The crime deterrance effect of a Rottweiler

[German Vanegas]

Angel Resendes-Ramirez, an infamous serial killer that at one point was at the top of the F.B.I. Most Wanted criminals, as well as wanted by the Texas Rangers (State Police) and a task force of several police agencies, finally surrendered sometime ago. He is currently in jail awaiting trial for a series of murders in which he would break-into his targeted victims homes and brutally killed them to burglarize the house.

Resendes-Ramirez just confirmed, once again, what a study conducted in 1990 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Crime Statistics have concluded before. In such study, the DoJ BCS reported that after interviewing convicted felons doing prison time for burglary, the number one (#1) crime deterrent for those particular criminals was a dog!! (78% of the survey sample).

Well, the infamous Resendes-Ramirez has been communicating with reporters, and he is being candid and cocky disclosing his weird ideas and so forth (while at the same time insuring his conviction when his time in court comes!). This serial killer stated publicly that a good house alarm (he even recommended the "best" type) and a good sized "guard" dog were the two deterrents for him to avoid committing his heinous crimes. Quite interesting, isn't it?...

Today, approximately 75% of dog owners say security is one of the main benefits of dog ownership, even though companionship is given as the true main reason, but expected personal protection goes along with it... In fact, that's exactly how many dog breeds have become so popular and demanded: as family and home protectors... However, dog breeds have been hurt very bad by non-selective breeding and unscrupulous breeders that saw their opportunity to make money out of it. See, many people want a "police type of dog"... so the German Shepherd satisfied that demand (and still does) although in detriment of the breed due those "wanna-make-money" unethical breeders and charlatans that saw the "window of opportunity" to advertise and sell "attack dogs" ... then it was the Doberman, a great breed that has been so diluted to the point that real working lines are very hard to find; again due to careless over breeding, which in turn caused lots temperament and nerves inherited problems, thus ruining the breed... the Rottweiler, wrongly "glamorized" by Hollywood portrayals as the tough guard dog in fashion, has taken that slot for so many years and we all know what happened in the USA: from a fairly uncommon breed went on to become the 2nd most popular one!! (although recently it is coming down in registrations, still there are big numbers out there)... the latest hype in fad are bandogs (presadogs, american bulldogs, neo mastiffs, and other mastinos and weird crosses).

Anyway, the point is: YES! a dog can be a great crime deterrent. The problem is: not just any dog will do! If you want a dog for protection you better do the proper research, make the effort, and pay what is worth for a well-bred dog by an ethical responsible breeder. This breeder will try to preserve the working nature of the Rottweiler, by carefully selecting stock lines that may transmit the desired genes to produce pups with sound stable temperaments, high to extreme drives (including guard drive), working abilities, and a structural confirmation (with health clearances) in an honest attempt to produce potential capable dogs for protection and security. That's your best bet, the right way to go.

You just don't buy ANY Rottweiler, and just because is a Rottweiler you unrealistically expect that the dog will be a "natural" protector or a guard dog. It just doesn't happen that way. That is a myth for most people, and a misconception for some others.

Dogs have been used since before the Christian era, as guardians of estates, property, livestock, to protect humans, as army sentries, and so forth. The value of these early dogs (the molossian and mastiff type of dogs) was recorded clearly throughout ages by historians... and that tradition continues and still lives on! We still have great dog breeds working in the police, military, business and industrial security, home protection, and so forth. But you have to get the right dog http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

There is no doubt a dog can be a crime deterrent, it is been proven many times (I have proof of it!!). Bottom line, if you get a Rottweiler for protection, get it from the right source, give that pup the proper upbringing and training, and then you can safely enjoy a companion sociable dog that you can take any where... but when the need arises, that dog may be the bodyguard you always wished for!... But don't just rely on your dog's "natural" instincts to "protect". Have the dog trained. And it doesn't even have to be trained in bite work as in personal protection, but it can be trained as a watch-dog, to alarm its master (family) and display aggression to deter potential ill-intended individuals... or criminals! Imagine a crook facing a barking growling Rottweiler. The crook is gone!

The power of a well-bred and well-trained Rottweiler can't be overlooked. A Rottie staring through one's house window is a force to be reckoned with, and plenty to make criminals pass it on, in search for that more vulnerable house (the one without the dog and no alarm)... You just do it right http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by German Vanegas (edited October 15, 1999).]

[Mick Trainer]

German,

Another well written post that I must concure with. I feel very sad to see the breed of dogs that we all fell in love with fading away. As well as Rotties I like all strong working dogs. It is so hard to see the absolute drop in the true temperament strength of these dogs. Seeing the true courage and strenght of a shepard or the speed and strength of nerve of a dobe is a thing of true beauty. To see this fading in our dogs (yes the Rotti is very much loosing the true character of the dog) is truely sad. It is something that will be missed by all, even though the majority will not know why. Our dogs were originally a working dog and the temperament and confidence that we take for granted will, and is being, lost as they loose their ability for the work they were once used for. For a dog to do police service work or military work takes great nerve strenght, as our dogs loose the ability to work the confidence goes with it. This will increase fear related behavioral problems. A fate that has befallen almost all german shepards in my country.

You are spot on, dogs are widely regarded as the best deterent for crime all over the world. Similar studies have been conducted over here with roughly the same results. A minor study was also done on reformed home thieves to see what made them go straight. The most common answer was dog bite.

There is no question that if you want a dog to protect your property with more than it's physical presence you must first pick the correct dog and then train it for such. As I have written before to rely on a dogs natural instinct is not only incorrect (chances are the dog will not protect when necessary), it is dangerous.

Good post German.

[Rott4me]

Thanks for the info very helpful.

Recently heard that a dogs reaction time is 150 times faster than a human's. In the protection training that many of you may have witnessed - is it possible for a dog to be faster than a gun? Any studies done on reaction time that you know of?

Also much has been said about people stealing dogs right from your backyard or poisioning them. As protective as our breed can be I believe that crimes are becoming more and more heinous and have to remind myself that sometimes relying too much on a dog for protection can be somewhat of a "false sense of security." A dog can only do so much to deter some particularly "evil minded" criminal(s).

[BigBear]

I concur, but by my own study. By how things have changed in my life. The house I grew up in mainly, the one my mother still lives in, was a major target for crime over many years. In the 21 years of owning this house, it has burgularized 13 times. This is no lie, it is the utmost truth. We growing up didnt have anything of much value, and began to not want to replace it because of fear of losing things again.

Welllll... We decided to take a different approach. Thats when I began to fancy the Rottweiler... about 7 years ago or better. Since then we have never been burgularized. All of them happened before then.... and I believe that the number one reason is because of the dogs. I have no doubt.
Whether or not they would do more than bark... well I dont know. Thankfully I have never had to test that. But for now, barking is fine... because I have other means of defense.

Good post German!! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[bearkat]

Having owned Border Collies, German Shepards, Goldens, Boxers, Pit Bulls, and a HUGE Mastiff X, I can say that Rottweilers command the most respect in a bad situation. While I hate what the media does to our beloved breed, I also try to remember that the "bad guys" watch TV, and perhaps read the newspaper as well. Therefore, they must be aware of the fact that a Rottie is not a foo-foo type of dog. I feel such a sense of sorrow for those people who have had bad encounters with Rotties. While I would never condone the attack of an innocent person (inadequate training, supervision, of the dog), I do feel a sense of power over any intruder that has the nerve to come onto my property uninvited. You might remember the guy hiding in my barn. While I was afraid, I had forewarning that something was going on. Without my dogs alerting and having a fit, I would not have known someone was here. Perhaps if the dogs hadn't been barking and growling, the guy in my barn might have tried for the house??? Try to put yourself in the same situation.... Would you rather have a large, powerful dog at your side, or a yappo-matic dustmop? I'll take the Rottweiler any day!! While my dogs will never be trained the way German's are, Clyde is a very big deterrent to strangers, and Rotten isn't so shabby himself. Of course, they are not professionally trained, but the "bad guy" doesn't know if he will get out alive or not..... That's my secret, and the "bad guy" will never know that Rotten would rather give kisses than fight. Clyde, on the other hand, is all boy, and he is not so forgiving of strangers....