big shorthaired guard dog= mastiff?
I’m assuming you’re looking for something that just kind of hangs around and guards, and isn’t going to be actively trained + working in some sense? I have the impression that dobermans and rotties tend to need a more “active” life to be satisified.
I love mastiffs! OP, check with your homeowners insurance first re breed of dog. Some are excluded.
Boxes???
Are mastiffs more guardy then boxers? How about the drooling?
oh, and Wendy mentioned Rotties. I was afraid of too much shedding though?!?!?
I have a Boxer that is very protective. No one comes around without us knowing. He is also happy and friendly and loves it when we have company.
And interesting thing he does…When I am in my barn I can hear but not see if someone drives in the driveway. He will go out in to the yard and I can see just the back half of him. I always know if it is friend or foe (so to speak). If it is a friend the back half of him is wiggling at warp speed, if he doesn’t know who it is he is completely still and giving big, deep barks. I have never had a stranger come through the gate with him there staring them down, with his hackles up.
Regarding children, we don’t have any but the man that works for me does. He likes them quite well and plays with them. But he gives children he doesn’t know a wide berth. Not aggressive in any sense of the word, he just keeps his distance.
I had a big, black, male Great Dane that was a great guard dog. No one was going to mess with his Mom! We had a shop in a very sketchy part of town and more than once he chased people out that had no business being in there and had a threatening air about them. He did love children and was very friendly with the appropriate people.
I could never handle the drooling of a Mastiff! That would be a deal breaker for me. And, actually, the size would be as well. That’s just too big for my taste.
I would think your list could include:
Doberman
Rottweiler
Boxer
Great Dane
Larger terrier breeds including Airedale, Am Staffs, Bull Terrier
Mastiff or Bull Mastiff
Possibly some in Herding group (GSD, for example?)
Then I’d start looking at breeders - this is a situation where I would definitely not look for a mixed breed from a shelter unless you have a chance to see them in a foster home. The temperment is going to make the most difference as to whether it is the right dog for you…hair & drool can be cleaned up, but if it can’t do the job you need AND be friendly with your kids, it’s going to be a problem.
I’ll speak to this one.
An adult Ridgeback that’s been properly brought up may be an excellent choice, as they can really hit all the points the OP is looking for.
HOWEVER. They are incredibly difficult puppies and young dogs, and require incredible commitment and consistency to turn into a nice adult dog. One that’s going to turn out more on the “guard”-y end of things is going to be MORE difficult to raise than one that’s on the mellow side of things, just due to the nature of the temperament required. They can take a long time to mature, so the difficult training period with the dog might last 1 - 3 years.
When poorly or casually bred, Ridgebacks also have a tendency to either be on the fear biter end of the spectrum or on the aggressive (to everyone) end of the spectrum. It is exceedingly important to find a breeder that is breeding for temperament and trainability, and it won’t come cheaply.
If the OP can find an adult Ridgeback that has the qualities she desires, it could be a very good fit. They’re fairly large, they have a big bark, they are incredibly loyal. They look intimidating. Mine have always been excellent with kids and cats and horses. They do shed, although not a whole lot, and it’s limited to a couple of times a year.
I would not, however, recommend a Ridgeback puppy for the OP, unless she’s willing to commit to really working on creating the dog she wants. Even then, it’s a total crapshoot–she might end up with a Ridgeback that’s friendly to everyone and never barks. In fact, I think a puppy of ANY breed is really probably a crapshoot, because there are no guarantees…
I’ve known some very protective Chesapeake Bay Retrievers as well, but they can be tough dogs. The one in particular that I’m thinking of was very big and VERY well trained - once he had been told by one of his family members that a specific person was “OK” they could do just about anything with him, but he was pretty intimidating if you weren’t on “the list”. I always felt very safe working at the barn when he was there!
Of course, there is always the distinction between a watchdog and a guarddog to consider - do you really want a dog who would physically protect you (bite someone) or are you looking for a dog to alarm bark (which may well be enough to scare off potential intruders)?
american bulldog?
American bulldogs?
Try an Australian cattle dog. Great with the family and very protective of both property and loved ones. They are also good to take out and about if trained properly.
[QUOTE=vtdobes;6111834]
It is peace of mind…when I’m home alone with my two Dobermans at least I know there is NO WAY someone can sneak in the house without my knowing.[/QUOTE]
Me too.
No one will sneak into my house with 3 Scottish Deerhounds and 1 Greyhound. My poor UPS driver about craps himself delivering to our farm, even with my dogs behind a fence. And not one of my dogs are “guard dogs”. If a stranger appears at the door, I simply grab the nearest dog by the collar, and pretend to be barely in control when answering the door. Works like a charm - lol!
And as a bonus, because of the stellar sighthound temperaments, I don’t have to worry about unintended consequences of guard breeds. I have previously owned a German Shepherd and Doberman, including fostering for a Doberman rescue. Wonderful dogs, but I find my sighthounds tremendously easier, especially with raising a family.
Bottom line, having a large dog is generally deterrent enough. It doesn’t have to be a guard dog to serve that purpose. How likely is a common criminal to be breed savvy?
That said, Dobermans are wonderful and hope you check out the rescues, especially since you’re open to uncropped ears. Best of luck!
Not your usual guard dog, but what about a lab? We have a yellow lab (dumped here at 6 months) and he is an amazing guard dog. He will not let anything happen to his people, his dog friends or his barn cats.
My other suggestion, and my favorite dog ever, is a smooth coat collie. If you’re looking for a kid friendly dog, you can’t beat a collie. My current collie girl was an A/C seizure and is half afraid of her shadow. She alarm barks, but would run if there was an intruder. My previous collie however, attacked someone during an attempted home invasion back in Baltimore. He tried to push his way in, he was NOT getting past her. No way, no how.
The question is what kind of “guard” dog are you looking for? One that will fight to the death to protect you, one that will alarm bark? Something in between?
just to add a bit of humor (guess this is the product of living with an Airedale)… I would like to point out that some posters have suggested “ADT” to the OP…
you know that REALLY means Airedale Terrier, right? :lol:
Since others have mentioned them as a possible solution for you OP, I thought I’d also point out that Airedales were originally used in police/military fields (jobs we usually associate with GSDs these days) and it’s possible to find a breeder who has pups doing everything from winning in the conformation ring to agility to hunting and field trials. If you know (or work with someone who knows) how to train a wickedly intelligent dog with an independent streak, you can probably make an Airedale into exactly what you want.
I frequently describe ours as a velociraptor in a puppy suit. She’s not disobedient, sometimes she is just sure she knows best. A very interesting and rewarding dog to work with, if you like that sort of thing!
Ack, hate seeing people suggest Pit Bulls or Amstaffs for guard dogs. That is NOT what these dogs were bred to do! They should be exceptionally human friendly. My dogs will bark if someone rings the door bell, but if they walked in the house, I have a feeling the worst that would happen is that they’d get licked to death.
Go for a guardian breed, many of them are short haired. Dobe’s have been mentioned, they’re awesome. American Bulldogs are another breed that should work, although my friend has one that would probably pee herself if someone yelled at her LOL. Really depends on the dog.
My vote is for the Boxer.
My family has raised them since 1973. every one of them have been good guard dogs, and family dogs.
They do not bark excessively, and as CDE Driver said, it is way easy to tell when the Boxer knows the guest.
I follow my dog’s instinct when meeting new people. They have never been wrong. 
I’ve had ridgebacks for years. They are great all rounders -family dog, guard dog, hunting dog. HOWEVER they have a pretty killer prey drive so if you have cats or other small animals you won’t for long. Also, they have to be trained -they take guarding very seriously.
ETA Shorthaired dogs shed. Long haired dogs need to be groomed.
Paula
In my experience, English Mastiffs stink at guarding. Mine is terrified of the stupidist things. Seriously, if there was an intruder, she would knock me over trying to flee the situation! And they do shed, much more than a Dobe. The drooling is icky and they are just not a smart dog, compared to the Doberman. Believe me, I tried Mastiffs after the Dobermans–never again!
Interesting re the mastiffs. I have a friend who has one, and though he is big and black and barks at people, in truth he is a marshmellow and a leaner:eek:. The older woman who owns him says that’s ok - the size, sound and look are all she needs!
Though I’ve never had a dobie, I know several who have had them; one friend actively involved in dobie rescue. They are overall darn nice dogs.
I have a collie/shep/chow mix, 60 lbs, with the shepherd black/tan coloring. She has a mouth and 1/2 when it comes to barking, and its surprising to me how many people are wary of her. I’m not sure she would hurt a flea…
[QUOTE=diffuse01;6112506]
Ack, hate seeing people suggest Pit Bulls or Amstaffs for guard dogs. That is NOT what these dogs were bred to do! They should be exceptionally human friendly. My dogs will bark if someone rings the door bell, but if they walked in the house, I have a feeling the worst that would happen is that they’d get licked to death.
Go for a guardian breed, many of them are short haired. Dobe’s have been mentioned, they’re awesome. American Bulldogs are another breed that should work, although my friend has one that would probably pee herself if someone yelled at her LOL. Really depends on the dog.[/QUOTE]
Well, I think that the key is whether they really need to be a true “guard” or whether they need to be an alert family pet that doesn’t look terribly friendly. Either will be a deterrent to intruders but it really will depend on what the OP wants and needs. I think a lot of dogs will bark, but aren’t intimidating looking. And some are intimidating looking but not very good guard dogs. And some are good guard dogs but not good with kids…a compromise might be necessary; especially if short hair is one of the determining factors.
Editing to add: The AKC website for Am Staffs says “Right Breed for You?
The Am Staff is a people-oriented dog that thrives when he is made part of the family and given a job to do. Although friendly, this breed is loyal to his family and will protect them from any threat. His short coat is low-maintenance, but regular exercise and training is necessary.”
So maybe this is a good breed to choose? I will admit, I really don’t know any in real life so I have no idea. Definitely why meeting with a breeder is a good idea to be sure the breed meets your needs.
Have you had dogs before? What type of training are you comfortable doing?
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