moosmum

Hi Jacqui! Yes, we intended on keeping all the pups the full 8 weeks,but by 6 weeks they were so clearly needing more stimulus and activley trying to bond with anyone( 10 kids yelling"Pick me! Pick Me!). They NEEDED to be starting their training while they were so receptive.They had a huge play area but could not run free to chase the chickens or get trampled by horses and mum no longer feeding them.Even lots of handling couldn't keep up with their development.(edited to clarify:pups did not go at 6 weeks,they needed it tho' and those still here at 10 weeks were desperately trying to bond with anyone new.Sad to see and I think idealy,in the right placement with the right people,they should start training earlier for a P.P home) It seems to me the combination that makes a good P.P dog is very high intelligence,"loyalty" and confidence. The hard part is finding people with the same qualities towards their dog because I get upset when I hear of one thats been re-homed.Have been lucky there though,with better luck 2nd time for those few. His whole worlds been turned upside down. Once you have had that raport with a dog and appreciated it nothing else will do,but its like you have taken responsiblity for an alien intelligence. I guess you have at that. It up to you to see it has the skills to share your life and feels secure 'cos its the only life it will know. In return,he knows no one else understands him like his owners and thats worth protecting. And if I am anthropmorph-thingy it works for me.

Wow your dog (or I should say dogs) seem so great!! May I ask what breed they are? (GSD?) LOL The proven girl is 1/4 rotty,3/4 Dobe.She is not very big as far as security dogs go.A VERY affectionate dog .Loves to sit on your lap. She was bred to my daughters big pure dobe male. Some of the pups were bigger than both and some very beautiful!The biggest was at least 32 inches at the shoulder and was raised in a daycare centre...also loves kids and cats. I kept a bitch and she is the 2nd dog I think worth testing.Just as affectionate as her mum and likes laps.thats how I chose her. All pups we have kept in contact with have shown her great instincts to protect and extra affectionate too. So they are dobe. basicaly,with 1/8th rotty and I love them. They are generaly much bigger and less extreme looking than the pure dobes ie: not the big chests out front and more substance.Not reliable as to looks or size though. We still have 1 pure dobe girl.She was the one who was supposed to breed with the male as we had such a hard time finding her and did not want to loose the qualities she had.Never would breed.Thinks shes a human and we joke thats why she would not accept "A DOG!?! " She is also very protective and a terrific family dog. We chased down a male from her lines finaly.Her old breeder who was now out of breeding due to health put us on to a mate who had a litter.He said "you might not want this lot though,the fellows used a 1/4 Rotty over his bitch" So now we have dobes that aren't quite dobes but we are VERY happy with them.

Wish I had found this topic earlier! I have 4 dogs chosen for protective instincts,all have been farm raised and good with cats and other animals and are terrific family pets.two I would love to have tested. One has been in situations where she has been needed and stepped up beautifully to definitly protect (yes protect,not just react) and is NOT high drive.She has relaxed again imediately when called and generaly acts the perfect family pet and adores kids and cats.She is a strong willed dominant dog and it would be interesting to see just how far she would go as she has only ever needed to show she was more than willing to take on a threat,not carry it through. The only time she has shown she can be more in a normal family situation was when we had a visitor she was wary of for his height and green dreadlocks visiting the home.She took our word that he was welcome untill he started yelling at his kids.She just gave a soft growl and the visitor stopped yelling and just said "I've been told". Am I right in thinking its very hard for those training in P.P to find suitable dogs out side of a very few proven lines here in australia? The other has not been in a situation where she has "proven' herself,but is looking like she would enjoy the chance and is very quick to leap up barking and growling if anyone suprises her/us. We often have to say to her"Its just me"as she is very quick and alert .All will welcome visitors in a very friendly manner when we let them in the gate. My daughters male will also stop and stare,refusing to move on when my daughter walks him if anyone starts calling out obscenities or lurking,following her etc.(she is a very beautiful girl and does get that!) Great topic since I love the relationship working with these dogs entails and plan to do more with them. I will be eagerly waiting the results. the other 2 are also quite protective,but for different reasons would not pass the tests devised. ie:1 scared of gun shots. The other 2 I believe would aquit themselves very well even if they did not pass the full test. Incidentaly,we have raised 3 kids,many other animals and had lots of visitors,parties etc over the years without incident.Our dogs are well trained and only confined at night or when we are away. Though my son did bite the dog once.