Dog for family/protection?

Question

I want a nice family dog but also a dog that can protect me if needed any breed recomendations.

Answer 1

Most any large dog, mixed or purebred, will serve as an effective deterrent to criminals.

Unless you are willing to commit to a good deal of training classes and Obedience work, I would advise MUCH forethought before considering one of the traditonal "guard" breeds. Dobermans, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, etc....are WONDERFUL dogs when matched with the right family. However, they are WORKING breeds, which means they need to feel like they have a "JOB". For the best overall experience with any of these breeds, an owner is best advised to engage in some type of activity with their dog....even if it is as simple as a basic Obedience class, and 30 minutes a day of practice drills! A bored, adolescent Doberman, for instance....has an extremely active mind, a lot of energy....and without the proper outlets for that energy and intelligence, he will think of his OWN activities, which may not be to your liking :). These breeds are not a match for the "average" dog owner; if they interest you, make sure you do LOTS of research, get information from the national Breed Club and know what you're getting into.

Have you thought about a Standard Poodle? Underneath the poofy haircut, they are an AWESOME family dog and a rather imposing protector when the need arises. Most pet owners keep them in a simple pet clip, without all the goofy pom-poms. They have a VERY deep, authoritative bark, they come in black and brown (darker-colored dogs are typically said to be more "intimidating" to a criminal)....but they are an amazingly versatile, intelligent, loving family pet. Plus they have that low-shedding, Poodle coat and may be easier for people with allergies to tolerate.

Or, visit a shelter and find a big, black mutt :). I read statistics somewhere that stated a big, black dog of any type was the most intimidating type of dog for a criminal to encounter. Plus, the most common dog put to sleep in an animal shelter are big, black Lab mixes....Labs make excellent family pets, so you could find your dog at a shelter and save a life at the same time :)

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Any of the "guarding" breeds are naturally great at this..from Rotts to Dobermans. But most dogs will protect their pack if they are confident, properly socialized and live with the family . You just need to think of the activity level and if you can provide enough exercise and mental stimulation to keep the pet healthy and balanced. The German breeds such as Rotts and Dobe are great protection dogs but also require ALOT of work, commitment and dedication to ensure the dog is healthy and not dangerous.

Answer 4

Golden retriever.
I gre up with one and ABSOLUTELY adored her.
She was absoultely gorgeous with me and my brother. So much so, that now that i am 33, with 3 children i have got 2 of my own. (Summer + Connor) I love them to death. They are also GREAT protection dogs and usually scare off anything, even though they usually wouldnt even hurt a fly.
I was getting a babysitter the other day when my 7 year old son said 'i dont need a babysitter' i gave him a completely ridiculous look as i got out the phonebook and he said 'as long as summer and Connor are here, they can protect us.' and it was completely true. Connor and Summer adore the kids and protect them even when my daughter, Alana falls in the back garden the run over to make sure she is okay.
Its beautiful to watch and geat to know that your child reels so protected by a dog!
Hope it helped!

Answer 5

My grandparents used to have a Saint Bernard. And he was great about watching out for us kids.

That aside, most dogs who know their family will protect them- though I hesitate to recommend a rottwieller or a doberman because inbreeding has caused problems with them that might make them unduly dangerous.

Some of the best guardian-type dogs I've ever known were mutts.

Answer 6

my dog is a weimaraner research this breed they are beautiful dogs and very protective of the family never ever offered to bite my grandson and he is now 5 but will tear up anybody he dont know ( or he acts like he will)

Answer 7

Usually for protection, breeds such as the German Shepherd , Rottweilers etc. work best. These are characteristically brave and used for guarding property or protection.

Answer 8

i think the american staffy, they are very loyal to their family and their has been stories for them protecting their family. its on youtube one jumped in front of a gunman a got shot 3 time and still stood between his family and the gunman.

http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/profile.asp?dog=18636

they are strong willed dogs though and need professional training.

Answer 9

what do you mean by protect? if you want a dog that will attack, you have no business having that dog around kids.

if you want a dog that barks, most breeds will suffice.

i always recoil at the family/protect description. they are really opposite ends of the spectrum. like melding a SUV with a bicycle.

Answer 10

Great danes are fantastic family dogs, in my experience. They're not real great at protection really, but their size can sure make them LOOK intimidating.