Thank you Richard, that answers my question.

I've seen several of your comments on the other topics. I'd be very curious to know what breed you use, and which breed do you feel is the best for home protection, rather than police work?

In your own opinion of course.

Wolf when you talk about home protection are your referring to a dog that will protect you out of its natural instinct or one that has to be trained.Many people would put the fila at the top of the list for a natural protector.

Your right, I should've mentioned that. I would want something that could protect me alone. BUT I certainly wouldn't want something that I couldn't control in public either. For instance if I went jogging or if I took it with me late at night to get something to eat at a drive through. I'd still like to be able to go fishing or in public areas without having to worry about it's temperament

I don't have children, and I doubt I will have them in the future, but I wouldn't want something that would lunge after a girlfriend either. The reason I’ve had GSDs in the past was because I wanted obedience without question. So I would want something intense, but obedience is a major concern as well. Not that I’m saying a Fila isn’t a good dog. I know very little about them.

The last dogs I've had were "American GSDs" so you can image how inadequete they were. They were very good dogs, but the intensity wasn't there. I know much more about this than before and plan do things correctly. Whichever dog I go with this time, it will be professionally trained.

Wolf goto the malinois section they have a web address of working boxers. Nice looking dogs.I send you a email.

Milt

Hi everyone,

I have a 1 year old male intact rott. His protective intstincts have started to kick in lately and is showing good promise. I have been working on his prey and for a Rotti his prey drive is pretty strong. I am taking him to the local schutzhand club next monday and they are going to see if he has what it takes for protection.

Good luck Joe

Joe, from experience, I can tell you local doesn't always mean best. shop around and LISTEN to the training directors theories and philosophies. It could save you a lot of time and heartache. I wish you the best of luck. I do not know what experience you have in this or any other dog sport; you may want to make a list of specific items you wish to gleen ( yes, people, the knuckle dragger used the word 'gleen")from your involvement with any club before you invest time and effort and most importantly, your dogs proper foundation Please let us know how it works out.

Wolf,

Breed selection is extreamly personal. If the primary goal is home defense I would look at a breed that is on the defensive side, like the Giant, Rott, or BRT. If grooming is a consideration the BRT and the Giant need to be groomed every 5-8 weeks. I have never raised a Rott so I can't tell you much about them. The Giants tend to have some rank issues. They have a strong sense of territory and are right on the door if someone comes around. Because of the size they are very intimidating. The black coloration also tends to back people off. The giant should be very accepting of people once you let them in. The BRT is easier as a puppy and they don't generally have much in the way of rank issues with the owner. They will not be dominated by another dog, especially the males. If you have another dominant breed with them they will fight. The dogs are less prey driven than most of the breeds involved with dog sports. They mature late and need massive socialization or when they get older they tend to be overly suspicious of strangers. Raised with playing prey games it isn't an issue they just are a little late with it kicking in to over drive.

Another consideration for a group of breeds would be the Livestock Guardian breeds. There are several breeds that are good with their people and will protect with no training. The problem with them is they tend to not be very social. With the LGB you may have some problems with other dogs in the area being seen as potential threats. These are also breeds that need socialization if they are going to be in public a lot. They see everything as a threat if you don't.

I own and breed Rottweilers. I breed for and train for Personal Protection. I choose Rottweilers for a number of reasons. Firslty is there true calmness and relaxed temperament. I used to own GSD (which I still love) and Dobes when I was younger and comparitivly the Rotts are just so much more relaxed.

In terms of there train ablility with regards OB etc they are very trainable, but a little less than a GSD but this depends a lot on the lines and the individual dog. They are as a general rule slightly more rank driven than GSDs but less than a dobe. Once again this is a very broud statement and depends a lot on the dog. When looking at this point however I believe we need to understand differences that exist around the societites that exist within the cultures of GSDs etc and Rottweilers. In the Rottweilers there is no were near the gulf between Working Lines and Show lines that exist now in the GSD (although it is fast appearing) as more breeders are looking to produce the complete dog that will work well and V rate in the show ring. So when looking at Rank Drive issues you must take into account how many are bred for working and how this effects temperament, but on the whole Yes Rotties are slightly more Rank driven. This however should not mean that they should have huge rank issues any more than any other breed. They should be very trainable.

In terms of PP, Police service work, etc it is true that the Rottweiler is a more defensive orientated dog than some of the higher Prey drive dogs such as GSD dogs etc. Partially this is due to the larger body frame and the fact that they fatique quicker than other breeds and thus the drive deminishes quicker. For me the Rott is the Best Persoanl Protection dog in the world due to the mix of agility, defensive strength and power. The difference in stopping power of a Rottweiler is vastly different than that of a GSD etc. Anyone that has worked many serious Rotts will know the difference. You will feel that you have worked them if you work a couple in a row.

As for Police Service, Military Service etc the Rottweiler for me has real short comings due too the lack of speed, agility and stamina compared to that of a GSD, Malinois, etc. I will not comment about the situation in the US but in Australia where I live our local police force has only one Rott and he is used almost entirely for siege situations where his lack of stamina is not such an issue and his impact power is of use. Rottweilers are also generally marked slower maturers than GSD dogs and die younger so will be working less time. Another factor that greatly holds back the Rott from this type of work is the lack of good working Rotts around. As I said before most Rotts are not bred purely for working but also for true confirmation as well. This has greatly effected the number of true working dogs produced in recent years. Demand for such dogs is not as high as that for GSDs etc and thus less people producing such dogs.

Further too this is that in recent times the German Dog Legisation has further damaged the potential for working Rottweilers a great deal as they have to undergo very strict temperament tests or else they are destroyed. In recent times the ADRK seems to be moving away from true working dogs and looking for a show dog that will work soley in Prey to look like it is working. This is purely my opinion, nothing too this end has been said by the ADRK. I feel that in times to come that the Rott will become like the GSD and have two distinct lines and there will only be true pockets of breeders who produce dogs of this type. For me this is sad.

As for lines a lot of the Rott working power still comes from some of the old stock. In recent times the best producer of working dogs is Jackomo von der Bleichstrasse who is the sire to such dogs like Vico von der Flugneise (for me the best around at the moment)and many others. He goes back to dogs like Noris vom Grutemblick who goes back to Falco vom Grutemblick who produced many great working dogs who posses great working drives and nerve. Also from the old stock are dogs like Dingo vom Swaigger Wappen who has the highest rate of progeny to go to Korung. Also dogs like Anton Vom Heim. Further to that a lot of power can be contributed to dogs like Ives Eulenspiegel (Dingo's sire) or Bulli von Hungerbuhl. There are many more but this should give you some idea.

In the US however there is a dog that many who have worked him have described as the best working dog ever who has been used very rarely. It will be a real shame if he goes to waste. Morro vom Keifernweg.

Hope this gives you some insight into this breed.

Mick.

Good post and welcome aboard.