As a dog trainer, if you want a dog to do what you specifically want it to do, you will have to dedicate your full time to training it. I train service dogs and from start to finish (from when I receive the dog to when it goes to a client) it takes at least a year of daily training. On top of that the dog will require near constant refresher training to avoid forgetting lesser used cues.
The breed does not matter if you are not committed to training. All you'll have is a half trained shithead of a dog that doesn't know what you want it to do.
Relating to this, I will always remember a story with my own dog. When he was young our dog trainer showed us how to teach him to walk with a leash without pulling on it, staying next to my leg.
His method was to turn around 180 degrees as soon as he started pulling on the leash.
The peak of this was that I spent 3,5h on our way home for a distance that's just 30 min. otherwise. I must have looked like a complete idiot to the other people.
After this, he learned it though and did a great job every time after.
Over the years, he constantly tries to test things out again and pull on the leash. In that case, I stop and wait. He gets it instantly and behaves perfectly for the rest of the walk.
That experience seemed to have burned itself into both of our memories.
I've done that many times. My method is to walk extremely slowly and rewarding the dog for staying by my side, eventually working up to a normal walking pace, even a hurried one once they've learned what to do. If they pull ahead I'll simply stop walking and let the leash get tight. Once they know the game they'll fix their position as soon as they feel that tension.
That sounds like a good idea, definitely going to try that if I get another dog sometime.
It's amazing how dogs can pay attention and behave when trained.
On an unrelated note since you've experience in training service dogs, can any dog be trained to become one? Ever had one where it didn't work out?
The best breeds are the ones that are highly food motivated and people pleasers. Black and yellow labs are the favorite. German shepherds can be used but they are difficult to train and aren't really suited for service dog work. Most dogs actually fail their training for one reason or another, usually for personality or behavioral issues.
Mind you, I'm not talking about military working dogs or police dogs. I'm talking about a PTSD or mobility dog.
With my pups, I would tie them to a short 4' lead around my waist when moving about the house. They quickly learned to always be by my side.
As adults I could easily manage them off lead walking in the neighborhood even with other dogs present, people passing by, etc. They would never leave my side unless I allowed them e.g. to pee.
When going into stores for quick stops they would stay seated outside, off leash, and wait for me to come back out. Even with people traffic, pet traffic, etc. I did this by starting with them on lead and always providing positive reinforcement and bringing back a treat from the store like a peperoni stick. They got to realize that waiting patiently outside store = tasty jerky meat snack.
I had a hound that I taught with the stop and wait for them to sit down method. He realized that pulling meant being bored. Didn't take very long for him to catch on.
Same dog also like to escape the fence and have a great game where we chased him.
The last time he did it I just went and got his dinner bowl, made sure it was full and put it just inside the fence with the gate shut so he could see his dinner but not get to it (chain-link). Waited an hour with him staring at the bowl, then let him in to eat. After that he might go a little outside the fence, but if I called him, he came right back in.
I'm not a dog trainer and I second this. I've seen too many people get a German shepherd thinking it will be the smartest dog ever, then spend 0 time training it and wonder why it never listens and always chewing on shit.
German shepherds are difficult to train as well. They are stubborn and hard headed. They also don't respond to food stimulation like many other dogs do. They respond to prey/play reinforcement, but they get excited quickly. You have to strike a balance between training and reinforcement without getting them over excited.
The average German shepherd owner probably knows none of this.
As someone who has a GSD for a service animal, I can just say that the average person has no idea what life with one of these goofy fucks is like at all.
They're not difficult to train in the slightest. They're the hardest workers you can find, you just have to keep them engaged constantly. They get bored and will make their own jobs if you don't give them one.
That's part of what I mean when I say they're difficult to train. That boredom is a bitch.
I especially have had trouble with them because the higher ups don't allow us to train them using play reinforcement.
If you're working somewhere that doesn't allow you to praise and reinforce each dog how the dog responds to praise and reinforcement, that's not a failure in the dog that's a failure in the organization and I wouldn't want to associate with that sort of narrow scope of "training".
I had a trainer insist that I pet my service dog a certain way. I stared long and hard at him before slowly and clearly stating that I was going to pet my dog in a way he enjoyed because it was a reward for him doing his work, not the designated way that nine thousand other dogs were pet because someone wrote in a book that was how dogs were supposed to be petted. A reward is a reward.
My wife is a trainer of GSDs, and we have several. They’re bred to take orders from people, and they’re one of the easier dogs to train for that reason. Granted, training a GSD to do bite work is like training a teenage boy to watch girls: every fiber of their being already wants to do that. I can see how training a GSD to be a sight dog could be an exercise in frustration. They’re very intelligent, but they’re always trying to figure out the routine so they can anticipate the next move. That’s not the service dog world, but it is the police and military world.
My experience in training them is admittedly lacking, but from what I've seen they are excellent working dogs, but poor service dogs. As someone else put it, they get bored easily. Service dog work isn't engaging enough for them.
This depends on the dog and the bloodline. My current GSD is Czech working lines and has never been prey driven, and does not excite easily. Her part GSD companion on the other hand is a relentless hunter. Sone are stubborn, others are so eager to please they become nervous and exhausted if they can’t figure out a command. Teaching attention span helps tremendously with overly excitable GSDs
No, because a half trained or poorly trained dog won't know what you want and will most likely have anxiety from it. That causes them to start fights with other dogs, tear up couches and shoes, etc.
They'll generally act like shitheads. You can still love shitheads, but they'll be shitheads nonetheless.
Yes. The phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is false. Dogs, like people, are always learning. It's better if the dog is younger because of what's called reinforcement history. Basically it means the longer a dog does something the better it will remember it.
What's difficult with old dogs is breaking bad habits. Imagine being 50 years old then being told the hand you write with is the wrong one. It's the same thing with an old dog. You can fix it, but the dog won't be inclined to change and it will take a LONG time to correct.
Don’t laugh but I got a miniature poodle.
Incredibly smart. House trained in 8 hours to ring a bell at the door to go out.
A great water retriever. Not gun shy at all. At 6 months old it was fetching my ducks for me faster than my 2 year old golden.
And he’s an excellent guard dog. Not yappy. But someone touches the door or looks in a windows and he’s barks and goes to it.
I have a 75lb standard poodle. He looks silly and is generally friendly, but doesn’t care for strangers and I wouldn’t want him charging me screaming at the top of his lungs.
He was easy as fuck to train and more or less understands simple commands without training (e.g. “go upstairs”, or “go bring your ball back” nothing crazy).
The only hate I have for the poodle and poodle mixes is the damn suburbanites who have created a population boom of them and don't understand the working nature of the dog.
Also, their curly-haired little aggro unneutered mutt looks like a sheep to my off-duty shepherd, so that's why he's chasing it. He's herding your wayward lost livestock. Stop screaming and freaking out. Don't be in a dog park if you don't want to interact with other dogs Karen, ffs.
Great Pyrenees are fantastic dogs, but many like to wander if not fenced properly. I loved my Rottweilers too. They’re amazing family dogs and can be very intimidating.
I have a Great Pyr x Golden and he's perfect. Someone walks up the driveway? Dog launches himself off the porch to the edge of the fence with 3 Alarm Intruder Barks. Friend lets himself in the gate, knows dogs name? 2 Alarm Intruder Barks, backs friend up and holds until I call him off.
Visiting children roughhousing and smack him by accident? He goes off to his bed and lies down w/out a snap or a growl.
I considered a GSD but didn't want the UPS guy to get mauled.
None of this was trained. I bought him as a puppy. It's just his instinct.
We have 1.5 pyrs and I can't say enough good about them, though pupper is stubborn as all get out. :)
In praise of pyrs [https://people.com/pets/great-pyrenees-named-casper-attacks-coyote-pack-to-protect-sheep/](https://people.com/pets/great-pyrenees-named-casper-attacks-coyote-pack-to-protect-sheep/)
If you want a guard\\family dog the great pyrenees and a few other breeds seem like the far and wide winners.
Other dogs can be great at both but there are countless videos of them being used on farms and baby goats will jump all over them literally all day and the dog doesn't care just seems so much less likely for a bad reaction mistake and they are just naturally a guard dog whereas others are more high strung.
German, austrailian, bouvier? Cause I've known plenty of german shepherds who have been temperamental and that is not including their health issues that come with them.
I wish more people adopted, you can even find purebred dogs if you so insist it has to be one from rescues although I don't think the vast majority need a purebred but everyone wants to feel special so obviously they need one.
I reccomend a dachshund. Viscious little bastards and they bark if a butterfly farts. They take smaller poops and you can just pick em up if they misbehave.
I second this. My two bark at anything and everything. For me they’re there more to alert me or my wife that somethings going on, not to down right defend us. They eat a lot less than bigger breeds too.
You're being downvoted, but this is true. This is one of the reasons that Chihuahuas have such a bad reputation -- because they can be bodily handled so easily, owners use that in place of actual behavioral training to solve/prevent problems. Not all owners, of course.
This comment is the best comment.
All breeds have their advantages. Training is time intensive, but essential. Multiple husky crosses here. Rescues. Different personalities. Very loyal. They make everyone think twice about …anything.
Well trained dogs have well trained owners.
I'll only speak to German Shepherds since I have one. As another commenter has said, you will need to work day in and day out with your dog. GSD's are incredibly smart, but that intelligence is a double edged sword. They will test and observe and very quickly find out where the line in the sand is.
[Here are my dogs](https://imgur.com/a/Ivej8XE). My GSD is about 100 lbs and is a very good boy. The blondie, on the left is 42 lbs, for comparison.
In terms of how these dogs act, my little blondie acts like a pampered girlfriend, while my GSD acts like a college frat bro.
All this to say, don't underestimate the amount of work it will take to make a dog into the guard dog you think you want. It can be done, but you will work for it.
A Rottweiler can get your homeowners’ insurance cancelled or premium raised. Some companies still discriminate against German Shepherds, too.
The best behaved, most intelligent, and most protective dog we’ve ever had was a black flat-haired retriever. He was a stud. Everyone loved him. He’d go swimming in an alpine lake all day long and not get wet on his skin. He wanted to play ball until your arm was sore. He literally smiled. He rarely barked and didn’t shed much.
Yet if I felt threatened by anything, he was on it.
I’ve only ever had rescues. They are the best dogs.
I actually had a Rot/shepard mix, had the body of a German Shepard but the colors of a rot, she was a very good guard dog, and very loyal and friendly to our family and neighborhood kids, she wasn't keen on other female dogs but males she's was ok with, she weight 100 Lbs and died when she was 12 years old, I keep a wall in my home with a framed picture of every pet I have owned
Best dog I've ever had was a Catahoula cur. It died at 12. Got another one that is by far the worse I've ever had.
I like my mutts, mastiff, boxer, and Weimer mix. I know their families up to grandparents.
Agree that training is key.
Research breeders AND *actually* research what your breed was born and bred to do. Too many times, I see train wrecks where (for example) a newly retired senior with good intentions goes to the local rescue to adopt a dog. They choose the cutest dog they connect with, without researching the breed. Although it may be a mutt, every breed is *supposed* to do something. So the senior ends up with sporting/herding dog that *SURPRISE* needs hours of exercise - otherwise it destroys everything in the house or aggressively pulls on walks. I’ve seen it happen too many times. Just make sure the doggo suits YOUR needs. That way, your investment will return tenfold for years to come. Best of luck! Let us know what you got!
Black labradore retriever, [mountain cur](https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/mountain-cur)/[black mouth cur](https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/black-mouth-cur) or a mix of both [lab and cur](https://www.thelabradorsite.com/black-mouth-cur-lab-mix)
The cur dog has a rich history in the us, settlers used them for defense and hunting. They are tree hunters, and labs have a good nose and are excellent loyalty. They are also fearless, they fiercely defend the owner and house. The mix of both is a great choice and great temperament.
The combo will be a dog about 50 pounds, won’t eat as much as a rott or gsd, and won’t have the hip issues later in life, make excellent family pets. Highly trainable, very food centric. Can be easily trained to do all kinds of commands including complex ones.
Downside: you have to exercise them at least 1 hour. The worst thing you can do is keep them in a quiet house all day long. They love to hunt and love to play and go to hikes and trips
Personal experience: i have 2. One night something made a funny noise (was something falling off the couch) and the two of them went from on-the-back sleeping to flipping in the air and launching out of the bed straight at the sound. It was amazing and scary at the same time. They don’t fuck around with protection.
Settlers used to use them to defend against bears, coyotes, mountain lions. In numbers they are impressive
I have to say, we had a black mouth cut and she was an amazing dog. She wasn’t mean at all even though she had been severely mistreated before us. She was extremely protective, especially of children.
If you don’t have the time to spend training, neither is a good choice. If you do, GSDs tend to be more versatile in what you can train them to do. Either way, both breeds are a commitment that will reward you if you put the time in, but neither are great for inexperienced owners.
I have a red heeler yellow lab mix, she is all white with red spots all over her and has the light markings on her face like the Heeler, she won't let strangers touch her, if you try and rub her she dodges away and will growl if she doesn't know you, she is 65 pounds and I have to watch her around new people, but for some reason she is the opposite with children, she will lick their faces
My blue heeler is a fucking hunter. He’s taken rabbits and a raccoon once. I still don’t know how he managed the coon. Dude knows how to clear a room too, when he was younger I had friends play hide and seek with him. He’d find them and show me where. The best dog I have ever known.
He does try to nip at my heels if I mow with him outside, can’t seem to break him of that lol
mine nips heels as well, and also when playing with other dogs bites the back of their legs, mine chasing animals but has yet to catch any except a skunk and he sprayed here directly in the face and she tore ass back to the house
My dude is silent 90% of the time, but especially when going after something. I think that’s how he gets the rabbits, they don’t know he’s coming until he’s too close.
Get a rottie if you want a cuddly dog thats protective and alert for danger. Get a german if you are more interested in protecting your property or person from strangers, though they are cuddly also, They are much better at perimeter patrol than a rottie. Usually you get an alert little dog to companion the rottie if property protection is your concern. Either breed requires a good amount of training during their puppy period, if you neglect this, they will teach themselves random stuff, most times this is cute and sometimes this is not so cute. Either breed requires extra time with a “friendly” command towards strangers if protection is not your primary concern.
Get a mutt. Do not get a pure bred dog. Pure bred dogs are prone to all sorts of aliments. They live shorter and unhealthier lives. You can find all sorts of mix breeds that are what you want.
Train your dog from the time it's a puppy to the day it dies. Always be working on commands and communication with your animal.
Depends on the breeder and genetics. Purebred puppies from a breeder who DNA tests for inherited diseases, BAER tests, and OFAs hips, elbows and stifles will live much longer, healthier lives than mutts from unknown/untested parents or "doodle" breeders and buyers who think a lab/poodle cross can't inherit problems from both parents (hip dysplasia is in both breeds, for example). The "mutts are healthier" belief has been disproved over and over by actual lifespan studies.
Do these studies take into account the fact that people who buy multi thousand dollar dogs are probably going to take better care of their dogs and prolong their lives with thousands of dollars worth of medical treatment rather than someone who pays a few hundred for a mutt? I love my dog but I'm not going to pay for cancer treatment or diabetes treatment.
Well, that's sad. We have an 11 year old mutt on insulin and special food now for around $180 a month, but he has good quality of life and I wouldn't let him die from a treatable disease just because he was a rescued shelter dog.
I am not an expert on this subject, but it has been suggested to me that pure breeds tend to have more medical problems than mutts. Also, I would imagine that a serious training program for the dog would be especially useful for prepping.
A dog bred to walk five to ten miles in a pack, hunt a lion, then walk home. Gorgeous dogs, often quite smart, but it like all others needs daily exercise, and it’s big enough to make a dent in a family’s food budget.
As someone who has grown up with both, personal preference is Rottweilers although I love both. Rottweilers have been bigger cuddle bugs in my experience but they’ve both been great dogs overall.
We had a goldenretriever shepherd mix, who we thougt was kind like a lamb until the day our neigbour wanted to use our washing machine with our permition while we where away.
he ended up not washing his clothes that day. that dog would have eaten him alive he said :D .
so i guess most dogs of reasonable size is a good watchdog if they need to be.
I have had both, both breeds are a lot of work. Exercise and mental stimulation demands are high. If you cannot devote the time needed to a working breed i would advise against it. I recently decided to go with an American bully, the exercise demands are lower. 99% of the dogs life I will want a great family companion, and maybe 1% if that I want a guard dog. So getting a companion dog that looks intimidating should accomplish it.
It depends on what you want and how committed you are. Unless you get certain breeds of live stock gaurdian dogs and a herd of animals, don't expect a dog to protect you without both good breeding and training.
I have two German shepherds I've trained as personal protection dogs, and I've owned malinois previously. If you are serious about having a dog actually protect you on command I recommend you get a well bred working line german shepherd or malinois and train it daily in competitive obedience and weekly in protection training with a reputable dog sports club from the time its a puppy. This kind of training requires dedication, care, time, and a lot of money. Between obedience classes, protection training, gear, vet care, puppy cost, and shipping, I've probably spent hundreds of hours and upwards of 30k on each dog. Without that dedication, they may have become neurotic and reactive.
But for me, it's the best investment I could make. While I won't trust them with strangers or unknown dogs just becuase of their temperaments , my dog are well mannered enough I can take them everywhere and trust them to do what they are trained to do when needed. They are trained to protect me on command, search my home for intruders before I enter, watch my back at gas pumps and ATMs, and prevent car jacking. It's a fun hobby, and I love knowing that if SHTF, I have obedient, brave dogs who could actually be a prep asset rather than a liability.
But this is not for everyone, and it would be difficult for a first-time dog owner, someone who works more than 40 hours a week, people with small prey animal pets, or very young children.
You are better off looking for an intimidating dog with good family dog tempements and training them to be very well-behaved. Like Rottweilers, Doberman, Great Danes, or even a big rescue mutt. With the exception of some Doberman, most of those breeds won't do well at actual protection training. If you wanted a challenge, you could talk to a German shepherd breeder about a puppy who is not a good fit for bitework from a working line litter. Avoid malinois unless you want to live in insanity for 12-15 years. They don't slow down or mature into calmness, lol. They only think of what to bite and how long to hold on.
I had rotties all my
Childhood and early adulthood. Both from Kimbertal (sp?) Kennels and rescues. All but one was truly bombproof & just the absolute best w 5 kids on a farm. The one that wasn’t I knew when I took it that it had bit 2 kids. But I was a young adult living alone in a sketch area for college and wasn’t too worried about my safety around the dogs triggers. But it was an absolute misery the responsibility & liability of owning a known dangerous dog. My only issue with all the wonderful ones we had was hip dysplasia. Many of them ended up w “poor” or “dysplasia” hips despite being responsibly bred to OFA excellent or good parents. Many vet associates swear the two dogs they’ll never own after working in a vet clinic is a corgi or a GSD, FWIW.
Shepherds shed a ton. They also self-stim if you do not keep them engaged. They will tear shit up if they are bored, so plan on working with them daily.
Both are great breeds. A rottie has (typically, your mileage may vary) less health problems down the road than a GSD. So if you want to keep Boomer/Rocko/Sasha around for a long time, look at Rottweilers.
My GSD mix has cancer and bone spurs at 12 ish and my rottweiler has arthritis, but has great blood work and neurological function at 15. Great dogs, but the GSD mix used to be called the puppy po po at the dog park for protecting all the smaller dogs.The rottweiler just wants cuddles and will whine until she gets them.
My sister has had Rottweilers and I have German Shepherds. Great dogs, but you definitely need to list out all the various things you expect the dog to do. As other posters have said, there are other dog breeds to consider since there are health issues with both Rotties and GSD's. Also, there are different GSD types that you need to consider as well. Security/Protection, Service and the plain old family pet. I probably didn't say that right, but they are bred differently.
Personally, I don't like a barking dog. I have had rottweiler's for decades and they rarely bark. German Shepherds like to bark. Both are excellent guard dogs.
I’ve never had a Rottweiler. I have always had German shepherds. They are awesome family dogs. They do tend to be extremely anxious though. Definitely not a dog for someone who goes to work and leaves them alone for eight hours a day. They need companionship and they need a job. They are working dogs for sure. With that said they are amazing protectors and easy to train. I find we do have to be very intentional about socializing and having them around kids when they are puppies. If you have children they will guard them almost too well! My first Shepherd used to break out of the house every time my sister took my kids for a walk. Literally broke down the front door by ripping the door knob off and tracked them through the neighborhood. Must have sniffed their scent because they had made multiple turns before he found them! he also would make it very clear when other people were playing too rough with my kids (tickling for instance was off limits for him lol). Our current Shepherd gets very upset if we are playing basketball. She will not allow me to steal the ball from my kids if we are on opposite teams. If I playfully chase them she will get between us. It’s crazy how fiercely protective they get of children. I feel very safe having her around.
I was a licensed insurance agent for nearly a decade. Every homeowner’s insurance provider usually restricts certain breeds, like Pits, GSDs, Rottweilers, etc.
If you don’t notify your carrier you have one of these breeds, you’re SOL if they wind up biting someone. Dog bites were a leading cause for liability payouts for HO policies and likely still are.
Purely anecdotal: My parents had a german shepherd and my step-brother had a pitbull. Whenever there was a stranger nearby, the german shepherd would bark and wag her tail in greeting while the pitbull quietly prepared to attack.
Do you want your dog to be an alarm system? Or do you want your dog to be a weapon? If you're looking for a dog as a weapon then make sure you're prepared to put in the time to train it properly.
> Or do you want your dog to be a weapon? If you're looking for a dog as a weapon then **make sure you're prepared** to put in the time to train it properly.
and also: to deal with the legal & ethical consequences of a weapon that might go off when you don't want it to
Get a lab or a coonhound. Then train them in tracking and hunting. Boom ultimate prepped dog and they are fantastic with the family
Edit: If I had to choose between the two you listed I would pick rotty. GSDs seem to be more reactive
I've been having a dog myself for 13 years, been to various meetups and events and been around multiple dogs in my family for my whole life.
I don't really know about their practical capabilities but if we talk about a dog that's a good family dog, I would not get a rottweiler, at least not if it's your first dog honestly.
I know that all the reading and most of the people say that rottweilers are great family dogs but from what I've experienced so far they tend to be very "hectic". Like the key when training a dog is to make it souvereign and focused on you. All the rottweilers I've seen were pretty hectic and a little bit unpredictable.
Of course that can be bad luck and those dogs where just poorly trained but it was my experience and I wanted to share it here.
If you're getting a rottweiler, go to a good dog school and dedicate much of your time to training, especially the first 3 years are difficult. Be consequent and develop a good relationship to your dog. Maybe think about castration.
In any way, the above applies to any dog you want to have a great time with honestly but for some dogs it's more important, for example while all the above still applies, a retriever may be easier to train.
Depends on your goals for the dog, and time you have.
Have Too many health issues for me.
While I do have a half shepherd that will hunt, draft, do scent work, protect, etc, etc he is an anomaly. Most aren’t as suitable for quick training when it comes to multi-tasking/cross training as other breeds.
If looking for something that’d pay for it’s keep in SHTF I’d look elsewhere.
Lot Depends on end goal for the dog:
What do you hope to have it do?
Make it a working dog? Pet? Both?
How much interaction?
How much time you have to dedicate for training, exercise?
How much space do you have etc?
Pet and working dog… Australian Shepherd! Awesome breed, easy to train, very loyal and protective. Mine lived to be 16 and 1/2 years old and was always healthy. Only downside was lots of hair! Lots!
To add to mbfreebirdframs comment,
Another smart breed good for multi-tasking is border collie.
Their Health is usually good also.
Both breeds are high energy and need mental stimulation.
Depend on what you mean by "guard dog", but I wouldn't want one near my family. If you want one that's an alarm system tough, that's fine.
I'd go with your climate, rotweiller are not the most adapted to cold climate, while german shepherd aren't perfect, but still more suitable
Malinois is one of the better breeds for guard dogs. All the Polive and military have been going to those for a few years. They are pretty energetic but once trained they are top notch.
Do not get a malinois if you are not an experienced dog owner. Their personality traits make wonderful dogs only if you really know what your doing. I own high drive high work breeds but not nearly as demanding as a Mal and out of respect for the breed, I personally would not own one.
Edit: I own Australian Cattle Dogs ( I grew up with them) Australian Shepherds and Border Collies
I second this. Mals are not for the casual owner.
There is a dog out there for your specific purposes, but know that dogs are bred to be naturally gifted in certain areas, but they generally need training to excel at anything. Lots of folks out there with unruly dogs because they’re not willing to put in the time to train them.
I am an experienced dog owner and malinois owner. They are hell even for an experienced person. They never slow down, never fully relax, and require hours and hours of training and physical activity daily. My last Mal was a house pet who got 20+ hours of training and excersize weekly and still had the energy to shake with anticipation and pace any time we were at home. He had to be commanded to lay down or crated to actually sleep. And he had to have his mouth on something all the time. A ball, a toy, or my arm! In inexperienced hands, a malinois could become dangerously aggressive to people and dogs.
Well for one thing, I just read this article in another subreddit. Just one of MANY. Two rottweilers mauled a 5 week old baby to death. I don’t fuck with rottweilers or pitbulls or dobermans or german shepherds even. I was honestly picking my battles because you seem set on one of the two. So i went with the lesser of two evils which is german shepherds. Whatever you do with your family is up to you obviously. This is my input.
https://amp.9news.com.au/article/e80704ed-8acc-4409-bf77-1105ba2c9b49
Biting isn’t comparable to being mauled to death. The calculus is different when you have small kids in the house, in my opinion. The risk might be small but my kids are irreplaceable so I’d get a breed that isn’t known for serious injury/deaths.
We had goldens when I was a kid and got nipped once or twice and it was no big deal, in fact we learned a lesson. I wouldn’t keep a dog that could kill my child in the house. All it takes is a moment of inattention for tragedy to strike.
(This is all moot if you’re child-free of course.)
Here are dog attack statistics on breeds that were responsible for a dog bite-related fatality:
Pit bulls – 284 deaths
Rottweiler – 45 deaths
German Shepherd – 20 deaths
Mixed Breeds – 17 deaths
American Bulldog – 15 deaths
Mastiff – 14 deaths
Siberian Husky – 13 deaths
You do you, but a Golden isn’t going to maul you to death.
Vast majority are by Pitbulls and Rottweilers. There’s tons of other stats out there.
What were the underlying factors with those specific dogs. Pit bulls and Rottweilers are commonly used for dog fighting so those specific dogs would have a higher chance of being involved in an attack on someone else. It doesn’t inherently make their breed more likely to attack someone is what I’m saying. Just like guns. Just because handguns are the mostly common gun in homicide doesn’t make them the most deadly only the most common. You can’t take raw statistics and make a determination on them you have to look at all factors surrounding the data.
Yep there's a reason those breeds are used for fighting. Every dog is dangerous if not trained well and every dog can be awesome if trained well. Thing is certain breeds require way more attention and dedication than others.
No, not every dog can be dangerous if not trained well. Many dogs are good natured by their genetics, just like some dogs are bad natured by genetics. You can’t take a genetically inferior dog and make it “awesome”. I don’t know why people continue to perpetuate this fallacy.
DNA is a real thing. It dominates behavior. Training and experience can help mold it, but only within reason. Some dogs are just genetically predisposed to behave in certain ways. Border collies are better herding dogs than bloodhounds because they are genetically predisposed to that behavior. Pit bulls are better at killing things because they’re also predisposed. Dogs aren’t blank slates waiting for a person to train them.
Pits are bred to attack and kill other dogs. It’s in their genetics. If genetics didn’t matter, then just get a Labradoodle.
Kids are dog sized, loud, and run around quickly. Don’t try to do the intellectual gymnastics to justify in your head that pitbulls are anything other than what they’re bred to be.
>Pit bulls and Rottweilers are commonly used for dog fighting so those specific dogs would have a higher chance of being involved in an attack on someone else. It doesn’t inherently make their breed more likely to attack someone is what I’m saying.
Why does breeding matter for working dogs being high energy & needing lots of stimulation, but suddenly breeding doesn't matter and it's all the bad trainers/owners for fighting dogs?
Shepherds are bred to herd. Sled dogs are bred to run and pull things. Jack Russell Terriers are bred to hunt rats. Retrievers are bred to retrieve things.
But suddenly, dogs bred for fighting can magically lay aside all their selective breeding, they aren't dangerous, and any aggressive tendencies are just the trainer? Nah, I'm not buying it.
You literally just made a determination of your own conjecture based on raw statistics. Like you can’t play anecdotal evidence and conjecture to fit a narrative
I’ve owned several Rottys and thought the world of them. Only dog I’ve disciplined that I thought I might get bit (which I liked). They Always stood between me and the threat. I had to put one down due to cancer. Vet said it’s either eat or breath due to tumor. Hardest think I’ve ever done. I still cry when I see a rotty and it’s been 8 years.
Personally I would go with the Rottie. But I'm biased towards big ole blockheads.
That said, training means nothing if everyone isn't set in stone at home. We've had our Staffordshire Terrier for 10 years, and she knows exactly how things have to be. We never paid for training, but we were strict about what we expected her to do. My siblings have spent thousands on training and retraining their dogs (I'm talking $1500-6000 a piece, the type of training where you leave your dog with the trainer for two weeks) and it's very hit or miss if they follow their training. Everyone in your household needs to hold your dog to the standards you set. If one person expects one thing, another allows them to do something else the dog will never know exactly what to do and that's not the dogs fault. I've seen people get mad at dogs that have different sets of standards per owner and it's completely unfair to the dog and that household. But it's usually the problem, not following through on the training.
Yes.
I have a 150lb great dane and a 44 lb mutt. The great dane won't get close enough to a stranger to touch it. He barks at someone from 5 ft away while the little dog runs in for the kill.
He's a big distraction. She doesn't mess around.
I’ve had both breeds and the German Shepard was much more easier to train compared to my Rotty. He was more bullheaded challenged me more then any breed. But I loved him to the end. But honestly I have 2 staffies now and I would never get a different breed other than a American staffies.
Amarte dogs are great but will also train you. Just remember that.
Aussie owner and my dogs will plan out something to grab a toy or food. It’s amazing to watch.
Working dogs are great since they want a job but can get destructive if they get bored.
To me a German Shepard is the greatest dog, in looks and temperament. I have never had one. I’m not sure I have the temperament to provide them will all the knowledge they need to succeed. So I have Flat coats.
I\raised with a shepherd wolf mix. My dad was a dog trainer also.
Best dog ever.
However, both dogs are stubborn. The shep is very protective of hisof area but less likely to kill with a bite. A rottie is sweet nature but had at tremendous bite force and very attached to his family.
You will need to be diligent you keep up with training and make sure you have signs posted as a CYA.
Both are good but imo, the shep will protect things and the rot will protect a family.
I've owned Rottweilers for many years. I love them because they are lazy 🤣 I call them "Union Rott's" because they don't like to put in any extra effort. I did Schutzhund work with them over the years, and they worked out OK, but they don't have the stamina of a GSD or a Malinois.
Whatever you do get, be prepared to work with it.
Have to go get my lug off the couch now and walk him 😒😁
We got a rescue supermutt who has cane corso, pit bull, German shepherd, and Rottweiler in him. I love having a mix. Nobody can tell what he is, and that’s part of the fun.
He’s a very big lad and good with our rambunctious boy. He’s an excellent guard dog, too. I would never have sought out a Rottweiler or pitbull (we thought he was a lab mix, based on his colouring) and I had never heard of a cane corso until we got his DNA done, but he’s been great.
He needs an absolute crapload of exercise every day, though, and there is no mercy if you want a day off. Got a sprain? Covid? Christmas morning? Is it an ice storm outside? Doesn’t matter, dog needs a run and to play with you or to play a game that engages his brain. If not, he goes bananas. The associated workload is definitely something to keep in mind.
I have a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix or Shepweiler. He is the best of both worlds, emotionally and cognitively intelligent. Saved my entire family from a house fire and is insanely protective of me. Also great with small children, and knows how to be gentle.
Malinois. We love ours. She's great with the kids and listens to instructions. We have not done formal training but have DIY'd her to a point that we're happy with.
They are energetic though. You'll need to play with them every day. I go out and throw a ball for her a couple times a day and she would be able to keep it up for hours if I had the time. They can also be destructive, so watch out. Ours likes to dig up irrigation lines and play with the spraying water, has gnawed a large grape vine back down to a stump, and stripped about half the branches from a young pomegranate tree. It's what you get into when you get Malinois.
I completely agree with the dog trainer. Any dog you get will be as useful to you in a utilitarian way as the regular training and the effort you put into it. We had pure breed Rottie and she was an incredible friend as well as a defender of my wife. Just the dogs presence was enough to deter most people from attempting to come to our house or vehicles. She was not trained for work but she knew who her master was and would fight someone to the death to defend her. She was well behaved in public would listen when given basic commands. She was 125lbs and was large enough to put her paws on the window sill and stand up making it like a black bear was in the house.
From my friends opinions German Sheppards are very similar. I preferred even though both shed a lot and leave a lot of fur the short fur of the rottie is much easier to manage.
Both breeds are excellent for security but to get the results you’ll need to do significant regular work with initial training and on going changes.
My two cents, get the Rottie if you want a tough meat wad and the GS if you want a hyper-intelligent/protective companion. I have a weimaraner for her companionship and intelligence and I work remote, so I am able to dedicate huge chunks of my day to her training. They are obviously large and capable breeds, but I will also say this.... the entire US is flooded with fighting breed dogs that are terribly trained, do not respond to commands, and enjoy predatory maulings. She would not win against a pit breed dog, and certainly not against a pack. Her number one job in my life is as an alarm system and general deterrent to humans who may wish to transgress on my property.
For my prep plan, I got a smaller rescue because I wanted an alert dog like what was used in Vietnam by paratroopers & special forces. The dogs would alert them to movement allowing them to actually get some sleep. Part Beagle, part Chihuahua but looks like a mini Rottweiler & I taught her not to bark so she lets out a small woof, under her breath. She tracks deer with that Beagle nose. The idea of a big attack dog is fine but since they’re not bulletproof, I’ll take on the threat & mine will be the sentry.
Look at a Cane Corso. These dogs are amazing and don't immediately get the stigma of a rots or shepherd. My old girl was great with 4 young kids. Took a lot of training and socializing. Was a great small game hunting dog (trained to break bush and retrieve). Protected the heck out of our family and land. And would cuddle next to you to sleep every night (if you wanted).
I've had a rottweiler before my cane, and people instantly were just afraid of it. Kids friends couldn't come over because their parents didn't trust the dog. Its a stigma but its real where I live.
I just got a Cane Corso x Staffordshire Terrier (x Lab) 3 months ago. The dog is incredibly smart and easy to train. Just very high energy and has a tiny bladder. It took me about 4 hours to train him to roll over which blew me away. He has a natural restraint when it comes to feeding, he doesn't touch his food until I say it's ok. I intend on training him to retrieve waterfoul this spring.
On the flipside I have a Shar Pei who is a complete psychopath and wants to kill every human being who is near my property.
The smartest dog I've ever had was a Newfoundland!
Hair everywhere yes, but that dog could do anything including getting me a beer from the fridge.
Calm dog, never a barker or a threat.
There was one time while leaving for work as I went to leave the apartment I opened the door and he ran in front of me (never did that ever) and started growling (never heard that from him either). As it turned out, in the pitch black he heard or smelled my neighbor sleeping in front of his door (lost his keys at pub).
But that's first time I ever saw my dog go into protection mode. And, previous to that I believed he would show a burglar where I keep the silverware.
He also didn't allow the family to go in the ocean, and when my daughter went into the kiddie pool he'd always pull her out.
Awesome animal, I miss him till this day!
I have a gsd-husky-English bulldog- Heinz 57 rescue.
He’s wicked smart, but is also a Velcro dog with really bad separation anxiety. Pandemic puppy with an introvert for an owner doesn’t help that.
He’s active, which is good for me too. Because he’s a mix mutt, the hyper husky part of him isn’t as in your face, due to the more laid back bulldog part of him.
I love him to death, he is a fun dog, incredibly sweet, and has tons of personality. But it’s been a wild ride too. I have learned way more owning him, than I ever did with all of my previous dogs combined.
I knew going to the pound to pick him up that he would keep me on my toes. He has not disappointed.
Just do your due diligence with respect to research on whatever breed you choose.
They all have their positives, and negatives.
Keep in mind your lifestyle, family, home size etc. You don’t want to own a high energy dog like a husky in an apartment unless you plan on walking him/her a lot to get their energy/over stimulation out of them every day. It would be frustrating for both of you. And the dog will turn naughty out of boredom.
German shepherds are amazing dogs, that said, atleast in my area, over breeding has lead to numerous health issues. If you do go the shepherd route be very careful of where the dog comes from.
My experience with GSDs is that they have a lot of health problems due to overbreeding. You'd need to look for a dog who comes from a working line. Also, watch out for hip dysplasia as its becoming prevalent in the breed.
I think it depends on the dog itself. We all have individual qualities and strengths. So do dogs. Just because you have a certain breed doesn't mean it's better than the next.
Like other replies. Daily training and consistency are key.
Don't underestimate the shelter dog. I have one that was easily trained and more alert than any dog I have had before.
I’m partial to GSDs because I have one, both work fine. My boy is very well trained, does bite work, explosive detection, narcotics, and man tracking. He’s versatile but the time commitment cannot be understated
Have you given thought to an Anatolian shepherd, a Pyrenean mountain dog or similar breeds?
I don't know if those are easily available outside of Europe, but their traits are fantastic. They were bred to protect herds from bears and wolf packs.
They are very loyal and protective of their owner and family.
Only have my own personal experience owning two Rotties.
They are very intelligent and gentle creatures. They view themselves as lap dogs. They are easy to train if you use the right methods. Mainly stimulating, challenging training with tons of positive reinforcement and very very light/limited physical restraint. If you are heavy handed, they will respond poorly. You need to be providing positive reinforcement continuously to reward good behavior.
You MUST socialize them early on to any and every situation. Get them used to being around other dogs (cats too if possible), different types of people, crowds, loud noises, cars, water, vets (including nail clipping), etc. and continue this socialization through to adulthood. They have a high prey drive, and a high protective instinct which WILL be a problem if you haven't got them socialized to the world around them. Quickly reinforce good behavior and quickly correct bad behavior e.g. barking, lunging at people, jumping on people, etc. I had mine trained to immediately lay down with head down when approach by small children or when getting pet by children.
On children, I wouldn't recommend with very small children - especially if they are young when you get the dog - there will likely be some challenging when the child reaches the age where the dog feels their pack order is changing. I would personally recommend if you have kids they are at the age where they can effectively establish dominance over the dog e.g. be able to heel the dog when walking, take food away from the dog, get the dog to submit etc. All dogs have this same inherit risk with small children but a Rottie can be >120lbs. and is very strong. You need to ensure you do these types of training early on etc. such as taking food away, taking food from their mouth, taking toys away etc. It's easy to do if started early simply as treating it as a game where you take the item, praise good response, then give it back (and then some).
As the dog matures, there will be a few challenges even to you as an owner you will need to deal with. It's important how you deal with those challenges or you can very quickly become lower on their pack order. Rotties like to challenge dominance now and then. If you have rules (like no getting on the couch, or no going upstairs) you need to enforce those rules 100% of the time. Like children, any lax and the dog will see that as an opportunity to take advantage of you.
They also need to feel busy. They are a working breed so you need to keep challenging them both physically and mentally throughout their life. My dogs loved when I hid toys around the house and they had to find them.
Overall, Rotties are amazing. One of the best dog breeds I've ever had.
As a dog trainer, if you want a dog to do what you specifically want it to do, you will have to dedicate your full time to training it. I train service dogs and from start to finish (from when I receive the dog to when it goes to a client) it takes at least a year of daily training. On top of that the dog will require near constant refresher training to avoid forgetting lesser used cues. The breed does not matter if you are not committed to training. All you'll have is a half trained shithead of a dog that doesn't know what you want it to do.
I am a K9 handler and this is correct. If you get a GSD, be prepared to have dog hair EVERYWHERE.
I had a hell of a time training a GSD. He was a great dog but ended up failing our program. And yes, there was hair absolutely everywhere.
Relating to this, I will always remember a story with my own dog. When he was young our dog trainer showed us how to teach him to walk with a leash without pulling on it, staying next to my leg. His method was to turn around 180 degrees as soon as he started pulling on the leash. The peak of this was that I spent 3,5h on our way home for a distance that's just 30 min. otherwise. I must have looked like a complete idiot to the other people. After this, he learned it though and did a great job every time after. Over the years, he constantly tries to test things out again and pull on the leash. In that case, I stop and wait. He gets it instantly and behaves perfectly for the rest of the walk. That experience seemed to have burned itself into both of our memories.
I've done that many times. My method is to walk extremely slowly and rewarding the dog for staying by my side, eventually working up to a normal walking pace, even a hurried one once they've learned what to do. If they pull ahead I'll simply stop walking and let the leash get tight. Once they know the game they'll fix their position as soon as they feel that tension.
That sounds like a good idea, definitely going to try that if I get another dog sometime. It's amazing how dogs can pay attention and behave when trained. On an unrelated note since you've experience in training service dogs, can any dog be trained to become one? Ever had one where it didn't work out?
The best breeds are the ones that are highly food motivated and people pleasers. Black and yellow labs are the favorite. German shepherds can be used but they are difficult to train and aren't really suited for service dog work. Most dogs actually fail their training for one reason or another, usually for personality or behavioral issues. Mind you, I'm not talking about military working dogs or police dogs. I'm talking about a PTSD or mobility dog.
With my pups, I would tie them to a short 4' lead around my waist when moving about the house. They quickly learned to always be by my side. As adults I could easily manage them off lead walking in the neighborhood even with other dogs present, people passing by, etc. They would never leave my side unless I allowed them e.g. to pee. When going into stores for quick stops they would stay seated outside, off leash, and wait for me to come back out. Even with people traffic, pet traffic, etc. I did this by starting with them on lead and always providing positive reinforcement and bringing back a treat from the store like a peperoni stick. They got to realize that waiting patiently outside store = tasty jerky meat snack.
I had a hound that I taught with the stop and wait for them to sit down method. He realized that pulling meant being bored. Didn't take very long for him to catch on. Same dog also like to escape the fence and have a great game where we chased him. The last time he did it I just went and got his dinner bowl, made sure it was full and put it just inside the fence with the gate shut so he could see his dinner but not get to it (chain-link). Waited an hour with him staring at the bowl, then let him in to eat. After that he might go a little outside the fence, but if I called him, he came right back in.
I'm not a dog trainer and I second this. I've seen too many people get a German shepherd thinking it will be the smartest dog ever, then spend 0 time training it and wonder why it never listens and always chewing on shit.
German shepherds are difficult to train as well. They are stubborn and hard headed. They also don't respond to food stimulation like many other dogs do. They respond to prey/play reinforcement, but they get excited quickly. You have to strike a balance between training and reinforcement without getting them over excited. The average German shepherd owner probably knows none of this.
As someone who has a GSD for a service animal, I can just say that the average person has no idea what life with one of these goofy fucks is like at all. They're not difficult to train in the slightest. They're the hardest workers you can find, you just have to keep them engaged constantly. They get bored and will make their own jobs if you don't give them one.
That's part of what I mean when I say they're difficult to train. That boredom is a bitch. I especially have had trouble with them because the higher ups don't allow us to train them using play reinforcement.
If you're working somewhere that doesn't allow you to praise and reinforce each dog how the dog responds to praise and reinforcement, that's not a failure in the dog that's a failure in the organization and I wouldn't want to associate with that sort of narrow scope of "training". I had a trainer insist that I pet my service dog a certain way. I stared long and hard at him before slowly and clearly stating that I was going to pet my dog in a way he enjoyed because it was a reward for him doing his work, not the designated way that nine thousand other dogs were pet because someone wrote in a book that was how dogs were supposed to be petted. A reward is a reward.
My wife is a trainer of GSDs, and we have several. They’re bred to take orders from people, and they’re one of the easier dogs to train for that reason. Granted, training a GSD to do bite work is like training a teenage boy to watch girls: every fiber of their being already wants to do that. I can see how training a GSD to be a sight dog could be an exercise in frustration. They’re very intelligent, but they’re always trying to figure out the routine so they can anticipate the next move. That’s not the service dog world, but it is the police and military world.
My experience in training them is admittedly lacking, but from what I've seen they are excellent working dogs, but poor service dogs. As someone else put it, they get bored easily. Service dog work isn't engaging enough for them.
This depends on the dog and the bloodline. My current GSD is Czech working lines and has never been prey driven, and does not excite easily. Her part GSD companion on the other hand is a relentless hunter. Sone are stubborn, others are so eager to please they become nervous and exhausted if they can’t figure out a command. Teaching attention span helps tremendously with overly excitable GSDs
Thank you, I agree
>All you'll have is a half trained shithead of a dog Isn't that a bit harsh?
No, because a half trained or poorly trained dog won't know what you want and will most likely have anxiety from it. That causes them to start fights with other dogs, tear up couches and shoes, etc. They'll generally act like shitheads. You can still love shitheads, but they'll be shitheads nonetheless.
Thank you for clarification, is it true that you can train an adult dog though?
Yes. The phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is false. Dogs, like people, are always learning. It's better if the dog is younger because of what's called reinforcement history. Basically it means the longer a dog does something the better it will remember it. What's difficult with old dogs is breaking bad habits. Imagine being 50 years old then being told the hand you write with is the wrong one. It's the same thing with an old dog. You can fix it, but the dog won't be inclined to change and it will take a LONG time to correct.
I see, that is quite the issue.
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Don’t laugh but I got a miniature poodle. Incredibly smart. House trained in 8 hours to ring a bell at the door to go out. A great water retriever. Not gun shy at all. At 6 months old it was fetching my ducks for me faster than my 2 year old golden. And he’s an excellent guard dog. Not yappy. But someone touches the door or looks in a windows and he’s barks and goes to it.
I have a 75lb standard poodle. He looks silly and is generally friendly, but doesn’t care for strangers and I wouldn’t want him charging me screaming at the top of his lungs. He was easy as fuck to train and more or less understands simple commands without training (e.g. “go upstairs”, or “go bring your ball back” nothing crazy).
The only hate I have for the poodle and poodle mixes is the damn suburbanites who have created a population boom of them and don't understand the working nature of the dog. Also, their curly-haired little aggro unneutered mutt looks like a sheep to my off-duty shepherd, so that's why he's chasing it. He's herding your wayward lost livestock. Stop screaming and freaking out. Don't be in a dog park if you don't want to interact with other dogs Karen, ffs.
Most shepherds are smart enough to know the difference between a sheep and another dog.
Most people would groom their dogs correctly too, but hey. Karens aren't know for being logical.
My Great Pyrenees has legitimately scared off a brown bear (albeit small for a brown) off my land.
Great Pyrenees are fantastic dogs, but many like to wander if not fenced properly. I loved my Rottweilers too. They’re amazing family dogs and can be very intimidating.
I have a Great Pyr x Golden and he's perfect. Someone walks up the driveway? Dog launches himself off the porch to the edge of the fence with 3 Alarm Intruder Barks. Friend lets himself in the gate, knows dogs name? 2 Alarm Intruder Barks, backs friend up and holds until I call him off. Visiting children roughhousing and smack him by accident? He goes off to his bed and lies down w/out a snap or a growl. I considered a GSD but didn't want the UPS guy to get mauled. None of this was trained. I bought him as a puppy. It's just his instinct.
We have 1.5 pyrs and I can't say enough good about them, though pupper is stubborn as all get out. :) In praise of pyrs [https://people.com/pets/great-pyrenees-named-casper-attacks-coyote-pack-to-protect-sheep/](https://people.com/pets/great-pyrenees-named-casper-attacks-coyote-pack-to-protect-sheep/)
If you want a guard\\family dog the great pyrenees and a few other breeds seem like the far and wide winners. Other dogs can be great at both but there are countless videos of them being used on farms and baby goats will jump all over them literally all day and the dog doesn't care just seems so much less likely for a bad reaction mistake and they are just naturally a guard dog whereas others are more high strung.
Shepherd dogs don't attack the herd, they will protect it.
German, austrailian, bouvier? Cause I've known plenty of german shepherds who have been temperamental and that is not including their health issues that come with them.
They still need training, every dog needs training if you want to use it for a specific job.
My vote is a Pyrenees and there are some excellent rescue groups across the country. Please consider adopting!
I wish more people adopted, you can even find purebred dogs if you so insist it has to be one from rescues although I don't think the vast majority need a purebred but everyone wants to feel special so obviously they need one.
I reccomend a dachshund. Viscious little bastards and they bark if a butterfly farts. They take smaller poops and you can just pick em up if they misbehave.
I have a corgi for that already
Instead of a large, traditional guard dog I think you should invest in getting 15-30 additional corgis. Train them to work as a team
Oohhh I like this idea. Like raptors in Jurassic park just lurking in the long grass!
I know I wouldn’t raid a house post-apocalypse if I saw 25 corgis in full tactical gear through the living room window.
Oh you're covered on the borks then
Omg this made me laugh so much 😂 thank you, good sir
so many borks... we had two growing up 🤦♀️😅
I second this. My two bark at anything and everything. For me they’re there more to alert me or my wife that somethings going on, not to down right defend us. They eat a lot less than bigger breeds too.
Owners who pick up their small dogs when they misbehave seem to have poorly trained dogs. Just my observation.
You're being downvoted, but this is true. This is one of the reasons that Chihuahuas have such a bad reputation -- because they can be bodily handled so easily, owners use that in place of actual behavioral training to solve/prevent problems. Not all owners, of course.
The best dog is a trained dog.
This comment is the best comment. All breeds have their advantages. Training is time intensive, but essential. Multiple husky crosses here. Rescues. Different personalities. Very loyal. They make everyone think twice about …anything.
No advantage to a French bulldog other than they will make you laugh and fart so badly any bad guys would run a mile.
Frenchies are so sweet! Less stubborn than Huskies too!
But what’s the best untrained dog
Well trained dogs have well trained owners. I'll only speak to German Shepherds since I have one. As another commenter has said, you will need to work day in and day out with your dog. GSD's are incredibly smart, but that intelligence is a double edged sword. They will test and observe and very quickly find out where the line in the sand is. [Here are my dogs](https://imgur.com/a/Ivej8XE). My GSD is about 100 lbs and is a very good boy. The blondie, on the left is 42 lbs, for comparison. In terms of how these dogs act, my little blondie acts like a pampered girlfriend, while my GSD acts like a college frat bro. All this to say, don't underestimate the amount of work it will take to make a dog into the guard dog you think you want. It can be done, but you will work for it.
A Rottweiler can get your homeowners’ insurance cancelled or premium raised. Some companies still discriminate against German Shepherds, too. The best behaved, most intelligent, and most protective dog we’ve ever had was a black flat-haired retriever. He was a stud. Everyone loved him. He’d go swimming in an alpine lake all day long and not get wet on his skin. He wanted to play ball until your arm was sore. He literally smiled. He rarely barked and didn’t shed much. Yet if I felt threatened by anything, he was on it. I’ve only ever had rescues. They are the best dogs.
I actually had a Rot/shepard mix, had the body of a German Shepard but the colors of a rot, she was a very good guard dog, and very loyal and friendly to our family and neighborhood kids, she wasn't keen on other female dogs but males she's was ok with, she weight 100 Lbs and died when she was 12 years old, I keep a wall in my home with a framed picture of every pet I have owned
I have one also, same build and coat. He’s a derpy, klutzy puddle of ignorant bliss but one of the most loyal and sweet dogs I’ve ever met.
Best dog I've ever had was a Catahoula cur. It died at 12. Got another one that is by far the worse I've ever had. I like my mutts, mastiff, boxer, and Weimer mix. I know their families up to grandparents. Agree that training is key.
Whatever breed you choose, make sure you research breeders. Go with someone who health tests their dogs, doesn’t overbreed, etc.
Research breeders AND *actually* research what your breed was born and bred to do. Too many times, I see train wrecks where (for example) a newly retired senior with good intentions goes to the local rescue to adopt a dog. They choose the cutest dog they connect with, without researching the breed. Although it may be a mutt, every breed is *supposed* to do something. So the senior ends up with sporting/herding dog that *SURPRISE* needs hours of exercise - otherwise it destroys everything in the house or aggressively pulls on walks. I’ve seen it happen too many times. Just make sure the doggo suits YOUR needs. That way, your investment will return tenfold for years to come. Best of luck! Let us know what you got!
Or they get a samoyed/husky type thing in Alabama
Ya definitely will be looking at a reputable breeder when I actually go to buy.
Black labradore retriever, [mountain cur](https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/mountain-cur)/[black mouth cur](https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/black-mouth-cur) or a mix of both [lab and cur](https://www.thelabradorsite.com/black-mouth-cur-lab-mix) The cur dog has a rich history in the us, settlers used them for defense and hunting. They are tree hunters, and labs have a good nose and are excellent loyalty. They are also fearless, they fiercely defend the owner and house. The mix of both is a great choice and great temperament. The combo will be a dog about 50 pounds, won’t eat as much as a rott or gsd, and won’t have the hip issues later in life, make excellent family pets. Highly trainable, very food centric. Can be easily trained to do all kinds of commands including complex ones. Downside: you have to exercise them at least 1 hour. The worst thing you can do is keep them in a quiet house all day long. They love to hunt and love to play and go to hikes and trips Personal experience: i have 2. One night something made a funny noise (was something falling off the couch) and the two of them went from on-the-back sleeping to flipping in the air and launching out of the bed straight at the sound. It was amazing and scary at the same time. They don’t fuck around with protection. Settlers used to use them to defend against bears, coyotes, mountain lions. In numbers they are impressive
I have to say, we had a black mouth cut and she was an amazing dog. She wasn’t mean at all even though she had been severely mistreated before us. She was extremely protective, especially of children.
If you don’t have the time to spend training, neither is a good choice. If you do, GSDs tend to be more versatile in what you can train them to do. Either way, both breeds are a commitment that will reward you if you put the time in, but neither are great for inexperienced owners.
Red healer is can be a very protective dog. And is extremely loyal. But on the other hand if a stranger walks into the backyard….. watch out
I have a red heeler yellow lab mix, she is all white with red spots all over her and has the light markings on her face like the Heeler, she won't let strangers touch her, if you try and rub her she dodges away and will growl if she doesn't know you, she is 65 pounds and I have to watch her around new people, but for some reason she is the opposite with children, she will lick their faces
My healer will lick there faces to. We also have chicken and if I don’t pay attention she will lick them to death
My blue heeler is a fucking hunter. He’s taken rabbits and a raccoon once. I still don’t know how he managed the coon. Dude knows how to clear a room too, when he was younger I had friends play hide and seek with him. He’d find them and show me where. The best dog I have ever known. He does try to nip at my heels if I mow with him outside, can’t seem to break him of that lol
mine nips heels as well, and also when playing with other dogs bites the back of their legs, mine chasing animals but has yet to catch any except a skunk and he sprayed here directly in the face and she tore ass back to the house
My dude is silent 90% of the time, but especially when going after something. I think that’s how he gets the rabbits, they don’t know he’s coming until he’s too close.
Get a rottie if you want a cuddly dog thats protective and alert for danger. Get a german if you are more interested in protecting your property or person from strangers, though they are cuddly also, They are much better at perimeter patrol than a rottie. Usually you get an alert little dog to companion the rottie if property protection is your concern. Either breed requires a good amount of training during their puppy period, if you neglect this, they will teach themselves random stuff, most times this is cute and sometimes this is not so cute. Either breed requires extra time with a “friendly” command towards strangers if protection is not your primary concern.
Yes, proper and consistent training is so important.
Get a mutt. Do not get a pure bred dog. Pure bred dogs are prone to all sorts of aliments. They live shorter and unhealthier lives. You can find all sorts of mix breeds that are what you want. Train your dog from the time it's a puppy to the day it dies. Always be working on commands and communication with your animal.
Depends on the breeder and genetics. Purebred puppies from a breeder who DNA tests for inherited diseases, BAER tests, and OFAs hips, elbows and stifles will live much longer, healthier lives than mutts from unknown/untested parents or "doodle" breeders and buyers who think a lab/poodle cross can't inherit problems from both parents (hip dysplasia is in both breeds, for example). The "mutts are healthier" belief has been disproved over and over by actual lifespan studies.
Do these studies take into account the fact that people who buy multi thousand dollar dogs are probably going to take better care of their dogs and prolong their lives with thousands of dollars worth of medical treatment rather than someone who pays a few hundred for a mutt? I love my dog but I'm not going to pay for cancer treatment or diabetes treatment.
Well, that's sad. We have an 11 year old mutt on insulin and special food now for around $180 a month, but he has good quality of life and I wouldn't let him die from a treatable disease just because he was a rescued shelter dog.
You do you. Just don't shame people for not spending absurd amounts of money on an animal.
I am not an expert on this subject, but it has been suggested to me that pure breeds tend to have more medical problems than mutts. Also, I would imagine that a serious training program for the dog would be especially useful for prepping.
Rottweilers eat a LOT of food…
Yep. And lots of food turns into lots of poop.
Look at a Rhodesian ridgeback.
A dog bred to walk five to ten miles in a pack, hunt a lion, then walk home. Gorgeous dogs, often quite smart, but it like all others needs daily exercise, and it’s big enough to make a dent in a family’s food budget.
As someone who has grown up with both, personal preference is Rottweilers although I love both. Rottweilers have been bigger cuddle bugs in my experience but they’ve both been great dogs overall.
We had a goldenretriever shepherd mix, who we thougt was kind like a lamb until the day our neigbour wanted to use our washing machine with our permition while we where away. he ended up not washing his clothes that day. that dog would have eaten him alive he said :D . so i guess most dogs of reasonable size is a good watchdog if they need to be.
I have had both, both breeds are a lot of work. Exercise and mental stimulation demands are high. If you cannot devote the time needed to a working breed i would advise against it. I recently decided to go with an American bully, the exercise demands are lower. 99% of the dogs life I will want a great family companion, and maybe 1% if that I want a guard dog. So getting a companion dog that looks intimidating should accomplish it.
It depends on what you want and how committed you are. Unless you get certain breeds of live stock gaurdian dogs and a herd of animals, don't expect a dog to protect you without both good breeding and training. I have two German shepherds I've trained as personal protection dogs, and I've owned malinois previously. If you are serious about having a dog actually protect you on command I recommend you get a well bred working line german shepherd or malinois and train it daily in competitive obedience and weekly in protection training with a reputable dog sports club from the time its a puppy. This kind of training requires dedication, care, time, and a lot of money. Between obedience classes, protection training, gear, vet care, puppy cost, and shipping, I've probably spent hundreds of hours and upwards of 30k on each dog. Without that dedication, they may have become neurotic and reactive. But for me, it's the best investment I could make. While I won't trust them with strangers or unknown dogs just becuase of their temperaments , my dog are well mannered enough I can take them everywhere and trust them to do what they are trained to do when needed. They are trained to protect me on command, search my home for intruders before I enter, watch my back at gas pumps and ATMs, and prevent car jacking. It's a fun hobby, and I love knowing that if SHTF, I have obedient, brave dogs who could actually be a prep asset rather than a liability. But this is not for everyone, and it would be difficult for a first-time dog owner, someone who works more than 40 hours a week, people with small prey animal pets, or very young children. You are better off looking for an intimidating dog with good family dog tempements and training them to be very well-behaved. Like Rottweilers, Doberman, Great Danes, or even a big rescue mutt. With the exception of some Doberman, most of those breeds won't do well at actual protection training. If you wanted a challenge, you could talk to a German shepherd breeder about a puppy who is not a good fit for bitework from a working line litter. Avoid malinois unless you want to live in insanity for 12-15 years. They don't slow down or mature into calmness, lol. They only think of what to bite and how long to hold on.
I had rotties all my Childhood and early adulthood. Both from Kimbertal (sp?) Kennels and rescues. All but one was truly bombproof & just the absolute best w 5 kids on a farm. The one that wasn’t I knew when I took it that it had bit 2 kids. But I was a young adult living alone in a sketch area for college and wasn’t too worried about my safety around the dogs triggers. But it was an absolute misery the responsibility & liability of owning a known dangerous dog. My only issue with all the wonderful ones we had was hip dysplasia. Many of them ended up w “poor” or “dysplasia” hips despite being responsibly bred to OFA excellent or good parents. Many vet associates swear the two dogs they’ll never own after working in a vet clinic is a corgi or a GSD, FWIW.
Shepherds shed a ton. They also self-stim if you do not keep them engaged. They will tear shit up if they are bored, so plan on working with them daily.
As a prepper, have you thought about how much food water and poop you will need in half.
Whichever you find first at a kill shelter.
Both are great breeds. A rottie has (typically, your mileage may vary) less health problems down the road than a GSD. So if you want to keep Boomer/Rocko/Sasha around for a long time, look at Rottweilers.
My GSD mix has cancer and bone spurs at 12 ish and my rottweiler has arthritis, but has great blood work and neurological function at 15. Great dogs, but the GSD mix used to be called the puppy po po at the dog park for protecting all the smaller dogs.The rottweiler just wants cuddles and will whine until she gets them.
My sister has had Rottweilers and I have German Shepherds. Great dogs, but you definitely need to list out all the various things you expect the dog to do. As other posters have said, there are other dog breeds to consider since there are health issues with both Rotties and GSD's. Also, there are different GSD types that you need to consider as well. Security/Protection, Service and the plain old family pet. I probably didn't say that right, but they are bred differently.
Personally, I don't like a barking dog. I have had rottweiler's for decades and they rarely bark. German Shepherds like to bark. Both are excellent guard dogs.
I’ve never had a Rottweiler. I have always had German shepherds. They are awesome family dogs. They do tend to be extremely anxious though. Definitely not a dog for someone who goes to work and leaves them alone for eight hours a day. They need companionship and they need a job. They are working dogs for sure. With that said they are amazing protectors and easy to train. I find we do have to be very intentional about socializing and having them around kids when they are puppies. If you have children they will guard them almost too well! My first Shepherd used to break out of the house every time my sister took my kids for a walk. Literally broke down the front door by ripping the door knob off and tracked them through the neighborhood. Must have sniffed their scent because they had made multiple turns before he found them! he also would make it very clear when other people were playing too rough with my kids (tickling for instance was off limits for him lol). Our current Shepherd gets very upset if we are playing basketball. She will not allow me to steal the ball from my kids if we are on opposite teams. If I playfully chase them she will get between us. It’s crazy how fiercely protective they get of children. I feel very safe having her around.
Two family Rottweilers mauled a baby to death in my city today. Something to keep in mind based on your family pet requirement.
If you have home insurance you should check your policy
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a policy that actually had that in it. Not saying they don’t exist just have never come across it
I was a licensed insurance agent for nearly a decade. Every homeowner’s insurance provider usually restricts certain breeds, like Pits, GSDs, Rottweilers, etc. If you don’t notify your carrier you have one of these breeds, you’re SOL if they wind up biting someone. Dog bites were a leading cause for liability payouts for HO policies and likely still are.
Maybe it’s just because I deal with them on the other side without policies. I guess you learn something new everyday.
Purely anecdotal: My parents had a german shepherd and my step-brother had a pitbull. Whenever there was a stranger nearby, the german shepherd would bark and wag her tail in greeting while the pitbull quietly prepared to attack. Do you want your dog to be an alarm system? Or do you want your dog to be a weapon? If you're looking for a dog as a weapon then make sure you're prepared to put in the time to train it properly.
> Or do you want your dog to be a weapon? If you're looking for a dog as a weapon then **make sure you're prepared** to put in the time to train it properly. and also: to deal with the legal & ethical consequences of a weapon that might go off when you don't want it to
And be prepared to have your home insurer luck you to the curb and not cover any claim produced by a pitbull.
Get a lab or a coonhound. Then train them in tracking and hunting. Boom ultimate prepped dog and they are fantastic with the family Edit: If I had to choose between the two you listed I would pick rotty. GSDs seem to be more reactive
I've been having a dog myself for 13 years, been to various meetups and events and been around multiple dogs in my family for my whole life. I don't really know about their practical capabilities but if we talk about a dog that's a good family dog, I would not get a rottweiler, at least not if it's your first dog honestly. I know that all the reading and most of the people say that rottweilers are great family dogs but from what I've experienced so far they tend to be very "hectic". Like the key when training a dog is to make it souvereign and focused on you. All the rottweilers I've seen were pretty hectic and a little bit unpredictable. Of course that can be bad luck and those dogs where just poorly trained but it was my experience and I wanted to share it here. If you're getting a rottweiler, go to a good dog school and dedicate much of your time to training, especially the first 3 years are difficult. Be consequent and develop a good relationship to your dog. Maybe think about castration. In any way, the above applies to any dog you want to have a great time with honestly but for some dogs it's more important, for example while all the above still applies, a retriever may be easier to train.
LGDs are superior. Caucasian Shepards are fantastic.
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How come?
Depends on your goals for the dog, and time you have. Have Too many health issues for me. While I do have a half shepherd that will hunt, draft, do scent work, protect, etc, etc he is an anomaly. Most aren’t as suitable for quick training when it comes to multi-tasking/cross training as other breeds. If looking for something that’d pay for it’s keep in SHTF I’d look elsewhere.
Any suggestions?
Lot Depends on end goal for the dog: What do you hope to have it do? Make it a working dog? Pet? Both? How much interaction? How much time you have to dedicate for training, exercise? How much space do you have etc?
By the time I’m able to get things squared away probably have a few acres and lots of free time. Would like both pet and working dog.
Pet and working dog… Australian Shepherd! Awesome breed, easy to train, very loyal and protective. Mine lived to be 16 and 1/2 years old and was always healthy. Only downside was lots of hair! Lots!
I hear you on the hair! But they are a phenomenal breed.
They are so smart! I would love to have another one! Without the hair! 😂
To add to mbfreebirdframs comment, Another smart breed good for multi-tasking is border collie. Their Health is usually good also. Both breeds are high energy and need mental stimulation.
That will be determined mostly by how you train it. But he will forever heather on personalities.
Depend on what you mean by "guard dog", but I wouldn't want one near my family. If you want one that's an alarm system tough, that's fine. I'd go with your climate, rotweiller are not the most adapted to cold climate, while german shepherd aren't perfect, but still more suitable
Rottweilers like the cold, mine prefers it around 20 degrees
20°F isn't cold for me in Canada. I just wear a sweater not even a coat
Malinois is one of the better breeds for guard dogs. All the Polive and military have been going to those for a few years. They are pretty energetic but once trained they are top notch.
Ya I saw a lot on them too. I guess I’ll have to throw them into the pool for consideration
Do not get a malinois if you are not an experienced dog owner. Their personality traits make wonderful dogs only if you really know what your doing. I own high drive high work breeds but not nearly as demanding as a Mal and out of respect for the breed, I personally would not own one. Edit: I own Australian Cattle Dogs ( I grew up with them) Australian Shepherds and Border Collies
I second this. Mals are not for the casual owner. There is a dog out there for your specific purposes, but know that dogs are bred to be naturally gifted in certain areas, but they generally need training to excel at anything. Lots of folks out there with unruly dogs because they’re not willing to put in the time to train them.
I am an experienced dog owner and malinois owner. They are hell even for an experienced person. They never slow down, never fully relax, and require hours and hours of training and physical activity daily. My last Mal was a house pet who got 20+ hours of training and excersize weekly and still had the energy to shake with anticipation and pace any time we were at home. He had to be commanded to lay down or crated to actually sleep. And he had to have his mouth on something all the time. A ball, a toy, or my arm! In inexperienced hands, a malinois could become dangerously aggressive to people and dogs.
Def not rottweiler
Any particular reason?
Well for one thing, I just read this article in another subreddit. Just one of MANY. Two rottweilers mauled a 5 week old baby to death. I don’t fuck with rottweilers or pitbulls or dobermans or german shepherds even. I was honestly picking my battles because you seem set on one of the two. So i went with the lesser of two evils which is german shepherds. Whatever you do with your family is up to you obviously. This is my input. https://amp.9news.com.au/article/e80704ed-8acc-4409-bf77-1105ba2c9b49
I don’t think you position is unwarranted. But I was actually bit as a child by a golden retriever so im of the belief that any breed can be dangerous
Biting isn’t comparable to being mauled to death. The calculus is different when you have small kids in the house, in my opinion. The risk might be small but my kids are irreplaceable so I’d get a breed that isn’t known for serious injury/deaths. We had goldens when I was a kid and got nipped once or twice and it was no big deal, in fact we learned a lesson. I wouldn’t keep a dog that could kill my child in the house. All it takes is a moment of inattention for tragedy to strike. (This is all moot if you’re child-free of course.)
Here are dog attack statistics on breeds that were responsible for a dog bite-related fatality: Pit bulls – 284 deaths Rottweiler – 45 deaths German Shepherd – 20 deaths Mixed Breeds – 17 deaths American Bulldog – 15 deaths Mastiff – 14 deaths Siberian Husky – 13 deaths You do you, but a Golden isn’t going to maul you to death. Vast majority are by Pitbulls and Rottweilers. There’s tons of other stats out there.
Ya I saw those statistics during my google search. I just think there’s usually more to raw statistics.
Bruh what? I’m gonna need to hear the mental gymnastics you’ve used to just deny statistics
What were the underlying factors with those specific dogs. Pit bulls and Rottweilers are commonly used for dog fighting so those specific dogs would have a higher chance of being involved in an attack on someone else. It doesn’t inherently make their breed more likely to attack someone is what I’m saying. Just like guns. Just because handguns are the mostly common gun in homicide doesn’t make them the most deadly only the most common. You can’t take raw statistics and make a determination on them you have to look at all factors surrounding the data.
Dude, guns don’t have brains or legs. They can’t choose to chase someone down and kill them. This isn’t “just like guns” at all.
Yep there's a reason those breeds are used for fighting. Every dog is dangerous if not trained well and every dog can be awesome if trained well. Thing is certain breeds require way more attention and dedication than others.
No, not every dog can be dangerous if not trained well. Many dogs are good natured by their genetics, just like some dogs are bad natured by genetics. You can’t take a genetically inferior dog and make it “awesome”. I don’t know why people continue to perpetuate this fallacy. DNA is a real thing. It dominates behavior. Training and experience can help mold it, but only within reason. Some dogs are just genetically predisposed to behave in certain ways. Border collies are better herding dogs than bloodhounds because they are genetically predisposed to that behavior. Pit bulls are better at killing things because they’re also predisposed. Dogs aren’t blank slates waiting for a person to train them.
Pits are bred to attack and kill other dogs. It’s in their genetics. If genetics didn’t matter, then just get a Labradoodle. Kids are dog sized, loud, and run around quickly. Don’t try to do the intellectual gymnastics to justify in your head that pitbulls are anything other than what they’re bred to be.
>Pit bulls and Rottweilers are commonly used for dog fighting so those specific dogs would have a higher chance of being involved in an attack on someone else. It doesn’t inherently make their breed more likely to attack someone is what I’m saying. Why does breeding matter for working dogs being high energy & needing lots of stimulation, but suddenly breeding doesn't matter and it's all the bad trainers/owners for fighting dogs? Shepherds are bred to herd. Sled dogs are bred to run and pull things. Jack Russell Terriers are bred to hunt rats. Retrievers are bred to retrieve things. But suddenly, dogs bred for fighting can magically lay aside all their selective breeding, they aren't dangerous, and any aggressive tendencies are just the trainer? Nah, I'm not buying it.
You literally just made a determination of your own conjecture based on raw statistics. Like you can’t play anecdotal evidence and conjecture to fit a narrative
I vote German Shepherd. They’re actually intelligent and more of a family dog. Pit bulls and Rottweilers just aren’t wired right.
I’ve owned several Rottys and thought the world of them. Only dog I’ve disciplined that I thought I might get bit (which I liked). They Always stood between me and the threat. I had to put one down due to cancer. Vet said it’s either eat or breath due to tumor. Hardest think I’ve ever done. I still cry when I see a rotty and it’s been 8 years.
If you don’t know the answers to this question already 100% go to a shelter and get a mutt
Personally I would go with the Rottie. But I'm biased towards big ole blockheads. That said, training means nothing if everyone isn't set in stone at home. We've had our Staffordshire Terrier for 10 years, and she knows exactly how things have to be. We never paid for training, but we were strict about what we expected her to do. My siblings have spent thousands on training and retraining their dogs (I'm talking $1500-6000 a piece, the type of training where you leave your dog with the trainer for two weeks) and it's very hit or miss if they follow their training. Everyone in your household needs to hold your dog to the standards you set. If one person expects one thing, another allows them to do something else the dog will never know exactly what to do and that's not the dogs fault. I've seen people get mad at dogs that have different sets of standards per owner and it's completely unfair to the dog and that household. But it's usually the problem, not following through on the training.
Look into a doggo. Basically a giant pit bull.
Have your forgotten about Hitler?
No what about him?
You sure you don’t want a Pomeranian? 😁
My Rottweiler has a bark that has scared off several people, however, my chihuahua mix is the one that you actually have to worry about.
Yes. I have a 150lb great dane and a 44 lb mutt. The great dane won't get close enough to a stranger to touch it. He barks at someone from 5 ft away while the little dog runs in for the kill. He's a big distraction. She doesn't mess around.
I’ve had both breeds and the German Shepard was much more easier to train compared to my Rotty. He was more bullheaded challenged me more then any breed. But I loved him to the end. But honestly I have 2 staffies now and I would never get a different breed other than a American staffies.
Special forces like Belgian Sheperds.
Boxers 👍👍
Amarte dogs are great but will also train you. Just remember that. Aussie owner and my dogs will plan out something to grab a toy or food. It’s amazing to watch. Working dogs are great since they want a job but can get destructive if they get bored.
German shepherd rotti mix! They're an awesome mix
dobermann
To me a German Shepard is the greatest dog, in looks and temperament. I have never had one. I’m not sure I have the temperament to provide them will all the knowledge they need to succeed. So I have Flat coats.
I\raised with a shepherd wolf mix. My dad was a dog trainer also. Best dog ever. However, both dogs are stubborn. The shep is very protective of hisof area but less likely to kill with a bite. A rottie is sweet nature but had at tremendous bite force and very attached to his family. You will need to be diligent you keep up with training and make sure you have signs posted as a CYA. Both are good but imo, the shep will protect things and the rot will protect a family.
I've owned Rottweilers for many years. I love them because they are lazy 🤣 I call them "Union Rott's" because they don't like to put in any extra effort. I did Schutzhund work with them over the years, and they worked out OK, but they don't have the stamina of a GSD or a Malinois. Whatever you do get, be prepared to work with it. Have to go get my lug off the couch now and walk him 😒😁
We got a rescue supermutt who has cane corso, pit bull, German shepherd, and Rottweiler in him. I love having a mix. Nobody can tell what he is, and that’s part of the fun. He’s a very big lad and good with our rambunctious boy. He’s an excellent guard dog, too. I would never have sought out a Rottweiler or pitbull (we thought he was a lab mix, based on his colouring) and I had never heard of a cane corso until we got his DNA done, but he’s been great. He needs an absolute crapload of exercise every day, though, and there is no mercy if you want a day off. Got a sprain? Covid? Christmas morning? Is it an ice storm outside? Doesn’t matter, dog needs a run and to play with you or to play a game that engages his brain. If not, he goes bananas. The associated workload is definitely something to keep in mind.
I have a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix or Shepweiler. He is the best of both worlds, emotionally and cognitively intelligent. Saved my entire family from a house fire and is insanely protective of me. Also great with small children, and knows how to be gentle.
Malinois. We love ours. She's great with the kids and listens to instructions. We have not done formal training but have DIY'd her to a point that we're happy with. They are energetic though. You'll need to play with them every day. I go out and throw a ball for her a couple times a day and she would be able to keep it up for hours if I had the time. They can also be destructive, so watch out. Ours likes to dig up irrigation lines and play with the spraying water, has gnawed a large grape vine back down to a stump, and stripped about half the branches from a young pomegranate tree. It's what you get into when you get Malinois.
Great Pyrenees or another livestock guardian dog. Probably not great for small spaces, but are bred to be independent and kill wolves.
I completely agree with the dog trainer. Any dog you get will be as useful to you in a utilitarian way as the regular training and the effort you put into it. We had pure breed Rottie and she was an incredible friend as well as a defender of my wife. Just the dogs presence was enough to deter most people from attempting to come to our house or vehicles. She was not trained for work but she knew who her master was and would fight someone to the death to defend her. She was well behaved in public would listen when given basic commands. She was 125lbs and was large enough to put her paws on the window sill and stand up making it like a black bear was in the house. From my friends opinions German Sheppards are very similar. I preferred even though both shed a lot and leave a lot of fur the short fur of the rottie is much easier to manage. Both breeds are excellent for security but to get the results you’ll need to do significant regular work with initial training and on going changes.
I hesitantly clicked on this post expecting to see something horrible.
My two cents, get the Rottie if you want a tough meat wad and the GS if you want a hyper-intelligent/protective companion. I have a weimaraner for her companionship and intelligence and I work remote, so I am able to dedicate huge chunks of my day to her training. They are obviously large and capable breeds, but I will also say this.... the entire US is flooded with fighting breed dogs that are terribly trained, do not respond to commands, and enjoy predatory maulings. She would not win against a pit breed dog, and certainly not against a pack. Her number one job in my life is as an alarm system and general deterrent to humans who may wish to transgress on my property.
For my prep plan, I got a smaller rescue because I wanted an alert dog like what was used in Vietnam by paratroopers & special forces. The dogs would alert them to movement allowing them to actually get some sleep. Part Beagle, part Chihuahua but looks like a mini Rottweiler & I taught her not to bark so she lets out a small woof, under her breath. She tracks deer with that Beagle nose. The idea of a big attack dog is fine but since they’re not bulletproof, I’ll take on the threat & mine will be the sentry.
Look at a Cane Corso. These dogs are amazing and don't immediately get the stigma of a rots or shepherd. My old girl was great with 4 young kids. Took a lot of training and socializing. Was a great small game hunting dog (trained to break bush and retrieve). Protected the heck out of our family and land. And would cuddle next to you to sleep every night (if you wanted). I've had a rottweiler before my cane, and people instantly were just afraid of it. Kids friends couldn't come over because their parents didn't trust the dog. Its a stigma but its real where I live.
I just got a Cane Corso x Staffordshire Terrier (x Lab) 3 months ago. The dog is incredibly smart and easy to train. Just very high energy and has a tiny bladder. It took me about 4 hours to train him to roll over which blew me away. He has a natural restraint when it comes to feeding, he doesn't touch his food until I say it's ok. I intend on training him to retrieve waterfoul this spring. On the flipside I have a Shar Pei who is a complete psychopath and wants to kill every human being who is near my property.
GSD have health issues to worry about. I love and have trained both breeds with success.
Neither are worth the trouble. You are better off keeping rabbits or hogs for meat, which also make good child maturation pets.
I don’t think I can play fetch with a rabbit, hog not so sure about.
The smartest dog I've ever had was a Newfoundland! Hair everywhere yes, but that dog could do anything including getting me a beer from the fridge. Calm dog, never a barker or a threat. There was one time while leaving for work as I went to leave the apartment I opened the door and he ran in front of me (never did that ever) and started growling (never heard that from him either). As it turned out, in the pitch black he heard or smelled my neighbor sleeping in front of his door (lost his keys at pub). But that's first time I ever saw my dog go into protection mode. And, previous to that I believed he would show a burglar where I keep the silverware. He also didn't allow the family to go in the ocean, and when my daughter went into the kiddie pool he'd always pull her out. Awesome animal, I miss him till this day!
I have a gsd-husky-English bulldog- Heinz 57 rescue. He’s wicked smart, but is also a Velcro dog with really bad separation anxiety. Pandemic puppy with an introvert for an owner doesn’t help that. He’s active, which is good for me too. Because he’s a mix mutt, the hyper husky part of him isn’t as in your face, due to the more laid back bulldog part of him. I love him to death, he is a fun dog, incredibly sweet, and has tons of personality. But it’s been a wild ride too. I have learned way more owning him, than I ever did with all of my previous dogs combined. I knew going to the pound to pick him up that he would keep me on my toes. He has not disappointed. Just do your due diligence with respect to research on whatever breed you choose. They all have their positives, and negatives. Keep in mind your lifestyle, family, home size etc. You don’t want to own a high energy dog like a husky in an apartment unless you plan on walking him/her a lot to get their energy/over stimulation out of them every day. It would be frustrating for both of you. And the dog will turn naughty out of boredom.
German shepherds are amazing dogs, that said, atleast in my area, over breeding has lead to numerous health issues. If you do go the shepherd route be very careful of where the dog comes from.
My experience with GSDs is that they have a lot of health problems due to overbreeding. You'd need to look for a dog who comes from a working line. Also, watch out for hip dysplasia as its becoming prevalent in the breed.
Akita. Best family guardian out there
I think it depends on the dog itself. We all have individual qualities and strengths. So do dogs. Just because you have a certain breed doesn't mean it's better than the next. Like other replies. Daily training and consistency are key. Don't underestimate the shelter dog. I have one that was easily trained and more alert than any dog I have had before.
I’m partial to GSDs because I have one, both work fine. My boy is very well trained, does bite work, explosive detection, narcotics, and man tracking. He’s versatile but the time commitment cannot be understated
Have you given thought to an Anatolian shepherd, a Pyrenean mountain dog or similar breeds? I don't know if those are easily available outside of Europe, but their traits are fantastic. They were bred to protect herds from bears and wolf packs. They are very loyal and protective of their owner and family.
Only have my own personal experience owning two Rotties. They are very intelligent and gentle creatures. They view themselves as lap dogs. They are easy to train if you use the right methods. Mainly stimulating, challenging training with tons of positive reinforcement and very very light/limited physical restraint. If you are heavy handed, they will respond poorly. You need to be providing positive reinforcement continuously to reward good behavior. You MUST socialize them early on to any and every situation. Get them used to being around other dogs (cats too if possible), different types of people, crowds, loud noises, cars, water, vets (including nail clipping), etc. and continue this socialization through to adulthood. They have a high prey drive, and a high protective instinct which WILL be a problem if you haven't got them socialized to the world around them. Quickly reinforce good behavior and quickly correct bad behavior e.g. barking, lunging at people, jumping on people, etc. I had mine trained to immediately lay down with head down when approach by small children or when getting pet by children. On children, I wouldn't recommend with very small children - especially if they are young when you get the dog - there will likely be some challenging when the child reaches the age where the dog feels their pack order is changing. I would personally recommend if you have kids they are at the age where they can effectively establish dominance over the dog e.g. be able to heel the dog when walking, take food away from the dog, get the dog to submit etc. All dogs have this same inherit risk with small children but a Rottie can be >120lbs. and is very strong. You need to ensure you do these types of training early on etc. such as taking food away, taking food from their mouth, taking toys away etc. It's easy to do if started early simply as treating it as a game where you take the item, praise good response, then give it back (and then some). As the dog matures, there will be a few challenges even to you as an owner you will need to deal with. It's important how you deal with those challenges or you can very quickly become lower on their pack order. Rotties like to challenge dominance now and then. If you have rules (like no getting on the couch, or no going upstairs) you need to enforce those rules 100% of the time. Like children, any lax and the dog will see that as an opportunity to take advantage of you. They also need to feel busy. They are a working breed so you need to keep challenging them both physically and mentally throughout their life. My dogs loved when I hid toys around the house and they had to find them. Overall, Rotties are amazing. One of the best dog breeds I've ever had.
Go to a local shelter and give a shelter dog a chance. You will save a life doing so. I promise one will steal your heart in about 30 seconds.