Rotties as guard/watch dogs... good read

[norcal420]

Thought this was a pretty good article. Talks about "the best" watchdog & guarddog.

What are your thoughts?

Sniffing Out the Top Protection Dogs

[SASSY'S DAD]

I consider My female rott Sassy to be the perfect companion and security system for my home I never worry about home invasion or thieves and I owe it all to her she has proven herself a good watch dog as I came home one night and found a blood trail leading away from my front door and the lock had been broken Sasy was unhurt that was my first concern then I found my house exactly as I left it she got a steak dinner for that and I have to say when my 8 year old daughter is outside Sassy does keep an eye on her for me so if ya want to steal a kid make darn sure it's not My dog's kid or you may end up with a bad case of itbitmyassoff syndrome...

[Dragonball Z]

All I'd like to know is how can a licensed AKC judge say the german shepard is the only dog capable of a decision on its own? Especially where the topic of protection is the issue! My faith in the AKC dwindles further still.

[ February 09, 2001: Message edited by: Dragonball Z ]

Okay, so the GSD breeders voted for the GSD as tops, the Malinois breeder liked the Malinois best, the Scottish terrier breeder thought that one was best, etc, etc, etc.....

[WorkinDogz]

There will always be fanciers of different working breeds that think "their" breed is best. Why wouldn't they!

It's no secret that the German Shepherd has a long and distinguished history at a premier working/protection dog.

It's also no secret that FINDING a German Shepherd Dog capable of doing the work is MUCH EASIER than finding "other" working breeds to meet the same quality and ability in the work.

By the same token; just because a dog is of a certain breed; doesn't make them capable of DOING the work. Plenty of Shepherds, Mals, Rotties, Dobies etc that couldn't work/protect a thing to save their very lives...much less the lives of their owners.

It starts with the genes and ends with the training....

[Mattweiser]

Originally posted by WorkinDogz:
By the same token; just because a dog is of a certain breed; doesn't make them capable of DOING the work. Plenty of Shepherds, Mals, Rotties, Dobies etc that couldn't work/protect a thing to save their very lives...much less the lives of their owners.

It starts with the genes and ends with the training....

That is very well put Workin...

[German Vanegas]

That particular list of dogs was published in a book titled "The Intelligence of Dogs", authored by Stanley Coren and published by Bantam Books in 1994.

Anyway, as long as the dog is well-bred and have the desired genetic traits, drives, nerves, and so forth, the following is my own list of favorite breeds:

Top Protection Dogs
1. Rottweiler
2. Dogo Argentino
3. American Bulldog
4. Presa Canario
5. Giant Schnauzer
6. American Bandog mastiff
7. Beauceron
8. Doberman Pinscher
9. Belgian Malinois
10.German Shepherd Dog

Top Guard Dogs
1. Neapolitan mastiff
2. Fila Brasileiro
3. Bullmastiff
4. Tosa Inu
5. Akita
6. Tibetan mastiff
7. Dogue De Burdeaux
8. Olde English Bulldogue
9. Caucasian Otvcharka
10.Kuvasz

Of course, just by virtue of a dog being of a specific breed, that doesn't mean the dog "must to be a protection or guard dog". It is all in the genes. For instance, a Rottweiler is not protection capable by virtue of being a Rottweiler. That comes in the lineage of ancestors with the desired genetic traits.

By the way, there are other "underdogs" (like the Boxer, Airedale Terrier, Bouvier Des Flandres, Great Pyreness, American Pitbull Terrier, Great Dane, English mastiff, Black Russian Terrier, etc.), well worth of considering. Not to take anything away from some mixed-breeds or mutts either. In fact, some of the toughest guard dogs I have known were (are) mutts! ;)

[ March 02, 2001: Message edited by: German Vanegas ]