Ok, so my husband put his name on the volunteer list to deploy. He said he would feel better about leaving if I had a "guard dog" . We have a mini schnauzer but he won't even scare a fly! I also have 2 little kids so I need a dog that is good with kids and other dogs. We are researching Boxers right now. Any input? If you own a boxer would you mind telling me the good, the bad and the ugly about them? If there any other breed suggestions I would love to hear them too! Thanks Ladies!!!

Boxers arent exactly guard dogs.

I like boxers, but you have to train them right from the beginning, especially with kids. they need to be trained to be a family dog and learn from there who is okay to come around and who is not. maybe a german shepard?

I had a boxer and he was a great dog! He was a big baby. Only once did he show aggression to a stranger that came up in the yard.... other than that, he was a big lap dog...

The one thing about german shepards, belgian malanois, etc.... they are a high prey driven dog. Anything smaller than them is prey. So you would have to get a puppy or a fairly young one. It took almost 3 months and Spirit almost killing one of the cats, before she caught on that it was wrong. And they have to have a "job". Spirits is playing tug of war with one of her toys for almost an hour at a time. And we have to do it like 3 times a day, or she gets all wound up and destroys EVERYTHING when we arent looking.

The one thing about german shepards, belgian malanois, etc.... they are a high prey driven dog. Anything smaller than them is prey. So you would have to get a puppy or a fairly young one. It took almost 3 months and Spirit almost killing one of the cats, before she caught on that it was wrong. And they have to have a "job". Spirits is playing tug of war with one of her toys for almost an hour at a time. And we have to do it like 3 times a day, or she gets all wound up and destroys EVERYTHING when we arent looking.


i agree with getting the german shepard as a puppy, I've always grown up around them and they are good guard dogs but can be a handful at times but they are very protective and very sweet.

My experience with boxers are that they look big and burly, but they really couldn't hurt a fly. I know your husband wants you to get a "guard dog" but that might not necessarily be too safe for your children and your mini snauczher. Sorry I can't spell that. Most dogs that act mean and bark at the door do have some aggressive tendencies whether it be towards your littler dog, other dogs, people, or your children.

honestly no dog you get as a "guard dog" is a wise decision with Nash and the kids in the house. Too much can go wrong. You can however set up alarms in the house. You don't have to install them in the house alot you just mount in places on the walls etc. So housing would be ok with it. Not to mention your best friend is married to a cop..LOL

I like boxers, but you have to train them right from the beginning, especially with kids. they need to be trained to be a family dog and learn from there who is okay to come around and who is not. maybe a german shepard?

Would you mind explaining this? I own Boxers and NEVER had to train them to be a family dog or learn who is or is not ok to come around. :dunno Maybe mine are special...LOL

Honestly, Boxers are NOT good guard dogs contrary to what anyone would like to tell you. They are not mean, they are not scary. Our Boxers want nothing more than to be WITH people..not run them off.

Would you mind explaining this? I own Boxers and NEVER had to train them to be a family dog or learn who is or is not ok to come around. :dunno Maybe mine are special...LOL

Honestly, Boxers are NOT good guard dogs contrary to what anyone would like to tell you. They are not mean, they are not scary. Our Boxers want nothing more than to be WITH people..not run them off.

Spirit is classified as a "guard dog", but she is the fartherest thing from it. Yea, she puts up a front when people walk by the house. But once they walk in the front door, she thinks she is a 7lb dog and tries to jump in their arms.

I agree about the boxers though. My neighbors had one and I swear I NEVER heard bark or growl at ANYTHING:hehe

Would you mind explaining this? I own Boxers and NEVER had to train them to be a family dog or learn who is or is not ok to come around. :dunno Maybe mine are special...LOL

Honestly, Boxers are NOT good guard dogs contrary to what anyone would like to tell you. They are not mean, they are not scary. Our Boxers want nothing more than to be WITH people..not run them off.


As far as I know that's how most boxers are.. that is their typical temperment.

My sisters boxer is the only one of her dogs that doesn't bark at strangers :lol He loves everyone.

we did that when my dad deployed when I was younger. But we just got a lab that could alert us to stuff and would do more then our min pin lol

unless you have years to train the dog it wouldn't be easy nor best to get one now. I have a mini schnauzer as well and she does very well at alerting me to stuff, noises, or when someone comes to the door. hell even if someone is walking by the house she will bark her little head off. :giggle
I think you should just buy some window alarms and put them on the doors and windows and start training the schnauzer they are highly trainable and you can get him/her to do just about anything. but a real guard dog takes a lot of time and a lot of training and is hard when you have kids and other small dogs.

GSD's are great dogs, and there is a reason why they are used in a variety of fields. They are my favorite breed, and I've had two in my lifetime. I am waiting to be in a place where I can have another.

They are very loyal to their owners, very protective, and good with kids. You can work with their pray drive if you stimulate their brain in other ways. They are VERY smart dogs, much more so than many people realize, or want.

They are very trainable, but they can be a handful for someone who has never owned one before, and doesn't quite know what to expect. They need a strong (presence), and confident pack leader, who is capable of consistent discipline.

GSD's are great dogs, and there is a reason why they are used in a variety of fields. They are my favorite breed, and I've had two in my lifetime. I am waiting to be in a place where I can have another.

They are very loyal to their owners, very protective, and good with kids. You can work with their pray drive if you stimulate their brain in other ways. They are VERY smart dogs, much more so than people realize, or want.

They are very trainable, but they can be a handful for someone who has never owned one before, and doesn't quite know what to expect. They need a strong (presence), and confident pack leader, who is capable of consistent discipline.

:agree we had NO idea what we were walking into with Spirit. But we have learned and we do have the time that she needs from us. I swear, sometimes she takes up more time than the kids put together:lol

Our Akita was a awesome guard dog and great with kids. They were bred for it. Just go with the Japanese kind, not the American Akita's.

I suggest doing breed research, but if you have any questions, you can PM me. She was very very family orientated, playful, fun. Shed a lot when spring came around and had to be introduced to strangers.

Thank you ladies for all of the feedback! I probably should have worded things a little differently. My DH wants me to have to dog that if someone sees it, they might be afraid of it. Kinda more of a scare tacktic than guard dog. I live on base so its not like I live in a bad neighborhood. I think he would just feel better if I had a bigger dog. Thank God my bestfriend's husband is a cop! I don't think he would deploy if we didn't know you and Matt!:grin:

Thank you ladies for all of the feedback! I probably should have worded things a little differently. My DH wants me to have to dog that if someone sees it, they might be afraid of it. Kinda more of a scare tacktic than guard dog. I live on base so its not like I live in a bad neighborhood. I think he would just feel better if I had a bigger dog. Thank God my bestfriend's husband is a cop! I don't think he would deploy if we didn't know you and Matt!:grin:

Well you knwo that all you have to do is call and we're there in a heartbeat!! You're family!!

Thank you ladies for all of the feedback! I probably should have worded things a little differently. My DH wants me to have to dog that if someone sees it, they might be afraid of it. Kinda more of a scare tacktic than guard dog. I live on base so its not like I live in a bad neighborhood. I think he would just feel better if I had a bigger dog. Thank God my bestfriend's husband is a cop! I don't think he would deploy if we didn't know you and Matt!:grin:

Well...then a Boxer would be perfect.:hehe He/she is certainly not going to eat anyone but they have a tendency to look scary. A lot of people mistake them for pit bulls.