The recent closing of one of the threads here  brought up an interesting subject. Dogs as first line defence for homesteads. It might be a good exercise to explore the different uses for animals  when preparing for different levels of society changes. Country people have different needs and more options, but city people have choices as well. Suburbanites have a mixed bag.

Dogs are a  purpose of the owner.  Rural people have dogs that fit their needs for where they live, they also have back up of others, like geese and other alarmist critters.  We had this discussion at the river the other weekend, seems we now have big cats coming in,,, people are oh not happy with that at all.  I pretty much let it be known that along with my froofroo dog like Lira is becoming (on her own, she's just to dang friendly) , I let them know I would more then likely have a ridgeback , wolfhound, or even a rottie.
Cityits,,,,have pretty much lil yappers or medium yappers, then again all ya need if you can deal with it yourself is a warning sound.......it depends on the persons mind set I spect on which kind of what you think you need......
or you can think of it like this,,,, big dogs more fur,,,lil dogs make mittens. (yea I know its a sick way of thinking)

Good questions Eyes.
For me, not having dogs around is unthinkable, it's like owning a gun.
One wouldn't think of leaving home in a snowstorm without at least taking a coat with them, so why would anyone ignore the first line of defense, a dog?

Aside from the companionship, even an ankle biter can give sufficient warning, or have a real dog, one that will warn as well as protect.
I have always learned the language of the dogs I've had in the past, from it's a happy bark, just telling the world this is his property, to damn you squirrel, that's my tree, or I know you could eat me, so I'm telling you the owner has a gun.
To downright fear and anger, the intruder is on the property.

I can tell the difference between a neighbor is here bark, to Fedex or UPS dropping of packages, so I know when to grab my gun, or simply stay seated.
Protection? You betcha! It's not God spelled backwards by accident.

Starting with dogs is good.  With any active defence system, training is important. Some people think that because a dog is of a certain breed, no special training is in order. Training takes time and experience, and few people have that experience. Unless you want a dog to just communicate a threat, what kind of training and practice is neccessary for keeping a true guarg dog in your environment?

Quote from: Eyesabide on October 11, 2012, 07:32:04 AM
Starting with dogs is good.  With any active defence system, training is important. Some people think that because a dog is of a certain breed, no special training is in order. Training takes time and experience, and few people have that experience. Unless you want a dog to just communicate a threat, what kind of training and practice is neccessary for keeping a true guarg dog in your environment?

A fence.

You're right though, there has only been a few years in my life when I've been without a dog, even had one in the Army.
But for those that aren't familiar with dogs, they are a clean slate, children in need of a master/teacher to guide them, otherwise they become neurotic because being leader of a pack comes through experience, but being thrust into the position without earning it makes for a very bad brew.

People are very much like dogs, we all need a purpose in life, dogs need a job, they need to feel they too are contributing to the pack, they need to know their place in the pack, whether it's second in command, or last if you have several dogs, they accept their place in the pecking order with you as the leader.
But to thrust a dog into a leadership roll is not doing justice to a wonderful animal, they need training and need to hear a firm NO where applicable, a wishy washy owner that can't set guidelines usually winds up with a dog that doesn't know how to communicate with the master, because they either speak as the leader, or the follower.

I've rescued wolves from women that actually became dominated by the animal, all because they didn't understand someone has to be the leader.
The bigger the animal, the bigger risk taken in many breeds.

You're right eyes, certain breeds come with dominant characteristics, I prefer the East German Shepard myself,  the dog loves the job of protecting, they love their place as Shepard/caretaker, to deny them the job is to destroy the dog, it's what they were bred for.
But for those that have never had a Shepard, be aware, they need to have a focal point in their life, whether it's you alone, or the baby in the family, they need a job 24/7 and never stop working till the day they die.

Training is key to it all.... knowing the breed you get or want is also key. If you dont train a dog of any size to suit your environment it is of no good to anyone...

Quote from: Elfie on October 11, 2012, 08:46:19 AM
Training is key to it all.... knowing the breed you get or want is also key. If you dont train a dog of any size to suit your environment it is of no good to anyone...

I agree, even a Chihuahua makes a hell of a good watch dog, but untrained, they can be worse than larger breeds.
Personally I don't like the little rat dogs,  but they are on of the smarter breeds out there.

Oh they are cute  and all that,,, but no me neither,,,, I wouldnt  have a dog equal to or smaller then the size of a football....

Quote from: Elfie on October 11, 2012, 09:31:18 AM
Oh they are cute  and all that,,, but no me neither,,,, I wouldnt  have a dog equal to or smaller then the size of a football....

Well....if you ever needed a football.
I kid, I love all dogs, really!

But I want to know my family is safe if I'm not close by, I know I can depend on my monster dog to do the job, even though he's as dumb as a bag of sand, he is bonded and will put his life on the line for us.

I guess it's that essential bond that needs to be nurtured, for an ordinary dog to do extraordinary things.
Even little dogs can save your life if there is enough of them, they make for a good distraction of the predator, animal or man.

Quote from: Solar on October 11, 2012, 10:40:09 AM
Well....if you ever needed a football.
I kid, I love all dogs, really!

But I want to know my family is safe if I'm not close by, I know I can depend on my monster dog to do the job, even though he's as dumb as a bag of sand, he is bonded and will put his life on the line for us.

I guess it's that essential bond that needs to be nurtured, for an ordinary dog to do extraordinary things.
Even little dogs can save your life if there is enough of them, they make for a good distraction of the predator, animal or man.

I am considered tiny at best... so no,,, I would not care for a small dog,,, I want something that will fight with me should the need arise....little dogs,,,ya not so much.... but they are cute!

Quote from: Elfie on October 11, 2012, 11:02:40 AM
I am considered tiny at best... so no,,, I would not care for a small dog,,, I want something that will fight with me should the need arise....little dogs,,,ya not so much.... but they are cute!

Yes they are, I was raised around miniature Dachshunds as a little kid, but as cute as they were, I refused to walk them because they looked like little red rats.
I've had large dogs ever since, especially now, where I live, we call little dogs "Bait".
I too want to know when push comes to shove, a predator thinks twice before approaching because I have an intimidating dog, man or animal, I want them to see as a challenge.

Exactly......

We don't have a dog (not for lack of wanting one), but we did have 5 weeder geese a few years ago.  You could not get near our farm without them raising a huge racket.  They didn't even like birds flying overhead.  As a bonus...they are yummy too.

Geese and Guinea hens are great alarm fowl, Guineas are even good at night.

Quote from: JustKari on October 11, 2012, 07:30:23 PM
We don't have a dog (not for lack of wanting one), but we did have 5 weeder geese a few years ago.  You could not get near our farm without them raising a huge racket.  They didn't even like birds flying overhead.  As a bonus...they are yummy too.

Good point, my neighbor has geese and llama, they sound like a riot when a lion comes in the area.