Grrr... How do I convince him?

Question

My father in law wants a guard dog. He wants it to bark at strangers but not at people he knows. He wants to keep it outside. He doesn't want to buy it a fence but he doesn't want it to run off. Basically he wants an alarm system. I have discussed this with him until I was blue in the face. I told him dogs are PETS, that his expectations are unrealistic and unreasonable, that he does NOT need a dog, etc. But he still wants one. I'm about to scream. I've told my husband that I don't think I will be able to visit them if I have to walk by a poor miserable yard dog everytime I go over there. I'm at a loss. How can I convince him this is the WRONG choice!!!!

Maybe I wasn't clear. He does not want it as a working pet. I feel very strongly that ALL dogs need a job, even if it's just some basic "tricks" that they perform for you. He's not looking for something he has to put any effort or money into. He saw some teenagers walking up his driveway and now he's convinced he needs the dog for only one purpose; to stand on the porch and growl and people. I'm not a fanatic, but I love dogs and I think they deserve more than to live their lives chained in a yard.

Answer 1

Ok he "wants" a dog but will he actually go out and buy one, do you think? How about some reverse psychology find a breeder in your area and tell them what your in-law plans to do and if the breeder is on the same page as you ask them if you can give your in-law their number so that they too can give him the same info as you.

Answer 2

It's wrong to get a dog for one reason. Does he realize he's still going to have to look after it, give it basic training and have to pay for any vet bills which will arise. He MUST have it trained in K9 discipline AND the dog he gets may not be suitable for this kind of training. They have to be totally sound in basic training even before it's considered for K9 training. It may not even have the temperament to be a guard dog. Even if he gets a dog from an official guard dog breeder.He may not even be allowed to have a dog from proper breeder's when he tells them that's all he wants a fog for. Has he ever had a dog before?
There's nothing wrong with keeping a dog outside. As long has it has a decent sized run. But it will still need to be exercised. Does he have the time and patience to train a dog in this way??
He needs to really think about this. Cos he may be in for a shock and that's another poor animal put down or rehomed several times.
If he gets a dog that isn't sufficiently trained someone is going to get bitten or seriously hurt.

Answer 3

First of all you are not the one who should be trying to change your father in laws decision about this, your husband is.

The best thing that you could do, and your husband could do would be to find out the rules and regulations about dog ownership in the city or town where your father in law resides.

Most local laws will state that a homeowner cannot keep a dog outside without a fence. Many insurance companies will refuse to insure people who have dogs unsecured outside of the home.

His insurance company could legally drop his current coverage; they do not want to be responsible for unsecured animals. There is a high probability of someone being intimidated or bitten, and then lawsuits will not be far behind.

Why does your father in law feel that he needs a guard dog? Does he live in a dangerous area where he does not feel safe? Is he very anti-social and just wants to know when people are approaching his property?

There are cameras available that can be installed outside of his home that he can monitor on any computer moniter if he is afraid of property damage or something along those lines.

I know people who have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills and damages when an unsecured dog has bitten someone who was innocently walking near their property.

Please work with your husband on this and let him be the bad guy. I do not know your father in laws age, but some of the early stages of dementia may involve people feeling fearful and wanting to protect themselves and their property from unknown intruders and strangers that they believe are watching them or interfering in their lives.

Good luck to you both, I hope that you can find a workable solution to this for the good of all involved.

Answer 4

in order for a dog to fully accpet its duties as a gurd dog it needs free run of all areas it gaurds therefore it cant be tied up. it needs a fenced area to patroll most dogs will naturlly know how to guard also they will no whos safe and whos not if they are well socalized . the dog needs to be around the ppl who he gaurding he need to no , respect and care fore the person hes doing the gurading for and should be comfotable with the regularvisitors . : caution many breed used for gurding such a german sheprehds and akits need people attionen they get bored bye them selves bordom leads to aggression and desuctive behaviores also bord dogs with no fence runaway .they need to be socilazied at a young age or they will be aggressive and may bite not only strangers but theire owners to. they are dominte dogs and should not be hit or cruley treated as it usally dosntr break there spirte it makes them angry and violent not all dogs are happy being just pets many liek haveing a job and many dogs enojoy the responsibliity of being ur gurad .(i own an akita i no what im taking about )

Answer 5

HE IS BEING TOTAL IGNORANT about what a dog is for and how you maintain a guard dog.

I really hate when people train a dog to be mean enough to be a guard dog and I don't think he will want to maintain enough insurance to pay all the bills regarding, a guard dog with no fence. The neighbors will certainly not be very happy.
Besides being unfair to the animal it is a time bomb waiting for a victim.

Dogs are companions and a comfort.

Please find someone who will he will listen to.

Answer 6

Nothing wrong with his other choices you mentioned but I do agree he needs a fence, but at the end of the day you can only express your opinion and move on it is not your chopice it is his.

Yes I believe he wants a watch dog not a guard dog, you learn something new everyday of YA, I have a watch dog not a guard dog I have been calling her a guard dog when she is a watch dog. :)

Answer 7

A "guard dog" is a dog that will protect you and your home - if someone comes around, the dog will attack them.

A "watch dog" is a dog that if trouble comes around, they will alert you to the trouble so you can take care of it.

Many of your sheep herding breeds (many of the collie varieties) make excellent watch dogs. They came about because sheep herders looked for dogs that were good at this, and instinctively acted in this manor, and breed the ones who had these qualities. His expectations are totally realistic and reasonable. We had a sheltie (minature collie) who used to try to herd us to the bedroom when he was tired. You don't go to sleep until the sheep you are protecting go to sleep, and he wanted us to go to bed so that he could! It was really rather cute.

Dogs feel good about themselves when they feel that they are contributing and serving a useful and meaningful purpose. It is not "abusing" them in any way to allow them to perform these tasks - various breeds to this naturally. It is instinct brought about by years and years and years of breeding for those qualities.

That is not to say that they are not great pets and companions. They are. I'm sure once he gets a dog as a watch dog, he'll love it and pay it attention. And the dog will stay because he has found his "home".

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Update - Thanks for the additional detail. It looks like he does want a guard dog - one that will growl at strangers, not a watch dog - one that will bark and alert him of strangers. A guard dog you do need to keep within a fence or on a chain, and I'm not keen on the chains. Not, IMHO, overly humane.

Watch dogs, on the other hand, do not attack, they bark to warn you. They would not need to be restrained by a fence or chain in that they aren't going to harm anyone, however, his city, etc. may have leash laws, so this may not be possible. Not to mention that if there is car traffic nearby, that is not safe for the dog. If he were in a situation where a watch dog would be workable, then that would be okay. Guard or watch dog, it probably would be better if he had a fence (unless he lives out in the country, etc.).

Get him motion sensor lights for Christmas. There are devices you can get that replace one of the lights with a "horn", so one light comes on and a horn sounds. I found these in http://www.northerntool.com/ see:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_13228_13228

Another alternative is they make cameras for hunters. The hunters set them up (attach them to trees in the forest) and they have cameras in them As the deer go by, it snaps a picture of them. Older ones were 35mm film, but newer ones are all digtal camera ones now. Set something like that up, and check the SD card periodically, and you might be able to catch someone in the act and have the photographic evidence to prove it. Various hunting stores sell them (Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Dick's Sporting Goods)

Either of these options might be even more desirable by your father. After all, motion detectors do not "sleep".

Answer 8

Sounds like my father. He got a doberman from a man we once knew. the dog was a miltary dog at one time but was to old to work. He trained her to bark when someone she didnt know was there. And lord knwos it took forever to train her. Well one day she accidently bite a man, and he ended up suing my father. It was horrible. it ended up costing my father thousands of dollars and the state made us put her to sleep. So explain to him the risk and hopefully he'll just choose and alarms system

Answer 9

Some dogs are not pets, because they have a job to do. Some herding dogs are raised with sheep, and never have much human contact. They have to protect the sheep, and aren't seen as pets. Calm your PETA fury, because some dogs have an important job to do.

Answer 10

If he isn't convinced now, he probably will be really hard to convince later. I think you should email your local animal shelter and ask them their opinion about the alarm system/guard dog problem. Then you should show your father in law what they say about it. He might believe them since they are close to professionals.