The Most Dog Friendly Community Online
Join and Discover the Best Things to do with your Dog

Register

Belgian Malanois v German Shepard

V

Vakhar Hussain

New Member
Registered
Messages
8
Reaction score
1
Points
3
I’m stuck between deciding which breed I should get German Shepard or malanois. I’m looking for a good guard dog and Also great with kids anyone have experience with both breeds?
 
A great guard dog probably won't be good with kids. And, getting a dog to guard your property brings all sorts of problems when the dog can't distinguish between the burglar who is coming to rob you, and the paramedic who is coming to save your life.

Is it really a guard dog that you need?

Have you had dogs before? If so, what breeds? Neither of the two you mention is particularly good for an inexperienced owner - I consider myself quite knowledgeable and just yesterday I said I'd love a Malinois but I know I'd be over-dogged. With some breeds, you can make a mistake in training and they shrug it off. With others, make a mistake and they will never forget.
 
I’d say I have a little experience but by no means an expert. What breed do you recommend that would be suited ? Possibly a Doberman?
 
As a guard dog? Honestly, I'd recommend you get a good security system instead, the Jack Russell you mentioned will alert bark, but a proper guard dog is not a pet. And, a properly trained guard dog will cost you about the same as a small car.

This is what the law says - ”A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a person (“the handler”) who is capable of controlling the dog is present on the premises and the dog is under the control of the handler at all times while it is being so used except while it is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.”

So you can't be in bed for example, and allow the dog to attack an intruder, you have to be with the dog and have control over it. That means you will need another handler while you sleep, which kind of defeats the point of buying a dog to protect your house

Or the dog has to be secured where it cannot reach the intruder unless they approach the dog, which again, defeats the object.

And a determined intruder won't find a dog much of an obstacle, they will just throw it poisoned meat or shoot it. Seriously, get a good intruder system instead.
 
What do you want the dog to do? If you want it to protect you from undesirables entering your house, how will you train it to repel them but be fine with any visitors, the meter reader, the postman? If to protect you when out and about, will it be reliably able to tell the difference between people wanting to mug you and people who rush up to let you know you've dropped your wallet and want to hand it back?

Then there are all the legal considerations if the dog should attack someone even if it was defending you or your property.

Getting a dog to guard yourself or your property is a minefield - you'd be much better off protecting yourself in other ways, such as getting a burgler alarm.
 
Really just guard the house and maybe a dog that would protect me also if someone ever attacked me. It’s nice to know your dog has your back should anything bad ever happen
 
For the reasons above, a protection dog would not be a good idea - I really suggest you look at intruder alarm systems instead.
 
Perhaps not go out?
 
Are we assuming this person is in the UK? I can't view the profile to check, but perhaps laws will be different where they are. I agree with the posts, however a dog that alert barks can be a reassuring thing to have - Rusty will bark once or twice when the doorbell goes which is good for us if we don't hear it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top