Dog recommendation URGENT please

[Matryoshka]

Can someone please recommend me a breed of dog which has a gentle temperament around small children, but is also very alert and would make a good security dog. Not so much to defend the property but to bark a lot when it senses people to alert of danger and scare off intruders.

[christy]

Pugalier.... Cavalier cross Pug. Fantastic breed of dog, fantastic temperment with children but I'm not sure about barking...

Labrador? Great with kids and can bark quite a bit. BUT they take heaps of training to become good dogs really can be destructive in chewing as pups.

I would recommend having a look around at a RSPCA, all the dogs have been temperment tested and you can find a good dog there.

Most fantastic guard dogs, are not suitable for families... its unfortunate but true.

[Matryoshka]

Thank you Christy, whats your opinion on the king charles cavalier? or cross with ****er spaniel?

[sushee]

I had CKCs and they are NOT guard dogs in any sense of the word.

Mind you my Lab isn't much of a guard dog either. He doesn't even bark if someone comes to the door. And WA Labs have a tendency towards epilepsy, I've been told by my vet. And they're pretty destructive as puppies. But lovely dogs otherwise with excellent temperaments.

[AJC]

I'm pretty bias when it comes to dogs, I would get a Labrador. I love Golden Retrievers too but they can be a bit nuts for the first 2 years or so, Lab's are a bit easier. Like any dog though they require time & attention and will only be as obedient as you teach them to be.

[Ginger]

you can't go past a golden retriever in terms of temperament, especially around kids, but they are not great guard dogs. our cars were robbed while our goldie slept on the couch.

[Lulu]

He he Cavies are beautiful, but guard dogs they ain't!
Lab's shed hair like there is no tomorrow but they are lovely.

I don't think you can get a good guard dog with a family in mind, it just doesn't work. It's not a rooly good idea to buy a dog in haste either.

Would it be better to get one of those security cars to sweep by? They are probably cheaper to keep....

[AliBaby]

I would recommend a cross breed dog. They tend to have less medical problems and you can get the best of both dogs.

I have a poodle cross shihtzu who is absolutely fantastic around children. I have even trusted him to be around 20 five year old children in my class and he has not snapped at anyone, he even let them pick him up under his front legs, drag him around, pull on his tail and he just tolerates it.

We did however get him used to this from a pup with us doing it to him so he would learn that it is okay. (We never hurt him, we just get him used to people touchjing his ears, feet, tail, etc).

He also is an excellent security job although I am sure he thinks he owns the col-der-sac in our street. We jsut wanted a dog who would bark if someone came on our property to alert us or people around that something was up. He does the job very well.

He is also a breed that doesnt require alot of walks and exercise btu loves to get out if someone will take him.

Another dog that if a fantastic breed around children would be a labrodor croos poodle for very similar reasons to above.

I will post a pic up in the gallery so you can see what my little Max looks like. Oh he also doesnt drop hair which is great for around kids. he can be an inside or an outside dog.

[~Aveta~]

australian terrier, not the toy, but the mid size. great dogs, my family had one when i was little and she was brilliant, not yappy like a toy. and i have Bruce the aussie terrier now, he's great.

i also love spaniels, i have a ****alier, king charles x ****er spaniel, Jet, and she's marvellous with the neighbourhood littlies. she's my second ****alier and always lets me know when ppl are about without being barky, KWIM?

best thing to do is spend time with the litter and suss out their individual personalities. Bruce was the best of his litter, a lot calmer and friendlier.

good luck