GSD's. They are friendly with people to whom they've been introduced, are good companions for my son, and are very vigilant about watching for strangers. They are not, however for everyone. They shed a lot, eat a lot, and require quite a bit of excercise. If you want a little dog that likes kids, pugs and Boston terriers are nice. If you want a dog that doesn't shed, go for a curly or wire coat (although some of the latter will shed). If you want a dog that is easy to train, try a herding breed. If you want a tiny dog that acts like it's going to kill all intruders, go for a min-pin. In short, pick a dog whose looks and personality appeal to you, and train him to be what you want him to be. By the way, if your husband wants a Golden to protect you, it may not be the best choice for that job. I adore them for their sweetness, but everyone I've ever know will greet any bad guy with a smile, show him to the silverware, and invite him to play a round of golf.

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Melissa
Reformed hoyden. Please forgive me if I relapse.