If you are looking for bloodlines with a more serious edge they are certainly out there. I'm no pedigree guru, but you can PM me.


Also, if you still have a dog of a workable age, I wouldn't totally give up on him. There are a number of things you can do to increase the protective behaviors around the house.

Not to rain on the parade here...

Just want to clarify that the original post was about getting a protective dog without training. Even dogs from the more 'real' lines should not be expected to just know what to do and when. As I said before, to expect that is foolish.

So far as I see it, either way you are going to have to train the dog, either for control of the suspicion or to teach the dog to be more suspicious depending on the dog. Training will only produce more reliability... if there was a naturally protective dog out there that needed no training, I am sure the bean-counters buying police dogs would be all over it. (training is usually included in the price)

So YES, there are lines that tend to be not so 'warm and fuzzy' as the others. I happen to like the less warm and fuzzy type myself. BUT I still wouldn't sell a dog as a protection dog to someone who just thought it was something the dog should just know... SchH training alone does not prepare a dog for home or personal protection.

Now that you have posted more about your situation it seems that you aren't really looking for something that needs no training as much as something a little quicker to light. So excuse my first post. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

David,

You could well have a training issue rather than a dog issue. If the dog is confident and has never had any reason to be protective at home, you may find that by doing some training in defense and extending that training to the home you have what you want. Not all dogs that will actually defend the home are big barkers nor really heavy at the door. My first Giant was absolutely silent in the house. If you tried to break in he would just go to where you were trying to come in and sit and wait for you to get in so he could bite. He seemed to know that if he barked you would leave and he didn't get his bite. My current Giant will start barking as soon as you enter the Cul de sac and continue until he can nail you. The only way to know for sure what the dog will do is to test it.

Having something quicker to respond still can be trained with his present dog or dogs. He just to set up some scenarios that will let the dog know that it should be watchful and everybody is not its friend off the training field.

I think some civil training at his home or in his home would light that fire.

But of course a dog trained or with a more suspicious nature would just fall right into what you want weather Mal, GSD or Rottie.

I don't think you are gonna get out of showing the dog when and why to alert. You really don't want him making those decisons, because you may not be able to take may places.

I mean a guy can come up give me a firm handshake and a kid can jump into my arms. I thinks its something in the air they scence (maybe adredaline) and the action that makes him alert.

But its hard to imagine no trainng at all, and teh dog making the right decisons.

I'd like to ask how did your friemd call the dog off? After he tried to bite you, usually a dog that going in for a bite won't stop until he gets it or is told to out/stop. Or you jump clear out of range (like outside the fence or on top of the bunk bed). Some dogs will meet you there. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

This question is for everyone: in your opinion, which GSD lines are *generally* more prone to suspicion?

Hi Renee,I believe Brit Elisu is super civil and produces this trait as well.He is no longer in my area,I think maybe Georgia now but I would love a pup from him.

Suspician is a hard term to define I think, but if you mean have a serious edge and know when things are not quite right. . .and respond accordingly then. . .


In the most general terms, I would say that the Czech bloodlines have plenty of suspician. There are a plethora of them.

Specifically the old Peko Haus dogs have a nice serious edge to them.

I've seen some pretty serious BDR customers come down from Arthus, Mink, Gento, Verwin, and Ork. More recent dogs like Xanto vd BosenNachbarshaft, Pike vd Schafbachmühle, Ernst vom Weinbergblick. . .


I personally like a dog with that edge as long as it doesn't totally define their work. If they can still work with a happy spirit and some clearity, if they can still maintain good relationships with the handler, and if they can cool off after the work in a reasonable time, then I like edge and suspician of strangers.

I agree with Jeff. You're better off looking for dogs bred as possible police dog prospects rather than sport if you want the real deal. You may want to look at some young adults instead of puppies, ones that have already been "tested" and proven. However, be careful what you wish for as others have said. Make sure this is the kind of dog you can commit yourself to for years to come.

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp Robert:
Suspician is a hard term to define I think, but if you mean have a serious edge and know when things are not quite right. . .and respond accordingly then. . .

Yes, VC, I agree that "suspicion" may be a hard term to define, but since the term has come up in several recent threads and these threads are read by people who may not know how you & I interpret "suspicion" yet consider this a desirable trait for whatever reasons, it wouldn't hurt to try to come to a mutual agreement on what it means exactly (if at all possible).

I'm not going to tackle a definition, you do it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />