Out of MONSTER FISH KEEPING

[Cichla dude]

A labador or a doborman

 

[invisyblegypsey]

keep your fish
http://www.impactguns.com/store/047700814001.html

 

[Bottomfeeder]

German Sheperd. the cops use em cuz they know how to fend off intruders and know not to bite their owners.

 

[Hayabusa]

well, lets see.. as an old woman who's lived with all kinds of dogs.. here goes.

pit bulls are ONLY aggressive towards other animals, they will NOT protect possesions or human beings. a well bred pit bull will help the thieves carry your stuff out and lick their faces when they are done.. lol

GSD's are great protection dogs, but as others have already pointed out, they NEED a job. and just hanging out in the yard or with your wife is not enough of a job. if they are not stimulated and engaged they will go nuts and destroy things. i know of one who ate the entire side of his owner's house, pulled the siding and wallboard off the side of the house.

rotts were bred to be war dogs originally, they are excellent property protection dogs. And great couch potatoes too. the downside is that they don't live long, most don't make it past 8 years, lucky ones make it to 10 and 12 years is extraordinary.

Akitas are my favorite all around dog. they are loyal, almost to a fault, great with family and kids. they are very quiet, they only bark when there is a reason, and most of them have a kinda howl-talk thing and they try to imitate words. a friend's akita used to howl "iloveyou" when they came home.. akitas are social dogs though, they don't take well to being left alone for long periods. they need to be part of the family. a well bonded akita will protect it's family with it's life and never ask for anything more than a hug and a pat on the head.

fair warning though, none of these dogs train themselves, and if you've never owned a dog before you WILL need help to learn how to train them. do not assume, that just because you are human you automatically know how to train a dog. and none of these dogs is an ideal dog for a person who has never owned a dog before.

actually, any large dog (60 lbs or larger) will be an excellent deterant. most non-dog people are afraid of dogs that are bigger than a cat. which opens up all kinds of possibilities. there are american bulldogs that are all bluster and not too bright, there are mastiffs that are huge but are excellent couch potatoes and gentle giants. there are newfoundlands and st. bernards that are excellent companions and family dog and have a HUGE bark. there are irish wolfhounds that are the tallest domesticated dogs in existance, that are wonderful family members and again, gentle giants with a BIG voice.

one other caution and word of advise. dogs are NOT weapons, they are companions and family members. if protection is your aim, a dog is a poor choice. they are at best, a good deterant. i know that no one tries to break into my house, because the ignorant people that try to break into average folks' homes are afraid of dogs. we've had bad people come to the window, or in the back yard, but none has made it past getting their head inside to see one or more of the dogs staring at them.. then they beat a hasty retreat.

but if a thief is prepared to deal with a dog the dog isn't going to win. that is simple fact.

Brilliant post this, and extremely accurate.

My first rotty died at 12, and she had lots of problems her whole life, had alot of problems with hormones and things, used to have false pregnancys and treat one of her toys as a though it was her puppy, she ended up on steroids and got quite fat near the end of her life.

She was awesome though, not sure why they get bad press because both of mine have been the same soft as anything, really friendly, but they will be very protective of you and the family.

Also when I was a child I had a border collie, which is very similar to a german shephard in alot of ways, they are used as sheep dogs here in the UK, extremely intelligent and NEED a "job" they cant just exist, they need a reason to exist.

Fully trained mine in about 3 weeks, in that time I literaly ran out of things I could teach him, amazing dog.

 

[uting]

I suggest you get a Belgian Malinois.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

Go shep or Akita.

 

[Neervana]

sorry to hear you are leaving the hobby and i hope you will come back to us soon

 

[xdragonxb0i]

if you are in a bad neighborhood
You might have to worry about people steali g your dog
They will steal pitbulls for dogfightibg

 

[greenearthlawns]

whatever type you get make sure you watch the dog wisperer so you can learn how to train it yourself, I like the american bulldog very much, hers is some info I found for you...

Mustang Sally of AIMS American Bulldog

American Bulldog Pictures
American Bulldog Breeders
American Bulldog Stud Dogs
American Bulldog Photo Gallery
American Bulldog Kennels / Breeders

Description:
True grit. True devotion. True love. These tributes are used often to describe the American Bulldog -- a hardy, athletic, all-purpose working dog. The American Bulldog is a loving family companion, good with children and other pets, yet at the same time, fearlessly determined.
It has been known to display heroic acts of courage in protecting its master. The American Bulldog has also been used to hunt everything from squirrel to bear, and has been trained to drive cattle and guard stock from predators. The American Bulldog should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dogs ability to work.

History/Origin:
Bulldogs in England were originally working dogs who drove and caught cattle and guarded their masters' property.

Jem Burn's Cribb, around 1850
At one time, the breed was used in the grueling sport of bull baiting. With the outlawing of the sport in England in 1835, the original type of Bulldog disappeared from Britain and was replaced with the less athletic dog we now know as the English Bulldog. Yet the original Bulldog was preserved by immigrants who brought their working dogs with them to the American South. By the end of World War II, the last remnants of the working English Bulldog were disappearing in the U.S. Thanks to the breeding programs of John D. Johnson and Allen Scott, the breed was brought back from the brink of extinction. The American Bulldog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1999 in the rare, working class.

Height: Males: 22 - 27 inches; Females: 20 - 25 inches.

Weight: Male: 75 - 125 lbs.; Female: 60 - 100 lbs.

Colors:
All white, pied, or up to 90% color; brindle or red patches (red is defined as any shade of tan, bro


Coat:
The coat is short, close, and stiff to the touch.

Temperament:
The essential characteristics of the American Bulldog are those which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property. These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is a gentle, loving family companion who is fearless enough to face an angry bull or a human intruder; Good with children; Good with pets

Care and Exercise:
Brush coat with a firm bristle brush or rubber mitt and bathe only when necessary. Puppies should have early socialization.

Health Issues:
A very healthy, hardy dog. Some strains have hip dysplasia.

Category: Rare, Working, Guardian

Registries: UCA, UKC

Living Environment: Either Indoor or Outdoor

 

[Passionate 4 pikes]

Just an idea, our neighbors have the gog in the back were he can watch the street from behind bars, he barks at everyone and it would be really hard to get at him without shooting him, but for the theif this would draw even more attention.