Hi, We all know that Labs are very loving and friendly but some one told me yesterday that I should go for GSD. I do not prefer GSD since they shed a lot and also not friendly woth kids compared to the Labs. I was thinking of if some here can guide me or put their thoughts if a Lab can be trained as a guard dog ? Honestly my preference is a Lab but people around me still confuse me around !! Cheers
When you say "trained as a guard dog", what do you mean? What behaviour do you want to teach? Most labradors are naturally friendly and sociable, they are brave and loyal but if you want a dog to act in an aggressive or frightening way then it will be hard to teach a labrador to do that.
All mine will bark an alert if strangers are around the house of if someone knocks on the door. Most dogs will bark mine just do that there's no aggression. When a man tried to mug me my oldest lab sent him off by standing by me and barking not aggressive just a very firm go away. I would get a dog that can bark if necessary as most will but was easy and calm to live with.
It means mine are too soft and wouldn't make a guard dog. Fred doesn't bark and Annie only if someone knocks at the door.
Sorry I pressed enter by mistake (I wish we could edit our posts). I meant to say that Labs also shed their coats, some a great deal, though I agree probably lower maintenance grooming wise than a GSD.
My sister has a big GSD, 56kg. He is the biggest baby. Very submissive around other dogs and people(not normal I don't think for GSD. I know 5 people who have had a chunk taking out of their leg from one) He will stand in front of her if someone he is uncertain about comes around. But otherwise he doesn't care who comes in the yard or house where as my lab Axel will give off "warning" barks I call them if a stranger is by the back yard. I say thank you for the warning and redirect him. I love the warning barks as my hubby goes out of town a few times a year for business and he will be gone for a week or two at a time. Which is why I wanted a bigger dog. I'm a bit of a wuss as well as we get bears and deer and coyotes and the list goes on... In our yard weekly if not daily so it's nice knowing Axel will warn me. I know one is in the yard when I open the door to let him go outside and he stops dead in his tracks before leaving the door and his sniffer goes off and he lets out deep woofs.
My lab Lilly is 6 years old now, and she was probably about a year old before she really barked. So if you are wanting a guard dog, you might have to wait until he or she is a little older.
Different breeds of dog tend to have slightly different characteristics. It is these differences that often lead to certain breeds excelling in certain areas - all dogs are capable of certain tasks it's just that some are better suited than others. So, while a Lab could be a guard dog and a GSD could be a guide dog for the blind these may not be tasks best suited to their natural attributes. I think it may be beneficial if you decide what attributes are most important to you.
