Looking for dog breeds

[SpotTheCat]

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In a few years I will be moving in to the country side, when I do my mother and I would like a sort-of-not-really-guard-dog basically just a large ish dog who has a protective instinct. I am trying to make a list of all the dog breeds which fit my situation or dog breeds that might.
What I want in a dog breed

• The most important thing is that I have 3 cats, one of them has mild cerebellar hypoplasia which means some times she struggles to run or jump
• My mother wants it about Alsatian size.
• Intelligent (that does not mean easily trainable, I want a dog how thinks for its self)
• Needs to be able to get along with other dogs (we have one dog currently)
• Needs to be able to go out happily in cold rainy weather

breeds so far on my list (if you have any experience with the breeds I have listed I would like to hear it)

• Belgian Laekenois
• Rhodesian ridgeback

 

[JudyN]

The risk with protective breeds is that they can tip very easily into protecting you against visitors, the postman, the gas meter reader... Or they might bark every. single. time. someone walks past. Personally I'd go for a breed that is more likely to slobber the gas meter reader to death but might look intimidating. A Rhodesian ridgeback might fit the bill there, but you could also consider Rotties or mastiffs. Or, if you're happy to go smaller, a Staffie (Staffies aren't always great with other dogs in general, but in my limited experience you'd be fine with bringing one in as a pup.)

How these breeds tend to be with cats, though, I don't know. Again, you should be able to make it work if they arrive as a pup, but it's not always easy. And the fact that one of your cats might appear to be weak could be an additional factor there.

 

[SpotTheCat]

The risk with protective breeds is that they can tip very easily into protecting you against visitors, the postman, the gas meter reader... Or they might bark every. single. time. someone walks past. Personally I'd go for a breed that is more likely to slobber the gas meter reader to death but might look intimidating. A Rhodesian ridgeback might fit the bill there, but you could also consider Rotties or mastiffs. Or, if you're happy to go smaller, a Staffie (Staffies aren't always great with other dogs in general, but in my limited experience you'd be fine with bringing one in as a pup.)

How these breeds tend to be with cats, though, I don't know. Again, you should be able to make it work if they arrive as a pup, but it's not always easy. And the fact that one of your cats might appear to be weak could be an additional factor there.

Thank you!

 

[CoCo2014]

I had GSDs for 50 years, from pure German bloodlines they lived(& were dominated) by a variety of cats over the years.

Of the 2 breeds you mention, the Ridgeback is a hunting dog & not a protective breed, they can have a very high natural prey drive for small furry animals.

The Laekenois is very rare breed even in Belgium it's native country. You would have to wait a very long time to find a suitable puppy in UK

GSDs are not a guarding breed, they are a shepherding breed & as such, if bred correctly, form an unbreakable bond with it's family. They are good watch dogs & deter uninvited guests without even being seen. Why not consider a GSD

 

[Liamvv]

A Rottweiler, GSD, or Bull Mastiff would fir the bill. Large, powerful, territorial if allowed to develop those traits.

As I say to everyone who buys a dog with a behaviour in mind is go and see a trainer that specialises in training those traits before even seeing the puppies. Ask questions, look at their dogs, think of all the potential negatives. Then speak to the breeders thoroughly and do the same as above.
Then get the dog and follow their advice to a T because a territorial dog wont care if its your nan, or the next door neighbours child coming in to get the lost football.

 

[CoCo2014]

A Rottweiler, GSD, or Bull Mastiff would fir the bill. Large, powerful, territorial if allowed to develop those traits.

GSDs are not a guarding breed & if the dog is to be a pet, it doesn't need to be protection trained by a specialist trainer. Basic training & brain "games" from day 1 is all that is needed.

My GSDs were all Schutzhund trained so I could compete, not because I had to control their "territorial" instincts

 

[Liamvv]

GSDs are not a guarding breed & if the dog is to be a pet, it doesn't need to be protection trained by a specialist trainer. Basic training & brain "games" from day 1 is all that is needed.

My GSDs were all Schutzhund trained so I could compete, not because I had to control their "territorial" instincts

Of course they are a guarding breed. they were originally bred to herd and guard sheep. That's why they work so well as police dogs and sport dogs. Their whole existence is to give them a guarding instinct, especially in the working lines.

Also by the sounds of the original post it's not to be a pet. it will be kept outside "Needs to be able to go out happily in cold rainy weather" and the fact they want an independent dog not one that is trained.

If you're advocating that this person go out, get a large breed dog, don't do any training, and just let any potentially troublesome or questionable behaviours go unchecked then you shouldn't be giving advice.

Dogs can kill, especially big dogs, especially big dogs left to develop territorial resource guarding. However, even a bit of training to teach the dog a bark and hold and the escalation if the person tries to run will demonstrate to any legal court that you dont just have a dangerous dog that will bite anything, and not cleanly might I add.

 

[Ari_RR]

I would scratch the Ridgeback off your list. The one point it scores high on is “thinking for itself”.... the rest - hit or miss at best, and no self-respecting Ridgeback goes out in cold and rainy weather.

 

[Hemlock]

If you are in UK, under the Dangerous Dogs Act your dog should not cause anyone to feel that they are under threat from the dog if it meets them outside, even if outside on your property. The only exemption is indoors in your house. Therefore if you wanted your dog to guard/deter intruders outside, it could be confiscated by the police and after assessment, killed. If the authorities are lenient, the dog would be returned but would have to be muzzled and on a lead every time it goes outside, including in your car.

It's not a good law, but it is the law.

If you are not in UK your laws will be different.

 

[SaraE]

Rottie may fit but good breeders are careful who they sell puppies to because they have an unfair reputation People will cross the road or pick up there small dog if they see a rottie coming.

They are a powerful breed who take a lot of training and socialization and they tend to not be interested in people who want a protection dog either.

I also never think its a good idea to get any dog for protection either , why would you need protection?

 

[CoCo2014]

Of course they are a guarding breed. they were originally bred to herd and guard sheep. That's why they work so well as police dogs and sport dogs. Their whole existence is to give them a guarding instinct, especially in the working lines.

Also by the sounds of the original post it's not to be a pet. it will be kept outside "Needs to be able to go out happily in cold rainy weather" and the fact they want an independent dog not one that is trained.

If you're advocating that this person go out, get a large breed dog, don't do any training, and just let any potentially troublesome or questionable behaviours go unchecked then you shouldn't be giving advice.

Dogs can kill, especially big dogs, especially big dogs left to develop territorial resource guarding. However, even a bit of training to teach the dog a bark and hold and the escalation if the person tries to run will demonstrate to any legal court that you dont just have a dangerous dog that will bite anything, and not cleanly might I add.

You are wrong the Germany flock guard was NOT the GSD, a clue is in the name German SHEPHERD DOG. The Hovawart was used as a guard dog on farms.
The GSD's job was to prevent the sheep from grazing on land that the human Shepherd wanted them kept off & to drive the sheep/cattle from pasture to pasture, pasture to farm/market. They do not bond with the stock as a flockes guard does.

Nowhere did I suggest dog was not trained ar all, but pet dogs do NOT need protection training nor do they need a protection specialist trainer. They need basic training which includes setting boundaries, walking on a loose lead, recall etc from day one.
My first dog was a GSD from HGH bloodlines(sheep working FYI) like most puppies she was a quick learner, never showed any"natural"aggression & never offered to bite anyone & this was in the days that most English "Alsatians"had dreadful temperaments & characters, my bitch was the exception being from 2 imported HGH dogs & totally bombproof.
I do wish the public conception of GSDs was not based in the past & poorly bred dogs

 

[SpotTheCat]

I had GSDs for 50 years, from pure German bloodlines they lived(& were dominated) by a variety of cats over the years.

Of the 2 breeds you mention, the Ridgeback is a hunting dog & not a protective breed, they can have a very high natural prey drive for small furry animals.

The Laekenois is very rare breed even in Belgium it's native country. You would have to wait a very long time to find a suitable puppy in UK

GSDs are not a guarding breed, they are a shepherding breed & as such, if bred correctly, form an unbreakable bond with it's family. They are good watch dogs & deter uninvited guests without even being seen. Why not consider a GSD

I am not sure why I have not been considering them, I will look in to them now thank you!

Of course they are a guarding breed. they were originally bred to herd and guard sheep. That's why they work so well as police dogs and sport dogs. Their whole existence is to give them a guarding instinct, especially in the working lines.

Also by the sounds of the original post it's not to be a pet. it will be kept outside "Needs to be able to go out happily in cold rainy weather" and the fact they want an independent dog not one that is trained.

If you're advocating that this person go out, get a large breed dog, don't do any training, and just let any potentially troublesome or questionable behaviours go unchecked then you shouldn't be giving advice.

Dogs can kill, especially big dogs, especially big dogs left to develop territorial resource guarding. However, even a bit of training to teach the dog a bark and hold and the escalation if the person tries to run will demonstrate to any legal court that you dont just have a dangerous dog that will bite anything, and not cleanly might I add.

It will be a pet. by “needs to be able to go out side” I mean I don’t want a dog like my current dog, who hates rain or cold weather and avoids going out side as much as she can when the weather is bad. I want a independent dog because I like them. I don’t know what you mean by not trained?

I would scratch the Ridgeback off your list. The one point it scores high on is “thinking for itself”.... the rest - hit or miss at best, and no self-respecting Ridgeback goes out in cold and rainy weather.

Thank you!

 

[SpotTheCat]

Rottie may fit but good breeders are careful who they sell puppies to because they have an unfair reputation People will cross the road or pick up there small dog if they see a rottie coming.

They are a powerful breed who take a lot of training and socialization and they tend to not be interested in people who want a protection dog either.

I also never think its a good idea to get any dog for protection either , why would you need protection?

Thank you! I am not sure how to answer that question

 

[SaraE]

Thank you! I am not sure how to answer that question

The best way i can put it is why do you want a big protection dog?

Rotties are generally great with cats provided you have socialised well when young.

Rotties are not independant though they like to be with you at all times they can be needy on the affection and attention front there not a dog to leave on there own.

You should watch this Discovering the Rottweiler – Pets on Film

Irs one of the best documentarys done on the breed and all of the good breeders in the rottie community are getting new owners to watch it before choosing a Rottie as there a special breed but hard work and not for everyone

 

[Liamvv]

You are wrong the Germany flock guard was NOT the GSD, a clue is in the name German SHEPHERD DOG. The Hovawart was used as a guard dog on farms.
The GSD's job was to prevent the sheep from grazing on land that the human Shepherd wanted them kept off & to drive the sheep/cattle from pasture to pasture, pasture to farm/market. They do not bond with the stock as a flockes guard does.

Nowhere did I suggest dog was not trained ar all, but pet dogs do NOT need protection training nor do they need a protection specialist trainer. They need basic training which includes setting boundaries, walking on a loose lead, recall etc from day one.
My first dog was a GSD from HGH bloodlines(sheep working FYI) like most puppies she was a quick learner, never showed any"natural"aggression & never offered to bite anyone & this was in the days that most English "Alsatians"had dreadful temperaments & characters, my bitch was the exception being from 2 imported HGH dogs & totally bombproof.
I do wish the public conception of GSDs was not based in the past & poorly bred dogs

Taken from the breed creator Max Von Stephantitz's very own book:
He chooses the place where he will seize, whether opposing a stubborn ram or attacking an adversary of some other kind, and he unterstands how to deal with such enemies, and to keep them in their place till he can seize them in a favourable moment. This is the art of war of a superior kind, to which he knows how to adapt the means at his disposal, and where necessary, he attacks without hesitation and thought. The place which a genuine shepherd dog guards, firm and upright on his four legs is well protected indeed. “I warn the curious.”
The quality of watchfulness has developed itself from the above mentioned habit of self-protection, which is nothing else but the result of the need felt by the dog for guarding himself against hostile influences in the outside world.

And the definition of a shepherds roles although not from his book:
Shepherd dogs guide large flocks of sheep and act as a living fence. They prevent sheep from eating crops on farms and also from wandering off. They help the shepherd safely move the flock from the farm to the pasture land. They also protect and keep the flock safe from danger.

You're not right when what you say goes against the original creator of the breed

 

[SpotTheCat]

The best way i can put it is why do you want a big protection dog?

Rotties are generally great with cats provided you have socialised well when young.

Rotties are not independant though they like to be with you at all times they can be needy on the affection and attention front there not a dog to leave on there own.

You should watch this Discovering the Rottweiler – Pets on Film

Irs one of the best documentarys done on the breed and all of the good breeders in the rottie community are getting new owners to watch it before choosing a Rottie as there a special breed but hard work and not for everyone

Thank you! I will have a look at that video. We want it to protect the house

 

[Finsky]

I would scratch the Ridgeback off your list. The one point it scores high on is “thinking for itself”.... the rest - hit or miss at best, and no self-respecting Ridgeback goes out in cold and rainy weather.

 

[SaraE]

Thank you! I will have a look at that video. We want it to protect the house

That will very much depend on the dog rather than breed as ive known rotties who have protected and rotties who havent.

But you dont want a trained protection dog they are way too much for most people.

Most rotties will protect naturally but ive known some who will happily show were the silver is ect.

 

[SpotTheCat]

That will very much depend on the dog rather than breed as ive known rotties who have protected and rotties who havent.

But you dont want a trained protection dog they are way too much for most people.

Most rotties will protect naturally but ive known some who will happily show were the silver is ect.

I don’t really want it to do more then bark and look scary, I just want it a tiny tiny bit more protective then that. I know not all dogs of one breed are the same, but looking at breeds that fit what I want, mean I will have a higher chance of getting what I want.

 

[SaraE]

I don’t really want it to do more then bark and look scary, I just want it a tiny tiny bit more protective then that. I know not all dogs of one breed are the same, but looking at breeds that fit what I want, mean I will have a higher chance of getting what I want.

The other issue is most burglars will either avoid if theres a dog or come prepared , i know a friend whose rottie got stabbed protecting her house and then another had her Bullmastiff bribed with treats ti outside and the dog was locked outside. So thats why i say dogs should never be for protection. Thats why i have CCTV in the front and back of my home and an alarm system