Dog Community

I need a watch dog

Posted : 5/2/2007 7:12:27 PM

I just recently found my dog "Lucky" at the shelter. He barked his head off in the kennel. I thought that he would also be a good watch dog. I was wrong. He hardly ever barks now that he is home. It doesn't matter cause he is my buddy and he isn't going anywhere. So, Now I need a watch dog that will also get along with him. He is very submissive so I hope that there won't be a problem there.

Now when I say watch dog, I just mean a dog that will bark at noises or people so that I can know when something is going on outside. An aggresive watch dog is even better but you can't have everything that you want. I have always had pit bulls and they were great watch dogs, However if someone actually reached over the fence to pet them they would have probally been freindly to them. Although my Pits were loving, loyal and good barkers they did destroy quite a bit due to their constant chewing and attacking cats. Yeah, they liked my cat, just not any others!

So... How do I know if a dog will be a good watch dog? I will be getting him or her from the shelter. Any suggestions? I myself really like Pit bulls, boxers, german shepherds, rotts, The big strong dogs I guess. I know that doesn't make the dog a good watch dog though. I'm affraid another Pit bull may hurt my dog that I have now. I'm not too sure. Our shelter is about 80% pit bulls though. One more thing, I don't want a digger!!!

Any help would be great! Thanks.

Liesje

Posted : 5/2/2007 7:20:32 PM

Most dogs will alert bark. Heck, even my cats get up and run to the door or window when they see/hear someone approaching (but they can't bark, only meow). The only huge difference in breeds is the sound of the bark and the amount of visual deterrent. For example, most little terriers will bark at someone approaching, but when a big German Shepherd barks, the stereotype of them being vicious watch dogs comes into play and usually people are more scared. You see a Bichon or Pekingese barking at you and it doesn't quite have the affect that a Dobie or GSD would. My only experience with a dog that never barked was a purebred female Akita. She was at the shelter for weeks and never ever barked. I thought it was odd, but most websites on the breed say they don't bark unless it's REALLY important so when they do bark, pay attention! Maybe your new dog is part Akita? It's face looks like it.

Bullymom

Posted : 5/2/2007 7:32:16 PM

I'd say go with a Pit. I have 2 and they bark if the wind blows hard! If you can find a baby pit from a shelter, that would help. This way the two dogs can grow up together and establish a peck order (like chickens, who's the leader of the pack) When I first got my younger pit, the older pit hated him! She would avoid him like the plague. After a few weeks of "tough love" between the two, they are the best of friends. By tough love, I mean that Brownie would growl and knock Dipstick off his feet. She never bit him or even offered to. Now, Brownie thinks that Dipstick is her baby! If I even try to play with him, she is in my face, pushing me away!

turborich

Posted : 5/2/2007 9:01:57 PM

I kinda wanted to go with a different breed this time, however I am used to Pits and I know a lot about them as well. I am kinda thinking about taking a chance on one. They did have a few younger ones when I was there last time. I just want to make certain that my new pooch Lucky won't be harmed. I will bring him with to see how the other dogs react. Years ago I had two pits and the bigger one suddenly attacked my smaller one and caused some real damage. I think it was because they were both females and were both very very dominant dogs. The smaller one even lifted her leg when she went

otty.

DumDog

Posted : 5/2/2007 9:28:37 PM

Go American - [linkhttp://www.bulldogbreeds.com/americanbulldog.html]http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/americanbulldog.html[/link]

or get yourself a Doberman. i'm fans of both and have owned both successfully.
if you want a guard dog then stick with the guard dog breeds. you want loyal,
protective and SANE most of all. both breeds i mentioned have an uncanny
ability to tell friend from foe. my dobies always shadowed me everywhere i went
and one even thwarted an attack from someone's australian cattle dog. she was aiming
right for my leg(i was helping her owner move furniture and was carrying half of a sofa)
I saw her come from under the sofa while i was going up the steps and Frank (my dog)
threw his shoulders into her chest and knocked her down. that was all he needed to do
to make her find some where else to be.
the dogs i own now (ABs) like to put themselves between my family and strangers at all times.
my best dog, Kaydee, knows her turf from neutral ground, but she thinks of me as her turf when we
go out for walks or to the river. Besides having a natural guard dog ability, they both look AND sound
intimidating to outsiders.

i also want to add that ABs are NOT pit bulls and are not even close in personality.

Bullymom

Posted : 5/2/2007 9:32:59 PM

My pitties are great together. One is male and one female. That might be why they get along so well! If you can, take Lucky with you to meet any potential family members! Have you thought about getting a Rottie or Boxer? Both are great family dogs as well as watch dogs. IMO, I wouldn't get a Lab. They are very hyper dogs and most can be very destructive. They are great family dogs but, I wouldn't have one!

turborich

Posted : 5/3/2007 12:29:40 AM

At first I really wanted a Doberman, but I don't think you will ever find one at a shelter and that's where I would like to get a dog from. I still remember Apollo and Zues from Magnum PI. Those were some good looking dogs. They did have a few rott mixes and a great dane but they are kinda big. I'm just going to have to wait until I go and look again. They are mostly Pits though as people breed them like crazy here and then either fight them or abuse them. It's a shame that the dog gets the bad reputation, the people should be put in jail. But anyways, that's probally for another forum.

Thanks for all of the advice, I will let you all know if I find a watch dog, or at least a dog that barks! [sm=rofl.gif]

mrv

Posted : 5/3/2007 6:32:15 AM

There is a very active dobe rescue network, even in Vegas I believe. Plenty of wonderful dobes looking for homes.

DumDog

Posted : 5/3/2007 3:03:14 PM

yeah dont underestimate the shelters having dobies. they may not be as popular as they were in the 70's and 80's but they're still subject to going to a shelter. however.... idont know why. i personally find it hard to ruin a good doberman.... of all the dobies i met i have never once had an urge to dump one, no matter how annoying they got. i had one when i was a kid that would trash my mom's flower beds every time i went out of town. he was fine all day when i was in school, but if i left for a weekend, some roses were going to die. but aside from that.... they were all good dogs.
I am trying to convince my husband of that still..... he had a bad experience with dobermans while growing up, so he is against them. But he was also against ABs until he met Kaydee.... but so far he isnt budging on his anti-dobie attitude [

]

buster the show dog

Posted : 5/3/2007 4:37:25 PM

ORIGINAL: turborich

.......Now when I say watch dog, I just mean a dog that will bark at noises or people so that I can know when something is going on outside. An aggresive watch dog is even better but you can't have everything that you want. ......

WHY do you need a watch dog? And especially, why would an "aggresive" watch dog be "even better" than one that barked to let you know something is going on outside?

KCSO

Posted : 5/3/2007 5:11:27 PM

I dont know how long you've had your new dog, but it may eventually begin to bark. Ours didn't make a peep for the first few months, but once he settled in he found his voice.

DumDog

Posted : 5/3/2007 6:58:11 PM

i agree with KCSO on that. in a new home dogs will either bark their heads off until they learn the routine.. when we took my grandmother's two dogs thats all they did. when the neighbour cranked his truck up every morning our two dogs would go nuts.. maybe some dogs would rather remain silent. it seems like certain breeds arent much for barking anyway. some mastiff types dont bark much because they prefer to sneak up and attack intruders. also the more primitive breeds(chows/akitas etc) may not be barkers either. i dont know about that for sure though. i've only owned mix breed chows and never akitas.

turborich

Posted : 5/4/2007 3:40:36 AM

ORIGINAL: buster the show dog

ORIGINAL: turborich

.......Now when I say watch dog, I just mean a dog that will bark at noises or people so that I can know when something is going on outside. An aggresive watch dog is even better but you can't have everything that you want. ......

WHY do you need a watch dog? And especially, why would an "aggresive" watch dog be "even better" than one that barked to let you know something is going on outside?

Well, because I would like a dog that could be capable of keeping people out of my yard. A nice freindly type dog wont do it. I have had people hop my wall before. I would sure like to know if a criminal is planning on breaking in so I can be ready. If my dog would aggresivly bark or growl at a stranger then that would certainly scare them away. I live in Las Vegas, there is quite a bit of crime here now as the streets are being flooded with gang bangers from LA and other criminals as well. I just want to feel safe. I hope this answers your question. Just because I would prefer a good watch dog that can protect my family doesn't mean that he/she would be an unhappy dog. I love my dogs very much and give them everything that they need. They are a part of my family.

DumDog

Posted : 5/4/2007 11:03:22 PM

string up an electrical wire, you know, the kind they use to keep bulls from tearing down fences. that should stop the jumpers lol
and i still recommend a dobie. they can seem quite ferocious what with being black and having those uniform markings and eye spots. i would be concerned about ne'rdo-wells throwing poison over the fence to get rid of the dog.....

Xeph

Posted : 5/5/2007 1:23:06 AM

Just because I would prefer a good watch dog that can protect my family doesn't mean that he/she would be an unhappy dog.

You want something that can protect your family? Get yourself a gun and train yourself in its use.

My GSDs are both trained in protection work (one a retired veteran, one just starting). The chances of my dogs actually engaging a REAL attacker? About 2%. I love my boys, and I LOVE doing schutzhund with them, but when it comes down to it, they are animals, and given the choice of fight or flight, my boys are gonna preserve themselves and run.

Nothing stops a determined attacker from killing your dog. My GSDs both sound like vicious beasts when you knock on the door...the moment I let you int he house, one is all lovey dovey licky, and the other one gives a sniff and walks off.

I wouldn't rely on my dogs to protect my property or myself. Deter thieves? Yeah. Engage them? Hell no.