what type of dog should i get?

Question

my ex was stalking me and i went to the police and got a restraining order on him, my mom finally believed me. She has sent me to oklahoma to stay with my gandparents until he can be found by the cops. he dissapearred somewhere.
mom suggested i buy a dog while im here and i want to get a medium to large sized dog that is loyal and easily trained to guard me when i go for walks around town and guard my family and home. but i dont want him or her to attack unless its to defend me or my family if were being hurt. i also want a dog whos good with kids family and friends as i have a 4 year old brother.and a nine year old sister.
is a male or female better? we dont want a dog who has puppys. mom said it has to be de sexed.
and whats the best type of dog to buy? mom gave me $900 to buy one.
i really want a true bred dog not a mixed up breed.
and whats the best age to get a dog if i want to take it to be trained by my uncle who works in security?

Answer 1

You don;t need to "buy" a dog. Go to your local animal shelter and adopt a dog. Mixed breeds are usually healthier than pure breeds anyway, and you'll be saving a life. You don't need a trained guard dog.

Answer 2

No offense, but generally speaking "guard dog" and "kids" don't go together. You can get yourself a German Shepard or Doberman Pinscher and they make really good guard dogs, and CAN be good to kids. They are really smart dogs and are easy to train, but the minute you start training a dog to attack, there is a danger it will attack someone you don't intend it to attack, and that includes your kids. More children end up in the hospital every year from being attacked by their own dog than from strange dogs. That doesn't mean you can't get a big dog, but you may be wise to use it more as a deterrent by its intimidating looks and teach it to be nice. Ultimately, a dog is not going to be able to stop a man who really wants to get at you. Even a rottweiler can't stop a buller. Best leave that to the police.

I suggest calling the AKC and getting more information. You want to be 100% sure you know what you are doing before you do it. You will not get enough accurate information here at Yahoo! Answers. This decision is too important. Good luck!

Answer 3

Be very careful, do your research. You have to realize the dog has to be smart and well-trained enough to tell the difference between a bad stranger running up towards you, and a strange child running up towards you for a hug. It is like having a loaded gun. A German Shepherd would be your best bet, but you need a real dog trainer, not your uncle. It needs to be at least 1 year old before it can do real protection training.

By the way, no DOG can protect you against a gun or knife or weapon. Your dog just might get shot or stabbed by a person trying to attack you. I would recommend you get a GUN, not a dog! Obviously, learn how to shoot, get your firearm owner identification, then buy a gun. Also take some self defense classes.

And NO YOU CANNOT USE ANY DOG for protection bitework. You cannot just get a dog from a shelter, you need a breeder whose dogs are proven working dogs.

Answer 4

If your uncle works in security he would be a great person to help you pick a breed. You may want to consider a German Shepard, they make excellant gaurd dogs, but are also very loyal. Having small children I would go with a female, they tend to be a little more protective of thier people and propery. also keep in mind that a large part of a dogs behavior is based on how they are raised and how well you and your family do at properly handling and training.

Answer 5

Go to the pound and save a life! I wouldn't get hung up on a breed. Go to the pound and walk and interact with the dogs. Just like people they each have their own personalities. I think if you do this you will know what dog is for you. I've always been told that right around a year old is the best age for training. Good luck.

Answer 6

I recommend getting a Labrador Retriever. They are loyal, great with kids, smart, and easily get attached to their owner. Males tend to be larger and more willing to protect family and they can't have puppies unless they breed with someone elses dog which is kind of a handful if the females owner wishes to not have puppies. If this happens, you could be in big trouble. If you make the right investment, you might have money left over to neuter your dog. Anyway, Labs are really good all-around dogs. They are hardy, bold, yet sweet and playful. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Well I'm not going to lie here you want a lot really fast. Its not going to be OVERNIGHT that you can get this great dog that is trained to be loyal to you and attack someone. You might want to talk to breeders in you area that have Boxers or German Shepard's. But I think you are really asking for a lot really fast -- I'm not saying its impossible but it takes time for a dog to want to be loyal to you, most dogs have the instinct to be aggressive to someone who is hurting you, but it seems you want this hugely aggressive dog that will rip apart your ex, but will be the most gentle thing for your brother and sisters. I think its going to take you some time to find this ideal dog, and some serious training. If you don't want a dog that has puppies then get one that is spayed or get a male that is neutered. I think you need to really talk to breeders in the area and really learn more about the various breeds as well as temperaments -- if you don't' want to spend time with a puppy training then my suggestion is obviously one that is a little bit older. But, like I said you're really looking for a lot that most people spend quite a bit of time finding & working with.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Honestly, get yourself a blue or red heeler. There are also known as Austrian Cattle dogs (not to be confused with Austrian Shepards). I will never own a different type of dog again. I have two and my parents have two. They bond with their owners and are EXTREMELY SMART. Also, they are the most loyal dogs ever. My ex-husband was abusive and my heeler would get between us so I could get out of the house. Plus she is a great family dog. She LOVES to play and it great with kids. The younger dog I have is proving to be just the same. My parents dogs go everywhere with my father and won't let someone they don't know get in his truck without my father's permission. They are a medium size dog and they are extremely beautiful. If you are in OK, they should be easy to find since they are used as cattle dogs. Good luck and let us know what kind you get. :)

Answer 9

I would suggest that you not get a dog at all. You don't seem to know the first thing about dogs. It is a huge responsibility and you need to be in it for the life of the dog (10 to 15 years). You are living with your grandparents, you have an uncle in security, you have a restraining order. A dog cannot protect you better than that.

Answer 10

To answer one of your questions, call a dog trainer in your area. Where I lived was a trainer that is a policeman who trains K-9 dogs. He sells them, but for more than $900. What if your boyfriend gets arrested, will you return the dog? Are you able to afford the feedings and vet care ? Why don't you just get a cell phone instead, and have it with you al the time to call 911 should the bf mess with you?

Answer 11

normally i would recommend a herding breed for any household with children, as they are intuitively gentle & protective towards kids. sometimes bigger dogs don't have an intuitive grasp of the fragility of children, and the dog's rough housing can lead to shed tears. that being said, i don't know if most shepherding breeds would make good security dogs (german shepherd comes to mind as an exception).

things to bear in mind for security dogs:
1. they are typically high energy breeds, which means they will need daily exercise. if not sufficiently exercised, they will seek other (frequently destructive) means of expressing their energy.

2. they are physically powerful, and capable of causing great harm if they feel threatened. this is true of any dog, but the consequences with security breeds are often greater. proper training and socialization is the key to prevention of dog-related accidents. you would never want your beloved protector to be euthanized by authorities, nor would you want your finances jeopardized by litigation from anyone accidentally attacked by your security dog.

the above warnings aren't intended to scare you away. security dogs can be affectionate, doting, playful, and still very protective -- they just require a lot of care and training.

with all of the above being said, personally i would check out these 3 breeds:

1. Doberman Pinscher: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doberman

2. Rottweiler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweiler

3. German Shepherd: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_shephard

be sure to get advice from the breeder regarding what to expect. intially there will be a significant time demand placed on you for training, and there will always be a significant time demand for daily exercise. no high energy dog can be healthy without regular exercise, and generally the more sedate breeds don't make good security dogs.

good luck to you, and enjoy your new companion! :)


@ Hero -- i don't think a gun is a wise choice if Kate does not have previous firearms experience. the sad reality is that there are far more incidents of accidentally shot friends or family members than intetionally shot attackers. without military or police training, Kate's gun is more likely to be turned against her than to aid in her defense. if Kate really considers carrying a weapon, mace or pepper spray (tho less effective than a firearm) are overall a _much_ safer choice. the best defense of all, of course, is to think ahead and avoid being in situations where an attack is likely to occur.