What breed of dog would be a good guard dog for a first time dog owner?

Question

I'm a single woman, I'll be moving into a house soon, alone, and I want to get a guard dog, but I have no previous experience with owning one. I love animals and I'm a responsible person. I was just wondering what breeds I should consider. I know that smaller dogs can be reliable guard dogs, however, these dogs cannot pin down a large man, if need be. Any help would be great.

Just so some of you know, I just don't want a dog for a guard dog, If I wanted to just ward off intruders, I would get an alarm system...dogs also make great pets and companions too since I will be living alone, and since I will be living alone, I would want a guard dog

Most of these answers are great, most of you actually read what I wrote.... that I am responsible. If a good guard dog needs training, so be it. I am not the type of person that will just chain a dog up and say "that's it!"

Answer 1

I have a boxer and she is a wonderful guard dog. I feel very save with her in my house. They are easy trained and very loyal. They are not too big, but could stil knock someone over.

Answer 2

I am a senior vet tech at a 24-hr emergency animal hospital, getting a dog large enough to pin down an intruder would be great! However, being a first time dog owner, it could also do the same to you if not trained properly. German Shep, Rottie, Pit bull terrier, Doberman would be your super-duper defense dogs, but many of these breeds are dominant, fear biters, or simply aggressive in general when not trained right. I have four dogs myself, and love the protective nature of my white shepherd lab-mix from my local animal shelter. The purpose of a guard dog is obviously for protection, but I would not want my dog hurt by an intruder, (possibly shot in the head) because he was protecting me! If you do get a dog, (if you can adopt great!) use his/her sense of smell and hearing to alert you when something is wrong. No one would even think about entering my house unless on crack, just from the tremendous barking that goes on when they hear anyone or thing near my house! Good Luck with finding your new family member! And like you said, the little dogs are great at hearing things that go "bump in the night!" I would bget a little-medium sized dog, a louieville slugger by my bed or better. Hint, hint. Don't ever be the victim.

Answer 3

I just typed out a long detailed answer to this and it poofed. :-(

First suggestion - really a requirement - read everything you can find on dog/pack behavior. The breeds large enough to pin down a large man also tend to be somewhat stubborn, independent thinkers. You will need to balance discipline with praise. Do NOT "train" them for protection - let them use their natural abilities. You don't need a dog in most cases that will attack on command (what many consider a protection dog)...you need a dog that will naturally rise to a threat.
Akitas and rottweillers are both good choices. They wouldn't be *my* choice but in the right hands they are good dogs.
German Shepherds and Dobermans both have long been known for their protection qualities. Both are awesome companions as well as big enough to make someone think twice. I know a dobe around here who recently was stabbed protecting his family - the family was unharmed. The thug outside the window at 230 a.m. left a trail of blood after stabbing the dog.

There's several breeds very effective not listed. The Bouvier, Giant Schnauzer, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Belgian Turvuren, Belgian Malinois, vizsla are all effective for protection. The belgian dogs are used in many K9 units for both search and rescue and as officers.

The Anatolian Shepherd is another breed that does not play when it comes to protection. I've had a couple and they are AWESOME dogs...very intelligent but very much independent thinkers. There was a case of a lady who had just gotten a pup - 6 months old - who was in the barn behind a double door with the top open. Her husband was milking so the machines meant he didn't hear beyond right there in the barn. A man stopped to look at some goats for sale and once out of sight behind the barn the man grabbed her. She was yelling for help but no one heard her except the "pup" who jumped the bottom door and took the man down before effectively convincing him that he'd picked the wrong place. The pup was not full sized but the protection was in place.

Answer 4

Most of the breeds that could "pin down an man" are not going to be suitable for a fisrtt ime dog owner.
Most of these breeds are dominant assertive breeds and will take many hours and months of training and would be more than a first time owner could handle.
I would not recomend a dog like that for a first time owner.
A first time owner should be looking at like Goldens and labs and things that are more easy going and will take less complex training.
AS fara being able to pin someone down a dog trianed to do that would not be a very good companion dog any way. Gaurd dogs are a working dog and do not live as companion dogs do.
They are used to gaurd property and handled by one person and one person only but they generally do not live as a companion dogs does with the owner.

Answer 5

You should definitely consider a Doberman. They are very loyal, alert, easy to train, will bark but not bite (unless someone is a REAL threat) and are keen at determining friend or foe. AND, a huge bonus, do not come with lots of shedding hair like a medium or long haired breed or with the tremendous puppy chewing and destroying of some other breeds. They DO come with the "Doberman stare" which is usually enough to send a potential problem packing. People respect them. Check with your home owners insurance as the Doberman is on some lists.

Look for:

A kennel that is not breeding guard types/lines but is more inclined to breeding show or family pets.

A kennel offering a good solid health guarantee. This gets tricky so READ it carefully. Most only cover you if the dog dies. All large breeds come with some potential genetic faults which can be costly or fatal with age.

A kennel that will take the dog back if you decide you can not keep it.

Once you have found a good breeder...do not take the most rowdy pup OR the most shy. Get the inquisitive pup who also likes to curl up in your arms. Be prepared to do some obedience training, but you should do that with any breed.

Also, your Dobe will need some exercise. Skip this breed if it's life will be long long hours in a kennel and no time with you. Doberman's must be with their people. They also do not do well chained up in the back yard. However, if you have time to spend with your Dobe and you love and adore her/him, you simply will not find a dog breed more willing to defend you if the need should arise. And on all those other days, you will have a elegant and beautiful companion eager to please.

Answer 6

Well, if you've ever watched It Takes a Thief, most/many dogs will ignore intruders. I've seen them greet the guy breaking into the house and follow him around. It's best to get another type of security that is guaranteed to work since you don't know how the dog will react until after someone has broken into your house.

You should get a dog to have a pet. So just get one you enjoy and will have fun with.

Answer 7

We had a police Chief once tell us that it did not matter what was on the other side of the door to a thief. If they hear the dog barking they will usually go away and not wait to see what breed it is. You need a dog that will love you and respect you because you love and respect it and you will have the 'bark' machine that you need to ward off the intruder.

Answer 8

you could get a rottweiler or a german shepherd, they are very loyal to their owners. but training them as a guard dog could post a problem with you later on. they might get too over protective and harm passersby or kids.

i think what you really need is a good alarm system. The cost is cheaper than owning a big dog.

Answer 9

If you are wanting a dog to protect you in case of a break in. Any breed of loyal dog will do. If you build a loving relationship with your dog it will protect you with its life. I would recommend something like a golden retriever, or black lab. They are very loyal and will only attack if their family is in danger. If you go for a breed like the mastiff or pitbull, you and your dog will have to go through expensive extensive training to teach them when to attack and only then. Also breeds known as "guard dogs" normally raise your homeowners insurance. If you feel you must go with a breed that is known as a "guard dog" I would go with a German Shepherd.

Answer 10

I would suggest a doberman, rotweiler, german sheppard, or pit bull. You've gotta be careful and choose a pure bread pit bull because we adopted a "pitbull" thinking he would guard our house but instead we got a pitbull mix. She is the sweetest dog in the world, instead of barking at anyone that gets close to our house, she gets all excited and starts licking the persons hand and wagging her tail. So, don't get a pitbull "mix"