What say you Oppo?

"Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents" (Ice-man) 01/27/2014 at 00:26 • Filed to: Doglopnik

1

43

After the recent incident of a break-in at our neighbour's, the wife is scared enough to conditionally agree to my longtime want of getting a dog. Sure, a puppy now isn't going to scare anyone but hey, you don't get to use logic here.

Our apartment folks don't let us get 'aggressive' breeds like rottweilers or pittbulls and we do not have enough space for a greyhound to run at full tilt and really stretch its legs but more than enough for fun and games. I've been around labs enough to know they're great goofy guys but not as much around german shepherds. Given that the little one is around the corner, which one would you suggest? :)

midengineer > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:30

1

Probably not what you're looking for but I had a shih tzu from the age of 3-18. Loved that dog.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:33

2

In an apartment? Good luck.

Just adopted a chihuahua mix puppy from the local shelter and he's been a handful already. Can't imagine anything bigger.

M54B30 > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:34

3

I hate people saying pitbulls are inherently aggressive. But it's not you, it's your landlord. I've been there with mine before.

First and foremost, you need a dog that is great with kids first and protective second. Since pitbull is already off the list, you need something with a deep loud bark. *that * is what scares robbers off as they're breaking in a window or door. The dog doesn't have to be particularly mean, just sound mean. I'd get a Bernese Mountain Dog. They're great with kids and they get quite big. They're 8/10 of a St Bernard and without the drooling. Great family dogs and they love to guard. They're a bit big for a small apartment but do ok in a medium sized apartment with regular exercise.

I love dogs and between my pit and my Jack Russell, I think my pit would stop them from coming in but my Jack Russell would make them regret it - my pit is too people friendly. I've never tried it with intruders, but she loooooves visitors.

You could always go my route and get a pit but tell your landlord it's a Lab mix.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:35

3

German shepards are known to be good around families. Not always the most playful, but are considered well reserved guard dogs and are safe to have around small children. Labs are great all around breeds but our frat house dog was a black lab and he had to be trained a bit more to understand the difference between "intruder" and "stranger".

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:39

12

Guns shed less :)

Aaron James > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:41

1

I've had big dogs and little dogs, my favorite breed is the Boston Terrier. We had a female who was just wonderful with our kids. Big dogs eat a lot and take up a lot of space, plus they are always knocking stuff off of tables and so forth.

Frenchlicker > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:43

1

I personally love Labradors and beagles. Both great with families, labs more so. As somebody else said German shepherds are amazing with families, especially if they grow up with a child. I don't know if it matters much to you but when playing with my old lab if she got a little over excited (as both labs and German shepherds do) when playing she would go for the hand bit, not hard just playful. And labs have soft mouths due to their use as game gathers so the playful bites do not hurt as they may with other breeds and I'm sure with a child there will be hands put in the dog's mouth.

His Stigness > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:50

1

I have a pure bred Australian shepherd and she is the best dog ever (I know every owner says that). She's great with my little nephew (he's 22 months) and my little kitty. She's also an excellent guard dog. She only barks when she thinks something is wrong, and I walked into the house dark one night and she came after me, but as soon as she realized it was me she got excited; that right there proved she wasn't just a lovable little puppy, but a real guard dog.

SaabLife, because Gripen > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 00:52

0

Having grown up with Shepherds and a Doberman, I can tell you right off the bat to avoid them. They can be a hand full and have a drive like none other. They really do eat everything and your wife will kill you after having a German Shepherd puppy for more than a few weeks.

As for apartment living, our Dane (passed a few years ago) didn't have any problems with space, which was lucky for us since she was about as big as me and had a very low energy level. But I'd definitely look for something with a lower energy drive. Apartment size isn't much of an issue if the dog isn't jumping off the walls. I'd look at French Bulldogs, Russell Terriers, Basset Hounds, Bulldogs, Greyhounds, Spaniels.

You probably already know it, but don't look at a dog for home protection as anything more than an intimidation factor against somebody breaking in or an alert factor of somebody breaking in. I loved by Dane and Doberman/Shepherds growing up, but dogs are fragile against a grown man, especially one with a gun or a bat.

getchapopcorn > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:00

1

GSD

Lets Just Drive > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:00

1

Mutt.

Squid > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 01/27/2014 at 01:07

0

Small dogs can actually be more work than a big dog. People let the little dogs get away with really bad behaviors which tend to lead to problems down the line. With the big dogs you have to train them because of their size so when they get bigger, if you did your job correctly the dog is easy to deal with.

I was raised with small dogs and finally just got my first big dog 5 years ago and she is easy as can be.

d16y8 > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:07

0

I'd suggest a loud "alarm dog," like a Chihuahua or Cairn terrier. I have both, and they go off like nuts when someone is at the door.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Battery Tender Unnecessary 01/27/2014 at 01:15

0

But do nothing if you're not there. The break-in OP experienced happened when he was out of the house. Plus he lives in an apartment building and some of them may have rules limiting where you can and can't store guns. My landlord said he wants anything bigger than a handgun kept in a safe (our own safe, not a community safe) in the basement just in case something happens. If a gun goes off accidentally and causes damage, I not only get to pay for any repairs but I also pay a fine for "endangering other residents" which is fair enough. Apartment walls are rarely thick enough to stop even a small caliber bullet.

Squid > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:16

4

The German Shepherds are awesome dogs, but not so awesome if you are not an experienced dog owner. They are also a mixed bag of surprises in the health department due to so much inbreeding. If you decided to go the Shep route look up your local German Shepherd rescue and see if there are any doggies available, you wouldn't believe how many "purebred" dogs get dumped at shelters and rescues because people weren't prepared to train or exercise the dog daily.

You need to look at the reasons why you want a dog, a protection dog is not a pet and a pet is not a protection dog. With the protection dogs it is their job to protect and it takes a lot of time and dedication and vigilance on your part to ensure there are no errant "attacks" which basically means you have make sure you can watch your dog all the time when people, kids and other animals are around.

Labs are awesome as well but they need to be trained just as much as a shep and there generally is less risk for aggression with a lab but honestly you might be better off adopting a shepherd mix, you have less chance for hip dysplasia and all the other issues prevalent in both breeds you are looking at.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Squid 01/27/2014 at 01:28

0

I did read that both labs and shepherds are susceptible to certain health issues. So yeah, will keep thatin mind. I have been looking at shelters and rescues around austin and do find many mixes. Haven't really noticed any purebreds yet. But will definitely keep it in mind.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:30

2

Check this out

Retired military dogs

You can get a young dog that failed its training, or an older dog that's retired. If you want protection, can you do better?

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > SaabLife, because Gripen 01/27/2014 at 01:31

1

The protection bit was only to convince my wife to let me get one. That's all. I'm not looking to get one and then train him/her to be an attack dog who'll rip the head off an intruder. Intimidating looks are more than enough for the moment I'd say. Your only opposition to a shepherd is that they'll be active and eat a lot? :) That should be manageable wouldn't you say?

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Battery Tender Unnecessary 01/27/2014 at 01:35

0

Ha ha. Perhaps. Unfortunately I can't get a gun and I most likely won't even if I could get one. I do not think it would be wise at all, atleast for me. Too many things have to fall into place for a gun to be effective, not to mention I personally think it needs way too much training and mental ability to wield one effectively. I am certainly not up for that. All imho of course.

But anyway, I'm not looking to get a dog for protection really. Just trying to pass it off as such to my wife so that she agrees to let me get one :)

Squid > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:36

0

If you go the breeder route, make sure they actually know what they are doing and provide vet certifications regarding the hip dysplasia and the pups joints and stuff. The backyard breeders from craigslist are terrible humans and you should not support them, if they are not willing to have the pup completely checked out by a reputable veterinarian run far far away from them.

The Dogs 101 program that Animal Planet ran a few years back was actually a pretty good source to get basic information on dog breeds. Checking it out may give you a few more ideas of what breeds could be compatible for you and your lifestyle/needs/experience level.

Good luck in finding a dog that fits your home, just don't rush into getting a dog, it is a living being you are committing to take care of and not a light responsibility. Also avoid the petstores in the malls that sell puppies from puppy mills, they are cute but the poor animals are over bred and not genetically diverse enough to prevent common health issues.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 01/27/2014 at 01:37

0

We do have lots of space around here and there are tons of dog owners here. Our apartment itself isn't exactly small either. So we should be ok with space. I've seen great danes and big collies on walks around here. So it should be ok. But you never know :)

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 01/27/2014 at 01:41

0

Very interesting. As a first time owner though, I'd be wary. Too much dog too early on maybe?

HiredHand > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:42

1

Dogs are a reflection of their owners regardless of breed. If you train it and spend time with it, it will be fine. The problem dogs typically come from inept or absentee owners. The only difference between a pit bull and a terrier is their capabilities. A problem terrier might nip at your leg and a pit bull could tear it off.

Also, if at all possible get a dog from a shelter. You might inherit a few problems to work out, but at the end of the day I hate rewarding breeders and there are already so many good dogs that need homes.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:52

0

Maybe, but on the other hand they are probably trained very well.

You should probably adopt an older dog in any case.

A well trained pit bull is the nicest dog in the world, your apartment owners are idiots.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Squid 01/27/2014 at 01:53

0

I did read up quite a bit about all this. And I am looking all over. So i'm not rushing in one bit. The sad stories about dogs that end up in rescues/shelters is just heartbreaking and I might end up getting one from there. If not, I'm certainly going to make sure I get a puppy from someone who knows what's what and after checking all the boxes.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > d16y8 01/27/2014 at 01:55

0

The protection thing was only to convince my wife to let me get one really. I for one, do not want a dog that barks its head off at the drop of a pin :)

Squid > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 01:55

1

Good stuff! I just like people to be a little educated before getting a puppy. Not trying to sound all preachy and all that bull shit. Glad to know you are doing the legwork to understand what you are getting into.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 01/27/2014 at 02:03

0

Yeah that's true.

I don't write the rules unfortunately :(

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Squid 01/27/2014 at 02:04

0

After reading about how some poor dog and her entire litter is left on the side of a freeway? I think I'll be preachy too if someone asks me how to go about this whole thing, even if I don't get one. Just not fair to the little ones at all.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 02:10

0

You think a gun needs too much training but you're up to get a puppy? Oh boy, are you going to be in for a surprise :) You can put a gun away when you don't want to deal with it.

Squid > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 02:12

0

Exactly why I go off on people who try to tell me they are going to breed their dog. I've made a few people not like me at the dog parks but I have also changed quite a few peoples mind on the whole backyard breeding issue. The people who think it will be awesome to breed their dog generally have no idea what goes into breeding or how to help the dog that went into labor or even the constant attention that the pups need when they are born.

You can also get some really rad dogs from the rescues as well. My dog was a feral dog for a while but now she is a spoiled brat. . . I never thought that a Chow Chow Golden Retriever could be a good mix but she is an awesome dog. Sometimes your perfect dog isn't the one you have in your head its the one that comes up and speaks to your heart when you meet it.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 01/27/2014 at 02:12

0

Ha ha ha

zn6 > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 02:27

1

Bullmastiff, Greyhound, Newfoundland, or Great Danes make perfect apartment dogs. They're big, which is something you seem to be looking for, but are pretty low energy dogs, just requiring a walk now and then and a space to sleep. GSD or labradors are much more high energy, and it'd honestly be harmful for them to be in a confined space like an apartment without a backyard to run in.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 02:52

1

such obvious

much inu

so doge

wow.

zmf2112 > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 05:22

1

bigfluffydogs.com because no one needs a pure bred from a breeder and lots of dogs need rescuing. We just got a 75 lb 6 month old puppy - Anatolian Shepard and Great Pyrenees mix. He is super cool with the kids, even the little ones and a great burglar deterrent. I left something at home when I left the house (very early) last week, and when I returned 5 minutes later he came charging at me barking loud enough to wake the neighbors (which might be a problem for you - even though it's kind of the point). They are bread to be VERY protective of their livestock. And good for the apartment because they're super lazy. Of course they need to get out, but this is the laziest puppy I've ever seen.

Whatever you get, take them to training so you both know who's in charge.

McSchmalex > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 07:11

0

Normally if the apartment has breed restrictions like rottys or pitbulls, German sheps are on that list as well.

Honestly, the best guard dogs are the kind that will wake you up if there is an intrusion.

SaabLife, because Gripen > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 08:12

1

Yeah that can be manageable, but only as long as you're willing to put the time/money/effort into training it and making sure it gets plenty of exercise. Keep in mind when I say "eat" I mean eat through drywall, computers, shoes, doors, clothes, couches, chairs, cabinets, lamps, washing machine, tools, etc. Just keep that in-mind when keeping one in an apartment. German Shepherds are very powerful and hyperactive dogs who need to be controlled from day-one. There's a reason the military and police use them (which is where one of ours came from).

Also as others have said, they have big health problems, which are not cheap in the long run. We've had one with hip-dysplasia, one that had horrible eye problems, and bloat was a something we dealt with on multiple occasions. Health problems are just unavoidable in this breed unfortunately. We've gone the route of breeders (an expensive route I would avoid) to adoption shelters and they've all had certain problems that had to be managed on a daily basis.

Not to discourage you, but these are just the experiences we've had. They can be fantastic dogs, but an exceptional hand-full and this is coming from someone who's had Doberman and Danes. Do look at rescues like this one , there are a number out there that have puppies and trained young adults that are easier to manage and will keep your costs down.

Enginerrrrrrrrr > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 09:17

1

Go to the pound and rescue one who isn't already a pup. They are usually already house-trained too and saves you that trouble.

Here's my boy. He's a little over a year. Sweetest dog ever, but has a nice, deep bark that scares the shit out of even me. That's all I need haha. Oh and my .45 ACP helps too.

He's a mixed breed. DNA test said Siberian Husky, Shiba Inu, and Australian Cattle Dog. He looks like a German Shepherd/Lab though.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > SaabLife, because Gripen 01/27/2014 at 10:23

0

I've heard shepherds are similar to labs in the sense that they need a lot of work or else they get bored very quickly and become destructive around the house. So yep, I do know that it'll need a lot in terms of time and commitment. Rescue is the way I'm more inclined to at the moment.

ihm96 > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 11:16

1

This wasn't a choice, but boxer. I've had 2 boxers and they're great with kids, could easily scare off an intruder, and are awesome dogs

GRawesome > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 12:46

1

I agree with the people who have said to head down to the pound and save a dog. After living with you for a few weeks they will protect your house as well as any dog raised from a pup. We got our 2 pups (Pointer mix and Beagle mix) from the pound and if anyone but my wife or I walk to the door, the dogs start barking. That is enough to keep any prospective burglars at bay. Most burglaries are crimes of opportunity and if they hear a dog they will move on to the next option. If someone is really intent on breaking into your house and know there is a dog there, it won't really matter what kind of dog it is because they will have counter measures.

Enjoy your new pup, whatever you choose to get! It was the best decision the wife and I ever made, they are part of the family now. We have a very large back yard, so I would get another dog given the chance.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 01/27/2014 at 13:14

0

Lucky you. Here in SoCal an "apartment" is probably the size of a closet elsewhere.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 01/27/2014 at 13:50

0

Austin isn't cheap like dallas in terms of rents but you can still get a decent sized apartment for the same amount of money that would get you a studio in nyc or parts of california.