| Author | Message | ||
     Bads1 |
Just wondering what you guys think of them? I have been debating putting a couple up...one on each side of my house on the fence. Right now my dog is just under 7 months old and not mean at all but his breed was bred for one thing only and that is protection. I'm seeing this slowly appear and my breeder has told me it'll come and be prepared....and I am and fine with it. But the signs I have mixed emotions about. Like am I really warning someone off or am I advertising that I have a mean dog which I don't?? He's doing what he was bred for instinctivly. Do Insurance companies frown on such a thing hanging on the house??? | ||
| Hammer71 |
As a former K-9 Officer I encourage you to start training the dog. Dont know what breed but I can probably narrow it down. As far as signs I reccomend NO. It makes the public percieve your dog as vicious. Friendly warning it could be but if you have a dog that has been in headlines it wont matter what his demeanor is. Insurance companies are very strange with this, my two Rotties almost jacked up my premium but after explaining the training they both had I had no issue. Now with my K-9 I had an increase (Go figure). It seems as though your breeder is aware of the dogs disposition and traits and should be able to point you in the right diection for proper training. If not PM me and I will find someone in your area for you (Dont know your family situation but it is very important for dog to co exist and listen to the whole family). Hope this helps a bit. Rich | ||
| Bads1 |
Hammer you may have read me wrong or I wasn't thorough. My dog is very obedient for his age. This dog breed really has not been in headlines and are not known at all to be loose canons sorta speak. He is listening just fine to my family. I'm fine with the training. I am more just interested in the thoughts of the sign because a big part of feels the way you do about the signs. | ||
| Hammer71 |
OK cool, I have seen people with dogs your age "turn" and decide that they rule the roost, just wanted to make sure all was good in that area. Sign issue is still the same with me and alot of people I know. Dont advertise, I think it causes more problems than if it wasnt posted at all. Home and family protection need not be advertised. Sort of like the "This truck protected by 357 magnum" LOL | ||
| Bads1 |
Hammer the dog breed is call a Boerboel... South African Mastiff alot different then other Mastiffs. Its a rare breed to us in the US but been around for centuries in Africa.  | ||
| Hammer71 |
Lokks to be a male (going to be HUGE)Very familiar, was used as protection of diamond mines and work dog way back when, friend that I used to work with has one.. Female named Zoe. Strong dog very protective and a big mush to boot. Sits on my lap whenever she gets the chance. He also has an ash gray Cane Corso which is about the same in stature and temperment. Great choice in dog wish you all the luck | ||
| No_rice |
i miss my english mastiff Kilo. when i got him he was bigger than the peoples purebreed lab and only about 2 months. he couldnt walk 10 feet though without falling down he was such a klutz with those long legs, lol. at a little over a year he was topping 200pnds and just a huge baby. never even had to speek to him if i didnt want to. just look at him and point and he'd go where i wanted. point at the ground and he'd lay down. very well behaved. as far as the signs go, those things kind of annoy me. and yes it seems that if anything ever were to happen then people say that you knew the dog was mean or something because you had the signs posted warning them. | ||
| Blake |
Better would be a couple "Beware of Rattlesnake" signs.  | ||
| Crusty |
I don't know; I think a BEWARE OF SKUNKS sign would keep unwanted people away.  | ||
| Whodom |
I always liked the one my father-in-law had on his place (now on my teenage son's door): NO TRESSPASSING! TRESSPASSERS WILL BE SHOT. SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN. | ||
| Pammy |
Just a note. A sign indicating that you have a "bad dog" or that one needs to "beware of dog" can actually open you up for a mighty(er) lawsuit if your pet should get frisky with someone or actually intentionally bite someone. The sign would indicate your knowledge (beforehand) that your dog could be dangerous. I learned this when I had my 3 Neopolitan Mastiffs. 185lbs, 145lbs and 110lbs, respectively. All 3 were rescues. All 3 had different temperments from one another. Just like people...only better! I have a business aquaintance who is trying to find a home for a fine English Mastiff. He is moving and isn't taking her with. If anyone would like information or is interested at all, please let me know. Oh! FWIW, I agree with Whodom's sign! | ||
| Blake |
"Beware of Skunk"  Good one. Considering recent news, a "Beware of Stingray" might work too. | ||
| Blake |
Dana, is that a photo of your pooch? That is one stout dog! | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
That is a very good looking dog you have there. | ||
| Djkaplan |
My mom still has a 'Beware of Dog' sign my dad and I hung up after I got an English Setter when I was 12. King wouldn't hurt a fly (the most gentle dog ever)and he's long gone, but that sign has been keeping meter readers and kids who've lost their baseballs out of the backyard for over 30 years now. | ||
| Spiderman |
Get one of those sighs that say... "My dog can make it to the fence in 2.2 seconds, can you?"  I do suggest getting a few signs so if anyone does come into your yard they can't sue you cause you clearly warned em | ||
| Bads1 |
Blake no that is not my dog that is a relative though. I posted him because thats what mine will be in due time. Mine is 6 months and at 90 lbs. now. These dogs generally go about 120-150 lbs. There are fast and they are a very active dog for there size. The speed would surprise you. The stoutness that you see above is how these dogs are in the gene pool....they are all like that. He is one awesome dog. I feel the same about the signs but a sign saying "BEWARE" is just saying there is a dog on the property. Meter reader people need to know right?? | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
In the summer when I spend much time in the garage, the dogs themselves usually keep people away ... especially the door-to-door Jesus lovers ... Granted yours will be bigger than both of my Bulldogs combined ... but there is power in numbers ... I dare ya to steal one of my cars !    we won't say anything about how aggressive they aren't .. btw - that's a nice lookin' pup you got there. No need for a sign, the appearance and bark of your dog is enough. That's the reason we have 3 dogs - someone hears 3 dogs barking inside or sees the 2 Bulldogs outside they won't even bother - and your dog will be the one to bark at noises. | ||
| Bads1 |
Heres a shot of him about two weeks ago and 8 lbs. less.  | ||
| Crusty |
That's a beautiful dog. | ||
| Slaughter |
No such thing as a guard dog without LEGITIMATE training. All they are is an alarm system. If that's what you feel you need, get ducks. Worked for centuries in Veeetnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, China. They don't eat much and they make a racket when anything changes in their little world. Untrained "guard dogs" - together with untrained owners are a bad combination. (Though a GUARD DUCK sign might not have the effect you're hoping for)  | ||
| Bads1 |
Slaughter your are right in most cases but this breed,sorry a tad different. They were born to protect what is theres...family,house,etc. This is something you can't get that out of them,its there nature. They are not mean dogs as Hammer71 has already pointed out. Whats good for you is good for them. And I'm not after anything I'm asking what others here think of various signs people post on there properties. Who said I'm an untrained owner??? | ||
| Slaughter |
My bad. I guess I sometimes come off a bit preachy. My sister does urban search and rescue and trains USAR dog teams. We'd seen the results of bad owners in other circumstances. http://www.kcsearchdogs.org/searches/searches_1998.htm  | ||
| Bads1 |
See like this one I think your asking for it.  But this one kinda seems like just letting strangers know that a dog lives here.  | ||
| Mikej |
How about making one that says something along the lines of:
"Warning" sounds like someone can get hurt, "Caution" sounds like a request asking someone to get permission before entering. Probably the best thing is to ask a lawyer, that's what they get paid for. Many municipalities have records of where dogs are and if the meter readers or maintenance people need to contact property owners. Partly out of concern for the workers, and partly out of concern about liability in case the worker opens up a gate and lets the family pet out accidently. On another note there is a sign next to a local Goodwill store posted by an auto shop of some sort. The sign reads something about 40,000 volts +/- a few thousand volts, and warns of death and such. I could reach over and touch the hot wire without leaving the Goodwill parking lot if I stretched a bit. Not sure how that is concerning the liability angle, but then it's not in a great neighborhood so maybe it's a different game there. There's also a u-store-it type of lot on my way to work with guard dogs, and their sign says something like "Warning - guard dogs". They usually have 3 or 4 red dobies patrolling the place at night, still out when I go by on the way to work. Have no idea if this post answers any questions or not, guess my fingers just needed some exercise or something. Nice looking dog. | ||
| Ulywife |
We have Old English Sheepdogs. They live inside as well as spending time in the back yard fence. As stated before, dogs are great at making their presence known to anyone at your door or in your yard. Our fence has a "street sign" that says "Big Al's playground. Enter at your own risk". Although Alex has been gone for many years, the sign still hangs on the fence. It basically tells people that there is a big dog here and unless you're invited you take your chances. Once invited, our dogs calm right down and are at ease. I never worry about being home alone, even with one dog being deaf. She always manages to know when something is up. Bads1 - that's a cute pup there! We are definitely a big dog family!!  (Message edited by Ulywife on October 20, 2006) | ||
| Angelwild327 |
If people are someplace they shouldn't be, then they really don't deserve a warning. You are responsible for making sure the average joe and their children have no easy access to those private and protected areas where your dog would be; like locking your gates and things of that nature. I think putting a warning sign is, in this litigious society, asking for some dorktard to find a reason to give you trouble or a lawsuit. The rescue sign, however, would be a very good and benign warning that there are dog(s) present on your property, in case of emergency, that need to be retrieved. Your dog is beautiful, I'm partial to the Tosa Inu, bred also for protection, and highly revered and considered a national treasure in Japan and neighboring islands. Good luck!! | ||
| Kdan |
I like this one -  | ||
| Bads1 |
Tosa Inu??? Everything I have read is its a rare breed dog in the US and it was developed between 1868-1912. It was used primarily for dog fighting which now law you cannot fight dogs in Japan. No doubt a good protector but not bred for those reasons. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Anyone ever watch The Dog Whisperer? That guy is a genius! I have seen him take some dogs that were prime candidates for termination and turn them into great pets. It is all accomplished with his understanding of the pack mentality and dog psychology. The worst offenders on his show for aggressive are some of the noisy little "yappers" like chihuahuas and many of the smaller "cute" breeds. Jack |
