Prospective new puppy. CAN'T DECIDE. HELP!

AUGH! I need chazzer helps!

So... what should I get? This is so hard!

Basically, I would really really like/love a guard/watch dog right now. At the very least something alert that will bark a lot when people come on the property, or at least wake up when people freaking try to break in the front door!!! (I'm looking at you, borzois )

Option 1: Fila. I've always wanted a fila. Like, really really bad. Of all the molossers there are three I've adored. Tibetan mastiffs, filas, and kuvasz. I can't afford a Tibetan, and don't know any kuvasz breeders. But there's a fila breeder whose dogs I have met who are amazing, and stunning, and stable. And they just tied yesterday. And this pair has produced a litter before, and that litter turned out awesome as well. Also, of the three I adore filas because they double as hunting dogs and have plenty of drive and ability to do tracking. Fantastic with kids too.

Cons: Renting with a fila at some point might be a challenge. The general challenges of having to crate when my kids have friends over, and uberdy dubery super socialization, etc. And I'm not super crazy about the gigantimous size. I wish filas came in 60-100 lbs. because that would be perfect right now.

Option 2: Working-bred hunting cur of some type: There are a couple of hunters with Kemmer curs and catahoulas that might have something available. The dogs are hunted hardcore on coyote and very successful. They're guardy of home and family, smart, could totally track. Fantastic with kids.

Cons: If I have to move into a place without a yard it will be a lot more difficult to tire out a cur with that kind of breeding. Also, DA is a possibility.

Option 3: Beezer!! They're sight hounds and would meld in with the current pack extremely well. They've got great noses and scent drive so I can play around with that. They are incredible and vocal watch dogs and would likely be a good deterrent. I suspect that a barking beezer would get my nosy borzois up to see what's going on, so anybody trying to break in would totally see three giant dogs. Their size is a good too.

Cons: Kleptos. They jump really reeeeaaally high. Guarding ability is an unsure thing. Probably more active than a fila.

Option 4: Some type of scent hound, like a walker or a redbone. Maybe just an alert barrroooooo type of dog that will bark at people and stuff. Plus it can go hunting and barrrooooo at raccoons.

Cons: Not sure if I want one right now.

Option 5: Anything I haven't thought of? I'm not really interested in any herding breeds, and don't really like any of the sporting dogs except gordons and don't want a gordon right now. Anything I get MUST be dog friendly, at least with my other two. And I'm planning to start with a puppy, so am not worried about kid friendly since that will come with being raised around the kids.

Option 6: This is the hardest one. I have the opportunity to get a borzoi puppy from lines I ABSOLUTELY ADORE. In caps. And it wouldn't cost anything. And I would love it. I might have a similar opportunity again in a few years, but it's not a sure thing. This isn't a sure thing either, as futurepuppy hasn't been born yet, but it's due and the offer is there.

Cons: It won't be a watch dog and at three dogs, that the absolute limit for now.

AAUGH WHAT DO I DOOOOO!!!!?!?!?!!?!111eleventy1

Personally? I think I'd go for the borzoi puppy and just invest in an alarm system.

Frankly, knowing what I know about your situation -- Fila, especially considering what you know of the breeder and the lines.

I'd go with the Borzoi or the Beezer, but I'm sort of partial to sighthounds

There are two beezer puppies from awesome lines available as well. They're two weeks old.

Why does this have to be so hard? lol

ETA: and I could get one of them on show/sport co-ownerships too. Gah.

You can buy alarms that will bark... between that a shotgun I think you'd save money on the deal.

My vote goes to the cur or beezer.

(I'll add that it depends how seriously you need an alert--if you really need it I guess I'd get an alarm system. Personally I don't like alarm systems but then I don't feel in need of one.)

I've been checking out alarm systems. There are gate alarms, but I haven't found one that sounds remotely inside the house. The other issue with that is it only sounds once the gate has been opened. Ideally it would be nice to know when someone is approaching/messing with it.

Are there alarms with remote sensors that beep when something passes through it? Like awesome little lazer beams that shine across your driveway or something? Cause that would be rad. lol.

I would go with Borzoi personally You really want one, and with Filas, more-so due to weight than breed..renting is very very hard :/


Totally kind of aside, speaking of security stuffs.. I found this great one on amazon, it's only like $30

it beeps ONCE any time a door is opened at all, and if you don't put in your password within 30 seconds... the alarm goes off.
You can set it to "away" or " at home" and such and it's wireless so you don't have to pay to install it! hurray!

http://www.amazon.com/45117-Deluxe-Wireless-Door-Alarm/dp/B0014A4JWU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT6_nS?ie=UTF8&colid=117U6SMTKDROD&coliid=IQLIUG8AZFX4Y

Borzoi so I can be wicked jealous.

I would not go with a hound, honestly as a guard dog. My coonhound barks at like every little thing. Not saying it can't happen, but they are really human friendly in general.

I can see if you want the dog for hunting.. but I would not go with a dog that generally barks at everything lol. I don't think they were ever meant to be guard dogs, either. I know it's your choice and all but I would not seek out a coonhound for protection purposes!

You have been telling me for years now how passionately you want that Fila puppy.

Have you thought about a rhodesian ridgeback? They come in your 60-100 lb range and mine is a great alert barker. Doesnt really bark except for at people around the house. Is great with people he knows but wont let anyone he doesnt know go unnoticed.

I wouldnt trust him to protect me, i just dont know if he would run or fight, but i know no one is going to get by without him letting me know. he is 95lbs so most sane people would be scared of him. When he barks at strangers he does not look friendly.

Just a thought.

Honestly, I think a good, solid old-school Aussie would suit you perfectly. DA isn't the norm, they're awesome as alarms and will back it up if necessary, while still being ok around friendly strangers and the like. The kids will never be able to get into trouble because the Aussie will "tell" on them, LOL.

I have nothing to add other than PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I could clone Rage I'd send her your way... She will bark ferociously at anything approaching the house, sleeps with one eye open, and would not hesitate to bite an intruder, I don't think. But you don't sound sold on the hound idea so I'd probably invest in the dog you WANT; honest opinion on dog that would be best guard dog for the size? The cur.

Rhodie would be about the only hound I'd get for an alert dog. I've not all of them are like this, but my friend's little purebred and big ass mix take their job very seriously. I had someone casing my house this summer outside my open windows (though the blinds were down), I woke up because I heard them whispering about how they had to make sure no one was home. My worthless sled dog mutts didn't even wake up until I yelled, "What the f are you doing outside my house." No bark, no interest, nothing! This from GSD/husky mixes who do some light sport bitework. My friend's big boy would have launched his 75lbs of muscle out the high window and been on them before I even knew they were there. The girls will now alert bark, but only because we did some training sessions in our apt after that incident. And my brother bought me something more reliable than a dog for xmas.

I think you should just get a Fila. Natural guard dogs are awesome.

I would go with a Fila, but I know how you`ve been pinning over getting one for a long time.

Of course you should get the borzoi because it's, you know, a borzoi. Actually, I was also going to suggest you consider a ridgeback. They're curs, but they get to play sighthound sports. They're a nice size--big enough to be intimidating but not huge--and size could be an issue as a renter. They aren't "barky," but they will sound the alarm if something is amiss. The ones I've known have been lower energy than the hunting-line houlas and BMCs I've known (I haven't met any Kemmers), so a ridgeback would be easier for you if you moved, but they're still high energy dogs.

As long as I can live through you I think you should get a Fila or a Zoi. Major want here....