boxers as guard dogs

[Irinikm]

Hello all,

We have had Martin going under guard training (bodyguard training) with very good results. He had lots of fun doing it, he got lots of good exercise, and he responded very well throughout the training. Now, he can very effectively protect us -if need be- without putting himself at risk. I am very proud of him (and he is also very proud of himself). It was quite costly and time consuming, but our trainers said that boxers are the best for bodyguard training, because they are even tempered and eager to protect their owners. When you look at him, he seems so cute and puppy like, but when you see him in action, it's scary!!! He will growl, bark, nip, push, and eventually grab the "attacker" and push him away.

Irene and Martin

 

[shannonmac]

We have an american bulldog, if anyone was stupid enough to break into the house with him, i'm sure they'd just turn around and leave...he's my snuggle bug...but has one heckuva bark and big head!!!
kneesaa on the other hand would probably invite you in and make you a cup of coffee!!!

 

[gtntuf]

Brutus is an excellent guard dog. No one comes into sight of our house without him letting us know about it. The only problem is that we have trouble staying in hotels with him. You know how people walk down the hallway and talk at all hours of the night? Brutus thinks he has to growl and bark at them just in case they're coming in after us. It never even occured to me that he might do this, but we had the hardest time keeping him quiet in a hotel room.

 

[pyermoli]

Jasmine is a very good guard dog, she is always on point and aware of what is going on around her, she's 10 months, but she's been this way since she was a lot younger. Osca on the other hand doesn't do anything, he watches Jasmine get while she barks at the door. I used to worry about Oscar because he didn't bark and was lazy, and I was under the understanding that boxers were active, but people would always tell me that if it came down to something hapening he would step up. I've read that boxers only bark when it's "necessary" and that they guard more with their ears rather than being vocal. they're great dogs either way protective or not.

 

[SpartanBoxer]

the website......

you are referring to is listed right above these messages on this page.. Click on the 'protection dogs' link above. I was shocked to see that some of these dogs cost 10-25,000 dollars...

Mine is a good guard dog. But if an intruder actually came in I'd be more worried about her safety than anything. She springs up and barks loud at any mysterious noise by the door or outside. Growls also. Once they come in and she doesn't 'sense' any threat - she resorts to licking and wiggling.

 

[Larz's Mom]

My Larz is more of a covert spy than a guard dog. He follows me everywhere and when I took him on a road trip to visit my inlaws, the first day he followed only me, then after that he had to know where everyone was in the house at all times. Everytime he heard someone move, he'd get up to see where they went.
My husband wishes Larz were a little more aggressive, like Larz doesn't bark at the doorbell, instead he quietly runs to the door, so imagine the persons surprise when I open the door and I'm holding back a boxer by his big leather spiked collar. I think he's perfect the way he is. He is always sweet to anyone I invite in the house. I live on a golf course so I'm glad he doesn't bark because there are people on golf carts driving by my back fence all day, he may not bark at them but he stands his ground and I'm pretty sure he'd get upset if anyone tried to get into his yard. But just to be sure I have a lock on my gate. I'd hate for my baby to be willingly kidnapped.

 

[Chroetli]

I wish there is some form of such training here. Not that I want Oski to be train as a guard dog but just some training to give him a bit of courage and confidence in front of strangers, especially men.

Last week, at 11pm, Oski was alerted by footsteps outside the main door of our apartment. He sat in a very alert manner but he did not let off a single bark.He just sat still like a statue. He knew someone - strangers (turned out to be lift technician as the lift broke down ) had come into our apartment but his fear took over his ability to guard his space.

I was terrified too. So I dashed into the kitchen and Oski followed closely behind me. He seemed more frightened than me...

Guess I will never be able to depend of Oski to protect me or to guard the house....

Like I always say, he is a lover and not a fighter...

Chroelti

 

[Ritzy57]

Unless you are in law enforcement or security work, I don't know why anybody would want to teach an animal that it's OK to attack a human.
You know what they say about owning guns. More people are injured by guns than are protected by guns. More people own guns than know how to use them. Same thing with training a dog to be a guard dog. In most instances, it is a family member who gets bit, NOT an intruder.
My trainer also does guard/security/attack dog training, and I have watched some of his classes. It is not a pretty sight, when I think about what I am seeing.
Anyway, not trying to rain on anybody's parade here, just my opinion. It is enough that Snoop and Dottie sound the alarm if someone they don't know comes near our property. Their hearing is so keen. If it were someone threatening, I could call the police.

 

[KELLY W]

Muggsey will not let anyone he doesnt know within 50 yards of the house. If anyone wants to try their luck, they can but I honestly doubt they would. We did not teach him to be that way, he is just very territorial. Our neighbors were very glad we have him the other night, because someone was trying to steal their kid's bikes. It was pitch black out and all of a sudden, Muggsey jumped up and ran towards the deck door. He proceded to freak out snarling and barking furiously. I went and turned on the porch light, and the kids were taking off from our neighbors house and up the back alley. I was very proud of him, and our neighbors were thankful as well. It was funny to see those young punks running for their lives scared as hell that he was going to get out of the house. Also, everyone on or block has gotten something stolen or been robbed lately except for us. I am positive we have Muggsey to thank for that.

 

[Claudia807]

I always think it's important to differentiate between a watch dog and a guard dog. In most cases, a watch dog is simply a dog that barks and tells you when someone is near. My Boxer is a good watch dog. She tells me when the neighbor across the street has the audacity to retrieve her own male, when my husband comes home from work, when someone walks by the house, etc. A guard dog, on the other hand, is usually expected to do something about the intruder.

Or at least that is how I've always understood it.