What breed of dog should I get? I am a cat person who needs a dog for protection. Suggestions?

Question

My house was burglarized recently. Having a dog for protection & companion would be helpful. I am single, 40's w/ 2 indoor cats. I have a fenced yard & 1400 sq.' house. I would enjoy taking a dog on walks, hikes, frisbee, etc. She has to get along w/ cats and visiting guests, but still be protective of property & me. I like calm dogs and want a dog that barks when there is a threat, not all the time. I prefer the appearance of big, long haired dogs, but is my house & yard big enough? I live in a hot climate, but may move to a cooler place in the next year or so, so breeds like St. Bernard's may be miserable here in the heat, is that right? I don't know much about dogs, so need suggestions. I like collies, shelties, aussies, golden retrivers. I don't like dogs that need special grooming like poodles. My cats are very happy & healthy here, and I would make sure the same is true for the dog that joins our family. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Labrador is a great idea
Check out this website for some other ideas:

http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/breeds/

This site includes pictures, information on their size and weight, and information on how to get a dog (locating your breed in your area).

This page here has a quiz you can take to determine what kind of dog might be best for you based on your own criteria and qualifications:

http://www3.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

Good luck!

Answer 2

Actually, it sounds like a German shepherd dog would do well for you. A sheltie talks quite a bit, especially when playing frisbee, fetch and the like. A Saint Bernard would probably not do well with excercise in the heat. If you like the loneger coat, a Belgian Turvuren might make an excellent choice. A golden would also be a good choice, but an Aussie is a high-drive dog that might be a handful for a first time owner. If you can, go to a local dog show and meet some of the breeds that attract you, and find out more about them from the people who know them best, exhibitors and breeders. You can find local shows by going to www.infodog.com. Then, when you find the breed you like best, you can contact a rescue, or some of the breeders you met at the shows. You can also look in your local shelter..

Answer 3

I had a pit bull that was awesome with my cats. Pit bulls have such a bad reputation that is so unfair. They are so lovable.

Rules to go by when having a pit bull is this--they must be introduced into many different environments, around all different kinds of sounds, people and must never be allowed to fight.

With that being said, dogs that bark do an awesome job of scaring away would be intruders.

I guess the next question would be what type dog would you be most comfortable with? You said a big dog, however; small dogs can be just as effective at warding off would be intruders. They bark just like any other dog.

I am privy to pit bulls and have had no bad things happen as a result of having pit bulls. If you ever have one, you'll find them to be the best (and most loyal) dog you will have ever owned.

Just get a book on how to raise them. The book will not only tell you what I said about raising them but will tell you even more details about how to properly raise them.

Answer 4

Get a security system! Don't get a dog to "use" for personal protection, get one out of love. Besides, a burglar can throw poisoned meat to a dog, or shoot them with a gun, or club them, etc. A security system is less expensive - don't forget medical care for a dog such as yearly checkups, teeth cleanings under anesthesia, immunizations, etc.

I'm not against dogs at all, I've had both dogs and cats and horses as well as other pets and love them, but too many inexperienced persons don't realize all the costs involved and things that can happen.

While it is true that a dog has superior hearing and smell, what about when you are absent from the house? A dog can bark and bark but if you are not there to hear it, it will do no good. And he could be harmed. On the other hand, a security system is functioning 24-hours a day whether you are home or not.

Get both if you want, but do get a security system. And if you can afford it, you might want to install cameras as well. But the alarm system alone should do it. I believe ADT has one for a nominal monthly fee.

Answer 5

Ok, forget the answers suggesting Goldens and Labs. These breeds are known for being friendly with everyone. No one is going to be afraid of them and will rob you with the dog standing wagging his tail.
Yes, Basenji's are very cat like. And, like a cat, they make awful guard dogs. They don't even bark, they have an annoying yodel sound they make. Poor choice.
Now on to breeds that might work for you. Most the breeds that are natuaral protectors like Rotties, GSD's, Dobies, Boxers, are all in the Working class and don't do well with cats. I would not get any of the Working dog breeds and expect it to leave the cat alone. However, having said that, as long as you get the dog as a pup and never leave it alone with the cats, it may work out. And, these breeds do make the best guard dogs. People are afraid of them and they have a natural instinct to guard.
Don't get a sighthound or any of the terriers. They were bred to hunt and kill small animals and again are not considered cat safe. They again can learn to live with cats, but should never be left alone with them. These breeds are not good watch dogs either.
Probably the best choice for you would be one of the herding breeds. They may try to herd the cats, but probably not try to kill them. They are high energy breeds and need lots of training and time. I think the Aussie has the most guarding instinct of the easy to find herding breeds. Some of the larger less known herding breeds are good guard dogs, but can be difficult to find and expensive and I'm not sure how good they would be with cats.
So, look at Aussies. I would get a pup or at least an adult that was raised with cats.

Answer 6

I think the best dog for you is a german shepherd or some other kind of working or hearding dog. Although a husky would not be a good option. Working and hearding dogs are very loyal to their owners. They make wonderful pets. I have had 2 dogs that were nothing but working and hearding and they are very good dogs.

Our german shepherd/collie/st. bernard mix protected me from an aggresive pit bull twice. He also is wonderful with our 6 cats. He just smells them and walks away. In a matter of fact he is scared of a newborn kitten! Check the shelters first before anywhere else. Thats where we got all of our dogs from and they were there for over a month and they are beautiful and wonderful dogs. I couldn't wish for a better one.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 7

Do you need a dog that will just bark or do you actually need a dog that will apprehend a human. There is a huge difference between the two. A dog that will engage a human would belong in one category of dogs and training and the dog that would just bark in another. A trained protection dog is an expensive animal and requires a lot of responsibility. For that puprose I would get a shepherd, a malinois, a Fila or a Dutch shepherd.
If you are just looking for a dog that barks only, any breed will do. Good luck.

Answer 8

My sister recently got a black lab mixed with a German short-haired pointer, and he is great. This dog is friendly and lovable, but he also has a good bark. He makes a great watchdog because he was bred to be a natural hunter, so he have sharp eyes, big ears, and is very aware of their environment. More importantly, he's a very intelligent dog who learns fast. If you don't know the dog, he could look intimidating, because he has a big boxy head and a long, slender and agile body. He's got a medium build on him and is also very stealthy. I've seen him stalk prairie dogs and rabbits, and if he wasn't on the leash he'd have gotten them a couple times. Very fast dog, sharp teeth, but will love you to death because you're his mom. If you get him while he's younger (less than two) he'll probably have little trouble being comfortable with your cats...though they might be jealous of him. I hope you find the right dog for you!

Oh yeah, and about how big is your yard? If you have room for him to run around and chase a ball, that'd be ideal.

Answer 9

I have a pitbull and 3 cats in my house(he loves the cats but my youngest cat hates him cuz hes the newest baby). Mastiffs are great dogs, looks and attitude. Ive also seen Alaskan Malamutes-if you dont mind the long hair- be great protection dogs and both breeds are good with children and friends(its "pack") also very smart. Training is required for all breeds to be used for protection.

Answer 10

You don't need a dog! You need an alarm system. Most buglers are not afraid of dogs. They use dog treats to take care of that. I have been robbed and I have an APBT. The only way a dog is going to help you is if you have a vicious dog that will keep your friends and family out of your house. Buglers are more afraid of a sign that says "Protected by XYZ Alarm" even if you do not have an alarm system.