Hi All:
This is my first time posting and I'm hoping to get some direction.

We live in the country with 5 small dogs and one child. There have been some robberies in our neighborhood and we have virtually have no protection from police or sheriff. We're quite concerned and have been talking about getting a dog who could deter anyone from coming on our porperty uninvited. We've talked to a number of people and everyone says a GSD is the best bet for us. We want a dog who can live in the house with us and be part of the family, but who can stay outside when we're gone. We are usually gone a couple of hours a day and on a random schedule.
I'm wondering how hard it would be to find an adult shepherd who could join our pack and family, and not put our other dogs/child at risk. The dogs are well socialized and trained and aecept other dogs. I would like to get an adult because the robberies are happening now and I don't want to wait for a puppy to grow up.
I'd appreciate advise on whether or not this is a realistic idea, and how I would go about finding such a dog. We live on the Oregon coast. Thanks, Kathy Smith

Do any of the 5 small dogs you have bark if a stranger was to come around?

Maybe some motion lights might also be a good idea.

May also want to think about a good reliable firearm and some proper training on using it.

I would second Jason's suggestions, and you'll notice they're coming from a GSD breeder. Not knowing your background with dogs, I think getting a dog to ease your concerns may present you with more problems than you expect. Are you comfortable/knowledgeable enough to bring an new adult dog safely into your "pack" without endangering the other dogs or your child (of what age?)

Are you talking about robberies (of residents) or just burglaries? If there are robberies or burglaries of occupied homes, I'd prefer to be armed. If it's burglaries by juveniles, tweekers or whatever, a dog would be a safer, less drastic response.

If you decide to go with a dog, I'd ease very slowly in the "in the house with us...part of the family" part until the dog had become well acclimated, you'd established boundaries, pack leadership and had some time to observe his behavior and interaction with the family members and other dogs.

This is definitely not a quick fix. Ed has a number of good articles/podcasts on this site that would be very helpful.

Mike

I don't have any answers for you, but some things to consider.

Our GSD lives in the house with us. At night and when we are gone he is inside. We used to crate him, but a few months ago we decided he was trustworthy enough that we could leave him alone. HOWEVER, we raised him from a pup. Bringing an adult into the home is different.

Is the outside area where you would leave him fenced? We've never tied our dog down, and I think the general consensus here would be that doing so is not a good ideal.

You already have five dogs, so if you do this, you have to be very careful that the GSD you pick is not dog aggressive. And if you look around Ed's site, you'll find articles about introducing a new dog to your pack, in this case a much larger dog. You have to do that carefully.

I don't know how long it takes a GSD to begin feeling protective of its new home. That is something to think about.

You can find brokers who sell adult dogs. If the broker is any good the dog will not be an unknown quantity, there will be some history. You could also look for GSD rescue groups. Many of them foster their rescues until they are placed, and so may be able to give you an idea of how the dog is with children and other dogs.

Something else. Let's pretend the robberies are not an issue. Do you really want another dog? You have small dogs, do you really want a big one? A dog that will shed as much as your five other dogs put together? OK, that MAY be an exaggeration, but you see my point. GSDs shed, and they shed a lot. Do you want a dog that won't be satisfied with the amount of exercise he can get running around the house? Assuming, of course, that you want a dog as big as a GSD running anywhere inside.

As far as a deterrent is concerned, I think a GSD could provide that. Mine lights up whenever anyone comes onto the property, and he can be heard from the street. I'm convinced that anyone who was up to no good would turn around and go somewhere else once they heard him barking and growling. Then again, our next door neighbors have two little Italian Greyhounds. They light up whenever they see or hear a stranger, or another dog in the neighborhood barking. They attract a lot of attention. Would anyone hear your 5 small dogs barking?

Finally, I love GSDs. I think they make excellent companions and are a reasonable deterrent to unarmed crimes, such as home break ins. However, bringing any large dog into your pack of small dogs is something you will need to manage. Maybe you'll get lucky, but I think it unlikely that you'll find a dog that fits right in without a fair amount of work on your part. So if this is what you want to do, spend some time on Ed's site reading the articles. Whatever you do, you want to do it with your eyes wide open and fully understanding what you are getting into.

Kathy,

keep in mind that a dog left outside while you are not home can be stolen, shot or poisoned from over the fence.

we had a string of home robberies in my extremely rural area and several of the dogs people had were shot. they were all outdoors (1 was stabbed). our house was burglarized and at the tiem i only had a small doxie mix who thankfully hid in his crate. all the *stuff* that was taken was replaced (5 guns, several saddles and some jewelry) by insurance. but they could not have replaced my dog had he been killed or stolen. i agree with motion sensors, possibly video cameras (& signs saying this place has video surveillance), and a GSD *inside* where he may be more effective and safer.
i also agree with all of the above advice about integrating a new adult big dog into a pack of small ones. it is not easy.
goodluck
jen

i'm with all the posters above, Kathy. i also live in an extremely remote rural area with my daughter, a Dobe and a GSD. the dogs are here to sound off when someone's around (on the property) who's not supposed to be here. they are house dogs. i do not lock my house when i leave due to this: if someone's willing to enter a house w/2 big dogs in it to try to steal something, i don't want them wrecking my front door.

i also do not leave my dogs out when i'm not here (had one stolen when i WAS here, believe it or not). but word does spread in these small towns--ppl know i have the dogs, and most prefer not to test them. a burglar is a different story.

IMO, you have plenty of dogs. get a gun and learn how to use it. getting an adult or green GSD is not the answer.

as a thief told me once "a lock only keeps out an honest man--NOT a thief". and FIVE little dogs!!! i wouldn't attempt it!!