A Good Guard Dog for a First-Time Dog Owner?

Goodbye: What breed of dog would be a good guard dog for a first-time dog owner?
I'm a single woman, I'll be moving into a house soon, alone, and I want to get a guard dog, but I have no previous experience with owning one. I love animals and I'm a responsible person. I was just wondering what breeds I should consider. I know that smaller dogs can be reliable guard dogs, however, these dogs cannot pin down a large man, if need be. If a good guard dog needs training, so be it.

Answer by The Witch
I've had or owned a few different breeds, remember that not all guard dogs or dogs you want for protection have to be the large or giant breeds. Also so of the K9 dogs are amazing but they require a strong dominant owner, in my experience dark muzzled dogs are more ominous looking, like a Doberman, or German Shepherd, or Rottweiler, don't select a Pit Bull or a Staffordshire, they are still getting a bad rap, and they can be daunting to handle. Also, Akita's and Beauceron are another guard dog but they are not for the first time owner and need a strong handler.

I've owned, a Collie mix, (she was a guard dog, only 35 lbs,) a Scotch (Rough) Collie like Lassie.-happy dog too much bloody fur, Sheppard (again a lot of fur, double coated)
Doberman, my favorite I owned two at the same time. Nothing says "don't mess with me" like that. Dobermans are easy to train, and like their counter favorites like Labs, and Shepherds, like to please you. Dobermans aren't as large as some Shepherds or Labs or Rotties, but they all like exercise or they get bored. Which then leads to marred table legs, etc.,

Answer by Jam
Akita's are very protective!

Answer by Victor
I have an anatolian shepard and he is amazing. Any would be criminal that enters my home uninvited will be met quickly and fiercely. I didn't have to train him to be that way he just is. As long as I let you around he is fine. Most of the time keeps to himself around others. If you come around uninvited though he is quick to let you know he's there.

Answer by deCoucy B
We had a police Chief once tell us that it did not matter what was on the other side of the door to a thief. If they hear the dog barking they will usually go away and not wait to see what breed it is. You need a dog that will love you and respect you because you love and respect it and you will have the 'bark' machine that you need to ward off the intruder.

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Answer by Lauren
Labs are not ideal dogs for first-time owners. They are extremely hyper and destructive, and they openly welcome strangers into the home. Or at least ours does. I love our lab, he's adorable and just about the happiest dog around, but, he ate out drapes, one of the land phones, gloves, furniture, he sheds so badly I spent $72 getting his hair out of the jeep. He is a wonderful loving dog, but he knocks people over if they aren't paying attention. I wouldn't recommend him for a first-time dog owner. Plus, they aren't stupid but they aren't genius's either. a golden is a comfortable family dog, a Shepard mix would be a good way to go, they are very bright, you should probably take training classes with anyone you get but we had a Shepard and he even protected our cat.

Answer by Jan H
First suggestion – really a requirement – read everything you can find on dog/pack behavior. The breeds large enough to pin down a large man also tend to be somewhat stubborn, independent thinkers. You will need to balance discipline with praise. Do NOT "train" them for protection – let them use their natural abilities. You don't need a dog in most cases that will attack on command (what many consider a protection dog)…you need a dog that will naturally rise to a threat.

Akitas and Rottweilers are both good choices. They wouldn't be *my* choice but in the right hands, they are good dogs.
German Shepherds and Dobermans both have long been known for their protective qualities. Both are awesome companions as well as big enough to make someone think twice. I know a Doberman around here who recently was stabbed protecting his family – the family was unharmed. The thug outside the window at 230 a.m. left a trail of blood after stabbing the dog.

There are several guard dog breeds very effective not listed. The Bouvier, Giant Schnauzer, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Malinois, vizsla are all effective for protection. The Belgian dogs are used in many K9 units for both search and rescue and as officers.

The Anatolian Shepherd is another guard dog breed that does not play when it comes to protection. I've had a couple and they are AWESOME dogs…very intelligent but very much independent thinkers. There was a case of a first-time owner - a lady who had just gotten a pup – 6 months old – who was in the barn behind a double door with the top open. Her husband was milking so the machines meant he didn't hear beyond right there in the barn. A man stopped to look at some goats for sale and once out of sight behind the barn the man grabbed her. She was yelling for help but no one heard her except the "pup" who jumped the bottom door and took the man down before effectively convincing him that he'd picked the wrong place. The pup was not full sized but the protection was in place.
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