Lab guard dog

RogueFishr · 11-11-2003, 08:06 PM

Every lab I have had would bark when strangers would drive or walk up. They are large dogs, and the bark is intimidating. I don't know if they would actually attack someone trying to break in the house or not. But, I figure that most of the time, the bark would scare the intruder away. If the guy really wanted in the house, he would be prepared to deal with the dog, mean or not. And, all my labs, have had some sort of "sense" of if a person was good or bad. My wife was having a garage sale once and dozens of people came and went without the dog paying much attention to anyone. Then a truck pulled up and 2 guys got out. The dogs hair stood on end, he stood up, and watched the 2 guys every step they took, while letting out a low, deep growl. The 2 guys asked my wife if the dog was really mean or not (she had told the dog to 'stay') and she told them, "oh yeh, hes a trained watch dog". The dog watched them until they left, then layed back down. the next guy that came up was tatooed biker guy on a motorcycle. He got off the bike, and walked over and petted the dog with no problems at all. The dog sensed something wrong with the first 2 guys for some reason

. Personally, I would never want a dog that would actually attack anyone it didn't know that came into my yard. I would hate to have a kid attacked that had climbed my fence to get his football back. As for me, I love them and can't imagine life without a labrador :grin:

RF

1pump · 11-11-2003, 08:21 PM

My Lab had a huge bark, but no bite. She would scare the crap out of people by running right at them barking her head off, then she would stop about a foot short and start sniffing with her tail going like a windshield wiper. I always had to yell "She won't bite!" if she went after somebody before I could stop her. And she never did bite anybody.
She had a good sense of when people "belonged" near the house or when they were suspicious.
Good guard or watch dogs, but not attack dogs. Especially if they can be heard and not seen.

Capin' Dan · 11-11-2003, 09:59 PM

Here is the break down on the retrievers.

Chessy: Chessy is protective will gaurd and protect property, catch and doesn't really care who he is getting owners included.

Goldens: they really don't care to much about anything. Kinda like Ed on the lion king I think. You know what I mean "Is there anybody home"

Now Labs: They will invite anyone into your home. They will take them by the hand and show them where all the good stuff is located. As they are leaving they will show them their food bowl so that hoepfully it will be filled for them.

Now seriously, I haven't meet very many labs that would bite but most will sound like they will ripp your arm off when they are barking but like mentioned above when it comes right down to it they will lick your hand and beg to be scratched. I think 90% of the time that the loud barking will deter most folks and you never know what will happen when their pack is actually threatened. Dogs have a sense about those things.
Hope this answers your question.

Dan

[ 11-15-2003, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Capin' Dan ]

o-mykiss · 11-11-2003, 11:19 PM

Hello All,
I know that labs are good family dogs, and decent hunting dogs?

Are labs good guard dogs? I have been looking at getting a dog for family and hunting, and more recently for guarding my house. While Elk hunting, some jerk kicked my door in.

ICHTHYDEMON · 11-11-2003, 11:40 PM

My lab is vicious until you get the door open and then shes a big baby. :grin: Seriously,I think most people would think twice about coming in when we aren't home. She has a really loud,deep bark. You can't tell if she is a big Rot or German Shepard or just what waits behind the door. If they did take their chances they'd be happy to find a big 8yr old puppy behind the door.

Maybe a Chessie? They are known to be more protective around people they don't know.

[ 11-11-2003, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Rauly ]

Tilla · 11-12-2003, 10:02 AM

My 3 Labs will bark pretty vigorously and then lick you to death. They do lay out a pretty good minefield too!

lost_sailor · 11-12-2003, 10:12 AM

Pretty funny topic!

Mine will growl and bark at unknown things outside.

She's a total marshmallow - everyone in the world is her best friend.

11-12-2003, 10:15 AM

Capn' Dan is wayyy of base about chessies.

Tilla · 11-12-2003, 10:21 AM

Cap'n Dan said he was kidding. It's the smell of a Chessie is what scares most away.

James in Idaho · 11-12-2003, 01:02 PM

Dang you Tilla, it's a good thing I didn't have a mouthful of coffee!

Some chessies are real good guard dogs, some are marshmellows. Have had one of each. The good guard dog one never bit me, but the marshmellow sure has. One stunk worse than the other, but that is somewhat relative! There's stink and there is STINK!

Labs as guard dogs??? You got to be kidding, out of all the labs that I have been around, I've only known two that were mean, and one of those had a brain tumor.

o-mykiss · 11-12-2003, 01:32 PM

Thanks for all of the great info.

Blue Tip Spinner · 11-12-2003, 01:52 PM

i got my cousin's black lab from him recently, and she will not let anyone other than us onto the property if we are not with them. we don't know if she will bite, but from what i know of her, if she doesn't know you, she will not let on the prop or in the house unless we let you in. i honestly think she will bite if someone pressed the issue, but no one has... anyone out there want to give her a try?????

:grin: :tongue:

StickFish · 11-12-2003, 02:10 PM

Had two, one would bark like the world was coming to an end than wag the ole tail till you thought it would fall off. With Meri, she would bark at people walking on the sidewalk from inside, she would bay at sirens, chase cats, blue jays, seagulls, etc.

New pup, heck he don't care! Just fill the bowl before you leave is all he cares about. He sleeps with one eye open though so he always knows what is going on. His Dad was far more protective than Tucker, but I think that went with some of his mom's mellow #5 traits. Tucker is a 3 so was his Dad - oh well go figure!

willametteriveroutlaw · 11-12-2003, 02:11 PM

I have a male chess, who has had issues in the past, but is definately a guard dog/good birdhunter. Chessies are not a choclate lab with curly hair, their a whole other breed that needs to be treated differently (for those who didn't know this) that being said, mine is good with children no matter who they are.. He is also a pretty good judge of character, you just have to keep your eye on him.. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] . He has never bitten me or a family member, but the mailman has maced him twice now (still hasn't learned not to chase the mailman and the mailman still hasn't learned not to come in the fence [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] ) He didn't bite the mailman, just scared the hell out of him. He has bitten before (I posted a thread on it this summer) but I think I nipped that problem in the butt.
james,
could you send me the names of those books dealing w/Force Fetching again? Thanks for your help earlier, we just got our female back from the trainer and she has turned out suprisingly better than I could have expected.

[ 11-12-2003, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: willametteriveroutlaw ]

James in Idaho · 11-12-2003, 02:35 PM

"Training the Working Retriever" by Tom Quinn and the Tri Tronics retriever book. Might find both of them at the big bookstore in downtown Portland. The Kohler Obediance book is suppose to have a section on force fetching too, its not just for retrievers! Mike Lardy has also published info on forcing, look on "working retriever central" on the web or do a google for Lardy.

Flatfish · 11-12-2003, 03:33 PM

I think the question is not are labs good watchdogs. They will bark, but not many would bite. At least those I have met.

The thing to think about is this- Pretend you are a theif. Do you risk having my 115 pound( just a tad overweight [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] ) lab let you in. Or do you pass on this house, and find one that has no dog?

I dunno if Jake has it in him. But if he does, and he really let loose, whoever gets it is gonna be in a world of hurt. He may be fat, but he is strong. Stopping him would take both hands.

Think about it like a crook would. They they are too lazy to get a job. Do you really think they wanna wrestle a dog?

Mark and the too short for his weight dog.

foxer · 11-12-2003, 04:07 PM

My 60lb female has two barks. The annoying one when she wants attention and the the other which we call "the big girl bark". She sleeps upstairs with us and if she hears anything strange out side its bark#2. Scared the heck ot of the wife the first time we heard it..She would probably just lick a bad guy to death though

pathetic novice · 11-12-2003, 04:13 PM

I'm with flatfish. I don't think Dixie (18 months old, 80 pounds of steel) would actually bite, but just fending off the tongue and tail would be too much work and noise for a thief! A few months back, a few neighbors saw an unfamiliar pedestrian on our street, looked kinda shady, and the dog was going apes#$t. She often barks at people, just a few hellos, and back to whatever she was doing...but this time she was going crazy; anyway, maybe an hour later, the cops arrest him. He had just burglarized someone and was evidently looking for more! I'm no expert on Labs, or any dogs for that matter. But I feel fairly confident that dogs (at least this one) know if something is a legitimate threat. God Bless the Labradors!!

Mad Mikey · 11-12-2003, 07:00 PM

Get a Collie/Pit-bull crossbreed. If you train it right it will rip the intruders arm off and then call 911 for help.....

salmurai · 11-12-2003, 11:35 PM

O-Mykiss, I've had 5 or so in my life. They all barked when "someone was out there". The bark will usually deter the common thief. The dog will know when to bite. Out of the five, I only had one that actually bit anyone. She bit an attorney, so it was OK. Lucky for me, he was a friend that knew he screwed up. Great dogs, can't be with out one.

gotZem · 11-15-2003, 10:50 AM

I have a 12 year old Yellow who has bitten three times-Well one "bite" and two "nips". He weighs 125 lbs and can be a little "scary" when he wants to! I wouldn't test him- and I'm his owner! When he growls at someone, they back right off! Funny how that works! Uncle Frank once said when asked if the dog bites,"I don't know, but he's got teeth"! Nuff said.

GotZem!!

skein · 11-15-2003, 06:09 PM

Another thing to remember is how much time the dog will spend just being with you and your family (99.9%) and how much time he will actually be guarding the fort. Labs are WONDERFUL family dogs, loving, smart, and playful. They really work well with a family.

Uh...but you might have trouble sneaking the driftboat out without him. At least I do. :grin:

Skein