Gaurd dog

We have a Catahoula rescue somewhere near us, so I'll tell them to look there. vThey sure are pretty dogs. The one I saw had a blue eye and was really sweet.

How much dog experience does she have? If she is a fairly experienced person I would definately recommend a Fila Brasileño. Mind you this dog is not for the inexperienced owner, but they are everything she is looking for and so much more.

Very protective of family. They bond immensly with their owners, are great with kids and other animals, yet are very stranger wary. They will bark and growl and give warning but woe to the person who comes in uninvited!

In all seriousness, they need to reaslly evaluate if they would be right for this dog. Fila's are not for everyone, not by far.

If not, I second getting a Collie. They are (IMO) on a different level than the other herding breeds. They are not as demanding as BC's or Aussie's they have a still of their own.

I'd also recommend getting a blue eyed blue merle...kinda scary looking when they are mad

I would only look into a Fila if they are VERY, VERY, VERY experienced.  I have a pit and consider filas to be too much dog for me.  JMHO.

I understand that some dogs were bred to protect people and animals.Somehow protecting animals seems a bit better to me...i hate to see dogs dragged in between the problems of men...the thought of seeing a guard dog shot or stabbed kind of makes me upset..

 Between an alarm and a shot gun,i have pretty much everything under control security wise..

ORIGINAL: sillysally

I would only look into a Fila if they are VERY, VERY, VERY experienced.  I have a pit and consider filas to be too much dog for me.  JMHO.

Ditto and in addition they arnt just watch dogs they WILL attack!

My vote is for your friend to get a Llama.  They fit the bill...they can and do live entirely outside...they just need a roof and 4 walls occasionally when it's cold.  They are VERY intimidating, yet have tons of personality.  They don't put up with intruders, and they're usually very good with the family.  The only problem is if the little dog is a biter, it will have met it's match in a llama.  Plus a llama would help to keep the foiliage at a minimum.

Geese, at least 2 or 3 of them, would be a great option as well.

But if her heart is set on a "guard dog" then Great Pyrs, Kuvasz, Komondor, or Ovchartkas can handle weather in the extremes.  But beware...these dogs need a flock or family to bond to, all dogs do.  With no bond existing in that guard dog, anyone can become fair game.  Dogs have a need to be social.  With what or who isn't as important as the need for "pack."

A llama! I'll definatly tell her about them. Llamas are cool, but you don't want one of them to spit in your face.[:'(]

So, a llama, geese, collie, or Great Pyrs. I doubt they have enough expiriance for a Fila Brasileño.
The kids are outside almost all the time. Especially the boys. I spent a week with them once, and if it was daylight the boys were either swimming, playing on the swings, or looking for small animals and 'exploring'. They would come inside sometimes to annoy us and play with legos, but not that often. I think that the will probably be out enough that they can give the dog a group to bond with. The family is also homeschooled, so they are home all day.

I think a farm collie or an ES (or an ES x rough collie cross- this is one ‘designer dog#%92 I *can* get behind, since it#%92s purpose-bred and I#%92ve yet to meet one that *isn#%92t* a good worker) might work well for them BUT it#%92s going to need to be a housedog, and they will have to do a great deal of the training. Collies and ES learn their job by watching you do it and coming along on your chores. Jut obedience class alone won#%92t do it, and like all the herders, a bored dog is one who finds his own job.

On the plus side? They *are* good with kids, as a rule- so are pyrs, though- and they#%92re not difficult to train as long as you can be consistant. Check out nesr.org for the national ES rescue group. This is the type of collie that my Wings was, and I can't speak highly enough of how intelligent and adaptable she was. 

ORIGINAL: sillysally

Finally, they are not all weather dogs.  Their coats do not stand up to winter weather, and I can tell you that Sally begins to wilt in anything much over 80 degrees.

 
Yeah, and they tend not to be big fans of rain, either.  As much as my pit loves playing outside and walks, just trying to get her to go out and pee in the rain is a chore.  Plus, Pits are a breed in which proper socialization is very important, and it's hard to do that with a strictly outdoor dog.

We have a Catahoula rescue somewhere near us, so I'll tell them to look there. They sure are pretty dogs. The one I saw had a blue eye and was really sweet.

"Sweet" the term I use all the time to describe our Catahoula, Lucy. Even everyone at the rescue where we got her kept saying how "sweet" she was! Catahoulas are just gorgeous - and just great all-around dogs. All of the owners I talk to on the Catahoula e-mail group and Catahoula message board sing their praises! I think one reason is that they combine the best of both the hounds and herders. Most have the willingness-to-please of a herder, but still retain some of the independant mind of a hound. Lucy will run like crazy when we take her out to the farm or at off-leash areas, but stays within sight. When she's inside, she's a couch potato who snuggles with us and sleeps under the covers by my feet. She adores my kids and lets my five year old sleep on her. She loves to let me know when people come by the house, but normally stops barking with a quiet "that's enough."

If your friends are inexperienced at training a pup, I would recommend finding a good rescue for any breed that has foster families. The fosters know their dogs really well and can recommend one that would work well for their situation without a huge amount of training.

I vote for Geese if they already have a small dog who they know is a fear biter why add another dog? The one they have is probably already keeping them on their toes.