Quote:
Originally Posted by 1957TabbyCat
Any thoughs on watch dogs. We had a small female terrier dog for may years that stayed outside for many years that did a very good job of running off
petty thieves and possibly worse.
The dog would bark and carry on it strangers came into the the area.
But was too small to tear someone's face off and cause civil or crimnal liabilty.
My wife could understand the many different barks the dog had. A stray male terrier came by, my pronounced the dog worthless. And proved to be be correct in that it only barks at people it knows. After about a month I just let the dog loose. Even I could walk into the grounds at 3 am and not a peep out of the dog. I would have to deliberately make alot of noise of call the dog. The dog still runs around the are area like before.
She like the old dog alot. Because it looked out for the human family.
Any advice on watch dogs. The dog that died of old age, likely had been pepper sprayed by the postal carrier more then once. But was a good barking dog before that. I had been able to identify thieves and drug abusers in the past thanks to the dog. Those people were not afraid of the dog, but hated and feared the Peckerwood.
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I only have had watch dogs. Their purpose is to announce (to me and others in the house) that something is not right.
I am the 'heavy' when it comes to defending the property (don't ask).
Personally, I never have nor would allow my dog to be outside unescorted by me or a family member.
The purpose of a watch dog is to signal you, not defend you (though these little guys can get defensive, in their own way)
. (mine weighs 5lbs)
I looked at getting a guard dog. A good friend of mine is the K-9 officer in a nearby town, and offered me his retired police dog (they get retired at about six years old). The SO and I though about it for a while, but then I realized the impracticalities:
1). The dog is literally a very dangerous weapon. Easily as dangerous as a gun, but way less predictable.
2). I would have to go to a 2-3 week training course to get the dog to bond to me.
3). Guard dogs are working dogs... they need a
tremendous amount of attention and exercise, every day.
4). I only had to learn the 26 commands in Czechoslovakian, so that was not too bad.
5). My biggest fear is the liability... Let's say people are playing in the front yard, rough-housing, and the dog considers one of the household members is in danger, and I am not around? Even liability insurance isn't going to save me there.
6). German Shepherds (at least this one) are huge
7). To be honest I was a little bit intimidated by him, because he has the capacity to really, really injure someone.
(One thing I learned, is to never walk up to the owner with your hands in your pockets, with a dog like this...) They also stare at you constantly, looking for instructions.
To summarize, a guard dog is something you get if you really need it to perform a job. Just like a chainsaw; works very well, but is dangerous.
Just get a monitored alarm system and a few cameras/time-lapse recorder (or do it on a PC), and there is no hassle, no risk, no liablility... (and some personal protection in the house).
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Us too! I make sure to wear a cop uniform or current ACU's when I beat them with a stick! They hate those cloths.....
Forget dogs
