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I have a Dobie and they don't do good in cold weather at all. They wouldn't be my breed of choice for watching livestock that is for sure. But as for a personal guard/watch dog for you and your house there is no other breed better for the job imo.
RE: Rottweiler history and breed characteristics ...
this comes from a law practice specializing in dog assault/injury cases:
" Rottweilers were used to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market. The Rottweiler is primarily one of the oldest, if not the oldest of herding breeds. Some reports state that they were used for hunting, however, the modern Rottweiler has a relatively low hunting instinct.
Rottweilers are a powerful breeds with well-developed genetic herding and guarding instincts. Rottweilers have exceptional strength which can make them a dangerous risk if they are neglected, abused, or not trained. The AKC reports that Rottweilers love their owners, but they are also protective of their territory and do not welcome strangers until properly introduced. Obedience training and socialisation are required.
Unfortunately, many people try to use Rottweilers as family pets without regards to their natures or habits. Because Rottweilers see smaller, weaker animals as prey, they often confuse children or pets of their owners as potential meals, and when their instinct takes over it can be devastating for the victim."
Sorry, but my experience with this breed has been less than a good one ... several examples:
While in college, my girlfriend's family had a Rottie that they used as a property watchdog for their house acreage in the foothills of CA outside of Malibu. It was a high end gated subdivision that catered to movie stars and musicians, or H'wood execs. The dog was professionally trained, the family was trained how to manage the dog, and they were very careful that nobody exit their car unless family had first restrained the dog in the kennel when a visitor came calling. They knew that the dog was very aggressive and trained to guard the property where the training included the territory that he was to protect. While the family was away during a day, a carpentry contractor took a wrong turn to get out of the area and wound up in their front drive. Despite prominent warning signs that a guard dog was on the premises and to not get out of a vehicle unless accompanied by a family member (and they wouldn't let anybody get out of their car unless the dog was kenneled because they couldn't restrain the dog if it was attacking anything), the fellow got out of the van to head to the front door. He didn't make it more than a few steps and the dog, without any provocation on the part of the fellow as witnessed by the housekeeper from inside the house but unable to warn the fellow not to leave his van, attacked the man. The fellow died on the way to the hospital from the massive number of bites he received. The family settled with the widow for over 7 figures, which was big money in the 1960's ... and kept the dog. I visited the place a year later on a school break and my friend, who'd driven back with me, made a big deal about me staying in my car until she'd had a chance to kennel the dog.
Some years later, a friend in Denver who was a fancier of Dobie's and Rottie's ... an experienced owner/trainer of these dogs who bought puppies and always had them professionally trained and went through repeated dog college programs ... had his 3-yr old Rottie turn on his 5-yr old son. While there was no doubt something that provoked the dog, it was something that I wouldn't have expected out of many other breeds that are more socialized to human companionship with children's antics. His son required over 100 stiches on his arms, legs, and face. The kid was terrified of dogs the last I saw him some 20 years after the attack ... and he remembered his Dad repeatedly telling him to always "be nice to the doggie" so his memories were that he didn't hit or kick or tease the dog. The kid was terrified of my very well socialized/friendly Corgi when I came to visit ... whose worst trait would be to love somebody with her little tail stump furiously wagging away; I made the mistake of thinking that the kid would have gotten over his dog attack experience after all those years, but I was very terribly wrong and mortified that I'd caused him so much pain again. I'd visited them via my RV and the Corgi was our traveling companion dog ... I let her out to do business and the family had come out to welcome me upon my arrival; I put the dog back into the RV as quickly as possible.
As well, another friend ... a single gal at the time who felt like she needed to have a "guard dog" for her personal protection ... had her Rottie turn on her one day. She, too, had the dog through professional training and had dated a guy who was a pro trainer she'd met through those programs. The dog turned on her one day and she got bitten a few times. The hospital reported the attack and the dog was impounded, subsequently put down as a vicious animal. This was a dog that was loved on by the owner from the time it was a puppy and trained to be her guard dog to attack on command.
Yet still another family that were customers of mine felt they needed a household guard dog for protection. The guy was a anesthesiologist and his wife a former dog trainer who put herself through vet school at a dog clinic. They were pretty accomplished dog trainers and thought they knew their Rottie pretty well. Again, this was a dog that was so aggressive that even when repeatedly introduced to their mail carrier would threaten the mailman every day ... and the mailbox was on the street for a rural delivery route about 200 yards away from the house with mail delivered by the carrier from the window of their vehicle. They were told that the dog had to be restrained or mail service would be discontinued. The dog jumped at the vehicle, bit at the tires, etc. They got a PO box rather than try to work any further with the dog after trying training sessions with another pro trainer experienced with Rottie's.
Considering that I've only known a half dozen Rottie owners, it's a pretty poor showing when 4 of those 6 ... all knowledgeable owners who sought training for their dogs ... had situations arise where the dogs caused injuries despite being well trained and supervised.
PS: it's not just my observations about this breed that's in play here, note this article from Feb 2013:
"America’s infatuation with canines has led to a breathtaking rise in the number of dog bites – and in the amount of money that insurance companies pay to compensate the bitten.
In California, one major insurer is growling back.
Farmers Group, Inc., has notified policyholders that bites by pit bulls, Rottweilers and wolf hybrids will no longer be covered by homeowners insurance in the state.
Insurers say that bites from pit bulls and the other breeds have gone up dramatically in recent years - along with the cost of settling damage claims.
“We reviewed our liability claim history and we determined that three breeds accounted for more than 25% of dog bite claims,” said spokeswoman Erin Freeman. “In addition, these three breeds caused more harm when they attacked than any other breed.”
The move by Farmers, which will go into effect for California homeowners as their policies come up for renewal, is one of several efforts nationwide by insurance companies to limit an ever-increasing level of liability for dog bites.
Across the U.S., insurance companies paid out $480 million to people who were attacked by dogs in 2011 – a 50% rise in just eight years, according to data from the Insurance Information Institute. In California that year, insurers paid more than $20 million to settle just 527 claims."
What you are looking for is a Great Pyrenees. A doberman as livestock protector? I say a GP would do a great job protecting the animals and of course they are going to bark if a strange human is poking around.
+1. Took the words right away from me. I've worked stock with Pyranees, and they are the best herd guarders I've ever seen, plus, their disposition is awesome. Disposition aside though, they WILL protect their family. They are loyal to a fault.
I've had dobermans for 50 years and taught dog obedience for 25 years. Two of my dobermans won the Doberman Pinscher Club of America Invitational Obedience Top 20 competition. So please believe me (and others who have posted here) when I say that you should not have a doberman if you want a dog to live outside and guard livestock. Dobermans are bred to live in close proximity to their owners. They're happiest when they can live indoors and follow their owners around from room to room.
Great Pyrenees are ideal for that job -- although I hate the idea of any dog living outside 24/7, Great Pyrenees are bred to do just that.
I would suggest a landrace collie type, a farm collie or English Shepherd. Google "old time farm shepherd", or "old time farm collies". These are the dogs Scottish and English settlers brought over as working farm dogs...they were very common on homesteads in the 1800's, but started to disappear with the rise of factory farming and the changing demographic as more people moved to cities. There are people who are trying to preserve these dogs as working farm dogs, and most of the breeders are actually working them. They are generalists, who can herd, hunt and guard, but are said to be extremely good with children and livestock, especially baby farm animals.
These are dogs that are bred for intelligence and working ability, not type, and that is what you want. Very few of todays purebreds are bred specifically for the qualities that make a good family farm dog. You want a dog that has intelligence and discernment, that understands a true threat to family and livestock, but is safe to play with the kids and their friends in the backyard.
Here is a great informational website on the breed, good luck on your search.
I've had dobermans for 50 years and taught dog obedience for 25 years. Two of my dobermans won the Doberman Pinscher Club of America Invitational Obedience Top 20 competition. So please believe me (and others who have posted here) when I say that you should not have a doberman if you want a dog to live outside and guard livestock. Dobermans are bred to live in close proximity to their owners. They're happiest when they can live indoors and follow their owners around from room to room.
Great Pyrenees are ideal for that job -- although I hate the idea of any dog living outside 24/7, Great Pyrenees are bred to do just that.
Agree Dobermans are Velcro dogs who always want to be next to you. However they can take the cold better than most people give them credit for. Germany is not the tropics.
What you are looking for is a Great Pyrenees. A doberman as livestock protector? I say a GP would do a great job protecting the animals and of course they are going to bark if a strange human is poking around.
I second that.
Our neighbor has one.
Damn thing never shuts the F up.
As for alerting and protection, both my smooth and rough collies alert like gangbusters and don't like any kind of stranger/strange animal near/in our yard (will corner them in a neat flanking pincer maneuver that is apparently inherent, bc I sure as hell didn't teach them that). However, horrible dogs to leave outside all day. They like their people.
+1. Took the words right away from me. I've worked stock with Pyranees, and they are the best herd guarders I've ever seen, plus, their disposition is awesome. Disposition aside though, they WILL protect their family. They are loyal to a fault.
I agree with this also. I actually prefer the Kuvasz over the Pyr though. They are just awesome, awesome dogs. Whether it's a Pyr or a Kuvasz, picking your breeder is absolutely crucial. Both of these breeds can be overly "Sharp". In LGDs "sharpness" refers to the degree of aggression the dog displays. My Kuvasz breeder here in South Western Ontario has over the last 30 years developed a dog that is very laid back but at the same time knows his job and excels at it. Hid dogs are criticized when he shows them in Hungary for their apparent lack of aggression but I feel they are the absolute best of both worlds, so to speak. The major difference between a regular guard dog and a good LGD is all in the discernment of the dog. A good LGD does not guard against anything but real threats and believe me they are almost psychic in their ability to discern real threats. My breeder made me promise to "Never second guess the dog". If the dog did not like something or someone, there was ALWAYS a good reason for it.
Many dogs can perform the task that the OP requests. It's more about the individual dog than a breed.
And it's best to have the dog raised with farm animals, regardless of the breed.
A question is what size dog is desired. Great Pyrenees is a huge dog. Personally I think a well bred Boerboel is a good chice, but again it's a lot of dog. But American Bulldogs can be a nice fit as well. I know a horse ranch owner that loves his Corgis (he has 4)....lol.
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