Home/Family/Protection dog recommendation?

[The_Patriot]

Hey all,

I thought I'd throw this question out to the folks here and see what you thought.

In a couple months, we're picking up and moving back to Ohio. This will probably be a final move following 20 years of periodic moves for Uncle Sam.

I've been discussing getting a dog with the family as I think we'll have enough space now and our lives will be more stable.

I'm starting to give this some serious thought now and would like advice so that I could begin to narrow my search. I would especially like advice from folks that own (or owned) dogs they recommend.

Off the top of my head, I would want a dog that (not in particular ranking):

1) Is friendly with the family and my son (7); good around his friends that might come over.

2) Shows a sense of protection if a family member was threatened.

3) Had appropriate bark, size AND bite to back up that sense of protection.

4) Was smart and easy to train (we would spend money on training as necessary).

5) Cost isn't critical; I'd pay ~$1k I suppose if I felt it was the right dog for the family.

6) Is good with another dog, possibly of the same breed, in the event we chose to get two (which is possible).

I'll be interested in what you have to say. For me, I've always loved German Shepherds. Our friends had two of them and they were fantastic around the kids and very protective of the family. With that said, I'd be open to any advice and I have not made up my mind yet.

Fire away, and thanks for commenting.

[SKS NOOB]

Retrievers, Austrailian Shepard (my mom has that one). Those are the only ones I could recommend.

[wunhunglo]

Standard Poodle(The Big one) or poodle cross with Labrador (Labradoodle); both decent sized, loud, usually good with kids and both are good gundogs!

[ezearln]

Egads no poodles standard or otherwise, unless breeders have drastically changed the bloodlines to maintain purity they aren't a fit hound to be around kids! My Aunt bred them miserable excuses for pets and they bit and mauled everyone of us kids when I was growing up! Too inbred is what I was told years later the last kid bit in our family was INDEED the last kid bit, after my Dad rushed one of my cousins to the hospital for yet another round of stitches my Aunt took her .38 SPL outback and shot all three of them bastiges where they stood and threw there carcasses in the dumpster!

[roadkill]

Kind of odd, but the best dog I've ever had regarding "territory" and his protection is a large male black lab. Surprised me, but he is true sob if anyone gets near this place. He's big and does not like strangers at all. Think it has to do more with the individual disposition of the dog or training more than the breed.

[wunhunglo]

Ezearln.............
Hey you may be right about the little adulterated Minatures & Toys, but the Standards I've come across have all had good temperaments and been dam good working gundogs. Also the Labradoodle cross has an excellent reputation.

[ezearln]

Maybe so wunhunglo but them dogs of my Aunts WERE standards! Haven't heard much one way or the other about a labradoodle.

[PistolCity]

A underestimated dog in my opion is the Beagle. They are extremly loyal, small enough they wont take alot of room AKC wont reconize a Beagle over 15" tall. Some go over this but not by more than a inch or so. Ive not known to many to bite, I got one when I was real little. About my son's age, named her Mommy Dog....lol I was 2 or 3 had her till I was about 13. She apperantly tried to bite or bit the neighbor when we moved to town. We sent her back to the country to live out her days.

About 2 weeks ago though I started looking for a dog for my son. A Beagle was high on the list but since I have 3 out in the kennel. I thought about something a little diffrent. I called a lady about some AKC registered German Shepards and talked to her about them. Was trin to scrape together the $350 for one. When I found a G.Shepard/Collie mix. I called my aunt in Illinois and asked her what kind of dog Chizum was. And she told me what I thought, a Shep/Collie mix. That dog was EXTREMELY loyal and prodtive over the kids, now as far as I know he never bit anyone. But there was several occansions where a adult would be chasin around the kids and if Chiz didnt know you or like you it was on. He'd charge knock you down and growl and snarl until he was called off. I paid $25 dollars for this mix dog, plus I used some of my Happy Jack worm medicine(15 bucks at Tractor Supply) and bought a 8 way puppy shot for him. So far this pup is great he will let me son do whatever he wants to him and take it. And when the boy is running through the house and the dog wants attention he'll chase after him. Its pretty cute to watch. We ended up naming him Frank my grandma had a GS as a kid named Frank and she rembers one time when she was playin in the road and Frank grabbed her by her dress and dragged her back into the yard. If you can find a GS I suggest that. I dont know what part of Ohio your moving to but if you cant find one that lady I called said they breed 2-3 times a year if not more. Madison IN isnt that far from parts of Ohio.

[wunhunglo]

Life is full of different experiences.

[lefty o]

you've already made an excellent choice, a german shepherd. loyal, and great with kids. as a plus most are highly intelligent. if its going to weigh less than 50# full grown, it aint a good protection dog.

[ezearln]

Well our "Home Protection" mutts are a pair of Pembroke Welsh Corgies who raise cain everytime anyone gets within 25 yards of the house allowing us to note who or what is outside and a Pitbull/stupid dog mix who while being as tame as a mouse has the size and appearence and bark to loosen your bowels if you didn't know him.

[tlarkin]

I grew up with English bulldogs and bullterriers, and they are awesome dogs. Loyal, and very good with people. However, they aren't for everyone. You must socialize your dog with other dogs at an early age or it has a good chance of becoming territorial and aggressive with other dogs.

One of our bulldogs we had (which my parents still have) wasn't socialized very well. He is pretty good around people, but would probably rip another dog to shreds. They are powerful and not too big. My parents never really socialized him around other dogs, so he is a jerk around them. The bull terrier is similar in this aspect but a bit more laid back in my experience.

As long as you raise them right and in the right social environments they will turn out to be awesome dogs. I've never heard of a bulldog or bullterrier turning on its owner.

I highly recommend you stay away from Chows, I have never had a good experience with a Chow or a Chow mix, they are a bad breed.

[Rem 742 30-06]

I agree with lefty O the german shepards are the way to go if you want something for protection and is good with kids we have two and they are amazing, but the female does get a little territorial with other dogs.

[ezearln]

tlarkin While I tend to agree without in general about Chows as with many things sometimes there are exceptions I had an enormous Chow Lab mix (about 100+ lbs worth) that was the gentlest most loyal protective dog I've ever owned. Wish I still had him "Bear" was one darn good dog!

[The_Patriot]

Originally Posted by Rem 742 30-06

I agree with lefty O the german shepards are the way to go if you want something for protection and is good with kids we have two and they are amazing, but the female does get a little territorial with other dogs.

You know, that brings up another question: what's the opinion on female versus male dogs? Is there a particular one among Shepherds or Retreivers that's better around family/kids? What about getting two? Better to get one of each? Or two of one sex?

Someone I know recently told me they don't call female dogs "bitches" for no good reason. I laughed, but she's highly experienced and was serious...she works with sled dogs, mostly.

While I have been around some dogs in my life, this will be the first one I've gotten for my family. I want to be sure I think about everything before making a wrong move (as much as possible). I will grant you that I don't know a lot about dogs other than casual contact, but I will to learn so I do this right.

[CalifgirlinOk]

Yellow Lab

[Reddbecca]

[wunhunglo]

I highly recommend you stay away from Chows, I have never had a good experience with a Chow or a Chow mix, they are a bad breed

I've also had a bad experience with Chow. I had Chow for Chinese New Year celebration dinner one time whilst working in China.....It was the dish of the day....can't actually say I was impressed when I was told what I had been eating!!

[The_Patriot]

Originally Posted by Reddbecca

It's always amazing to me how people on the internet (and other written formats) have problems communicating. And how quick some folks are to react in an manner not necessary. Maybe it's just a joke, I don't know. I originally thought it was some PETA-like political statement.

Anyway, I do have a shotgun, and 10 or 12 other firearms. I've also had a lot of other training and experiences and my self/home defense plan is pretty solid. The primary purpose of my dog will be a family member/companion. However, I would also want that companion to have the temperament/tools to protect/warn my family members if it ever came down to that. I don't want strictly a guard dog, but on the other hand, I don't want one that's oblivious to danger, or one that won't help protect my family if they are being attacked/harmed.

And yes, I do love dogs for their companionship, we've just never had a place very conducive to having one, especially a bigger one like a German Shepherd. With the next move, we're going to have a much bigger place and a good sized property.

I'm just trying to do some research. I realize all dogs within a breed aren't the same, I'm just hoping to give it the best try possible to get a dog with my objectives in mind.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by ezearln

tlarkin While I tend to agree without in general about Chows as with many things sometimes there are exceptions I had an enormous Chow Lab mix (about 100+ lbs worth) that was the gentlest most loyal protective dog I've ever owned. Wish I still had him "Bear" was one darn good dog!

Everyone experiences life different, and I am glad your dog was a good dog. I have been attacked by a couple of chows in my time and my uncle has a chow mix who is not a very nice dog at all.

I had a chow chase me up in a tree as a kid on my paper route. The owner neglected to lock their dog up in the back yard one night. I rode by on my bike and the dog just went after me. I took off to the nearest tree, ditched my bike and hopped right up in it. The dog paced back and forth and waited about 10 minutes for me to come down before finally running off. Ever since then my mind has been set on never owning a Chow.

My good friend's father is a veterinarian, and he only refuses to work on one breed of dog, which is a Chow.