Scary Breeds
- Thread starter JayBear
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Are we going for just scary to look at or something that will actually protect you?
People will likely avoid you if you're walking anything big that isn't generally recognized as a super friendly breed. So if you're walking a golden retriever or saint bernard people might assume it's going to be friendly and not be wary of it because they have a very friendly reputation.
You can find a shelter mutt that looks intimidating, especially a mastiff type mix or german shepherd mix. If you're going for purebred I'd start by figuring out what other traits you need to be able to live with and then see which intimidating looking breeds match what else you're looking for. Lots of breeds look scary, but you need to be able to live with them too.
If you want a dog that will actually protect you that's different. You'll need to figure out if you're really the right person for that sort of dog and you'll need to do a lot of socializing and then training.
People will likely avoid you if you're walking anything big that isn't generally recognized as a super friendly breed. So if you're walking a golden retriever or saint bernard people might assume it's going to be friendly and not be wary of it because they have a very friendly reputation.
You can find a shelter mutt that looks intimidating, especially a mastiff type mix or german shepherd mix. If you're going for purebred I'd start by figuring out what other traits you need to be able to live with and then see which intimidating looking breeds match what else you're looking for. Lots of breeds look scary, but you need to be able to live with them too.
If you want a dog that will actually protect you that's different. You'll need to figure out if you're really the right person for that sort of dog and you'll need to do a lot of socializing and then training.
The fencing club I belonged to a few years ago was located in a bad area of downtown for awhile, and my 17 inch, 40 lb tri-color terrier mix was big enough to make strangers ask if he (actually a she) was friendly or would bite. My answer was always, yeah, she bites, and they would cross the street to avoid us. Another fencer usually brought her Rhodesian Ridgeback to practice, a lovely well-mannered boy, and people on the street always gave her a wide berth when she was walking to or from her car with him.
People who don't know much about dogs usually tend to avoid the ones larger than a toy breed.
People who don't know much about dogs usually tend to avoid the ones larger than a toy breed.
yes I used to live on edge of town where there was an high Indian Asian population. At that time I had a young black lab mix and many of them were scared of her. Though when I later moved to a village there were several black labs and dogs with varying degrees of black on them and people were very friendly and wanted to make a fuss of her. As she got older with more silver on her face (so obviously old) people weren't as wary of her.
My collie though is a fluffball and everyone wants to fuss him cos they think he's gorgeous and he loves a cuddle!
I was thinking of a black staffy as next dog so probably be smaller in height than my collie but people still seem to find them quite scary. Know a few staffy owners who've told me other dog owners won't let their dogs play with their staffies.
My collie though is a fluffball and everyone wants to fuss him cos they think he's gorgeous and he loves a cuddle!
I was thinking of a black staffy as next dog so probably be smaller in height than my collie but people still seem to find them quite scary. Know a few staffy owners who've told me other dog owners won't let their dogs play with their staffies.
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Generally dog savvy people might be wary of letting their dogs play with staffys or bully breeds because of their tendency to be DA. It may be different elsewhere, but here many people own pit bull type dogs and there's a lot of education and out reach, both BSL and housing discrimination by breed are illegal here, so most people aren't going to be any more frightened by a staffy than a similarly sized dog. That might be different in an area with BSL.
If a collie fits you, a smooth collie in tricolor may be a good choice! They have much less of the "Lassie" association so don't give off the same impression.
If a collie fits you, a smooth collie in tricolor may be a good choice! They have much less of the "Lassie" association so don't give off the same impression.
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I should also note that while different breeds and sizes may get a very broad range of responses from the public (ie lots of people will assume a golden is friendly or a shepherd will defend you), it's going to be very very unusual for a criminal looking for a random target to rob, mug, jump, etc to pick anyone with any dog whatsoever. A dog is a deterrent, period. Even if they don't defend you, they're going to be in the way of an attack, or bark to attact attention, and even if they run off it means people will look for the owner - and if they find them recently attacked, they'll look for the suspect quickly. Just having a dog at all is going to seriously decrease your chances of being targeted in a random crime.
Same goes for a house or apartment. Even if they know a dog is friendly, criminals don't typically want to deal with barking or the chance the dog might slip out and be brought back by neighbors in the middle of a robbery. Houses with dogs DO get broken into, but not nearly as much as homes without.
Same goes for a house or apartment. Even if they know a dog is friendly, criminals don't typically want to deal with barking or the chance the dog might slip out and be brought back by neighbors in the middle of a robbery. Houses with dogs DO get broken into, but not nearly as much as homes without.
Depends on what you are looking for. Looks, or "real" protection.
This dog looks ferocious, barks at the door, shows his teeth, and barks on command...he will not protect me.
Kastle Protection 11.11.12-60 by Falon167, on Flickr
This dog is far more likely to pick up on odd behavior, recognize a threat, and bite someone that forcefully enters my house.
2014-07-05, Jentry & Eden-10 by Falon167, on Flickr
They are both equally wonderful with strangers, visitors, and are my take anywhere, do anything dogs.
This dog looks ferocious, barks at the door, shows his teeth, and barks on command...he will not protect me.
This dog is far more likely to pick up on odd behavior, recognize a threat, and bite someone that forcefully enters my house.
They are both equally wonderful with strangers, visitors, and are my take anywhere, do anything dogs.
Depends on what you are looking for. Looks, or "real" protection.
This dog looks ferocious, barks at the door, shows his teeth, and barks on command...he will not protect me.
Kastle Protection 11.11.12-60 by Falon167, on Flickr
This dog is far more likely to pick up on odd behavior, recognize a threat, and bite someone that forcefully enters my house.
2014-07-05, Jentry & Eden-10 by Falon167, on Flickr
They are both equally wonderful with strangers, visitors, and are my take anywhere, do anything dogs.
This dog looks ferocious, barks at the door, shows his teeth, and barks on command...he will not protect me.
This dog is far more likely to pick up on odd behavior, recognize a threat, and bite someone that forcefully enters my house.
They are both equally wonderful with strangers, visitors, and are my take anywhere, do anything dogs.
I wouldn't want a second dog too big. I was thinking of a small black staffy. I know a few staffy owners round here who have said other dog owners won't let their dogs play with their staffies, so they're obviously a breed people are wary of over here (UK..we have BSL)
My only worry though as we have BSL is if the dog was found to be 'of type' as they are taken away by the police here and put down unless you can afford to go through courts to get your dog exemption.
A actual guardian breed that is legal in the U.K.
If your looking for now I would look at the U.K.'s mastiff rescue.
This is a picture of my puppy Mouse at 16 months and yes he is very protective of the wife and the grandkids.
If me or wife are not here no one is allowed in the yard let alone inside the house at night when it's bed time.
edit: Ops not sure if your uk or not, saw the BSL stuff and assumed. If you are or are not Mastiff rescues can be found pretty easy U.S. or U.K.
There a bit more on the budget though.
If your looking for now I would look at the U.K.'s mastiff rescue.
This is a picture of my puppy Mouse at 16 months and yes he is very protective of the wife and the grandkids.
If me or wife are not here no one is allowed in the yard let alone inside the house at night when it's bed time.
edit: Ops not sure if your uk or not, saw the BSL stuff and assumed. If you are or are not Mastiff rescues can be found pretty easy U.S. or U.K.
There a bit more on the budget though.
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The 2nd dog is a Corgi, not a collie. 
We had a Corgi (X Beagle) growing up I'd have liked another but they are a hard to get over here as on endangered (of becoming extinct cos of too few registrations) list. I don't think I'd get one as I'd prefer a girl but wouldn't want to breed form her.
I guess my collie may get on with another male dog, his collie buddy he plays with is male.