lorib
Posted : 11/14/2007 2:32:29 AM
I am a bull breed aficionado and agree with Dumdog. if you haven't had any bull breed before, make sure to do your homework before you get ANY breed, but especially any of the guardian breeds.
My last dog was a Pit/Lab/Boxer and my current is a purebred Am Staff. My dogs have always taken their guarding jobs seriously. My girls are/were smaller (pound-wise) than many of the breeds mentioned above, but both would defend me or my family with their lives. Sasha, my last dog, kept a truly creepy neighbor out of our house on more than one occasion. He came over now and again to borrow things (can opener and such) and she went BALLISTIC every time he came over. It was all DH could do to hold her while I would get the can opener. If DH wasn't home, forget it! We had a visit form the local police one evening (asking about a car we had sold) and I thought he would get after me about her. he said, "Now there's a dog who does what she's supposed to!" in admiring tones. By then, Sasha was licking him to death.
Gypsy is my salesman ejector. She hits the door before me and her growls and snarls will send shills down your back. When I open the door, I am holding her collar and she always rears up on her hind legs. I have had football player-sized guys back off my steps at the sight of her! However, with either of my girls, once I told them the people were OK, they became licking fiends. Gypsy is best buddies with ALL of the mail carriers in our neighborhood and she will climb into ANY UPS truck looking for Brad, our driver.
If you have NOT had a guardian breed before, spend a lot of time reading up on EACH breed you are interested in. Then visit your local shelter before looking for a reputable breeder.