Breed Research

[carolinagirl58]

Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are wonderful! They are big, scary looking (when they want to be) and very smart. I talked to an AKC judge a couple weeks ago who said that the swissies have much more stable temperaments and a longer life span than the Bernese Mountain dogs. Swissies have a nice shorter coat. Not slick like the dane, but certainly not a bad coat to deal with.

 

[watchdogps]

Quote:
Yeah, I like them a lot. I often suggest them to people who Anatolians arent quite right for.

 

[domino7]

To me, you described the Rottweiler. They practically train themselves. Mine completely ignores the ducks, and chickens, and NOBODY is coming into my house without being invited. She can play rough, but just seems to know how to be gentle with children, and my smaller dogs. She doesn't get worked up when we have company. I know there are a lot of great breeds, but I will always have a Rott. Our yard isn't fenced, but you would think we have invisible fencing. She knows exactly how far she is allowed to go. I can't even think of one bad habit she has.

 

[carolinagirl58]

Rotties are awesome too. I had those for years and simply adored them. They are also a GREAT deterrent to would-be boogie men. lol!

 

[watchdogps]

A good rottie would be a good choice too. I guess I didnt include them b/c they dont seem that big to me anymore, LOL! Which is funny b/c one of my good friends breeds rotties and we laugh b/c her dogs weigh about the same as mine, but they look smaller. They are just a "denser" dog!

 

[carolinagirl58]

yep...most of them would not be considered x-large, just plain large. Some are pretty darn big though. They really are amazing dogs and very smart.

 

[Rosto]

Thanks for the suggestions! You guys are AWESOME!

 

[TLWR]

I have a dane who is 18 months and just over 80 pounds.
I have a dobe who is 6 years old and just over 70 pounds.
So while the doberman may not be considered an xl sized dog, he's not far from it and people are often put off by a large black dog, even if he has full floppy ears and a waggy nub.


Put both at the door and people stand back lol

 

[ArkaFarmaMama]

I'm surprised no one has said Rhodesian Ridgeback? Low matenince, silent but deadly, loyal, GREAT with other
animals, and awesome family dogs. I've been looking around for some for our farm, we have bears, bobcats,
mountain lions, etc. My Aussie and German shep. do good, they just like to chase/herd too much, DUH!
And they shed too much. Rhodesians are short haired, can be large with good breeding/males esp. and
I'm tired of washing my Aussie's legs every time he comes in from doing business, love him but he'll be my
last. My German Shep is a female and she isn't as large as I'd like, but she only barks if she's REALLY MAD.

Good luck!

 

[watchdogps]

Quote:
You're right, those could be a good match! Not huge, but large and rather intimidating looking. They can be very guardy, I had some as pet sitting clients and I always did a test run with them because they often will be fine when you go meet them but are a different dog when owner isnt home!