We stay on a fairly large piece of land and would love a guard dog that has a good temperament and will be good with children too.
What would the Yahoo! Answers users suggest and why?
2007-08-13 02:21:42 · 28 answers · asked by Ni Ten Ichi Ryu 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Rottweilers are good dogs even though they get a bad rap. I have a rottweiler german shepherd/husky mix and she protects my family and she is very sweet.
Labs are good with children but Im not sure about the protection part. Labs are friendly to almost everyone.
I also have a labweiler(Lab/rottweiler mix) but he seems to be more friendly then both friendly and protecting. But im sure if he ever felt he needed to be he would.
German Shepherds are good with children and are protecters.
Thats what I would suggest.
2007-08-13 02:28:57 · answer #1 · answered by Koter Boters misses Rufus! 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Wow...I can't believe that anyone would suggest a Fila or a Rottie for young children! Nice dogs in and of themselves mostly, but NOT appropriate for households with small children. Both of those breeds are very good guard dogs, but they ( and German Shepherds too ) have a strong prey drive, and can mistake small children for "prey" if they are moving quickly, running, screaming and yelling, etc. REALLY REALLY bad idea! ( lets not even discuss Pits, Am Staffs or Dobies either....none of these breeds are a smart choice for familys with young children. I don't care how many heartwarming stories you hear from people about how thier Pittie is great with the kids...I can tell you a dozen more stories about how many aren't, and are put to sleep after biting a child...usually in the face)
Good family dogs that can provide "guard dog" service while not being too aggressive for small children...
Labs, Goldens, Great Pyrenees, Standard Poodles and Newfies can all be good choices. Boxers are also generally kind and even tempered, but have a tendency to jump up a lot and that can be a problem with a small child, though any large dog can and will have the same problem without proper training.
Something else to keep in mind is that a dog only need to have a voice to be a good property guard dog...most criminals stay away from houses that have barking dogs. And most dogs that are trained to be "protection" dogs will be completely innappropriate for a home situation involving children.
2007-08-19 14:27:51 · answer #2 · answered by sheila n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that any dog is a good deterrent if you are looking for protection for the kids when they are out and you aren't easily able to see them...
But you should never leave kids alone with a dog without being there to supervise..
Don't know how old your kids are, and what sort of dog experience you or the kids have.. rather than a guard dog, I think you should get the kid a cell phone.
2007-08-13 04:20:06 · answer #3 · answered by DP 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would say a boxer. They are very good with children yet protective by nature. Excellent watchdogs! Found them to be even more protective over kids. They are very intelligent, and loyal. If you are interested in the breed be sure to buy from a reputable breeder or you may get a very hyper boxer. Energetic they are already but also laid back but if you get a hyper one they can be harder to train and you miss that laid back part. Also I have had quite a few dogs in my lifetime and never housebroke a dog quicker then a boxer. In one week they are going to the door to go outside to go potty and trustworthy housbroken I mean.
2007-08-13 02:51:40 · answer #4 · answered by Boxer Lover 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You're going to have to do some research. My suggestion is to take the Working group, check into which working breeds were bred to guard, and then continue to researching temperment and ect. (and please remember - Labs and Goldens were not bred as guard dogs)
Some dogs will be compatible with one of your conditions, but not the other. Example - Boxers are phenominal with kids. But they were bred to be watch dogs. It's not their nature to guard, the particular dog would have to be trained to do that. And your best bet will be choosing a breed that will instinctively have that ability.
2007-08-13 02:43:06 · answer #5 · answered by throughtwoeyes 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So you want something that is a good farm dog, protector, and family dog?
Well, if you are looking for a pure bred, there are alot of choices...
You should look for a bred that had a good thick, short coat (in case of weather, or pssibly even as better protection for the dog ) and is easy to groom. Also, you should look into the dogs' background and to see what kind of health problems the dog might get. The type of dog (or group) I suggest is the Herding and Terrier catergory (though would go with herding... they were made to protect, unlike terriers, whom were made to hunt and most are small)
The two breeds that best fit your requirements (from each group)...
Herding
(developed to prtected livestock from wolves and bears)
Austrailian Shepard: A well known breed that was developed in the USA to herd sheep. They are great with kids, and are high prized whenever obedience is required. They are definetly not made for city living. They are a medium sized dog, ranging from 18-23in and 35-70 lb.
German Shepard: One of the most poppular breeds in the world, this shepard is an enthusiatic worker. They need to be trained early and thoroughly. They do need adequete exercise, or else they can be destructive. They are also a great dog for kids. They are a large and can range from 23-25 in and from 75-95lb.
Terriers
(high spirited dogs who were first brought to farms as rat catchers)
Jack Russel: This guys are very active and robust and fearless. They make an OK family pet (but they can be trained to be a great one), but have a great amount of courage. The range form 14in and 16-18lb.
Another suggestion is the Boxer. Though its coat is very short and doesn't really protect it from harsh weather, it is a great farm dog. Out of all of the dogs, this particular breed is the best with kids. They have alot of energy, and need plenty of exercise. It was originally bred to bait bulls, and guard property, but the Boxer can also be very affectionate. It ranges from 21-25in and 66-70lb.
(You can also opt for a mixed breed!)
Out of all of these, I would choose a German Shepard. They seem to fit most into your requirements!! They have a nice thick, short double coat. They are good protectors, yet gentle enough to love kids.And they are intelligent ( the work as seeing eye dog, police search dog, etc.)
Hope I helped!!
P.S. This information is off of research so I'm not telling you to buy a german shepard beacuse I have one (I don't). Just trying to find the dog that's best for you! (^:
2007-08-13 03:05:30 · answer #6 · answered by moJo Jojo 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are plenty of large breeds that are great with families and great protectors too. Any dog will guard its family instinctively if anything were to happen, but I would suggest looking in the working breed group. They were made and bred for that kind of work. German Shepherds, Dobermans, Mastiffs, and yes, Rotties too, are great with kids when raised properly and will be great protectors too. Do your homework to find which breed fits you and your family best. Good luck!
2007-08-13 02:44:26 · answer #7 · answered by Cristal 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We have a Saint Bernard. They are very good with children. They are not the best with overall protection, not like a Rottweiler or doberman, but they will protect their family. Andy, our saint, always lets us know when there is someone other than our family at the door and such. And like I said, he is AWESOME with our kids, a 15 y/o, 10 y/o and 4 y/o (we have had him for 2 years, and was wonderful with the 4 y/o (who was 2 then) as a pup)
2007-08-13 02:32:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
A Rottweiler. They are great protective dogs, but also great companions. They are very good with people, and children, and can sense something off. As long as they know the person, they are as friendly as can be. But they can go into protection mode if need be or feel threatened. Just make sure you go to a good breeder, and train it the right way. I have had a rottweiler since it was a puppy, and she is the biggest baby, but she knows when to be on alert.
2007-08-13 02:34:59 · answer #9 · answered by just_wondering 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Add a Golden Retriever to your family. The best family dog ever, and if there is a threat to your family, the golden will react to protect.
Hope you find a dog that is perfect fit for you and your family!
2007-08-17 17:04:15 · answer #10 · answered by vikingbarbie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Golden Retrievers are great dogs. A Golden seems to suit you, because you are land. Golden Retrievers need exercise to some level. They are also energetic, but laid back dogs. They are great with kids and their temperment is great. That is why they are such a popular breed of dog. They aren't aggressive, either.
I don't know if they would be the best gaurd dog. There are certain levels of gaurding you want, and a Golden is more of an all around family-friendly dog.
2007-08-13 02:28:02 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋