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#21
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
said in
rec.pets.dogs.breeds: In the future (next year or so) I want to add another dog to our family and I want a dog that, on looks alone, will be a deterrent to any uninvited person attempting to enter our fenced yard/closed gate. Have you seen the Discovery show "It Takes a Thief"? http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/it...takesathief.ht ml I've seen the "thief" in this show befriend a number of different dogs, from Pit Bulls to Spaniels. IMO, the best deterrent, if it has to be a dog, it the yappiest one going. Appearance is not a deterrent because not everyone is afraid of appearances. The best you can hope for, from a dog, is noise. -- --Matt. Rocky's a Dog. |
#22
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 03:45:42 GMT, Rocky wrote:
IMO, the best deterrent, if it has to be a dog, it the yappiest one going. Appearance is not a deterrent because not everyone is afraid of appearances. The best you can hope for, from a dog, is noise. Then I'd suggest a Sheltie! -- Lynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ "First get your facts; then you may distort them at your leisure." -- Mark Twain |
#23
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
"Lynne" wrote in message: I wonder if 80 lbs is too high of a goal. I'm a pretty small person. I have picked Khan up, although I am only about 20 pounds heavier than he is. It is not something I'd choose to do, but it is something I can do if I have to. However, I'm not sure I can hoist him long enough to get him out of the house, and get him into the SUV. I do have a doggie ramp (that not even my friend's crippled dog would use) stowed away, just in case I have to improvise. I'm not sure I can lift Pan. For now, I'll just have to be religious about hitting the gym, and hope for the best. Suja |
#24
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
Lynne said in
rec.pets.dogs.breeds: The best you can hope for, from a dog, is noise. Then I'd suggest a Sheltie! That's what came to my mind first, but I don't think that specific breed recommendations are appropriate when we don't have a whole lot of information from the OP. -- --Matt. Rocky's a Dog. |
#25
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 03:50:52 GMT, Rocky wrote:
That's what came to my mind first, but I don't think that specific breed recommendations are appropriate when we don't have a whole lot of information from the OP. You are absolutely correct and I shouldn't have suggested any breed! Note my recommendation to the OP to thoroughly research any breeds she is considering. I sincerely hope she does, since Shelties (like most breeds) aren't for everyone. I actually settled on Shelties years ago after starting off looking for a large breed. Go figure. -- Lynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ "First get your facts; then you may distort them at your leisure." -- Mark Twain |
#26
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
Michael A. Ball wrote in
: On Tue, 02 Jan 2007 02:20:09 GMT, Paula wrote: People who come to our house are always leery of our GSD's. Oddly enough, they tend to be more afraid of Gunther than Molly even though Molly is very protective while Gunther has never met a person he didn't want to walk right up and talk into petting him. Is Gunther darker, or perhaps have a darker muzzle? Actually, Molly is far darker. Gunther is your classic mostly brown with some black mixed in GSD. Molly is black with only some tan. I don't have a website up, but here are links to Gunther's picture from the rescue I got them from: http://www.coastalgsr.org/gunther.htm Molly's picture is in there, but if you do the Molly.htm, it is a different Molly. Look at the 2005 adoptees, down toward the end of the page and she's there in the big list of pictures. Black face, radar ears. Actually, she looks a little goofy in the picture, but she never ever looks like that around the people who are afraid of Gunther. That's a pure playing with family only look. http://www.coastalgsr.org/GSR-Adopted_2005.htm Gunther also has a goofy look on his face and his ears don't stick straight up at attention like he's watching your every move, like Molly's do. He is about 20 pounds heavier and has a stockier build, so maybe she looks more refined or something. I don't know. She's usually the one that is barking while he is just sitting there waiting for the person at the door to come in so he can figure out how to convince them to pet him. Paula |
#27
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
Shelly wrote in
. 4: I dunno. If I had had that sort of experience, I'd lock my damned gate. What I would *not* do is count on my dogs to protect me either by their actions or by their appearance or even by their mere presence. I lock my gate AND count on my dogs to protect me by their appearance. Don't really count on it, actually, but I like the fact that people think twice about my big dogs. I'm not going to put them in harm's way, but if harm came my way, it's nice to know that I wouldn't be the easiest target on the path. OTOH, if someone really wants to get at you personally, like the stalker concern, the dog isn't going to have the same deterrent value. Someone just looking for a handy house to burglarize will go on to a house that is easier to access, but someone who wants you specifically can get around a dog easier than an alarm system. Paula |
#28
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
On 2 Jan 2007 02:47:19 GMT, Shelly wrote:
wrote in oups.com: ... With the exception of the Mastiff/Great Dane recommendation, what was the point of most of those other replies? I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not about to recommend a breed or type of dog to someone who has provided absolutely no information about what their lifestyle is like, or what traits they do and do not want in a dog. Dogs are not automatons, so breed X might suit you while breed Y would be a disastrous fit. Whew! No kidding! That's an excellent observation. For my self, I have a clear answer, but I can't give that answer because I don't want that particular breed in the hands of just anyone. ___________________ A dog's life is too short; their only fault really. |
#29
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
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#30
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Scariest LOOKING breeds, public perception?
"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message ... On 1 Jan 2007 18:21:27 -0800, wrote: Good grief. With the exception of the Mastiff/Great Dane recommendation, what was the point of most of those other replies?... Relax. Some folks were merely trying to add a bit of levity. Its not easy to give an objective answer to your question. No one here knows you. You might be a bit anti social--which is probably okay with most folks here. However, you also seem very easily riled, and I don't think dogs should be around such folks. Do you happen to have one of those "Beware of Dog" signs on your gate or near the door bell? That sign wouldn't slow me down much, but your "Please, ring bell" sign would probably stop me. If the doorbell failed, and I truly needed to speak with you, your dog's appearance--including teeth--would probably not stop me. I see that the folks you're most interesting in repelling are, let's say, average; which means they are more of an annoyance than a threat. Size and shape will repel most folks; however, little yappers, which serve as "alerters" or alarms, would probably be best for you. A nervous Chihuahua or a territorial terrier should work well for you. From observation, dogs with dark, preferably black, muzzles are more intimidating that dogs with white or blond muzzles. A dog with dark eyes and a dark muzzle works great because their face is hard to read. Hair over the eyes can work. I think perhaps my dog Muttley may fit the image of a scary dog, and he has backed that up (unfortunately) with inappropriate use of his teeth. You can read more about him and see what he looks like at www.smart.net/~pstech/MuttleyStory.htm. It is possible that he had been bred by drug dealers to have the characteristics of other dogs thought of as intimidating or scary: German Shepherd, Chow, Boxer, and Pit Bull. He is a solid, powerful 75 lb or so, and has a large head with a black mask, and brown eyes. He was a rescue from a bad neighborhood in Baltimore, and he was an Alpha pack master of 3 other dogs including a black Lab and a Rotweiler. He is not really a terribly dangerous or aggressive dog, but he has shown some very serious dog aggression, and he did bite someone after he was unintentionally provoked. He has calmed down a lot since I got him nearly a year ago, and he has met many new people without problems. However, he is initially a bit fearful, and is usually somewhat aloof, even with me. In that behavior he seems almost a bit wolf-like, as I noticed with a friend's half-wolf. He was a nice animal, but his rather cold and distant, almost feral, stare was slightly intimidating and commanded respect. If you really want a dog that might scare people to keep their distance, I would suggest checking with Animal Control, shelters, and Humane Societies for dogs who have not had good luck being homed. Look for a dog that is large, obviously powerful, and somewhat wolf-like in size and demeanor. You don't want a truly dangerous dog, but one who is initially wary of you is likely to scare off a stranger. You don't want a dog that instantly takes to you and acts goofy and subservient. Such a dog might make a wonderful pet but will not be what you want. The only problem I see with a dog like Muttley is that he may be very aggressive toward your other dog, and it could get ugly if he wants to assert dominance. I'm really a novice with dogs, and have been criticised a lot here, but I think I have done a good job with Muttley and he is now family. And the only thing I fear when walking him at night is that he could get loose and cause injury to someone or another pet, so I must take precautions and will need to work with him and probably a good trainer or behaviorist. Good luck, Paul and Muttley. |
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