Best guard dog for family with small children?

I would like to get a dog for protection and companionship as my husband frequently travels. I have 3 children ages 8, 5, and 18 mos. I prefer a dog that does not shed drastically as my oldest sometimes has allergic reactions to dogs with lots of hair. We have a very large home and a medium backyard. I am able to invest time exercising, grooming, and training if necessary. Please help me with your recommendations of an intelligent, family friendly guard dog, that would be an excellent deterrent to intruders.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Honestly any dog in a house is likely to serve as a deterrent for intruders. As soon as as a potential intruder hears a dog barking, they are likely to go away before they bother taking the time to find out what type of dog it is. I think you would be better off getting a dog suited for small children as most 閳ユ笀uard dogs閳?tend to be larger breeds (rotties, German shepherds, Dobermans) and you certainly don閳ユ獩 want the little ones getting hurt. I myself have a Shepherd Mix who is a fantastic watch dog by nature but is a gentle love bug once the person gets inside and he realizes that it閳ユ獨 ok.

Beagles are also fantastic family pets. They shed very little and require little maintenance but have a very distinct baying sound that will most likely scare any intruders. They閳ユ獧e not really great watchdogs, but will probably bark or bay if someone comes to the door.

You will really need how you train these dogs if you do train them to be watchdogs because of your small children. You don閳ユ獩 want a dog that so concerned with protecting that he become aggressive with your children or their small friends that may come over. You should definitely consult a professional certified trainer to make sure that he isn閳ユ獩 protective to the point where he harms people he thinks he is protecting you against.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Any dog is a deterrent..(my Chihuahua chased a burglar out of my house 3 weeks ago, a paroled murderer. the first time in 20 yrs i dont have a police k9 at home i get robbed)...but pick a breed of dog that would suit your lifestyle. each dog has breed characteristics (shedding,exercise,size,etc) go to akc.com and read up on the breeds your interested in

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Myself, I had fantastic luck with German Shepherds. This is the most common dog the police officers use as their police dogs.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

I know people that have Rhodesian Ridgeback and absolutely love them. They are notorious guard dogs and reportedly great with kids.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Honestly, the best watchdog we ever had was a Lhasa Apso. She stayed small and didn't really shed as they have long hair that needs to be trimmed. She was very good with the family but also extremely protective. They were originally bred to protect the royal family in China and are often called little lion dogs. I miss ours. Good luck!

Best guard dog for family with small children?

try a german shepard. they are highly trainable and quick to learn. they are loyal and protective. they are also large enough to be tolerant of the roughness of loving from a small child. it would be best to get the dog at a young age. try looking into mixed breeds also. i work with all types of dogs daily and find mixes get the best from all contributors, for the most part.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

I like German Shepard's, but they do tend to shed a lot. They are loyal, honest, and smart. Boxers if trained right are also good "guard dogs" Any dog can be taught to guard there family. Do some research before you choose your breed, Dalmatian's are NOT GOOD FAMILY PETS. Each breed has different health problems ie..Shepard's can have hip problems, Boxers are prone to Cancer, So look at that as well, Good family dogs usually are mixed breeds. The local dog pound might be able to help you in finding the right dog.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

a pitbull is a good good guard dog and real good with kids i have 2 and my sister baby is 6 and my dogs love her so mayb a pitbull and they dont shed get 1 or 2

nobody wants to try a pit

Best guard dog for family with small children?

A Doberman. Sweet and loving and playful to children and family, even other dogs but, very protective against strangers. And a stranger seeing those bared teeth and hearing that growl would not be likely to take a chance. I love Dobies.

I might add they don't shed much.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Well the best guard dogs are between German Shepard's, Rottweilers and Dobermans. They have the look which will turn away intruders and also can be good family dogs.

They can all be very loving dogs if brought up properly. They are loyal dogs but all need to be associated with people and other dogs at early age so they dont become too aggressive.

However all dogs have a natural ability to guard and protect something no matter how small. A dog that doesn't shed at all is a Standard Poodle, they may look cute but they are very intelligent and can defend and turn away intruders. I have a Bedlington Terrier, whenever someone walks pass the back yard or rings the door he is always there and barking, which is a good guard dog instinct. They dont shed hair at all, may need a good amount of training and love to exercise to keep occupied. They are loyal and great with children.

Hope these ideas of dogs gives a good idea.

Good luck finding a dog!!

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Rottweilers. Great dogs, absolutely adore their people. Very gentle with their family, great guard dogs because even if they are marshmallows, they look and sound scary. Back in the day they were referred to as "Nanny dogs" as they bond so closely to their people that the human babies are considered their pups.

Which ever breed you choose, do your homework on it first. Nothing more heartbreaking than bonding with a dog that turns out to be totally wrong for your family. If you go to your local Animal Shelter, talk to the staff there, they should be able to make good recommendations. If you should find one at a shelter, most of them have private areas where you and your family can interact with the dog one on one. Here in San Diego I believe that they have a return policy. I think it is 30 days. You take the dog home, it doesn't work out, you can take it back to the shelter. Not sure about return of fees, I think they do, but not sure.

Think about getting a dog rather than a puppy. Generally better with small children, more patient, less likely to nip.

Be a hero, save a life, rescue a shelter dog

Best guard dog for family with small children?

I don't think there is a specific breed that is better than any other for protecting. I had a Sheltie (little prissy female) and she would have stood up to a pack of wolves to protect her 'babies' (my kids). I also had a Chow/Shepard cross that was exceptional with the kids (she looked like a black wolf). So best thing to do is just have the kids start playing with some pups and find one that bonds with them. Good Luck.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

You don't need a "guard" dog---you need a "watch dog". A watch dog will alert you to intruders and act as a deterrant to would-be criminals.

Many dog breeds are naturally protective of their homes and do not have a "guard dog" reputation. Look for a breed used for many purposes and not exclusively for some kind of protection.

Talk to an adoption counselor at a local rescue group for ideas (www.petfinder.com to find one near you). An adult mix may be a good bet.

Off the top off my head I can think of several breeds which meet your requirements, so here they are and why I suggest them.

A Portugese Water Dog is expensive and hard to find, but a fine example of what I mean about a dog that is not a traditional "guard" breed but is an excellent watch dogs. These dogs were bred to help fishermen with their catch, BUT ALSO to guard their fishing boats. Their curly single coat is easier for allergy sufferers than the typical double coat. Males are 42-60 pounds and 20-23 inches at the shoulder.

A standard poodle (50-70 pounds) is easier for allergy sufferers, and highly intelligent. Skip the fancy haircut and a big black dog is a big black dog to a potential intruder.

Many of the hunting breeds were bred to be companions and watchdogs in the home as well as hunters. The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) and the German Wirehaired Pointer are two breeds that are supposed to be fearless in the field, gentle with the family and protective of the home.

My GSP is friendly to all, but his size and alertness was enough recently on a late night walk to send a drunk walking home to the other side of the street. (He didn't even have to make a sound.)

Look for a dog with average doggy protectiveness who will be good with your kids and you'll do fine. A dog with more than average protectiveness could turn out to be a burden and a problem esepcially when your kids have friends over to visit.

Good luck!

Best guard dog for family with small children?

******Basset Hounds******

I know that sounds a little strange.......

I have had many different breeds of dogs in my life and by far the most gentle and yet protective (Very Protective) was my basset hounds.

My husband works A LOT and I'm home with our two little girls I bought them a basset puppy and at the time It never occurred to me she would provide protection for us. I have never had animals that "protected", I always had them thinking they would provide protection, It was a false sense of security. I have never had "false security" with my bassets, I have been woke up at 2;00 am because she was going nuts about something outside, when I looked out my window and seen my husbands equipment shop light turn on while I'm standing there then I seen someone running out.... I let her out late one night when I got a call it was the dad of a little girl spending the night with my daughter he had attempted to come up to the door to bring his daughters some clothes, but our dog wouldn't let him near the porch let alone the front door. I could go on and on but you get the point.

No matter what breed you go with, I hope you get one that works best for you and yours.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

The dog that would fit your needs is:

A male staffordshire bull terrier. These dogs are awesome guard dogs and do not shed. They are excellent with children and really love being a part of the family pack.

I personally own an American Akita and I think there is no better guard dog on this planet. However, they do shed bad twice a year so I guess this is not the dog for you. The other type of dog I think you should consider is - A Sher Pei. They are awesome guard dogs - Believe me I've come across two and they were both superb at guarding. I would not cross a Sher Pei.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

Any good sized dog with a loud bark will be a deterrent. It is best if you get a friendly dog that loves people. This way you don't have to worry about a lawsuit, and you don't have to lock him away just when you might need him most.

Don't laugh at the Basset Hound suggestion. I know of one Basset Hound who was inducted into the Purina Hall of Fame for heroes after he attacked an intruder who was threatening his owner. His name was Dozer.

Best guard dog for family with small children?

All you have to do is get yourself a beagle. they are really good compainyons.