Wow! That's interesting. I had never heard/thought of that. Can either of you give me the link to that footage?? My cousin has a Manchester, who has amazing prey drive. I would of never thought, but she'd probably be a capable dog.

Alex, it's right here on Leerburg (I should have known). And I can't "search" it out. I did save the link to the pictures, though. This link has lots of pictures, and I don't remember exactly which one has the Boston.
http://www.fullforcek9.com/photo%20gallery.html

Thanks Janice, I found it on that website. Here it is: http://www.realityworkingdogs.com/training2005_0622_UKCpremier_PG1.htm

Haha...I could'nt help but laugh, but he is a very cool little dog. Tons of heart.

Edited by Alex Corral (07/11/2007 04:49 PM)
Edit reason: spelling

My Manchester terrier would LOVE to launch onto a helper...and everyone else on the field, too.

Haha, she's a great little dog with the people she knows...but she's a bag of nerves with strangers.

 Quote: Alex Corral

Thanks Janice, I found it on that website. Here it is: http://www.realityworkingdogs.com/training2005_0622_UKCpremier_PG1.htm

Haha...I could'nt help but laugh, but he is a very cool little dog. Tons of heart.

A cool little dog indeed. What got me laughing was not so much the dog but the look on the decoy's face :laugh: . He was grinning from ear to ear when that little Boston was on the sleeve! What a kick, too cute

Such a huge sleeve for a little dog. It's all too precious.

I am coming upon this kind of late heh but I would agree with either the American Bulldog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, or Giant Schnauzer, but as Lance said, for the American Bulldog, a lot of groundwork needs to be done in establishing leadership and above all RESPECT, this breed, with some lines being exceptions, are very intelligent and judge people, they also have good memories when it comes to things they don't like or "bad" and unpleasant things that have happened.

I am biased as I own an Ambull and have worked a lot with them prior, but they are "bull headed" and require firm structure and a lot of training to get them to the snap-of-the-fingers level in obedience, but it can be done. Once you have this dog's loyalty good luck getting rid of it, they are very very very bonded to their owner and while they can love and be affectionate with many people they are a one person dog that will stop at nothing until told to get what it wants, whether that is a tennis ball or the "bad guy." My boy was being taunted in an apartment building by people who knew he was in that particular apartment, they tapped and scratched on the walls and made loud noises, cursed at eachother and made noises as though they were brawling and he chipped a tooth ripping the doorknob off the door. I came back as he was doing it and those A-holes got kicked off the property while I got to pay for a new set of knobs

My boy was very easy to train as a protection dog, they are very courageous and confident dogs if raised properly. All I have to do is whisper "What was that?" (very hard "t" sound in "what") while in the house and even asleep he will run to every window and door, listening. When on a walk, all I need to say is "Who is that?" (emphasis on WHO, very heavy "H" sound) and he will look around until he sees any "suspicious" character(if I don't point one out first) and will watch them very intently until they have passed. I don't think they are for everyone, but neither is a working GSD or Mal and if you do your research you will find a dog of a line and type that suits you best.

As for rock solid innate recall, early emphasis on handler respect geared towards affectionly firm/strong leadership will aid you, but I never stop "training" my dogs for recall, never assume that they just WILL as it just takes one time for them to get hit by a car.

I like Rhodesian Ridgebacks and G Schnauzers too though I have no personal experience with them as protection/working dogs but have seen a few titled dogs around. Just a few options.

Once again, sorry I'm so late, just got here D

 Quote: Alex Corral

Thanks Janice, I found it on that website. Here it is: http://www.realityworkingdogs.com/training2005_0622_UKCpremier_PG1.htm

Haha...I could'nt help but laugh, but he is a very cool little dog. Tons of heart.

JRT doing some bitework: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A2ZV_C0BRM

Wow, that is the best video I have ever seen put on UTube

 Quote: Jennifer Marshal

I am coming upon this kind of late heh but I would agree with either the American Bulldog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, or Giant Schnauzer,

I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents and say that IMO Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not a good choice for a PPD. They are excellent natural guard dogs, but at heart, a good RR is a highly independant, stubborn and prey driven HOUND (the fact that a reliable recall on these dogs takes SERIOUS and constant training should rule them out all by itself, as I believe that was high on the OP's list). They were never bred to do anything like formalized protection work - they are instead large game hunting dogs. They're also quite sensitive. All those things put together make them a poor choice for the kind of training that goes into a proper protection dog. They *can* be trained and they ARE very intelligent, but as someone posted earlier, you could probably train 4 GSDs (or a more appropiate breed) for this kind of work in the time it would take you to train a single, stubborn RR.

I have never trained a PPD, but I have an RR and training him in this way seems like a very long and difficult road, if possible at all - there are much better options out there (the Giant Schnauzer is a good suggestion). If all you want is a big warm body next to you that has a beautiful face and intelligent expression, and will bark BIG when someone comes into the yard, than an RR could work - as long as there are no squirrells or rabbits in the vicinity, or food of any kind in the pockets of the intruder ... they are GREAT dogs, but I wouldn't suggest them here.

~Natalya

 Quote: Tim Martens

JRT doing some bitework: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A2ZV_C0BRM

Not only is this video fabulous, but the sound track is awesome!