I have always had a big dog as home guard, we do not have any neighbours here where we live and I dont just want a watchdog I want a proper guard. Not a big dog as I am getting older and do not want all the muck and mess and extra excercise. We have 2 gundogs and a Chihuahua, we recently lost our Dogue De Bordeaux at only 2 years old. All live in the house and are part of the family, we do about an hours walking a day.
I have been thinking Staffie, Irish Terrier or Lakeland terrier?

We always had Jack Russells when i was younger and they were great guard dogs(yappy) and loveable and playful x

Standard Dachs, not very big, but have a deep bark, just ask my Jack :hihi:

I personally wouldnt class a staffie as a guard dog, they are a nanny dog, they have been given an image that they are violent and in 99% of the cases they are not, just loveable bundles of joy with a fantastic smile :)

Look at a Glen of Imaal terrier, they are very much a big dog in a small dogs body. Ours is a fantastic guard dog and anyone hearing her bark would think we have a wolf hound in the house. She has a fantastic temprement and is greta with kids, cats etc.

I personally wouldnt class a staffie as a guard dog, they are a nanny dog, they have been given an image that they are violent and in 99% of the cases they are not, just loveable bundles of joy with a fantastic smile :)

they can make a racket though when ppl knock!
people are too scared to burgle you and you have a lovable daft staffy!
perfect!
plus theres lots desperate for new homes.

I personally wouldnt class a staffie as a guard dog, they are a nanny dog, they have been given an image that they are violent and in 99% of the cases they are not, just loveable bundles of joy with a fantastic smile :)

:lol: I don't think I've ever walked into a house with a staffy and not been greeted in a friendly way!

When you say a guard dog... do you mean to put people off coming into your house or to deal with them if they do come in?

i mean to deal with them. I am female and have been unfortunate to be badly attacked twice in the past, the second time was a stalker who went to jail for his attack on me so I def only want a dog with protective instincts.

i mean to deal with them. I am female and have been unfortunate to be badly attacked twice in the past, the second time was a stalker who went to jail for his attack on me so I def only want a dog with protective instincts.

ahhh yeah in that case maybe not a staffy...unless you want the person breaking in to be licked to death...good deterrent though

i mean to deal with them. I am female and have been unfortunate to be badly attacked twice in the past, the second time was a stalker who went to jail for his attack on me so I def only want a dog with protective instincts.

In that case I'm none too sure... the only breed I can think of that would instinctively put itself between it's owner and an intruder (and be big enough to do anything productive) is a German Shepherd but you said you wanted something smaller...

I don't mean to say GSDs are aggressive, they're not - It's just they're the only breed I've known that I've seen a number of them do the same, in putting themselves between their owner and someone else without any training.
My dalmatian will do it, but I've met many more dallies who don't! They were originally bred for protection work though.

Training a dog for protection work is a serious business and if you don't quite get it right you could end up with huge problems on your hands even with a small dog.

Did that make any sense? Because I know what I mean but I'm struggling to put it into words!

german pinschers? not that im sure if they would be capable agaisnt an intruder

german pinschers? not that im sure if they would be capable agaisnt an intruder

They do look quite capable (I'm ashamed to say I had to look them up!) - I wouldn't mess with one!!

In that case I'm none too sure... the only breed I can think of that would instinctively put itself between it's owner and an intruder (and be big enough to do anything productive) is a German Shepherd but you said you wanted something smaller...

I don't mean to say GSDs are aggressive, they're not - It's just they're the only breed I've known that I've seen a number of them do the same, in putting themselves between their owner and someone else without any training.
My dalmatian will do it, but I've met many more dallies who don't! They were originally bred for protection work though.

Training a dog for protection work is a serious business and if you don't quite get it right you could end up with huge problems on your hands even with a small dog.

Did that make any sense? Because I know what I mean but I'm struggling to put it into words!

Yep- I've got a GSD who's soft as a brush except when it comes to people coming close to me, when she's prepared to walk backwards if that's what it takes to walk facing the person who's close to me.

I'm afraid that there just aren't many small dogs which would put off determined invaders, and there are even fewer of them which would be able, or prepared, to intimidate invaders prepared to enter a house or garden even once they've heard the barks and seen the dog.

They do look quite capable (I'm ashamed to say I had to look them up!) - I wouldn't mess with one!!

mini dobes ^^ i think theres mini pins too
i love black and tan dogs most of the dogs i want when i get my own place are black and tan (dobe, rotty, manchester terrier , english toy, staffy (i will go hunting for one cos they arent common due to being a not accepted colour..and a beauceron but i want a harlie one haha)

mini dobes ^^ i think theres mini pins too
i love black and tan dogs most of the dogs i want when i get my own place are black and tan (dobe, rotty, manchester terrier , english toy, staffy (i will go hunting for one cos they arent common due to being a not accepted colour..and a beauceron but i want a harlie one haha)

Yeah... I knew mini pinschers... didn't realise there was the size in between! Think I've seen them before but had forgotten about them!

Yep- I've got a GSD who's soft as a brush except when it comes to people coming close to me, when she's prepared to walk backwards if that's what it takes to walk facing the person who's close to me.

I'm afraid that there just aren't many small dogs which would put off determined invaders, and there are even fewer of them which would be able, or prepared, to intimidate invaders prepared to enter a house or garden even once they've heard the barks and seen the dog.

I remember going to your house and her standing between us... no threatening behaviour or barking, just ready. Then the moment you told her to go to bed she just trotted off like 'mum's got this in hand' :lol:

I've met many, many other GSDs that do this.

Takara is a deterrent as she sounds big and scary but when someone actually enters the house she barks from under the table. However, if that someone got hold of me she'd be there!
My dad once grabbed hold of me (in play) and tried to push me down to the floor, T was in bed, fast asleep. Because my dad's quite rough, and I'm disabled, he hurt me and I cried out and before she'd even woken up Takara was between me and dad with rather a scary rumble going on in her chest!
She then woke up and couldn't work out why dad would be hurting me :lol:

Buy some geese they are better guard dogs than most dogs, and they live outside.

how about something medium sized instead of large?

A norweigan elkhound is a good guard dog without an aggressive reputation. They look threatening enough to put most people off, and have guarding tendencies towards their owners and their territory - very loyal dogs. Most people don't know what they are so assume they're an akita or akita cross, so don't tangle with them once they've started making a noise

Oh no I can't believe you lost your dogue at just 2? What did you loose him to?
We have one who 's 18 months old and we simply adore him - it must be so heartbreaking. I know the breed doesn't live to old age but thats terrible.

I'm sad to say tho after having the comfort of one of those in the home as your protector - there just isn't a small dog that can fill its shoes. Maybe go for a female dogue - its a bit smaller? Does bullmastiff get to squeeze in?

As you are up in York - a rescue that we know up there is called Plantation (see on our site under York dogs ) and the Northern Rose Boxer Rescue have some dogs up there kenelled. See them on their website too - you may find something that ticks your boxes and isn't too far away - thats if you are looking for an older dog.

Good luck I'm sure something will be able to slot in with your household - I will keep thinking

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=523327

ahhh yeah in that case maybe not a staffy...unless you want the person breaking in to be licked to death...good deterrent though

I had a Staffy who was the classic, soft as a brush, let me love everybody type. But on a couple of occasions, when I got a fright in the park, he turned into a solid lump of protective muscle, with a growl so deep it was subterranean. If he hadn't been on a lead, I don't know what he would have done.

And I heard many stories about "soft" Staffies defending their owners from burglars, etc, when I was at dog shows, training classes, etc.

right let me start i have a rottie who is huge a bullmastiff and a staffie but the worst one i have is pitbull pete also known as chip the mini jack russell he is the worst out of the lot a fantastic house dog scares the chit out of boss the rottie
but i would go with what willman says my friend has 2 geese called ant and dec and they are vile she put them out on the front garden on halloween
shes not very maternal rofl xcxxx

I had a Staffy who was the classic, soft as a brush, let me love everybody type. But on a couple of occasions, when I got a fright in the park, he turned into a solid lump of protective muscle, with a growl so deep it was subterranean. If he hadn't been on a lead, I don't know what he would have done.

And I heard many stories about "soft" Staffies defending their owners from burglars, etc, when I was at dog shows, training classes, etc.

my staffy cross has protected me from a man he thought was a threat..was dark and he took a dislike to anyone coming near me and barked his head off even though the guy was just going to do his job ..was outside tesco i think

he protected me and my mother from a wheelie bin once too:hihi: stopped still barking at it ..bless him would of just been a big shadowy thing to him as that was a night too

Yep- I've got a GSD who's soft as a brush except when it comes to people coming close to me, when she's prepared to walk backwards if that's what it takes to walk facing the person who's close to me.

I'm afraid that there just aren't many small dogs which would put off determined invaders, and there are even fewer of them which would be able, or prepared, to intimidate invaders prepared to enter a house or garden even once they've heard the barks and seen the dog.

I have to agree with the GSD lovers. They are protective by nature and would gladly put their life on the line in order to protect their "family".
Amber is absolutely soft as muck, she is my baby and the kids are her babies, she adores everyone, but I am more than confident to go anywhere at any time of night with my bear, she will guard me with her life.

right let me start i have a rottie who is huge a bullmastiff and a staffie but the worst one i have is pitbull pete also known as chip the mini jack russell he is the worst out of the lot a fantastic house dog scares the chit out of boss the rottie
but i would go with what willman says my friend has 2 geese called ant and dec and they are vile she put them out on the front garden on halloween
shes not very maternal rofl xcxxx

ROFL that's brilliant! :lol:

I have had a few geese hanging of my trouser leg a time or too :hihi:, but If I wanted something to protect me, I would always go for a German Shepherd. All the ones I have met in their own territory have been fiercely protective and it is probably the only breed of dog I do not trust in their home environment or with their owners present. I have Jack Russells and a Cavalier at home and my bitch JR did grab someones leg who threatened her in herproperty. But she is so small, she can be easily kicked away and wouldnt do a lot of damage if she did bite.