my big dog

[FoxyWench]

still got anohter 2 years or so before i go for my big dog but some plans have changed.
i will be buying a home of my own around that time probably in a slightly less desireable neighbourhood (anyone familiar with CT, derby, ansonia, one of the nicer areas of bridgeport like blackrock) and while i still want to get my dane im wondering if danes as a breed retain any of their mastif protection like instincts.
my dane was badly bred so may account for his lack of protective skills.
he was very defensive of me around large black men, but would have happily invited a burgaler into the house and helped him carry things out...

now if i do end up moving to a neighbourhood like im thinking i will, i need a dog thats going to be a great family pet (indoor dog) do well with the chihuahuas, and welcoming to invited guests, but be intimidating enough that anyone looking into our yard/house seeing this dog would think twice about breaking in. and in a case that someone were to try and break in or otherwise do harm to myself the dog would protect if needed.

im very expereinced working with the bully breeds and otherwise typicaly "hard to train" dogs, but ive never owned one, the closest i got was my grandfathers staffy and there well known for their love of people. though she was very intimidating! lol.

so some of the breeds im looking into-
-Great Dane of course, if a well bred dane is going to fill the need to be a protector and the loveof my life then fine ill be going with my dane...but incase...
-Doberman
-Dogo
-APBT
-AmStaff
-Staffy
-english mastif

other suggestions are welcomed.
biggest rules
no site hounds, my chis are the size of rabbits, (id love a wolfie but not risking it)
some natural dog sgression is fine so long as theire usually fine with dogs their raised with. i plan on buying the dog as a puppy and raising it, socilizing it and otherwise being very carefull about its trainign, and it wouldnt be left unsupervised with the chis JUSTin case but i still want them to be able to be in the same room when im there to watch over them, or walk them together ect.
must LOOK intimidating and sound intimidating but doesnt nessicarily have to be a "guard" dog. a dog that would protect me and my home if needed is all i want i dont want a dog that will patrol my yard 24/7.
Must be a family dog and welcoming of those invited into my home.

Dog will be an indoor dog with a nice secruly fenced yard to play and romp around in at will and lots of training and love and affection.

thanks for your opinions.

 

[bubbatd]

Why not a Golden ??

 

[stevinski]

Why not a Golden ??

must LOOK intimidating

American staffordshire bull terrier i would go for

 

[stevinski]

or how about a bull terrier?

 

[RD]

What is an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier? You have the Am. Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier but not an American Staffy Bull. I don't know many Pit Bull type dogs that would willingly protect their owner. They just don't seem to have those instincts.

It sounds like you love Danes, Foxy, so why not go with one? They sound like a good choice for you and they are absolutely lovely dogs.

 

[Saintgirl]

If you really love Danes, I would go for one. That is the wonderful thing about a Dane, they don't need to be the most protective breed in the world when they are as big as a Dane!! Who in their right mind would attempt to rob a home that a 150lb dog lives in? Their size alone is enough of a warning to others! Even if your Dane would rather lick a person to death most people with ill intentions in mind are not going to risk it with such a large dog!! I think that a Dane does fit all of the criteria you are looking for.

must LOOK intimidating and sound intimidating but doesnt nessicarily have to be a "guard" dog. a dog that would protect me and my home if needed is all i want i dont want a dog that will patrol my yard 24/7.
Must be a family dog and welcoming of those invited into my home.

A Dane may not be a protection driven as some of the other breeds you have listed, but a Dane who feels his family is threatened is just as much of a force to be reckoned with as the other breeds you have listed!

 

[Renee750il]

I think SaintGirl is right, Foxy.

You don't want to risk one of the Terrier breeds with your Chis either. Terriers are natural hunters and aren't, by nature, typically the most accepting of other dogs.

Very few of the Mastiff breeds are completely affable with other dogs, either, although they do tend to be much more tolerant of smaller creatures.

 

[stevinski]

American staffordshire bull terrier i would go for

oh sorry!

i meant staffordshire bull terrier

 

[darkchild16]

Foxy any dog of substantial size will do the trick lol. No more Jehovahs Witnesses will come to my house in Clearwater because my saint, Walker and my greyhound always answer the door with me when im alone. Most of my friends were scared when they came to my house the first time and saw all the dogs barking when they knocked.

 

[~Jessie~]

How about a giant schnauzer?

I would go for a dane, though... I love them, and I know that you have wanted one for a while as well!

 

[oc_spirit]

If you're looking for a willing protector of home and owner you may as well cross the APBT off your list. Well-bred APBTs are not supposed to be human-aggressive at all. Even pit fighters had to have other breeds patroling their yard so the APBTs wouldnt be stolen. Yes there are a few human-agressive APBTs out there but if you look carefully you have a good chance of finding eiher an influence of another breed (usually bull terrier) or bad treatment.

 

[hanslynch]

Go for the Great Dane

Danes are very protective of their family and my Lucy is great with other dogs regardless of size. They really are a good fit for what you are looking for. They are th ultimate indoor dog. They can easily sleep for 18 hours a day while inside but will be energetic and playful when outside.

What about a Rhodesian Ridgeback? They also display all of the characteristics that you are looking for.

Hans
link edited out

 

[FoxyWench]

thanks guys, you basically confirmed it for me.
i REALY want my dane, i miss king so much, and i know a dane would fit my lifestyle and of course after experience i know i can handle them.

i love the look of dobies, but have never realy spent any time with them as a breed, we had a pair of cropped dobies with prong collars AND choke chains walk past the shop the other day, between the cropped ears and 2 chain type collars they looked very intimidating but as they walked past their tails were going and they were trying to give me kisses. the guy walking them didnt look too happy, it was obvious he was going for the im scary look.

i know there are alot of bull terriers of various types in the areas im looking at (unfortunatly like most inner cities APBT's have been adopted as the drug dealers dog) i think well bred bullterriers (pits, staffies ect) are GORGEOUS, but i worry about finding a well bred one and then the saftey of said dog in an area where there sought after for that intimidating look.

My frined wants a rottie but i dont know much about them, there beautiful, but just not MY type of dog.
Goldens are gorgeous too but not for me.

i realy think im going to go with a Great Dane, i think theres a reason im so drawn to them.

 

[Brattina88]

naturally I was going to suggest the GSD... but honestly

Go For The Dane!!
I'll be very jealous!

 

[Angel Chicken]

I'd say go for the dane...

OR

You could do an old fashioned mutt...

That is my/my mother's (he is technically my dog, but due to his size, I cannot have him) dog Coby. He is an all out mutt, and weighs in at a whopping 120 pounds. We aren't sure what he is mixed with...

Notice the lock there on his chain? We had to get a Master lock to put on the chain becuase he broke the chain off the clip not once, or twice, but FOUR times. Even then the master lock didn't keep his butt on the chain when he is outside, he broke it!!

Either way, I know you'll make a good choice for you and your home.

Good Luck!

 

[Barb04]

You sound like you have your heart set on a Dane. Go ahead and get one. You should also look into ways of protecting your home from burglers, especially outside lighting, etc.

 

[Jynx]

no suggestions here, but I live in CT, Lyme to be exact, Blackrock area is a nice area atleast Blackrock park is!!

I'd go with the dane if that's what you really want
diane

 

[chinchow]

Instead of getting a puppy to raise and hope that it will not be dog aggressive, it may be better to get a dog that is more grown-up that is known not to be dog aggressive, since that is important for you and your little ones.

 

[Dolly]

I probably wouldn't suggest a staffie or pit bull terrier. Sure, they look tough, but though they are often dog aggressive, in my experience they tend to be very friendly with people, like you observed. Our staffie would raise a ruckus if we had an intruder, but only because she thought they were SO interesting. Plus there's the prey drive to consider.

My big dog is half doberman though (mixed with lab/rottie), and he is a real doll and is such a love, very gentle with the kitties too. He is definitely a guard dog though, and is wary of anyone who comes in the house.

But I think you would be happy with a Dane, it sounds like you really like them. And as others have mentioned, looks alone are usually enough to deter break-ins!

 

[pitbulliest]

I don't think a staffy bull would be a good suggestion..it seems like Foxy is looking for a big dog..staffy bulls aren't big..they're pretty darn small..maybe they have a huge personality, but not very big in size...lol

mini pits is what I like to call them