How do I go about finding a good dog?

bersa .380 or mossberg .410 with lessons

no dog will scare away anyone wanting to come in

they will just kill dog

professional trainer for guard dogs

breed club list of breeders that test dogs

Many rescues have dogs that have already been trained, and in most cases, were left there because their family moved, or the kids got bored with the "new puppy they got last Christmas."...they do not welcome unsafe animals that are a risk to the families they adopt the dog out to. You can also find out about the history of the animal, usually by asking. Check a german shepherd rescue or petfinder.com and most of all be aware that even the nicest and most well trained dogs can and will bite when provoked, so some training, boundaries, and safety precautions will need to be addressed in order to keep the kids safe from the dog and the dog safe from the kids. Good luck!

@Justin: What....? "Fairly vicious?" Right..

I recommend going to a reputable breeder and buying a puppy that you can socialize yourself. Either that, or go to the shelter and tell the person there what you need in a dog. Shelter workers are very honest about the dogs because they just want each dog to be happy in a home that suits it the very best. Tell them you have children and need a stable, quiet dog that can offer some protection that is patient and careful around children. GSDs can be GREAT with children! Even Pit Bulls can be better with children than Chihuahuas or Labs. It all depends on the dog and its past training/socialization. I hope this helps.

Realistically, the average person would much rather go to the next house than to one that has any kind of dog in the window barking at them.

It is fact that mutts make better family pets. Also rescued dogs are more loyal. Go to ur local shelter, the right dog will find u :) they will be so thankful for you saving their life, they will never let you down. All of our dogs are very protective of us and our home, but they are such great family dogs at the same time. If u r looking for "fear factor" then get a bigger dog, but breed really doesn't matter. Training and patiance and u will have a friend and protector for life! Best of luck

Aw, that's so lucky. I'd recommend a Jack Russell, Rottweiler, or German Shepherd. They're all easy to train, especially the Jack Russell, a very smart dog. German Shepherd is definitely suitable for a guard dog, they're very obedient and very loyal too. Rottweilers are amazing guard dogs too :) A lot of people find them terrifying but they're sweet dogs in reality. Friends and cousins of mine all these kind of dogs and I have to say, these are my favorites.

I would recommend at least a medium sized dog. Any of that size that barks when someone comes around the house will make them think twice. Check with local shelters and rescue groups, especially since you are looking for an older dog. They will be able to help you find one that will be good with your kids, is housetrained, and one that may meet your other needs.

Bull mastiff are very friendly and can grow to be 130+ pounds. They are great with kids and usually are very lazy. But the main way they attack intruders is to physically knock them down, and then pinn them down, unlike most dogs who grab the arms. German shepards are very intelligent but can sometimes not like children

Get in touch with some reputable breeders - they often know of adult dogs that need placing. If you work with a breeder that shows - chances are you can find a dog that's not only housebroken, but has marvelous leash skills & a fair amount of obedience.

I'd recommend a medium or small sized. Kids might like pull a big dogs tail and it can get mad. They are also fairly vicious. Maybe if you want to go alot of price you can send it to a camp.