Best Guard Dogs
February 5th 2008 05:50
Don't all dogs guard?
Best Guard dogs...the phrase in itself sounds slightly off somehow, doesn't it?. Aren't all dogs supposed to be good guards? Is that not why humans and their ancestors first domesticated the animal? That and the small fact that these dogs could even bring them their daily food through hunting?
True, completely true. But they don't say for nothing that change is the only thing permanent. And sometimes if change does not happen naturally (read: evolution) man likes to help the process along in his own inimitable way (read: breeding). And since men are different and they like and desire different things, they wanted their dogs to do different things and to look differently while doing those too. Thats how we came to have all these differing breeds of dogs and somewhere down this twisting and turning road we also created some breeds which were more suited than others at this complex business of guarding.
Popular and not-so-popular guard dog breeds
Depending on which magazine, book, website or breeder we consult/talk to we would get a different list of the best guard dog breeds. Some would vouch for the Mastiff, Dogue De Bordeaux and the Neapolitan. Others would practically insist that the Malinois, Komondor, Puli and the German Shepherd are the best guard dogs in the whole universe. The 'exoticists' would shiver from head to toe when recounting about the South African Boerboel, the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Tosa. Yet others would recommend the practicality and no-nonsense qualities of the Rottweiler, Doberman or Weimaraner.
Every one of them is right. Yes, you heard me right there. All the dogs listed above and many others not mentioned are all potentially very capable guard dogs. Which brings us to a nice point where we are required to define this business of guarding. Dogs could be engaged to guard property, person or livestock. It is interesting that in canine circles, most often the dogs that guard the livestock are not really given their due as guard dogs. Instead they are sometimes patronized as herding dog breeds. But in some ways the breeds belonging to this category often make the very best dogs that one can have for guarding your home and person. More on that a little later.
The Individual in every breed
Before proceeding towards a discussion about the breeds themselves, it would be remiss of me if I fail to mention about the great significance of individuality among dogs. The German Shepherd may be an outstanding guard dog breed. But it all amounts to none if you do not select the Right Puppy from the Right Line and at the Right Time. However even if you do all of these things right, it will still come up to naught if you do not encourage the right temperament in your dog.
Allow me to elaborate.
Right Line
The German Shepherd is one of the few popular dog breeds which can trace its roots back to its creator and say with some measure of truth that they are still on the same track that their creator Max von Stephanitz had visualized. Yes, their appearance may have altered (radically so with some of the American lines) but their ability to do what their creator had outlined as their job still remains undiminished. The Verein fur deutsche Schaferhunde or SV is still active in Germany and combined with the Sieger and VA rating shows which are conducted all over the world, this creates a powerful force of conformance in this breed across the many lines. I am using this as an example because this is the only one I am even slightly familiar with as regards lines and characteristics (morphological and otherwise).
That said, when you wish to buy a puppy which you expect to grow up as a guard dog, you will look for certain defining characteristics that are exemplified in certain lines. Some research through quality books dealing with the preferred dog breed allied with some serious digging on the Internet will unearth potential lines (identified through Sire or Dam) that you would like to invest in. From there on, it is a matter of finding out the right kennel which houses the particular lines that you are looking for and handing over your booking money.
Right Puppy
One might be excused for thinking that the toughest part of the job was over with having identified the right line. But it is not so. Our job has not even started. What we did there was the spadework, the research needed before embarking on a major enterprise. And yes, rearing a dog through its lifetime is certainly a major enterprise. Even more so when you are wanting to specialize the said dog. The next aspect of our quest would involve selecting the right puppy out of the litter given birth to at the kennel where you had identified your desired line.
The rules are pretty simple and universal here. You would want a puppy that demonstrates easy, free and powerful movement and the correct set of molars and canines as prescribed in the breed standard. More than that you want a fearless and direct puppy which comes to you with curiosity when you interact. Hopefully it is human centric more than it is self centric. This last quality would go a long way towards cementing its position as a solid guard dog.
Right Time
Oh Yes - this is mighty important. You would ideally want to bring in your new puppy when it is between 60 and 90 days in age. This is that period when it is gradually weaning away from its mother and looking out at the world and trying to develop its outlook. Impressions formed at this age are long lasting and hard to recondition. Bonding too gains strength if done during this age. Plus you will not have to deal with domination drives and other such drives straight away. We need to buy the dog when we still can control it and not vice versa.
Right Temperament
Sometimes as far as dogs or any other live animal is concerned you are constrained by what God gifts the life form with. Genes and lineage play a large part in setting temperament for each dog and in every breed. But what the owner of each dog must strive to do is to cultivate the good habits and weed out the bad so that the dog is left a reliable, fearless and at the same time not a particularly excitable individual. Why should the ideal guard dog not be a particularly excitable specimen? Because, if he barks his head off and loses his marbles whenever a stranger comes knocking at the door, you are naturally going to put him away, lock him up, chain him up or otherwise segregate him from the action.
Now, of what use is a guard dog which has to be put away each time a potentially threatening situation comes up?
For this very reason, it is critical that guard dogs which are also to function as family dogs need to be socialized really well and taught to tolerate strangers' presence. Some breeds are better than others at this. And these are what would make the best guards in a family situation. In a police or military situation, probably the above situation does not come into question and the excitable ones come into their own.
The Breed question
Now we come back to the breed question. It is my opinion that the herding dogs and other dogs that were originally bred as farm and utility-based working dogs do best at the business of guarding. Lets look into the whys and the wherefores here. If I were to be an apartment dweller, all the guarding that I need could be provided by the Chihuahua. Its frenetic yapping can set the most intrepid intruder's teeth on edge and unless he wants to rouse everybody in the block, he will make a quick exit. Now, if I were to live in the suburbs, I would like to have a dog which can scare the intruder with its appearance alone. The many different molossers would be perfect fits for this sort of situation. It is rare that a suburban house is actually broken in and even then the molossers' natural tendency to hold intruders at bay will be of use.
Lets say that I live in the country - miles away from earshot or eyesight of the nearest neighbour. In this case, is a watchdog like the Chihuahua enough? Absolutely not - it is laughable as an option, unless I am thinking of options to warm my bed, that is. Would the molosser breeds fit the bill? Yes, they may fit the bill on most occassions. Even smack in the middle of desolate country, it is a brave criminal or intruder who decides to break in despite the presence of a large dog. And even if he does enter, the dog would get him/her 9 times out of 10. How about the high game/prey drive dogs such as the Rottweiler, Doberman, Malinois etc.? I am not convinced about these options. Let me tell you why.
The dog-savvy intruder would probably group up with co-conspirators and with a team of two they may be able to successfully decoy your high prey drive dog. Simply put, these high-strung dogs (typical of these breeds) will chase a distraction or a threat. They know no fear and want to eliminate the threat. In chasing the decoy though, they are leaving the object of their protection at the mercy of the conspirators. This is exactly what a guard dog owner does not desire.
It is here that breeds such as the Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel and Turkish Kangal among others (some of the molosser breeds included) shine through. Many of the livestock guarding dogs too would do very well in such situations. Take the Fila for an example. If it sees the decoy, it would chase it right up to the boundary of its property and then come back to sit on its vantage point to guard further breaches. This gives no quarter to those intruders - dog savvy or not. And this is why I would pick many of the livestock guarding and herding dogs over many of the other breeds as far as guarding is concerned. The Kangal and the Boerboel too exhibit similar characteristics and are accordingly highly prized for these qualities. It is said that the Kangal is often left alone for an entire season with its wards - flocks of sheep. Food for the Kangal is whatever it can rustle up in the form of vermin and small game and work for it is to maintain an unwavering eye over its wards. And it does the job unfailingly regardless of whether it is wolf, bear or wildcat which threatens. Theirs is a three part attack posture, it is said. When they see an intruder, they first put on a hair rising display of growling and barking which in itself is enough to drive all but the most hardy of mind and body. If this does not work, the Kangal mock-attacks the intruder with feints and dashes. And only if all this fails to work does it actually fall upon the unlucky intruder. However the attack only happens if the intruder is still threatening its wards and/or if the offender is still within the borders of the protected territory. Much the same type of behaviour is also said to be characteristic of the South African Boerboel. This is one of those rare mastiffs which are big but also athletic. Boerboels are even athletic enough to participate in agility contests - not bad for a breed where males frequently come up to 80 kg (176 pounds).
However one would do well to consider that many mixed breed dogs too exhibit natural and wonderful guarding tendencies. As always there are individuals from any breed or even mixed breed that can make wonderful guard dogs.
A Guard Dog trained is a guard dog for life
Lastly, owning a fully trained guard dog is something to be done very responsibly. This is no light matter to be done to earn brownie points with your friends or for idle boasting. For you may take the dog and its job lightly. But the dog itself, no matter what breed it is, does not know anything but to take every threat with the utmost seriousness - throughout its life.
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