What is your experience with these large dog breeds?

[Bluey]

I would not look at chessies if the other type dog is what appeals to you.

The chessies I have known have been quirky adults their families tiptoe around, very strong, opinionated dogs.
They have an odd coat, very greasy feeling hair, that some find off-putting.
Do check them in person before you think they may be what you want.

The other breeds, no one is perfect, but they could work, if all comes together for you.

Which area do you live, someone from there may know a breeder, or you could go to some dog shows and see what is there and ask around.
I would not get a dog off the internet, there are many scammers passing for dog breeders.

[Casey09]

I am wondering how young the kids are. Frankly, I haven’t seen many situations in which puppies, especially large breed puppies, and young children fare well together. Puppies tend to play bite and be mouthy. Children often squeal and run in response to this. Often, the children become afraid of the puppy as it gets bigger and becomes a rambunctious adolescent, and then it can become a bad situation.
I like Dobermans a lot, but as someone mentioned, training a working breed is a lot of work. The other difficult thing about protective breeds and children is that many do not like rough housing and it can create a difficult situation if the children have a lot of friends over. I love protective working breeds, but I’ve also found that the fact of the matter is that many are not totally dog friendly. I haven’t known many Mastiffs or Great Danes. Chesapeakes can be really wonderful dogs, but they are frequently dog aggressive and highly suspicious of strangers. Some people think that they smell. I’d suggest meeting a few because it seems that people either love or hate them.
I’m not necessarily saying to get a rescue. Personally I would wait until the kids in the family are at least 6 or so, and can participate in training - and then only if there is enough time to devote to training a large breed of dog - especially if you want a puppy. There are just so many times when I’ve seen difficult and heart breaking situations develop because the puppy is acting like a teething puppy, and the kids are afraid and being knocked down, scratched, etc. - and no young child should be left alone with any dog. Adults have a hard time reading dogs sometimes, let alone young children…

[KTRider]

I’ve had a handful of Chessies in my life, a couple I owned, a few that were fosters. I wouldn’t classify any of them as feeling greasy, any more than any other retrievers. Their coat is different, and can be wavy, tightly curled, loose and fluffy…so I guess that could be weird to some. I do tell people they are different from your average lab or golden, IME. I think they are less likely to be a rollicking goofball that loves every person who pets them. But not unfriendly, just that mine have been more polite and reserved until they decide they love a person. Then, rollicking goofball. Mine have been very smart, highly trainable and wonderful companions. Both I’ve owned have adored children, and my girl has done obedience, agility, dock diving and therapy work. She is a favorite at the vet’s office.

I don’t think they are easy, necessarily, but I personally think most boxers I’ve met seem harder than average until they mature a little. So much is personal preference, of course. I just had to plug the Chessies a bit.

[bluedapple]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8557479]
I would not look at chessies if the other type dog is what appeals to you.

The chessies I have known have been quirky adults their families tiptoe around, very strong, opinionated dogs.
They have an odd coat, very greasy feeling hair, that some find off-putting.
Do check them in person before you think they may be what you want.

The other breeds, no one is perfect, but they could work, if all comes together for you.

Which area do you live, someone from there may know a breeder, or you could go to some dog shows and see what is there and ask around.
I would not get a dog off the internet, there are many scammers passing for dog breeders.[/QUOTE]

Yes the boxer and dobe have the nice thin coat which I appreciate bc we are in Lyme disease central here in eastern Pennsylvania. I like to be able to find a tick on them which with the thicker coat I can’t imagine ever finding a tiny tick.

I’m happy to travel for a super breeder . New Jersey seems to have a lot of boxer breeders.

[cbv]

I don’t have kids but still prefer puppies to adult dogs because of opportunity to train around horses from the get go. Also because have lots of kids and dogs in the family that we visit and host. I just feel better able to raise a puppy and start the training from the get go than trying to possibly retrain.

All the above because I am not a great trainer and I have just found it easier to start with a puppy. I know it is not everyone’s experience or preference.

We have had Danes and loved them dearly. We did downsize because of the life expectancy and I sometimes felt like they were more like keeping horses in that I always had to worry about diet and the risk of torsion. Similar to always worrying about colic.

We also had a stray boxer as a kid that was an awesome dog. And living in tidewater Virginia, have known 2 chessies that were both neighborhood dogs (way back before leash laws when dogs went out in the am and hung out with the kids in the neighborhood all day). Both were female and safe with gaggles of kids.

For me, because of the worry of digestive problems I would avoid all the deep chested dogs on your list. But I am a worrier. Never actually had a problem, but was so careful with the Danes diet and exercise. Now have a lab and 3 herding dogs and though I don’t feed them people food or junk, I don’t have to worry if someone does.

[Incantation]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8556290]
mastiff is more a “type” than a breed so which mastiff breed are we talking about? i love molossers but they are not for everyone. most mastiffs i’ve known are not kid safe - they take the place of the kid :lol: they don’t live long enough for me and IME are fraught with all types of genetic/hereditary diseases. they also come with their own set of frustrations and disadvantages and it can be very hard once they get “older” (like 6) to assist them - can you imagine trying to pick up your mastiff to put in the car or on the bed?[/QUOTE]

Technically, Mastiff is a breed. It is the AKC title for the Old English Mastiff. The other molosser breeds have their own names, Bullmastiff, Cane corso, Neopolitian, etc.

The Mastiff is the softest tempered of all the breeds people refer to as mastiffs. In fact when they wanted to create a dog to take down poachers, they had to cross Mastiffs with bulldogs, because the ferocity had been bred out of the Mastiff. That is how the bullmastiff was developed.

They are not for everyone. They absolutely need to be socialized and trained, but are generally great with kids if raised around them. I know many that are therapy dogs. They are known to protect by simply positioning themselves between the perceived threat and their pack.

They do have their set of issues. They get big. That seems obvious, but a long time breeder I know will no longer sell a puppy unless you travel to her house, and meet her dogs. Her dogs are big (200lb females), and she has had dogs returned to her because the buyers just could not comprehend just how big that is.

They grow so fast, it puts a lot of strain on immature joints and soft tissue. Due to this, puppies shouldn’t be going down stairs on a regular basis, shouldn’t be allowed to jump on and off furniture, etc.

They snore, they drool (the saying is that a Mastiff can hit midway up the wall, whereas a St Bernard can hit the ceiling). They take up a lot of room. If we put my 8 mo old puppy in my sisters Honda Ridgeline, there is barely enough room for me to sit in back with her. In addition to drooling, our male would eat poo, then come in the house with it smeared on his flues!

It costs much more for meds due to their size. It is advisable not to spay/neuter until their grown plates close around 18 months. New research shows that having their hormones until mature protects them from osteosarcoma, ligament ruptures, and a host of other ailments.

That said, there is no other breed quite like them. After our last one died in July, we were Mastiff free for two months. It was the longest two months of my life.

[rockymouse]

Back when I was in college, years ago, I had a weekend job on the crew of a mobile vet. We’d roll into town in a modified Airstream and give very cheap vaccinations from grocery store parking lots.

We saw thousands of dogs when I was with them. I was bitten twice…both times by Chessies. Weird, right, since they are not a common breed, and this was in the Pacific Northwest, but I thought it relevant to the discussion.

I bet that they were probably great with their own people. I don’t disavow the entire breed because of these incidents, but I’ve never forgotten it either.

[tallyho392]

as everyone has stated, boxers are wonderful dogs, fun of fun and love…but I am not too sure anyone remotely familiar with the breed would be intimidated by them (since they are so lovey)…but, they are sooooooooo prone to cancer/short lifespan, it kept me from ever getting one,even though I love the breed…
I have a SMOOTH COAT collie…her hair is not like a dobe or boxer, but is not real high maintainece,either…she is barky, as in alerting, WONDERFUL WONDERFUL with kids…and much more protective of HER family and property than I would have thought…plus, collies are not on anyone’s list of “bad” breeds…and while they are listed as a large breed, my gal is only 65 lbs, and can walk under the belly of my Anatolian shep…and there are many collie rescues out there…and while collies are “people dogs”, I do not find mine to be clingy…

[AMWookey]

For those who like the boxer, but are hesitant to get one for health reasons, I highly recommend looking into a valley bulldog, one that is more then an F1. Breeders are hard to find, especially ones that breed generational, rather then just breeding a boxer to a bulldog, but if you can find one, they are great. I get mine from Nova Scotia, where they originated, but I know there are breeders in the states.

What you get is a high energy dog who loves to snuggle. My Callie is small for the breed at 50lbs, and short, but athletism! If we go for a walk or to the park she is play play play. She wants to run and explore and have fun, then she wants to go home and cuddle. She is happy to go for her walks (more then happy) but during the winter, she is equally happy to hang out at home and chase her rope. It’s good for busy families who maybe can’t (with kids and everything else) not find the time to take them for a walk. She is 6, and has had ZERO health problems. Never been fat, never been skinny, no skin problems (I think that is a lot to do with the fact that she is a generational valley bull), no food allergies, nothing. She is literally the perfect dog.

My dobe has never been overly high energy. I adopted him at 3, he had clearly never been socialized, but he was a dear right away. He can be iffy when people come in the house, but it’s mainly loud barking, and jumping. He has growled at 3 or 4 people in his entire life. 3 of them were acting aggressively to me. If he steals food (which he does often being a stray) then you can stick your entire hand in his mouth. With other dogs he is very submissive, and he gets beat up at the dog park by little dogs. He is 4 inches taller then standard, and we keep him extremely slim (I am talking you can see the back two ribs, some spinal points and hip bones) and he still weighs in at 95-100lbs. He had joint issues when he was heavier and not walked as much, so we increased his activity level, decreased his food and the vet put him on an antiinflammatory and now he is mistaken for a puppy all the time (he is almost 9). He does have the lumps. I was always wary with children, but now he can walk in a crowd of 10,000 people and be perfect (we took him downtown Ottawa, our nations capital, on canada day as a breed rep)

If anyone is interested in pictures and has instagram, you can find them with the hashtag #coalandcallie

[Foxtrot_s]

Boxers were originally trained for K9 - they are perennially on the list of most popular breeds.

If a person were to look through a book on dog breeds you wold find that nearly all dogs come with something in the way of health or temperament negatives.

I also believe that if one were to live by the rule of “what if” we would never do anything with our lives.

Boxers can have heart problems - so when I bought mine I asked them that if
my own vet noticed anything wrong as a pup they would refund my money.
All three vets at our clinic gave her a clean bill of health.

In the end a good dog is a good dog.

While a dog has to be good with kids, kids have to be trained to be gentle and kind to the dog - it is what sets them up to be citizens of the future.

[mfglickman]

Our trainer has two “Doberdors” - Dobie/Lab crosses, littermates. They are fabulous guard dogs, keep the pests out of the yard, and are very smart and obedient. They also roll around on the ground with the lesson kids and beg for belly rubs. Not advocating this as a breed but it’s a nice combo if you come across it in a shelter (they had another, same combo, before, and it was such a nice dog they waited and looked until they found a shelter with a litter again).

I grew up with German Shepherds; while not on your list they were fantastic family dogs and amazing protectors. We got our first when I was 4 and he was my best friend and protector. My mother said she could get her housework done with him watching me play in the yard out the window; he would bark if I was out of his sight, if anyone approached, if I got too close to the road…he just knew his job was to watch the kids.

We now have two Newfoundlands. High maintenance breed akin to the Danes, very friendly and sweet dogs, though my dogs will intimidate if they don’t like someone (which has happened maybe 5 times in 7 years). They do bark if someone comes to the door or gate, and they will place themselves between me or my kids and whatever they perceive as a threat. I’m quite comfortable that someone thinking of doing me harm would think again when he saw my dogs.

Good luck in your choices!

[french_fry]

I’ve known several chessies and they were great dogs, but they were not at all what I would consider a family dog. They are watchful, generally aloof but for those in their inner circle, and have a tendency to use their teeth more quickly than, say, the labs they so resemble.

Keep in mind that when you think a dog is protecting you, they are much more likely to actually be protecting themselves. You just happen to benefit from their self-preservation instinct if a stranger shows up on your property at night and your dog steps at them barking and growling and scares them off. I don’t really buy into the “I want a dog to be protective of my family” mentality and I think it’s safer to have a dog that doesn’t get defensive around new people or new situations.

Basically, if you’re so worried about making sure your dog gets along with your young kids that you won’t consider anything but a puppy, I don’t think I’d recommend a guardy breed at all.

If all you want is a dog that will alarm bark (which is what you mentioned in your OP before bringing up several notoriously guardy breeds) I think any big black dog will suffice and the alarm barking can definitely be cultivated (and an off switch can be installed!)

Of your list, boxers tend to be the most family-friendly but they are big clumsy doofs and could very easily bowl over or even unintentionally injure a small child with their exuberance, particularly in their adolescence.

Honestly, if you are hoping for a dog you can leave unsupervised around the kids I would wait until they are at least 6-8 before bringing home a new dog. If you have realistic expectations of always supervising dog/kid interactions, “kid friendly” doesn’t matter so much because the dog shouldn’t be dealing with ear pulling, being ridden like a pony, etc.

[Sugarwells]

[QUOTE=Bombproof;8557468]
I think a Doberman with original ears and tail is one of the most beautiful, elegant-looking of dogs and I can’t imagine why anyone would prefer cropped/docked, but not my dog, not my choice. [/QUOTE]
My Doberman is neither docked or cropped, and I cannot imagine life without his velvety ultra soft ears, or hearing him “play the drum” with his tail when he is happy.

[walkinthewalk]

OP, I am sorry for the loss of your dog.

My experience, on your list, is the Doberman but it goes clear back the early 1970’s; much has changed in their breeding since then.

I bought Theodore Von Ben El, as an 8 week old puppy. He was red and in direct line of one of The Seven Sires.

My son was 3 or 4, so they were raised together. Teddy was such a protector of my son, that he once growled at my son’s father for spanking him, lol. I say once because the next time they both got a spanking, lol

My son loved to hide from me, so I taught Teddy and my son to play hide and seek. When my son decided to hide from me,mI sent the dog after him, lol

I only had Teddy for eight years, losing him to heart failure. By then I didn’t like what I saw in the breeding.

Rottweilers were my next choice and they own my soul BUT I lost all three of cancer and can’t do that again.

I now have a Catahoula/Fox Terrier rescue that is very intelligent and laid back.

I also have a Catahoula/Pit Bull rescue that could wear out ten Energizer Bunnies. Very intelligent, quick study, not a mean bone in him but he needs to be kept busy and learning or he gets himself into trouble.

Hope this helps — good luck with your search:)

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

I don’t know anything about Boxers.

I had a doberman whom I adored, but she was too hair-trigger to have around children. She was perfectly safe to take out around people but if a kid fell or stepped on her while she was sleeping it would have had free piercings. :lol:

I boarded at a barn with a mastiff. No way would I recommend one around kids. Although I loved this dog he was also very reactive. And the same color as the tack room walls and floor, where he liked to nap. When someone didn’t see him and reached over him for a saddle, the noise resulting from the mutual surprise was thunderous. Good thing we were all young or someone would’ve died from cardiac arrest.

Danes I have both owned and showed: bad temperaments, short-lived, and dumb as a sack of hammers.

[SonnysMom]

OP- I am in SE PA. I know of 2 Danes that are looking for new homes. The owner is/has moved to CA. I board with the owner’s mother. I have not met the dogs but have been told they are very nice. If you think you might be interested in an adult (or 2) let me know via PM. At least with these dogs you would know what their personality is now and unlike a rescue will know something about their backround.

My co-worker has had boxers. 2 of them have had Cushings and bad allergies to grass. 1 of those two has a heart condition. Her daughter’s 2.5 year old female died of cancer. The one she had prior to me knowing her had allergies and died of cancer at age 6. My understanding is the cancer, allergies and Cushings are common in this breed. Treatment of Cushings for dogs sounds much more complicated and expensive than it is with horses.

I like the dobermans of the group you listed. My understanding is that the rarer colors (blue, fawn) frequently have many more health issues.
If you do go with Dobermans run far away from any dogs with the Kimbertal Kennels breeding. They are a kennel that is local to me. They do lots of breeders terms. You get the bitch for free if you raise 2 litters for them. Kimbertal has no control over feeding the bitch during pregnancy/lactation, no control over how well the puppies are socialized. Prospective owners don’t get to meet the females. When they get the litters of puppies from the bitch owner they will put multiple litters in the same run so who knows if the puppy matches the papers. Most of the breeding males supposedly have champions on them but in weird Slavic countries. Yeah, try to confirm those championships.

They seem to breed for size. It is common to see 85-90 pound dobie females. I don’t know much about dobermans but when I see a Kimbertal dog I know right away due to their size. They sell a ton of puppies and ship them all over the world. They breed dobermans. Over the years they have also bred Fila Brasilerio, Shar-pees and they have wolves too.

[Over_the_Hill]

Not to appear stupid, but why would you not consider a Weimaraner ?

[Sugarwells]

[QUOTE=Over the Hill;8558590]
Not to appear stupid, but why would you not consider a Weimaraner ?[/QUOTE]Great dogs, I love them, but whole different ball of fur. They also could be a great idea for a match for the OP, being they are on a farm.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Over the Hill;8558590]
Not to appear stupid, but why would you not consider a Weimaraner ?[/QUOTE]

are they good with children? limited experience with the breed, but the experience that i have had with them indicates ‘no’. but i could have met poor specimens. growing up there was one across from my friend’s cul-de-sac and she was one of the meanest, sly-est (sliest?) dogs i ever knew. but she was so irresistibly gorgeous all the kids wanted to pet her and help her chase squirrels and find snakes… i never got bit by her – i was taught good and early by my parent’s own dog :lol: … but she bit my friends on more than one occasion. of course, back then i don’t think there was much of an outcry when a dog bit a child but in this day and age she probably would have been put down early.

[wireweiners]

Since you live on a farm and can deal with some energy, consider a Catahoula. They are great watch dogs, territorial and protective but have an uncanny ability to determine how far to take it. They also have an uncanny ability to determine the boundaries of their property. This past week, one of my sketchy neighbors was walking down the road in front of my house. My catahoula Daisy, met him at the property line and made it clear he wasn’t to cross. She never went off my property but shadowed him until he was past then went back and lay down. My late catahoula Hank did the same thing.

They are very healthy and reasonably long lived. They can be dog aggressive but usually get along with dogs they are raised with. They can also have a strong prey drive but can be trained to leave stock on their property alone. I would stay away from the hog dog lines but the cattle lines could be great.

To quote the Bellamy Bros. Catahoula, best dog I ever had. I scratch his ear, he brings my beer and comforts me when I’m sad.