Best dogs for protection

Read and try again, logic man.

Heckler & Koch

Chihuahuas may be girly dogs (I have two) but they patrol the house and are loud in the middle of the night if they hear someone on the lawn. Plus they’re loyal. If the idea is to have a dog that will rip out a throat, they are not it. But if they hear someone at the door they will be loud and allow me to get my gun.

Agreed. I have a Pomeranian and I'd feel sorry for any invaders if he was 3 times bigger. Viscous little $hit! Yet is an adorable little lap dog that loves to be pampered. But only by one person. Very loyal and an excellent alarm dog.

I'd go for an Alaskan Malamute. It is literally nearly looks like a wolf. It's endurance is second to none. They will keep your protection. Even if someone wasn't afraid and managed to approach it, they wouldn't hopefully do anything and hesitate to it because they just look so nice. They look better then any other dog bread. If someone threatening came along and saw an ugly pitbull, jack russell or anything like that, they would kick it across the room.

compressed wrote:

Read and try again, logic man.

If you can point out where Logic Man was wrong, Logic Man will reconsider. But he wasn't wrong.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

They were used to hunt lions and enforce apartheid - Pretty bad ass.

Great hunters, lousy protection dogs.

We still need to know WHY the OP thinks they need a protection dog. Most times people that feel this way really are only looking for a "guard dog", something that will dissuade would be perpetrators from messing with them or entering their home/business/etc. Often times they are better off with a dog trained to "alert and alarm" (bark/growl) without any formal bite work. Much less liability as well.

Karl Hungus wrote:

Chihuahuas may be girly dogs (I have two) but they patrol the house and are loud in the middle of the night if they hear someone on the lawn. Plus they’re loyal. If the idea is to have a dog that will rip out a throat, they are not it. But if they hear someone at the door they will be loud and allow me to get my gun.

Chihuahuas are nasty little dogs that can jump up and take a chunk out of your thigh for no reason. Ask me how I know.

I've worked with lots of different breeds over the years. My personal favorite is the Standard Schnauzer (not the mini schnauzers that are more common). They are an athletic medium size dog and are extremely intelligent and versatile. They are very good watchdogs and are protective. They aren't ridiculously large, 40-45 lbs. The other bonus is that they really don't shed so you don't have dog hair everywhere in your house. They can hunt, herd, run well, are good and very playful with kids.

My shirt is backwards wrote:

do you like dags wrote:

Why the need for a protection dog?

+1

Worst kind of dog owner

+10 Typically, the dogs are not treated well in these arrangements as they are nothing more than mammalian security cameras after being trained to be violent.

OP will be shocked when the dog turns on a guest in the house because they are unfamiliar to the dog.

Grossly incorrect, at least in the context of someone that goes out and sources/puts in the work on a proper working dog. Now if we're talking about the thug that wants a "protection dog" then I'll retract.

Can anyone comment on how to get a dog to do more than bark at someone trying to break in?

do you like dags wrote:

Grossly incorrect, at least in the context of someone that goes out and sources/puts in the work on a proper working dog.

Which is how many owners? Active breeds, which is most young dogs, take as much time and energy as toddler. A tiny sliver of all owners put in the time and energy over years.

And then OP wants to teach it to be violent. That doesn't end well for the dog or the owner.

No argument there, I see it every day. Exactly why I put it in the context of someone that actually acquires/trains a proper working protection dog, not just "a mean dog that will bark and growl at people". Even a basic level dog that will alert and alarm (most likely without bite and hold) is going to run 10-15K with more advanced dogs costing upwards of 25K. That's not typically the dog that's going to be left out and forgotten about. But yes, someone that goes out and buys a Malinois from down the street just because they think it's a "protection dog" is most likely going to be the person that's in over their head and the dog will be a huge issue.

do you like dags wrote: But yes, someone that goes out and buys a Malinois from down the street just because they think it's a "protection dog" is most likely going to be the person that's in over their head and the dog will be a huge issue.

Again, this is most people thinking about a dog as wrong as is possible, just like the OP.

OP wants a security system. Buy an automated one. They call the police for you.

alass wrote:

Rhodesian Ridgeback

They were used to hunt lions and enforce apartheid - Pretty bad ass.

Love 'em! Great dogs.

Also a big fan of Belgian Malinois.

australian cattle dog

a friend had one, and after he got married it growled at his wife when she got in bed with him.

poor dog was banished from the bedroom, but you knew he had his master's back.

they're energetic as hell, and as a bonus they're heelers, so they'll nip at the teenage boys who are trying to boink your daughter.

no quiero chihuahua wrote:

Karl Hungus wrote:

Chihuahuas may be girly dogs (I have two) but they patrol the house and are loud in the middle of the night if they hear someone on the lawn. Plus they’re loyal. If the idea is to have a dog that will rip out a throat, they are not it. But if they hear someone at the door they will be loud and allow me to get my gun.

Chihuahuas are nasty little dogs that can jump up and take a chunk out of your thigh for no reason. Ask me how I know.

I have a chihuahua/whippet mix, so get the best of both worlds. She can run forever and is fiercely loyal and protective. She's very sweet and cute, but if a dog/cat/bicyclist comes at us, watch out. She even survived a pitbull attack.