Do your dogs provide security?

[Snark]

Murphy and Riley both have fairly deep intimidating barks and I can tell whether they're 'serious' because someone or something is within the fence, or just barking because, Hey! Look! Deer, dog, turkey, horse, etc in the pasture, across the street, along the road! (I add thing because Murphy was 'seriously' barking last summer, turned out there was a rather large black snake near the house and he didn't like it. Snake wasn't happy either, coiled up and striking at Murph, who was dancing, looking for a kill shot. Dragged him away and the snake took off for safer ground, outside the fence).

Michaela hasn't developed a deep bark yet, but, on the other hand, she's the one who will not back down if someone actually walks through the last gate to the house. (The boys still bark but stay out of reach).

 

[GatorDog]

I've done personal protection type scenarios with Aiden after I retired him, so I wouldn't doubt that he'd at least attempt to put up a decent fight. Haven't introduced Carm to any scenario work yet, but I'd safely assume she'd love to step up the game a bit

I do know that NO ONE can get in (or too close to) the house/car announced.

 

[Laurelin]

ahahahahahahahahaha.

DSC_1365 by summerpapillons, on Flickr

avvy by summerpapillons, on Flickr

 

[teacuptiger]

ahahahahahahahahaha.

DSC_1365 by summerpapillons, on Flickr

avvy by summerpapillons, on Flickr

Yo dawgs be scary vicious, yo. 10/10 would not rob you blind.

 

[LMost]

I've done personal protection type scenarios with Aiden after I retired him, so I wouldn't doubt that he'd at least attempt to put up a decent fight. Haven't introduced Carm to any scenario work yet, but I'd safely assume she'd love to step up the game a bit

I do know that NO ONE can get in (or too close to) the house/car announced.

I have no doubt they would alert, but belgian malinois and german shepherds at the highest level of training have not shown to have as good a IRL rate as when bully breeds where used in the armed services.

 

[GatorDog]

I have no doubt they would alert, but belgian malinois and german shepherds at the highest level of training have not shown to have as good a IRL rate as when bully breeds where used in the armed services.

Ok? Except I don't see a single bully breed used in the police services in any of the areas I have lived.

 

[Moth]

Menchi started guard duty at about 6 months of age. There is this low growl that she only uses when she feels someone/something sketchy is too close to her people or happening too close to home.

I am not sure if she would follow through and confront, but we have never had to find out. She definitely makes us feel like we have a bit of added home security

That being said she can let loose a pretty furious bark that makes her seem several times larger than her 37lbs...

Watson is alert to all things, but he is not at all the type of dog to be engaging in any type of guarding behaviors.

 

[teacuptiger]

Ok? Except I don't see a single bully breed used in the police services in any of the areas I have lived.

Probably because they are so very controversial and so many areas have BSL. Plus human aggression is not supposed to be encouraged in most bully breeds.

 

[Equinox]

I have no doubt they would alert, but belgian malinois and german shepherds at the highest level of training have not shown to have as good a IRL rate as when bully breeds where used in the armed services.

LOL WHAT.

Hey Alexis, time to wash out Carm, she's just not real enough. It's the ear fluffs - bully breeds don't have ear fluffs :rofl1:

 

[Slick]

Leo is not a good guard dog, but I do rely a tiny bit on him for security.

Mostly, as visual deterrent. I am much less nervous to go for a walk or a run in a deserted area with him than I would be on my own. He wouldn't hurt a fly. But other people don't know that.

Leo alerts at home by growling not barking, and he usually is very friendly upon someone entering. He wouldn't actually make me any safer, but he does help me if I get spooked home alone at night. I live in an old house, and things just tend to creak. When I am home alone, these creaks can sometimes spook me, but if Leo is still sleeping and is not alert, than I am comforted to know it isn't anything, and can easily fall back asleep.

So, Leo wouldn't actually protect me, but at least he can visually deter and help me with his better senses.

He might might might bite a large man who was somehow acting threatening to me. Maybe. He is so friendly to strangers who enter the house, but he can be a bit growly for a few minutes after a large male is let in. He warms up really quickly, but that would be different if that man was acting in a threatening way, I think.

 

[Beanie]

I have no doubt they would alert, but belgian malinois and german shepherds at the highest level of training have not shown to have as good a IRL rate as when bully breeds where used in the armed services.

Source please? I have also not really seen bully breeds used in armed services so would be interested to know where this data comes from.

 

[milos_mommy]

Yeah I thought that post was super weird too? Most bully breeds aren't typically used for security/PP type purposes. Definitely not at the rate/success Mals and GSDs are

 

[Julee]

Copper and Shadow will sound the alarm but not follow through. Shadow may have in her younger days.

Em and Bloo will back up the bark if they need to, I have zero doubts.

I have dogs for the purpose of security. That is one of the top reasons.

 

[Paviche]

My dogs are fantastic alert dogs. If they hear something they will let me know and they won't settle down until they're sure it's gone or I've sufficiently convinced them it's not something to worry about, like people outside on the golf course. "They're allowed to be there" is a common phrase in my house. They make a lot of noise and they both sound pretty formidable. Rowan's bark makes him sound bigger than he is and Riff's bark is just LOUD. Even Linus will bark bark bark until everything is deemed okay.

None of them would actually back it up. Rowan in his younger days would actually go and hide - something I found out when I got home very late one night and walked toward him without saying anything or turning a light on. Nowadays I'm pretty sure he'd just greet any intruder, unless they were acting threatening. Then he'd probably go away. Riff would probably LOOK like he would back up his threat, which makes me feel a little safer, but I also know that any display he made would be based out of fear, not actual guarding instincts. He'll approach someone barking and growling his head off, hackles raised, but if they then tried to approach him, he'd run backward (and possibly pee himself.) He does look mean when he bluffs though.

Linus is 10 lbs so not very intimidating He's like Riff, he'll bark and bark but back off right away if any pressure is put on him.

Puppy is a baby sighthound and would love to meet the new friend coming in to say hi to him.

 

[kaykay21]

Both dogs alert bark. Sirius is all bark no action. Laika I have no doubt if she thought we were threatened she would act. She's a sweetheart but her #1 is to make sure the family is safe ^_^

 

[RBark]

I rely on Syl to be my ears, especially at night when I am most vulnerable.

 

[DJEtzel]

Oh yeah.

Recon will bark at many random things, so I take his noise with a grain of salt.

Patton however, only barks when there is a person near the house, which I appreciate. And, left to his own devices, he puts up a pretty good fight at the front door. He is getting to the point where I do have to bring people into the house properly because he is showing signs that he would follow through with a bite on a stranger if he were engaged. And who wouldn't engage a 70lb dog doing a bark and hold on them at the front door, when they were invited inside by one of us? Luckily, he shows great nerve and decision making skills in this department and is no problem with people he has met or that I have let into the house.

The few times I've been home alone without any dog is absolutely terrifying. At least Recon would bark at someone coming in and jump on them. Patton makes me feel a lot more secure though, and after having the police involved in some harrasment/stalking/trespassing and B&E/robbery issues in the last couple of months, I have been letting Patton sleep loose with me in my bedroom- literally helps me relax and sleep well knowing he would make a helluva racket if someone attempted coming inside. For a while when it started, I was getting no sleep because I was so worried.

 

[Torch]

Mine are both great watchdogs. Henry seemed to come by it naturally, and Rhys follows him around making a hell of a racket.

Henry is loose all day and I know he patrols the house and checks out noises. He goes ballistic if someone comes in our yard or is snooping around the house. I'm not sure he would bite someone, but he definitely sounds scary.

Rhys has no idea about being scary or protective, he just copies Henry lol.

 

[LMost]

Source please? I have also not really seen bully breeds used in armed services so would be interested to know where this data comes from.

Public opinion, and a easier train ability is the biggest factor in the change.

Source is easy, you have google research, what breed is the most decorated dog ever for the armed services.
Sorry because of public opinion and perception, bully breeds where phased out, in favor of easier to train german shepherd and belgian malinois.

Oh and I'm not a bully breed owner.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Ummm as much security as he can provide, lol. No but really he's a GREAT alert dog. I can tell the difference between his alerts too usually. He has a very specific bark for 'daddy's home' vs. 'OMG STRANGER DANGER!" Living out in the country with no neighbors makes me appreciate his alertness but it can be annoying when staying at other peoples houses where neighbors outside, etc, are constant. After a few days in a new place, he tends to realize what's worth barking for and what's not.

Though he's small in stature and not 'scary looking' at all... he puts up a lot of noise and I think could be a deterrent. I was actually surprised the other day when a cable guy was coming in and was seemingly terrified of Jackson, he actually quickly backed away and shut the screen door until I locked him away. lol.