About A Dog . . . .

So here's the situation. I am 25 year old female, I am only 4'11" and about 110 lbs. I have a 5 month old son. It seems that my relationship is not working out and I may soon be livin on my own (just me and the little man). I am a bit scared to live on my own becuase for some reason the murder and burglary rates in Orlando are skyrocketing this year. I cannot afford to live in the nicest part of town and i obviously do not have a very intimidating physical demeanor.

SO . . I was thinking about getting a dog. I was thinking maybe a shepard or something like that that could be a good guard dog. But I'm not sure becuase my son is still so young. Do any of you have experience with dogs, different breeds, and how they are around young children.?

How's it goin, Space Flower?

Yeah, Orlando hasn't been looking too good lately, has it? :l German Shepards are usually very loyal and obedient. Though I've never owned one, I've had enough friends with them to know that. The only big dogs I've really ever owned are rottweilers and dobermans. I might suggest a doberman over a rotweiller, though, but I think that any big dog that you don't raise from a puppy is a little harder to trust around young kids.

yea, I think it's all this Fing heat! :evil:

Yea I was thinking of maybe getting a rottie too. I had a g/f who had one and they were very gentle yet protective of her. I am kinda concerned about the cost of food though - they are big animals. So anyway, you think it'll be ok as long as i get them as a puppy right?

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Originally Posted by SpaceFlower

yea, I think it's all this Fing heat! :evil:
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Lol. No doubt. :chuckle:

And yeah, I don't think there is too much a risk, if you get the dog as a puppy, but remember, the dog is going to grow faster than your son, so it's going to be very important that you take disciplining it very carefully, making sure it grows up listening to you. Keep the kid out of the dog's reach, as much as possible, for a few months, unless you're going to be right there holding him, and even then, be careful. Of course I'm no expert though, so keep asking around for more advice - Maybe even a couple of pet stores or breeders.

tip 1: go for a BREEDER... not a pet store...

tip 2: go look for a GOOD breeder (you'll notice it quickly when you've encountered one with "good quality", example: they want to talk to you before you come see them (etc.)) then ask them (if they won't already do it for you) to have them choose a dog that fits in your family, or just to give a dog that looks nice enough...

tip 3: keep your son higher than the dog.... don't let the dog (in height) become bigger than him... 'cause if he does... he'll become dominant...
you can of course punish the dog... but keep in mind that a dominant PERSONALITY cannot be changed in a dog... (again: ask the breeder for a nice, non-dominant dog)

tip 4: teach him things stricly, and punish him as soon as he does something bad... but then, after a few seconds, "praise" him... (this may sound silly, but remember that a dog is a pack's animal... and when he is praised... you "welcome him back into the pack") (just stroke him a few times with: "now THAT's a good boy")

tip 5: i don't like this tip, and i've never done it, but my breeder said it: punish a dog when he's starteled by something... example: if a truck rides by, and he goes into a panic frenzy... punish him... when you do that, you say that "it's not good to be afraid of those things."
i've never done this.

tip 6: buy a normal leash and collar, not the "slip-collar"... punish the dog when he pulls too hard... but don't hang him (thats the feeling he gets when he pulls too hard)...
since we are humans, we can raise our voice and punish the dog... we don't need to hang 'em

tip 7: buy a male...
females can hardly be walked without 10 dogs ridin her... at certain times of course...
and i forgot a few other reasons...

tip 8: don't get golden retrievers or labradors as a watch dog... since they'll help carry the stuff the burglars want to their car... they are, however known to be the most friendly, and child-friendly, and sometimes, just plain idiots and oh so sad :( (since golden retriever's "normal face" can be seen as: "i'm so sad")

but anyway:

tip 9: if you're gonna buy one... you should ask the breeder (or something) for advice...

tip 10: PM me for questions, or anything else

tip 11: don't allow this:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...n/100_0690.jpg
(we don't, but we do make a picture before we ask him to leave the table (honestly: my mother treats da dog as a human being...)
and he also sleeps on the friggin' couch:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...n/100_0715.jpg


ps:
that was my (OUR!!!!) dog
http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/Cry...gAnch=imgAnch22

Hi there, Space Flower :) In the market for a guard dog, eh?

First of all, no matter what breed you decide on, you'll need to take the dog to an obedience course. Especially since you have a young child. They will teach you how to properly train your dog, and instill the baseline training commands like sit, stay, etc. Don't take any training advice from anyone except trained professionals.

You would do better to get a puppy since the window of increased learning capabilities and socialization begins to close relatively early in dogs, and you'll want the dog to become used to you and your son early on.


Breeds you may consider for getting along with kids, and guard work include: (in no particular order)
- German Shepherd (congenital problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, and epilepsy)
- Belgian Malinois
- Doberman Pinscher (congenital problems include Von Willebrand's disease, heart disease, and hypothyroidism)
- Rottweiler (congenital problems include hip dysplasia, and prone to parvo as a puppy)
- Bouvier des Flanders
- Boxer (congenital problems include heart disease, cancer, and short life span)


Breeds you don't want:
- any terriers, retrievers, or spaniels (don't make good guard dogs in general)
- Chow-Chow (horrible around kids)
- Collie (unpredictable around kids)


Of course, every dog is a product of the training it receives. So the above listed breeds aren't written in stone one way or the other - it's mostly generalizations to go on. Every dog has it's on personality. Just make sure you receive good, quality advice about training as soon as you get the dog - that's the most important thing to do to start.

Here are a couple links to sites that will give you more information about the different breeds.
AKC site (mostly talks about physical showing standards, but interesting nonetheless)
Dog Breed Info Center (discusses the temperments and behavior attributes of the different breeds)

cool!

thanx so much for the advice. I do take it seriously given my circumstances. I will definately look into getting some proffestional training - I can also keep these things in mind when I am home with my new little pup. ;)

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Originally Posted by SpaceFlower

So here's the situation. I am 25 year old female, I am only 4'11" and about 110 lbs. I have a 5 month old son. It seems that my relationship is not working out and I may soon be livin on my own (just me and the little man). I am a bit scared to live on my own becuase for some reason the murder and burglary rates in Orlando are skyrocketing this year. I cannot afford to live in the nicest part of town and i obviously do not have a very intimidating physical demeanor.

SO . . I was thinking about getting a dog. I was thinking maybe a shepard or something like that that could be a good guard dog. But I'm not sure becuase my son is still so young. Do any of you have experience with dogs, different breeds, and how they are around young children.?
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this should be in the help section. 4'11" crap thats short. if u ever saw cujo by the way ud know that german shepards are the most beastly of all dogs. also, i used to live in orlando and as long as u dont live in the like inner city its an arrite place, and theres always tons to do which is good. hope u get your problems solved.

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Originally Posted by mountain

if u ever saw cujo by the way ud know that german shepards are the most beastly of all dogs.
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Cujo was a St. Bernard. :wink:

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

Cujo was a St. Bernard. :wink:
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pah he was a st. bern... but what... no actulyy i think ur right. buuuuuut..... he was a german shepard in the book./

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Originally Posted by mountain

pah he was a st. bern... but what... no actulyy i think ur right. buuuuuut..... he was a german shepard in the book./
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No, it was a St. Bernard in the book as well. You must be thinking of some other rabid dog story. :P

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Originally Posted by TygrHawk

No, it was a St. Bernard in the book as well. You must be thinking of some other rabid dog story. :P[/b]

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:chuckle:

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Originally Posted by Burns

:chuckle:
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i dont think i know anything about stephen king books... well at least not that one.

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4'11" crap thats short.[/b]

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yea, trust me I've heard it my whole life :oops:


anyhow, I always assumed I would wanna female dog.

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tip 7: buy a male...
females can hardly be walked without 10 dogs ridin her... at certain times of course...
and i forgot a few other reasons...[/b]

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In the same sense I might get kinda freaked by havin a big male dog around when he is in heat. I've seen my friends dogs during this - the males kinda freak me out sometimes.


What the heck is a St.Bernard? Is that the Beethoven dog?

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Originally Posted by SpaceFlower

What the heck is a St.Bernard? Is that the Beethoven dog?
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Yup. Now just imagine Beethoven with Rabies. That's like having a very pissed-off Bear living in your house. lol.

The easiest way to keep males away from a female dog is just to fix her. When we had our last black lab, Amy, we had her fixed as soon as we could and we never had a problem with male dogs coming by. But it just depends on if you want her to have puppies or not.

Thank you, Ame.

Rule #1 - Spay or Neuter your pets!

There are already enough people calling themselves "breeders" that don't know shit about breeding animals. They think they will make some easy money buy selling the offspring, but there are already too many homeless and unwanted dogs and cats in the world, and the average person has no business "breeding" a dog (or any other animal) just for profit.

Spay (female) or neuter (male) your dog when you get her/him - it will save you a ton of behavioral issues down the line - including dominant, aggressive behavior, wandering the neighborhood creating more unwanted stray animals, and cancer or other serious diseases like pyometra down the line.

There is no truth in the myth about letting a female have a litter before spaying. Actually, her risk of mammary cancer and pyometra greatly increases as soon as she has her first heat (around 6 mos of age). Spay her around 5 months, before her first heat cycle, to keep her healthier for longer. I'm not sure how that myth got started, but there is absolutely no truth in it - it actually does A LOT more harm than good.

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Originally Posted by Burns

Thank you, Ame.

Rule #1 - Spay or Neuter your pets!

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wow somebody got pissed when i said drop a tv on his guinea pig and buy a new one as a joke. but rule 1 spay or neuter your pets. ill just say this. id rather have somebody drop a tv on me then cut my nuts off. u guys are the most sadistic psychopaths i ever met (except for everyone else ive ever met who nuetered there pets... so thats like... everybody...)

Or....maybe we just don't want 10 new pets every few months.

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Originally Posted by Gorky

Or....maybe we just don't want 10 new pets every few months.
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drop tvs on them.

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id rather have somebody drop a tv on me then cut my nuts off. u guys are the most sadistic psychopaths i ever met (except for everyone else ive ever met who nuetered there pets... so thats like... everybody...)[/b]

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Don't worry mountain we won't hurt you. :)

Wow, eversince you decided to stick up for animal nuts I cannot help but see your avatar as a little bit falic

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Originally Posted by SpaceFlower

Don't worry mountain we won't hurt you. :)

Wow, eversince you decided to stick up for animal nuts I cannot help but see your avatar as a little bit falic
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the mountain looks like a penis? I... dont see it. whose penis have you seen that looks like that?

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Originally Posted by mountain

u guys are the most sadistic psychopaths i ever met (except for everyone else ive ever met who nuetered there pets... so thats like... everybody...)[/b]

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Too bad they don't make sterilization in some people mandatory. :shakehead2:

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Originally Posted by Burns

Too bad they don't make sterilization in some people mandatory. :shakehead2:
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ouch.

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Originally Posted by mountain

ouch.[/b]

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Sorry man, but you walked right into that one. :P :wink:

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Originally Posted by Burns

Sorry man, but you walked right into that one. :P :wink:
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i guess so...

mountain what happened to your bible fight avatar?

I don't know who it was that said collies could be unpredictable but i'm going to disagree.
My mother had a rough collie before i was born, and i grew up with it. He was the gentlest, most loving dog i've ever owned.
That dog taught me to walk, and he was an excellent guard dog, but he would never harm any one in his own family.
He was very obedient (as these dogs are) and very well trained.
THe only drawback with this breed is the coat, it needs brushing all the time.
If a dog is raised correctly, there should be no problems, although for what it's worth i prefer bigger dogs to the smaller ones.
Ever thought of getting a greyhound?
they are sweet and gentle, and will bark if someone comes to the door.
I had those as a kid as well.
They are quite loving towards children.
The most important thing i can say about dogs and children is that the child has to learn to respect the dog.
If a child is going to climb up on a dog when its sleeping and pull it's ears, you can't really blame the dog for defending itself.
Dogs aren't toys. they need their space, just like we do.
Admittedly, some dogs are nasty, but if you get one from a good breeder you shouldnt' have that problem.
Good luck in your search, and i hope you find a dog that becomes a life long companion and best friend as well as a guard dog.