Suggestions for a dog for me. Companion/Guard

Enfys

Enfys

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Actually I already have one, but I am genuinely interested in opinions of what breed of dog would be most suitable for my situation. These are the points we considered when we did decide on our dog.

Isolated country property.......no street lights (there is a history of rural break-ins in this area)

OH works nights.

99% of the time there is someone in all day.

One 11 year old child in the family and often friends with younger children visiting.

Horses, (Alpacas in the spring) cats, other pets around.

Wild deer and turkey on the property, visiting coyotes and other furry things that live in the woods too.

Oh yes, and it's pretty cold here too in winter and I don't want to be faffing around rugging up a dog (having spent 10 years covering greyhounds with more rugs than my horses!)

I have had many breeds of dogs over the years, have attended training classes but am very much an ordinary dog owner who is only too happy to ask, and take, advice/go running to experts for help if something isn't going right.

So, any suggestions? Thanks.
 
You can't beat a German Shepherd.
My friend came up to help at a show the other week & she has 2 white ones, one a lovely pup.
They were great around the horses & both were so well behaved.
She has horses, cats & Birds too & they all get on great.
 
i live in same kind of place, i have a rotti for my gaurd and a pug to make me laugh!! she is a great dog and very good with all my other animals. but when she is worried about something she makes sure you know and i know when she start no one will come near me!
 
German or Belgian Shepherd....without question.

That's what almost all of my farmy friends have. I have a Belgian and once the old collie dog goes I'll be going for either another one or a GSD. Much as I adore collie's, they just aren't up to what we have to contend with here, although we don't have break-in's and hardly any crime in my area.
 
Dalmation
Dobermann
GSD

Top 2 may need rugs though
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rottweiler bitch everytime get one from a pup...so it can get acustomed to the farm animals and children they can cope with the cold and have a very good undercoat, and a more faithfull dog will be hard to find ...........i dont think dobermans would cope with the cold ......and i have no experiance of gsd
 
Definatley a German Shepherd, they are , faithfull, protective, intelligent, obedient in the right hands and very hardy.
They make a great companion and guard dog, as well as all round family pet.
I work night shift and take my rotti and akita, i used to take my shepherd before she died, and i defo felt more safe with her around.
 
Thankyou.

We were so impressed with our GSD pups' Uncles and Aunts when we met them that we had a total re-think about dogs and ended up with a breed that we hadn't even thought about, let alone considered.

Once he grows out of being scared of the dark he should work out just fine, except........ how do you stop them growing? The Vet said that he was growing too fast! I can't exactly stop feeding him.
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Can't beat a Belgian in my opinion - this is a breed that can do it all - look at the coated varieties ( Tervueren and Groenendael) if you are worried about the cold weather.


Get a Belgian and I'll guarantee you'll never get another breed -
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- they are so bright and can turn their paws to any canine sport - I have 7 ( soon to be 8 ) and work them in obedience, have fun with them in agility, and show them at Champ show level - I have known both show and obedience champions created from the same litter - how's that for brains and beauty !
 
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Well I never! Fancy you mentioning RRs!!!
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[/ QUOTE ]LMAO!! I know... I shocked you didn't I!
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Well in all seriousness ... the 'Lion Dog' is a fab guard dog, loyal, aloof, won't rush into a situation without assessing.. I guess factors you have to consider before approaching a lion!!!

They are said to be able to cope with extreme heat and cold very well too
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How is the beautiful Finn today?

[/ QUOTE ]BE-A-UTIFUL!!
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I was trying to upload some pictures of them lastnight (Tinks aswell) but my internet at home wasn't working
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... I have a picture of the terrible two next to the futon they savaged!!! LOL!!
 
I am waiting for the futon picture!!!!!!!!!!!! KJJ
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Here's my huge, ferocious (haha) Guard Dog. In October when we got him.
Preston370harley-1.jpg


Now:
24Jan2007007.jpg
 
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I am waiting for the futon picture!!!!!!!!!!!! KJJ
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[/ QUOTE ]LMAO!! - Well I have posted it now!! As seen in Terrible Two post!!
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Definately not a Weimaraner then.
Ours does'nt even bother to get up when someone knocks on the door.....lazy boy!

Our old GSD would of scared them enough by barking at them through the window without even meeting him
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He looked scarey but all he really wanted to do is give you his fave squeaky toy for you to throw unless you are a postman/woman!!!!
 
Ha! Weimars, beautiful, I've had one before, very wilfull chap he was too. OH doesn't like them for some reason, he likes Vizlas and German Pointers, I don't want hunting breeds here, one look at the deer or turkeys and they'd be off.

Ah, Schnausers, they were, and still are, on the list of possibles. Daughter wants a mini, I would like a large, hmmmmmmm.
 
I have a rotti, live rural and she has made a wonderful guard/pet. I feel that from what you have said the lesser coated dogs would feel the cold. Our rotti, although has a thick coat, has a heated kennel when she is out, but generally lives indoors. When it is cold we do put a light rug on her.

The only down side is, by having a larger dog and lots of land is trying to stop them overdoing things when they are little. We found our rotti as a pup would have too much exercise and come in limping. We had to restrict her exercise and ensure that she rested etc, not to cause future problems.

This sounds like it may be a problem for you, and it really depends what fits in with your life style. Little woolly terriers are great for pets/guards and may be more suitable as you have children.

Our rotti is fine with us, however they can take a dislike to certain people and be a little unpredictable (thats only our experience), I say this because we are rural and dont have hoards of different people coming to visit. She has got used to us and our friends and anyone strange she will guard and not them on the property or out if they manage to get in.
 
weve had dobermans...rotties...german shepards...but i must say our choc lab male dog is the best one ever. He wont let anyone near the house unless he knows you well.
 
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