Guard dogs

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Hollyhorse

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There have been a lot of break-ins in our area and our house was broken into a few years ago (with previous owners) so we've decided to tighten up on security! Our main concern is our yard; we have barns, stabling, horsebox and fields. We're looking at the usual - CCTV, alarms etc, but are planning to get some guard dogs too. We have 2 dogs at present but they are indoor lap dogs really! So I'm really looking for advice, suggestions and recommendations! I'm leaning toward german shepherds at the moment but have never had a guard dog before so don't know things like how many I should have and if they stay in a kennel in the yard at nights?

Any help would be much appreciated!
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I wouldn't jeopardise the lives of dogs if you have high crime in your area - the burglars will just poison the dogs. Get some geese instead - they are the best guard "dogs" you could buy.

ETA - I've just read a post about geese and by all accounts they are not what you want as guards; seems they make a noise at the drop of a hat and attack the wrong people.
 
I would also worry about the dogs safety in this type of environment...these days dogs are no deterrent for a determined thief...unless you are there for the dogs to alert you of an intruder....Tia is right they would more than likely poison or steal the dogs
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I think German Shepherds are a good choice. They're trainable and loyal and altogether a nice breed. They should live in kennels on the yard, but I'm not sure I'd want them 'free range' - perhaps they could be attached to long ropes on long ropes if you see what I mean?

I'm not sure that burglars would poison dogs - I think most burglars are either opportunistic or have a specific plan. In our village a few years back there was a bit of a crime spree, and the police eventually found on one of the perpetrators a map of the village with certain houses marked with red crosses. None of these had been broken into. The common theme? Dog owners. They had staked out the village and planned break ins only at houses without dogs..........most burglars just don't want the hassle!

If the thieves are really serious then Tia is right - nothing will deter them. They could just shoot the dogs. But then that's a really serious break in with really serious consequences, and in reality I just don't think it happens that often. Dogs are great deterrents.
 
Agree to a certain extent...but a village with houses is different to a yard/stables that tend be left from last feed till early morning(if thats what type of place the OP has)....there for the dogs cannot alert anyone....in houses/village however...people will be suspicious of dogs barking and are more likely to go and see what they are barking at.

We actually get loads of poisoned dogs through our vets for emergency treatment....mostly from allotments/factory type environments...the latest being a huge Long coated Shepherd.

Shepherds are of course a good choice...I think if someone is going to be deterred a shepherd will do the trick...they are very teritorial of their space....but as Tia said I just wouldnt risk it.
 
I agree with Tia on this, I'd be devasteted if anything happened to the dogs, Geese are a great idea, horrible things, but would at least make a noise if someone wanders around at night.
 
Echo the above, wouldn't risk it. It's not just poisoning either, I've heard of or read about a lot of dogs (be it guard or not) that have had a go at burglars and they've been stabbed or shot or attacked in some way.
 
A friend got a GS as they had been broken into. This is going back 15yrs
They got broke into anothe 3 times & poor Watson (the dog) was beaten on all occasions & on one occasion they put superglue in his eyes.
He was a lovely soft inhouse dog for their young son of 5yrs even when little D use to swing off Watson's tail all he would do is turn & lick D's face so he would let go of tail as he put his hands up to stop Watson licking!
I went to take Watson out for a walk (I was 16 at the time) walking down this alley there was this bloke, Watson gave no warning growl but he went to pin the chap against the walkway...I managed to stop him but shows he had the protective initiative.
 
Really interesting to read all your views. Just to clarify we have our own land - the yard is literally at the end of our garden and the fields are beyond that. The main aim by having guard dogs/geese/alarms etc would be to raise the alarm, as the house is only a number of metres away we would be sure to hear.
 
Being that your house is so close to everything, perhaps you might consider a dog that is an excellent watchdog, but not a guard dog, and have that dog live downstairs as an extra alarm. My Boston Terrier is fantastic as a watchdog, and it's a trait the breed is known for. Clanking radiators etc. she ignores, but she flies into a barking frenzy at the slightest footstep on the landing outside. For a small dog, she sounds rather gruff and tough.

Having an indoor watchdog would be safer for the dog, too.

Here's a list of good watchdogs
 
We actually already have 2 indoor dogs - a lab and a terrier and they didn't hear anything so if we had a watch/guard dog it would have to be out on the yard, the house is close to the yard but not that close! You could effectively creep around the yard and no-one would know.
 
If its a case of a dog to alert u, as u are living on the property...then a Shepherd would prove its weight in gold...they are fantastic at guarding and very easy to train to stay on the land if loose.
My mam has 2 shepherds...running loose at the bottom of her yard.....they look ferocious through the gates...but they are soft as butter...but thay do their job...everytime they go mad and bark..she has CCTV....she just takes a look to see if anyone is there, if so she goes out to see.
I thought u meant to leave alone on a yard...hence why I mentioned both scenarios.
 
Just to mention that when considering buying a dog to use as a guard dog their are certain things that you have to do to comply with the law.
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The Guard dog act 1975 states:-

"(1)A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a person (“the handler”) who is capable of controlling the dog is present on the premises and the dog is under the control of the handler at all times while it is being so used except while it is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(2)The handler of a guard dog shall keep the dog under his control at all times while it is being used as a guard dog at any premises except—
(a)while another handler has control over the dog; or
(b)while the dog is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(3)A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a notice containing a warning that a guard dog is present is clearly exhibited at each entrance to the premises."

"guard dog” means a dog which is being used to protect—
(a)premises; or
(b)property kept on the premises; or
(c)a person guarding the premises or such property;


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As Stinkbomb has said (just to shorten it), a guard dog can only be used when it has a handler with it or it is restrained by some means - chain, rope etc. However if your dogs are "pets"
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within the curtilage of your dwelling, they can roam free.

It sounds as if your stables are attached to your house so that should be okay, if the stables are self-contained away from your home then the "guard" dog senario would apply!!
 
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