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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
  
Location: Northwest | rpreast - 2018-01-31 7:58 AM
I would imagine they'd be hard to find, but we have a Great Pyrenees/Akbash cross, and NOTHING gets past him. He is a big big dog with the shorter hair of the Akbash, and he is not the dog I'd want to come across if I didn't know him. He's caught a couple people snooping around the neighbors tractors (he has permission to be over there, they love him) and chased them off, and he keeps the coyotes/mountain lions/bears far far away from our place. Heck he's brought back legs of coyotes. But to people he knows, he's the most love-able, snuggly, easy to be around dog in the world. The kittens used to sleep curled up at his side. Once he accepts someone/something as a part of his family, there's no need to worry about him.
I've actually had this exact cross! I loved him. He was amazing with our immediate family and very standoffish to strangers. We didn't live at our current property when he was with us so I'm not sure if they are wander-ers or not. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
 
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | My Heelers were my best guard dogs ever.  | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Dachshunds. Loudest guard dog we've ever had  | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | We used to raise a Callahoula/Pit Mix for hog dogs. We liked their height/weight/attitude toward strangers.
We now have an Aussie (standard) Pit mix that won't let a stranger out of their car.
She's bitten a few mailmen and strangers.... She latches and doesn't release...  | |
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Veteran
Posts: 152
| The pyreneese will bark. Mine is a cross, but when she's barking, you know something isn't right... or someone is at the house! She also has a fairly aggressive side. She sure doesn't look it, but she's big and she'll "fake attack" anyone she feels shouldn't be walking on the property. She's never bit anyone, but it'll put a good scare into someone who's not aware. Best kind of guard dog I can ask for. Otherwise, she's loyal and gentle and the best dog I've ever owned. I'd have another one in a heart beat.
Edited by DarlingQHs 2018-01-31 4:38 PM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| 07milch - 2018-01-31 12:36 PM
rpreast - 2018-01-31 7:58 AM
I would imagine they'd be hard to find, but we have a Great Pyrenees/Akbash cross, and NOTHING gets past him. He is a big big dog with the shorter hair of the Akbash, and he is not the dog I'd want to come across if I didn't know him. He's caught a couple people snooping around the neighbors tractors (he has permission to be over there, they love him) and chased them off, and he keeps the coyotes/mountain lions/bears far far away from our place. Heck he's brought back legs of coyotes. But to people he knows, he's the most love-able, snuggly, easy to be around dog in the world. The kittens used to sleep curled up at his side. Once he accepts someone/something as a part of his family, there's no need to worry about him.
I've actually had this exact cross! I loved him. He was amazing with our immediate family and very standoffish to strangers. We didn't live at our current property when he was with us so I'm not sure if they are wander-ers or not.
How funny! He does tend to move around. The neighbors behind us have a few thousand acres and he's claimed the stuff directly behind us as his (they're ok with it) and he patrols regularly. The one time he went missing, he found another neighbors herd of goats and was hanging with them during the day lol | |
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Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | I think it's a crap shoot and to know what you work with personality-wise. But here is my novel about my experiences. Our Pit Bull/Great Pyrenees mix was perfect for us. Our dogs are indoor/outdoor. Random 12 week old kill shelter puppy I came across after 2 failed attempts to buy a registered guard-breed puppy. Ours did as you're wanting, keeping people in their car or behind the ranch gate, kept herself between us and anyone even as we opened the front door. Would run to and take hold of ne'er-do-wells caught trying to break into our barn in NM until the sheriff could get there. Would send her outside day or night to locate any threat and she always knew what to do on her own from very young. We also had regular visits from mounain lions, we had *many* bears on the place out and about year round.
Knowing the Pit side was there and not at all sure of the early socialization or parent termperaments and raised in a kill shelter, my 1st requirement was that she was respectful of and listened to my 3 and 4 yr. old at the time. She passed all the socialization tests. Once I had her grasping simple commands, my kids put her through obedience on-leash individually. Thus, she has always respected them as alpha, been their sibling, their tv watching pillow, their guardian - was pasted to their sides at all times on her own while on ranch or in the yard, 100% trustworthy she guarded them with her life and ran off many bears along with human scumbags. She also was 100% under voice command. We wanted a guard dog not a legal liability. She's 12 this year and her non-stop life has caught up to her, tired body, overworked joints, the life of a working dog, this may be her last year with us.
The new addition is a Pit Bull/Border Collie who was 5 months old when we got her last Fall. COMPLETELY different dog. She's sweet as can be, loves *everyone* she's ever met, a mostly non-vocal dog, and is terrified of livestock. (Guess she won't chase them so neighboring ranchers won't be shooting at her). We had bought her to pick up the job the other is retiring from and we prefer Pit-mixes. She's just a big puppy loving puppy life vs. the other who assumed the job from the get-go. We will be moving to the ranch here in TX and it does have illegals coming to the door - no bueno. Not sure I can talk DH into another dog right away. (we already have 5 and I snuck this one home)
Good luck with your choice, I won't own a German Shepherd, been bitten severely 3 separate times in my life, just walking by on a sidewalk each time, owners right there. Too unpredictable for me. 2 more white ones a client owned killed and maimed Mini broodmares and foals in her pastures, despite having lived with them for 4 years. I came up on that carnage myself. Not interested in some breeds of cattle dogs either. The 2 heelers I had over the years were quirky and aggressive with everyone as they matured, one I got as a very little orphaned puppy. He took to one of our ranch hands as a grown dog and would bite everyone else, male or female. Another I took in as a younger grown dog. She wasn't as bad as the earlier male but they both needed a different person than I am and there was no call-back on them despite years of trying. Have had other people's Aussies kill livestock and my parents Aussie killed one of my little dogs without provocation. My parents had a show barn growing up and our Mastiff/St. Bernard, another kill shelter find who was already mature, was a *fantastic* property and family protector. We also had Doberman's and Rhodesian Ridgebacks growing up but the latter isn't for everyone and our Dobies were always a little on the sensitive side. Their biggest tool was looking the part, not acting the part, which worked for our barn situation at the time. My husband and I have had the best luck with the Bully breeds-mixes.
Born protector:
The backs of her eyelids are what she most often keeps her eyes on. Puppy life Pibble smile.
RBF is her only weapon. Scares strangers from a distance anyway.
Edited by Tilt The Kilt 2018-01-31 5:09 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| I think it all depends on the dog's personality! I have a red heeler that is the best guard dog ever. He barks only when someone pulls into our driveway and will guard if he needs to, he looks pretty mean and most people won't get out of their cars. Once I call him off he's friendly. I've trained him well ever since he was a puppy to NEVER step foot in a horse pen or arena and so he doesn't bother horses. He is gentle enough that he sleeps curled up with all our cats yet kills any wild animal that comes on our property. Barks at the coyotes to keep them away, and is super friendly to kids. He guards our chickens and horses and he knows when something isn't right and he will run to the front door and bark until we follow him outside. You just gotta find your Unicorn dog no matter what breed! :) | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 246
Location: Idaho | I have an Anatolian Shepard. He is by far the most intelligent dog ive known. He is a livestock guardian dog. So he does not chase horses, cows, cats, our cow dogs, goats, ponies or any other animal on our place or our neighbors. He is a big 90-100lb dog and can flat out run. He will chase deer, crows and elk. Ive personally witnessed him kill several coyotes - thats what he is bred to do. He is socialized to people so he loves his family. But has a big bark and presence if someone new comes on the place. He has a good judge of character. There are people he is cool with and others that he gives his warning bark to and darts around with his heckles up. His judgemwnt is pretty spot on. Hes kept a few people in their cars. He is like a cat though. You cannot tell him what to do. He does what he wants when he wants. He cannot be tied up or locked up, its in his nature to roam and protect. I have one neighbor who is scared to death of him thinking he will attack his grandchildren. But i know that dog has never and would never go out and bite or attack someone for no reason, especially children.. He goes with me when i ride but he will not get in a vehicle unless you trick him and wrestle him in. They are great dogs if you have enough room for them. Definitely do the homework on one of these dogs to decide if they fit your needs, but if they do, great dogs!
Edited by TSlashO 2018-01-31 5:45 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Catahoula Leopard Dog! They are the best at being protective family dogs however they might possibly bother the horses and are hard to keep in a fenced in area. Doberman Pinscher is another great one. I have one who is extremely attentive and pretty protective. She’s excellent wifh the family and anyone who we are comfortable with but if the person or animal seems unwanted she fiercely protects. She’s actually a Catahoula/Doberman mix we adopted. Same with the purebred Catahoula we had - would do anything to protect you from any perceived threat. He did not warm up to strangers like my Doberman mix does though. He kept his eye on them at all times, but the most loving family dog. | |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| I guess I should clarify, mine is a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepard cross, he doesn't wander BUT we had him neutered. A guy at work had a brother of my dog whom he didn't have neutered and he wandered a TON. Mine stays on the property. I can't imagine mine would bite someone BUT nobody has ever challenged him either. Our kitties curl up on him when it's cold and he protects our chickens too. Before we got him, the coyotes got all my chickens and barn cats. Now he keeps everybody safe!  | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Also wanted to add that the corgi I had was very aware of any noises or things that sounded/looked out of the ordinary. He would bark ferociously, but was friendly to everyone so not much of a protector. My dachshund is deaf, but he barks pretty fiercely at anyone who is coming near our property. That's the only time he barks. Catahoula is still definitely my pick for a protective guard dog that's also a great family dog. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| Griz - 2018-02-01 4:54 AM
I guess I should clarify, mine is a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepard cross, he doesn't wander BUT we had him neutered. A guy at work had a brother of my dog whom he didn't have neutered and he wandered a TON. Mine stays on the property. I can't imagine mine would bite someone BUT nobody has ever challenged him either. Our kitties curl up on him when it's cold and he protects our chickens too. Before we got him, the coyotes got all my chickens and barn cats. Now he keeps everybody safe!
We got an Anatolian/Queensland to help the Great Pyrenees/Akbash out with his duties... *eye roll*
She WILL chase off unwelcome animals.
She would also get in the car and happily go home with the burglars. Friendliest dog I've ever had in my life, and I'm fairly certain that didn't come from the queensland in her. | |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | I've been around all your common ranch and guardian type dogs all my life. I will be getting my son a boerboel after he and wife are finished foaling all my grandkids. The temperment of that breed is family friendly and wonderful protectors of their clan. My mother raised and trained German Shephards and Working Border Collies. We currently have 5 Great Pyrenees on the ranch patrolling. I don't know how others keep them in certian pastures. Ours are all over pretty much covering 15 mile radius. If the hunters on the ranches next to us call in coyotes those dogs are there to spoil the hunt and take the kill. My husband had to run a male out of our yard (trying to get to our working BC) the other day and he bowed up pretty bad, dog was lucky husband was in a good mood. They just are not that family friendly to me. Look up the boerboel breed it just may be what your wanting. I have a friend that travels to Africa that I will trust to bring us a good one. I know there's pretty good breeders here stateside too. | |
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Member
Posts: 5
| My boss has an Akita, very intimidating to "non family". You won't be getting near the house or shop unless my boss is outside, then he's perfectly friendly. Loves, loves my kids even though he only sees them on occasion. From discussing them with my boss, and he's had several, they are very trainable, loyal, and territorial whether with people or animals that don't belong there. I'd seriously consider one if I didn't already have my heelers.
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| My husband grew up with German Shepherds, and we share property with his father that owns a male and female. The male is a kitten and nearly "worthless" when it comes to being a guard dog, but that female is SKETCHY - in a good way! When I moved onto the farm she didn't bother me because she was somewhat familiar with me, but for the first few months she would watch me when I drove up and got out of my car. Now she doesn't pay attention when I drive in. My husbands cousin came over one day to drop something off in our garage and she cornered him and wouldn't let him out of the garage. Fortunately there was a side door he slipped out of. Our FedEx/UPS drivers use caution with her, also. Based on my experience with her, I can see where others said it is best if they are raised with your family. They are very loyal dogs, and it is rare for my FILs to wander. He has a hard time getting the female to not follow him out to the field during planting/harvest because she so badly wants to always be by him.
These German Shepherds have not once ever lifted their heads to even look at my horses, much less consider messing with them.
Edited by WrapN3MN 2018-02-02 2:45 PM
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | donk - 2018-01-31 11:26 AM
Will a Great Pyrenees bark if people drive up? I've heard they are gentle natured.
They are gentle natured but are very protective still. Every morning I run past a place that has a Great Pyrenees and as soon as he sees me, he's barking at me until I'm past 'his' property. He's never been aggressive, but he doesn't let me go unnoticed. | |
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | I have a dobie who is the world's worst guard dog...but he will stand on the couch and bark if someone pulls in the drive. I have to hope that's deterrent enough, because if you come in the house he's licking your hand before you can even get the door open. I do wonder if I was stressed about someone trying to get in my house if his demeanor would change, because he's attached to me like glue. He is eternally patient with my two boys (6 and 2) and they crawl all over him and put crap on him all the time. We had a female dobie growing up, and she was the stereotype that everyone is afraid of. You touch her ****, or come too close to her territory and you were gonna lose an appendage. Extremely obedient and my mom could call her down in a millisecond, but no one else could. She tolerated my siblings and I, and guarded us--would have never hurt us--but I don't think she liked us particularly...it was her job. I've got tons of stories of that dog scaring the stuffing out of people...
I also have a young aussie who is extremely happy go lucky, but I've seen him get dead serious protective a few times now. He chased a coyote out of my yard twice last Saturday morning that was not nearly enough worried about me or the dogs being outside, and way too interested in my chickens.
I've had an aussie or multiples my entire life. Very few have ever wandered--tho my current pup had a bad habit for a while of running to my neighbors because he kept a free feeder out. Finally caught him in the act and punished him and he hasn't gone off my property since with the exception of the coyote chasing. They all were protective and obedient, extremely intelligent, and great with their kids.
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Member
Posts: 47
| TSlashO - 2018-01-31 5:42 PM
I have an Anatolian Shepard. He is by far the most intelligent dog ive known. He is a livestock guardian dog. So he does not chase horses, cows, cats, our cow dogs, goats, ponies or any other animal on our place or our neighbors. He is a big 90-100lb dog and can flat out run. He will chase deer, crows and elk. Ive personally witnessed him kill several coyotes - thats what he is bred to do. He is socialized to people so he loves his family. But has a big bark and presence if someone new comes on the place. He has a good judge of character. There are people he is cool with and others that he gives his warning bark to and darts around with his heckles up. His judgemwnt is pretty spot on. Hes kept a few people in their cars. He is like a cat though. You cannot tell him what to do. He does what he wants when he wants. He cannot be tied up or locked up, its in his nature to roam and protect. I have one neighbor who is scared to death of him thinking he will attack his grandchildren. But i know that dog has never and would never go out and bite or attack someone for no reason, especially children.. He goes with me when i ride but he will not get in a vehicle unless you trick him and wrestle him in. They are great dogs if you have enough room for them. Definitely do the homework on one of these dogs to decide if they fit your needs, but if they do, great dogs!
This is easier than posting my recommendation for Anatolians. Very well developed guard dogs. I have done herding classes with a lady who breeds them and I was very impressed with them.
As always, each dog is an individual and knowing the breeder and parents will help you know what you're getting. Ensure your pup's parents have had hips and elbows done and have the breeder SHOW you the results. Have known of working border collie breeders who tell puppy buyers "Oh yes hips and elbows have been done".. Oh ya theyve been done alright and the dogs failed the OFA 
Depending on the breed, you will want eyes, echo, vWD, etc. Seriously look into the genetic diseases that are most common with your breed and ensure your breeder has tested and will provide results on both parents and you'll be on the right track | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: SoCal | Love our Great Pyrenees. His dad was a wanderer, but we got him neutered around a year old and he stays in our yard. Gentle with children, wary of adults. He's gotten better as he's gotten older (he's about 9 years old now, looking to get another to help take over his duties), but when he was younger he wouldn't stop barking at someone even if we were there with them. I'm mainly out with him with the horses and when people are there, so long as I am welcoming to them, he backs off pretty quickly and goes to lay down away from everyone but where he can keep an eye. When he was younger he would actually lay in my lap to keep others away from me if the chair was big enough to hold him. Have had a few coyote issues recently, again, he's getting older, still does a pretty good job though for being an only dog. He is on the smaller side of males as well, about 90-100 pounds. I've seen some closer up to 150, and not overweight, just big dogs. He's gotten ahold of a few of our chickens when they basically run into his mouth, and a few doves as well when they just wouldn't fly away from him (we had some we raised), but he typically knows better. Just this evening feeding him he was sharing his food with one of our big laying hens. Doesn't bother the horses at all, and if they come towards him to check him out, he runs from their corrals (none of our horses are dog aggressive, but he's wary). He'll chase strange cats out of the yard, but runs from our evil cat that likes to run up to him and hiss (meanwhile same cat the small inside small dogs maul). He's gentle with any dogs we bring in, but will bark at strange dogs. He's kind of gotten a little more disobedient in his older years, when he was younger I could call him off barking with a whistle to come back to me, now he just stops, looks at me, and continues barking. Absolutely wouldn't trade him for the world though. In my experience unless you have a pack of them, they tend to use barking as their main defense, in a pack they will attack/bite predators. Typically not the kind to attack people though unless cornered with no other options. I've seen fairly unhandled pyrs in a group end up eating another dog's kill of goats or chickens, and end up turning into more of a predator themselves, but those pyrs wouldn't even let owners really come up to pet them, so I'm not sure if it just came from lack of discipline and understanding that "their animals" were off limits or what. I know our pyr if you just tell him to leave something new, he'll pretty much ignore it. Very smart dogs but also can be stubborn. I do know a friend who got one that was rescued, he lived in a cage most his life and wasn't very socialized, and even he does great with her horses, sheep and small children, including a baby that would crawl on him to "ride" him, even though he hadn't been exposed to much. He actually helped the baby learn to walk, as she'd grab his hair and he'd lead her where she wanted to go. Generally they are gentle giants, but pack situations can change that.
I will say I won't ever own a heeler or a german shep if I had the choice. Too unpredictable for me. I've met a few good shepherds, but every heeler I've been around was a 1 person dog, and I've only met 1 that is stranger friendly and he was practically raised traveling. I also work for a small animal vet, and those two breeds just tend to be more sketchy.
Side note however, being there is crossbreeds being talked about, we have no had good experiences with Pyr mixes when crossed on non-livestock guardian breeds. Know of a few litters from the pyr stud ours is out of, some Aussie crosses and some golden crosses, both resulted in aggressive dogs that in some instances snapped at people, were unpredictable around ranch animals, and would frequently fight with other dogs, despite all the parents being very friendly. The sire was a pretty frequent wanderer and would wander into town, and he would willingly hop into cars in hopes of getting a food. Sweetest dog you'd ever meet, and both mommas were super sweet, the pyr mom was actually more stand-offish and her pups were still all very sweet natured. I've heard a lot of good about mixing pyrs with other livestock guardians though, which would be Anatolians and such. | |
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