I totally concur on the Doberman suggestions!! We had a Dobe, Jake Doberman, as a kid and he was an awesome protection detail/deterrant! Very loving towards farmily members and would not let anyone in the home who was not welcome!
Karen
okay, here’s a suggestion from out of the box…a potcake rescue dog…
look up the website about them…they are short haired, but verrrrrrry protective of heath ,home, and humans,very good with kids, extremely intelligent…
someone here on coth has one, and will tell you the same thing about their dog…anythihg i have ever read about them, owners all say the same thing…
might be worth checking out…if my “quiver” was less full of canines, i’d have one…
and , if you were not set on a short haired dog, i would say anatolian shepherd…mine is a great family and guard dog
Did it really take 40 posts for anyone to ask OP about her experience?
OP: I don’t want to be a killjoy, or to dismiss your concerns about being alone on a remote property. However, there are some things you may not have thought of wrt to guard dogs.
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If you have children, most guard dogs can be good with your children. Many will not be good with the children your friends may want to play with, have over for birthday parties, picnics, etc.
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The guard breeds tend to be mentally intense, physically powerful and challenging. Any of those three makes training/maintaining a dog more difficult. When you put them together, it’s the reason so many guard breeds are recommended for experienced, committed owners only.
I don’t want to make light of your interest in getting a dog to guard you and your property. I understand that desire, and I have always liked the extra feeling of security my dogs give me. But please give it the consideration it deserves. A lot of people get in over their heads with guard breeds.
[QUOTE=vacation1;6113463]
Did it really take 40 posts for anyone to ask OP about her experience?[/QUOTE]
Looks like it… but some of us recommended our breed of choice with appropriate disclaimers about the experience needed to properly raise and train dogs of that breed.
Second the Airedales, they’re fantastic dogs-we’ve owned 6! They’re the real A.D.T. alarm system 
The only true purpose-bred personal protection dog is the Doberman
Another longtime Dobe owner here…no other dog compares imo. I love and have loved all my dogs but my Dobes are just special.
I have read and my experience would agree that they have the largest difference between males and females. All of our girls have been slightly less needy/more independent and more inclined to bark. The boys are glued to you 24/7 and all of mine would/will stare someone down prior to making a sound. My current male will sit in the car at red lights and stare at people in other cars until they make eye contact and then snarl and bark. He will only let people we know in the gate at home. He goes everywhere with me including the office and farm and is very friendly and outgoing provided people are cool. A good, correct and well trained Dobe should be able to do this and make the distinction.
I live in Ontario and mine have all worn rugs during very cold weather but as long as they are with you and doing something fun they are fairly hardy. The males more so. Forget about going out alone for a pee if it is pouring rain though…they’d rather hold it.
They are not an overly healthy nor long-lived breed. I prefer to rescue them from a good Dobe rescue now since the largest health concern with them is heart disease and no breeder can guarantee that they are selling you a healthy dog in that respect. If they try to they are not being truthtful. It will always be a crap shoot so I prefer to save a life. Most that I have adopted have been 2yo and all have adapted to their new lives incredibly well. I also like to be able to see what I am getting both physically and as far as temperament goes so mature dogs are great. This rescue is amazing: http://secondchancedobes.com/
They are great with the horses (do not herd unlike Rotts and GSD), they do SHED but a good diet does help with that, smart, hilarious, gorgeous and bursting with personality. If you want a dog that will be fascinated with your every move (and read your mind it appears) then a Dobe is a great choice. If you are annoyed by not being able to go to the bathroom alone then maybe they aren’t for you. I also would add that they are not a great breed for inexperienced dog owners. If spoiled and not trained they can be a problem.
Good luck!!
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?)
so to narrow down the list, we need more info: many of these dogs require considerable amounts of exercise and training to be happy, healthy dogs to own, and to be “guard dogs” who are safe and pleasant to live with.
Which brings up a point: what do you mean by “guard dog”? most people who use the term mean they want a large, scary-looking dog who will bark at strangers, but will be happy and friendly with non-stranger-visitors. This is more of a demanding job than you might think- guard dogs with real guarding instincts occasionally slip up and try to say, protect the resident kids from visiting kids during kid-play, and are often difficult to convince to be friendly to non-family members, and are, frankly, a bite waiting to happen. Why do you think some breeds are listed as “risks” on home insurance? not because there is something wrong with the breed, but because people who really shouldn’t own them get them as “guard dogs” and then they bite people leading to large insurance payouts.
Most people who think they need a “guard dog” would be better off just getting a nice, laid-back, friendly largish dark-colored dog with a good loud bark and no actual guarding instincts.
re: the recommended breeds
On the above list, the “herding breeds” are always a commitment- they need exercise, training, work, and lots of attention. Most people should think long and hard before getting one.
the dobe and rottweiler are somewhat similar to the herding breeds in that they need more time and attention than many other breeds. Plus both, particularly the rottie, are seriously unhealthy breeds and it may be hard to find a breeder of a healthy one with good instincts and temperament. And people should think long and hard before getting one.
Great Danes and Mastiffs tend to be less demanding in terms of owner dedication, and have the required “looks scary” and most are good at barking at strangers, yet are friendly to most; looking for a breeder of a line that retains actual working/guarding instincts plus health may be time-consuming. Some lines of Danes have high prey instincts that, combined with their size, make them a hazard to keep around barn cats and livestock.
properly bred amstaffs/ pitbulls tend to make terrible “real” guard dogs and you probably don’t want to own a badly bred one.
most (not all) boxers make terrible “real” guard dogs for the same reason well-bred pitties do: they love everyone.
if shedding is a problem, well, short-haired dogs shed.
If that’s a real deal-breaker the giant schnauzer and airdale might fit the bill, but both breeds are demanding breeds to own and shouldn’t be acquired without serious research into just what they are like and do they fit my lifestyle?
Catahoula. They are extremely loyal, quite territorial, very smart and seem to have an uncanny judgement about who is ok and who is up to no good. They can have a high prey drive but when raised around small animals seem to know “their” animals from others. Most are good with children. Plus those blue eyes are very intimidating to strangers.
While Airedales are nice dogs, I would point out that they are not exactly shorthaired and do require grooming or they will turn into a matted mess. They will need clipping regularly.
THanks so much everyone! I do have dog experience. I don’t really need an attack dog. What a need is a dog with a good bark and that looks scary. I don’t like long coats b/c I like to be able to keep them really clean and like being able to see ticks. For that reason, the rottie is out b/c they have that undercoat. My shortlist is the dobe, dane and maybe a working boxer from Germany with some guardyness left?
[QUOTE=HalfArabian;6113055]
I totally concur on the Doberman suggestions!! We had a Dobe, Jake Doberman, as a kid and he was an awesome protection detail/deterrant! Very loving towards farmily members and would not let anyone in the home who was not welcome!
Karen[/QUOTE]
Totally described my childhood doberman. Her name was Willie. She was so beautiful and healthy her whole life. She was a wonderful family dog and very protective of us kids. She was great on vacation, we could leave her at the camp ground and she would guard the camper! Even though we never cut her ears, she still looked intimidating.
anyone recomend any good dobe, dane, boxer breeders in pa/nj/ny/de area
Get a Dane, and rescue!!!
Then, make room on your couch. And in your bed. :winkgrin:
Nobody suggested a Dalmatian?
Not scary looking, but one heck of a protective breed.
Sheds like mad, needs tons of exercise, but loyal to a fault.
I have worked with many dogs bred for protection sports and military/police working dogs. There is no guarantee that the dog will protect you or your house especially without training. Case in point my friend who lives in AZ has a Malinios and a Rottie, both have done sport training. His house was broken into when he wasn’t there and both dogs were lose in the house. I have a female Dutch shepherd who by far is super social to strangers except in the car in which she has tried to bite the police when I have been pulled over for speeding. 
lol Is she protective of me yes but honestly if someone really wanted to get in to my house all they would have to do is toss her a steak and she would probably eat it. LOL
Dobies you would want to find a breeder that does PSA(Protection Sport Assoc.) or something of that nature to give you the best bet on having the desired traits for you to train. Make sure you don’t get a dog with a double coat because when it ends up blowing out there is hair everywhere.
I would suggest you go and check out http://www.workingdogforum.com/ It is like COTHer for dogs. There is an Airedale breeder his first name is Don Turnipseed he has been breeding Airedales (working type) for a long time.
I just want to leave you with this personal security is a multi prong approach. I would still consider an alarm system and also a firearm as well, I know that if my dog died trying to protect me and I could have shot him before he stabbed/shot my dog, I would feel horrible.
I would suggest a Big black dog that has a scary bark. That will send most people running the other way
If you really want a dog for personal protection, then you should really get involved in protection sports and bite work. It just isn’t fair to have the expectation that your dog will protect you without putting the time in to reach that level.
That said, I have a naturally protective breed myself (and I’ve been around guardy breeds since I was a child, although I am no expert). I do not do protection sports. I am not opposed to them, but I am not near enough to a trainer with experience and you can really mess a dog up with incorrect or unfinished bite training. The dogs are a deterrent I am sure. They are big, naturally a bit scary looking, and they are definitely effective watchdogs. I don’t have them for protection - I try to participate in as many dog activities as possible with them, I walk them, and they’re basically pets.
I think that people have brought up some really good points. With any breed with protective tendencies, you have to take additional precautions. For example, you probably would not ever want to allow someone you know to enter your house or yard when you are not there. In-home petsitters may not work unless the dog knows the person very well. Otherwise, you could get halfway across the country and find out that the dog won’t let the feeder in. A protective dog can definitely misinterpret horseplay with non-family members. I had a male at one point that didn’t like horseplay among people he knew - and he would jump up and bump anyone involved in such nonsense with his shoulder and get very upset until it stopped. He simply didn’t allow it. I do think that you have to really carefully consider what you want and what you like in a dog. A lot of people like the idea of a protective dog in theory, but then they realize that the dog cannot tell their neighbors or brother-in-law apart from an intruder. Socialize, socialize, socialize so that the dog can become well-balanced, but also remember that a protective dog will protect - whether you think you need it or not. A dog that looks intimidating and barks a lot may be a better match for you. Owning a protective breed is a ton of work, because you have got to get them socialized enough that they learn that not everyone is the boogyman. Some breeds are much more self-socializing. If you have one that isn’t, be prepared to spend a ton of time on doggie field trips.
I would also say that in my experience short haired dogs shed, and long-haired dogs need grooming.
Go with a Labradorr Retriever - definately a good watch dog. Bark intimidatingly, and usually very tolerant of careless childrens roughness. Big black or chocolate lab - can be very intimidating
[QUOTE=Simkie;6112214]
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…[/QUOTE]
I was going to comment but you covered it for me 
I have a Ridgie and he is a BIG deterent in a BIG way. Everyone is very put off by him. Mostly because his hair is always “up” in most non-dog ppl eyes. He is also very hard to read with a huge bardk. Great dog but HORRIBLE HORRIBLE puppy!! He was hard to bring up but is a great “grown” up. These are not easy pups/dogs (if not well “traveled”).
What about this very handsome young Doberman - Luke II? His link was posted on UDBB dog-related topic.
I’ll say again; with ridgebacks you must consider prey drive. Do you have any other pets …like barn cats?
Paula
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jocieposse/872354234/in/set-72157600883121213
[QUOTE=bluedapple;6114842]
anyone recomend any good dobe, dane, boxer breeders in pa/nj/ny/de area[/QUOTE]
Ugh, here in lies the challenge! The first breeder that comes to mind is Kimbertal. They are in PA. I have never purchased a dog from there, but knew some people that had their line of dogs. They’ve been in business for a long time. Good luck, I know for me searching for a Dobe to my liking is taking forever!
