I am interested in a good family/watch dog?

Question

I am looking for a breed of dog who is medium to large, not a barker, sheds little, is protective and good with kids. Easy to train and smart would be good to. Does this animal exist?

Answer 1

well, i went to http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do and i did the test with the information you gave and the cutest dogs that it came up with are Akita 98%,
Pembroke Welsh Corgi 98%,
American Staffordshire Terrier 96% ,
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 95%
Norwegian Elkhound 95%
Chinese Shar-Pei 93% and
Labrador Retriever 93%
or you can take a different test at http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do

i hope that helps...

Answer 2

Oh oh i know this one. my family has had many watch dogs that practically become one of the family. And heres the trick, dont go looking for some purebred perfect "bred for attitude" dogs that youll spend 500 dollars on just buying it. Go to an animal shelter and find a dog thats about a year or so old. Shelter dogs just have this respect and loyalty that no other type could possibly have. They have this certain grattitude towards you and your family that you notice so much more than others. True, breed has a little to do with it, but that doesnt mean go get a purebred. Look for a shelter dog with a mix of Lab, Retriever, Shephard, St.Bernard,hound, Pointer, ect. There are TONS of these types in shelters because nowadays everyone wants the dog that fits in your purse, or the dog you can put bows and clothes on and they disregard the old faithful mutt. its sad, and they get put to sleep so often. When you adopt from a shelter they almost always come with their shots, spay/neutering, wormed, and micro chipped all for around 100 to 150 dollars

Answer 3

Sounds like you are looking for a Doberman. They are just like other breeds. They need to be socialized around kids and other things you want them to be well used to. They are a medium sized breed, they can easily be taught when it's okay to bark, when not to bark, they shed very little, and they adore kids. They are very easy to train and are a very smart dog. You would want a fenced yard, and you would want to be someone who isn't afraid of training classes that would be good for socialization. They are people dogs and want to be with people, so if you work long hours or spend a lot of time away from home, they aren't a good idea.

Answer 4

Chows are very family oriented...great dogs, however they are long haired and shed. Labs are very good dogs. smart, faithful, great with kids, shed little, but are so full of energy. To find a dog that will fit your best interest go to a book store and get the book "The New Encyclopedia of the Dog". Almost every breed is in there and it gives a lowdown on the breeds it has in it. check it out it's a good read if nothing else.

Answer 5

Check with your local animal shelter with your list of requirments. If your not too fussy they can find something with those exact characteristics. The not shedding thing means you likely want something with a little Poodle in it.
Those guys are great guard dogs. I've told this story before. My cousin parked her Miniature Poodle under her babies crib when baby came home from the hospital. God help you if you walked into that nursery to peek at the baby without Mom, you would have thought there was a much larger dog in there! Miniature Poodles are good guard dogs.
The truth is any dog can be a good dog. You just have to invest a little time into training the dog and forging a bond with the animal! Check out this website.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/

Answer 6

Depends on THAT precise dog. Like, there are super quiet dogs, yet super loud dogs, even if they're the same breed.

But an excellent watch/family dog? Perhaps a German Shepard or a Rottweiler. I had a Rott before, and he was great! A little too great of a watch dog, mind you, but he was a great family dog. Didn't bark that much either. Plus, they're short haired, so shedding isn't much of a problem.

A Doberman should be good too. They're pretty mellow.

Answer 7

Perhaps a Doberman, Rottweiler, Weimeraner or crossbreed/mixed breed could suit you. Check out a dog breeds book and flick through it for more information or choices. Good luck.

Answer 8

I think it's not easy to find a dog that can meet all your requirements but maybe you could consider a Basenji? This breed of dog sheds little, is very smart, protective and seldom barks.

Answer 9

SHIH-TZU

They might be small but are Good Family and Watch dogs.
My shih tzu was not a barker only when she heard the door knock, or heard an unfamiliar voice.
I never saw my shih tzu's hair ever on the floor. I always groomed her so maybe thats why.
She was very protective with the family, which i loved.
And even though she might seem vicious she was extremely gentle to my other small pets that i had in the past like a hamster, rabbit and now a cat.
She was also gentle to kids, and with the extended family.

Answer 10

I agree with Linda, Rottweilers are a great breed. They love people, especially children, are smart, and protective. Looks like the breed you're looking for, plus there are many Rottweilers in shelters looking for a good home =) Good luck.

Answer 11

Dogs with guarding instincts can turn that guarding instinct against the children, nipping or seriously biting.

Untrained dogs are unreliable guardians. Some may have a tendency to guard, but developing a reliable guard dog takes extensive training.

No that animal does not exist. Training a dog is work, like educating your child is work. It is a life-long effort.