What Dog - Family, Guard, Low Moult

[V8RX7]

Hi,

Just bought a place in the country and want a guard dog as IME they are a lot better than an alarm.

I have young kids and already have a small lab/collie cross

I grew up with German Shepherds so they are my instinctive choice but I wondered if there was something that moulted less as it will primarily be an indoor family pet.

Thanks

[V8RX7]

They're nice but a little on the large side.

I'm not expecting a war.

[V8RX7]

I do like Rottweilers - but is their hair like a Jack Russel's - so wiry that you cannot remove it from fabric as it jabs itself into it ?

We never trained our GSD to guard - even our cross bred mutt lies between my wife and any visitor and starts nipping me if the girls scream when I'm play fighting with them.

My Dad lives up the road and he's had a burglary and several cars / trailers / tools stolen over the years.

I'm in no way wealthy enough to be the victim of a targeted attack - all my money's been spent on the house !

My wife would also feel safer with a big dog at home.

[V8RX7]

5 acres - all fenced.

I was hoping with kids and another dog it would pretty much exercise itself.

[V8RX7]

Jasandjules said:

If you want it roaming then consider an LGD breed.

LGD ?

[V8RX7]

I wouldn't consider rehoming a dog - my Dad did that twice - and both dogs had undesirable traits.

One was massively overprotective (as the previous owner liked to kick his wife and the dog about) - not a problem for us but we'd warn people that she wouldn't give them a warning and not to try to touch us.

3 people didn't listen - 3 people got bitten and bear the scars.

I have young kids and its not a risk I'm willing to take.

[V8RX7]

agent006 said:

V8RX7 said:

I wouldn't consider rehoming a dog - my Dad did that twice - and both dogs had undesirable traits.

Not every rescue dog is broken. Don't write off all of them just because your dad made some poor decisions.
If you do go for a puppy make sure you go into it knowing how to find a good breeder.

This is the kind of callous fk you'll likely be dealing with if you buy from a puppy farm.

Similarly it's a bit late once my daughter is scarred for life to learn that it doesn't like something - a friend had a rescue Husky - it was perfect until you touched it's nose then it would bite, without warning.

Current dog we got as a puppy from Dogs Trust - we wanted a lab - they said it was - collie / whippet with a hint of Lab is what we got. I wanted the "staffie" pups - they turned out to be Mastiffs (which I'd have liked)

Now I'd only buy from someone where I can go to their home and see both parents.