"junoexpress" wrote in message
...

OTOH, when I do take the dog out where there are
people, I want to be in control of the dog. I want to be able to walk
the dog on a city street without fear that it will injure a small
child that might cross our path. But then again, on the *other* other
hand, if I am walking and accosted by someone who does mean me harm,
then I'd want the guard dog to kick in independently.

So, you see, that's my dilemma: I want a protection dog that is
independent (i.e it will take action if it has to without being told),
while at the same time, I want the dog to be obedient to me so I am
able to be able to control the dog. And this is where I am told the
socialization makes the difference: it basically teaches the dog what
is not threatening.

I am usually the lone person plugging the Shar Pei in here.

My first Shar Pei was extremely well socialized, and anyone could walk up
and pet him. I could let people in the house while I was home, and he would
be calm and (for a Pei) friendly. However, you couldn't grab me, and you
couldn't grab the kids unless I gave permission. He would gently "herd" the
kids away from strangers, when they were toddlers. There was great
deterrent value in having a dog with a big head that looked bulldoggish;
people fear them.

Which brings up another point, perhaps the most important one. Bad guys are
afraid of dogs, period. A reasonably-sized dog (say, 40 lbs and up) of
almost any breed will cause most jerks to pick on someone without a dog.
Many dogs will protect their owners, and you don't know which will and which
won't until the situation arises (unless your dog has protection training).
The list of breeds that have physically driven off intruders/attackers is
long, and to some it's also surprising, running the gamut from breeds you'd
expect (Rottweilers) to breeds that you wouldn't (Springer Spaniels).

Despite living out in the country or in a small rural town, you are required
to keep control of your dog. You won't be able to open the door and let him
run loose without supervision unless you've got a good fence. A large,
high-energy breed could be a problem for you in that you'd have to leash and
exercise him, just like if you lived in a big city.

If you want complete protection "reliability," the best choice might be any
breed that strikes your fancy and barks, and a concealed weapon permit so
you can carry a gun. I'd recommend a firearm at home anyway, if you're in a
situation where law enforcement could be a long time arriving (which is
almost anywhere, these days).

flick 100785