Intimadating looking dogs to keep away intruders

Karen91

Hello everyone,

My fiance and I live in Co Limerick, we are renting a house in the country side. We are living here the past 6 months and we don't want to move as the landlord allows pets and we had diffiulty finding a dog friendly house.

There is a field beside our house and the only access in is our yard, theres a gate leading in to this field from our yard. We realised the gate had been open a few times eventhough its not in use and totally overgrown. We have an alarm, we have cameras installed and a cctv in operation sign along with sensor lights and we leave lights on at the back of the house all night. Two weeks ago we caught a person on the property at 4am in the morning on camera but his face cannot be seen in the distance there is a car waiting for him since then the fied gate has been opened a few times so its clear somebody is making a habbit of going in and out, the guards did'nt pay much attention and said we were over reacting.


Can anyone reccomend intimidating looking dog breeds, im not interested in a dog who will bite and my pomeranian is a good alert dog she doesnt miss a trick but she is so tiny she would not intimidate scum like this.

Tranceypoo

Overreacting? Charming!

What are these men actually doing in the field and what do you want the 'intimidating looking' dog to actually do?

cocker5

OP, would you not consider putting a lock on the gate? Like a big one to prevent people from passing through?

Speak to your landlord makes sure he / she is not using the gate firstly, explain the situation and ask is it ok to lock.

nala2012

Could they be hunting in the field? Ask landlord if he has given permission to anyone to go into field?

pawrick

Could it be a drop off point for drugs etc. I'd get back on to the guards after checking with the landlord plus getting a lock.

aaakev

Sounds like someone hunting to me

runawaybishop

lol5posts

Alsations are big and intimidating but need plenty of company.

Doom

Put plenty of slippy grease on that gate and put some sort barbed wire around the top too.

Doom

nala2012 wrote: »

Could they be hunting in the field? Ask landlord if he has given permission to anyone to go into field?

Just so you know the landlord has no rights to allow anyone or even himself trespass your rental property for any reason.

stoeger

Could very well be someone hunting I hunt myself but any decent hunter will ask first before entering someone's land and wont go true your yard if thay can help it

Ave Sodalis

The problem with getting something like a GS or rottie that look intimidating (with the mind to use it as an intimidator) but aren't actually trained to guard is that they're more likely to get stolen. Buying any intimidating looking dog doesn't guarantee that they'd be any good at scaring people away. I know more intimidating looking dogs that once someone starts talking to them and giving them attention, they turn into the biggest saps ever.

Karen91

Just to clarify this person was not hunting it is clear that there is someone waiting in a car up the road for him he jumped over our wall and he was not dressed like someone out hunting he was wearing a cuffed track bottom and a hoodie and he hid his face with the hood on purpose the car sped off when he jumped in we could not read the reg though . The landlord did not give anyone permission to use the field for anything. He is being awkward about putting a lock on the gate so our hands are tied. We are planning on another dog anyway its not just to intimidate people its just that we are now more focused on choosing something like a GSD. We are afraid that it maybe a drop off location for drugs or something. People hunting usually carry euipment with them this person did not have anything and he ran and jumped over the wall when he activated the lights.

Bongalongherb

Karen91 wrote: »

Hello everyone,

My fiance and I live in Co Limerick, we are renting a house in the country side. We are living here the past 6 months and we don't want to move as the landlord allows pets and we had diffiulty finding a dog friendly house.

There is a field beside our house and the only access in is our yard, theres a gate leading in to this field from our yard. We realised the gate had been open a few times eventhough its not in use and totally overgrown. We have an alarm, we have cameras installed and a cctv in operation sign along with sensor lights and we leave lights on at the back of the house all night. Two weeks ago we caught a person on the property at 4am in the morning on camera but his face cannot be seen in the distance there is a car waiting for him since then the fied gate has been opened a few times so its clear somebody is making a habbit of going in and out, the guards did'nt pay much attention and said we were over reacting.


Can anyone reccomend intimidating looking dog breeds, im not interested in a dog who will bite and my pomeranian is a good alert dog she doesnt miss a trick but she is so tiny she would not intimidate scum like this.

Joan Burton would be a good breed to frighten burglars away. My first choice of breed I must say. She has qualities most other rough breeds don't have.

Knine

sup_dude wrote: »

The problem with getting something like a GS or rottie that look intimidating (with the mind to use it as an intimidator) but aren't actually trained to guard is that they're more likely to get stolen. Buying any intimidating looking dog doesn't guarantee that they'd be any good at scaring people away. I know more intimidating looking dogs that once someone starts talking to them and giving them attention, they turn into the biggest saps ever.

I have not had a Shepard in a while but I can tell you that any of the GS's we had were anything but Saps when someone they did not know came near the garden or house. This is especially true of the males. They were natural guards.

Ave Sodalis

Knine wrote: »

I have not had a Shepard in a while but I can tell you that any of the GS's we had were anything but Saps when someone they did not know came near the garden or house. This is especially true of the males. They were natural guards.

Not all of them are. My grandfather was a guard dog trainer and GS's were his choice of dog. Despite the fact he got them from pounds and rescues, not all dogs were suitable because some just refused to bite.

flutered

Bongalongherb wrote: »

Joan Burton would be a good breed to frighten burglars away. My first choice of breed I must say. She has qualities most other rough breeds don't have.

she has neither the looks, the brains or the temperment, a dog with a half vacent look on its face never scared anyone.

flutered

sup_dude wrote: »

Not all of them are. My grandfather was a guard dog trainer and GS's were his choice of dog. Despite the fact he got them from pounds and rescues, not all dogs were suitable because some just refused to bite.

we always have dogs from rescues, always bitches, always grateful for what one has done for them, there is a species proctected here on boards and repesented by pavee point, sheps really hate them

bilbot79

I think a Rottweiler or a Doberman is an 'I mean business' guard dog. An alsation is scary but everyone also knows how nice they can be if treated right. Personally I would go alsation, they will bark the house down if their is am intruder and the intruder won't question whether he is nasty or nice.

I think the Doberman might have issues with its brain growing too big for its skull and that sending them mental and unpredictable, might be an urban myth mind you.

I feel for you, I wouldn't like e idea of weird stuff going on near my house and I'd be thinking about a dog too.

muddypaws

bilbot79 wrote: »

I think a Rottweiler or a Doberman is an 'I mean business' guard dog. An alsation is scary but everyone also knows how nice they can be if treated right. Personally I would go alsation, they will bark the house down if their is am intruder and the intruder won't question whether he is nasty or nice.

I think the Doberman might have issues with its brain growing too big for its skull and that sending them mental and unpredictable, might be an urban myth mind you.

.

yeah, very definitely an urban myth, one that thankfully, I've never heard before.

DBB

flutered wrote: »

we always have dogs from rescues, always bitches, always grateful for what one has done for them, there is a species proctected here on boards and repesented by pavee point, sheps really hate them

I think you'll find that inciteful posts about travellers are illegal under the equality legislation (even when you try to obfuscate who you're talking about using indirect wording), as opposed to being actively protected by boards.ie. I'm sure you wouldn't like for boards.ie to be seen to be upholding breaches of the law that could get both them and you into trouble?
Besides which, I don't know why you brought this into the discussion at all.
So, let's keep this thread away from this topic now please, and keep on-topic.
Do not reply to this post on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB

josip

Jack Russels would be very yappy and trespassers wouldn't appreciate the racket.

Karen91

josip wrote: »

Jack Russels would be very yappy and trespassers wouldn't appreciate the racket.

Yes we have looked into jack russels also its sad when you don't feel safe in your home and people can just go in and out of your yard as they please

lulu1

What I am wondering why is the landlord being so cagey about putting a lock on the gate. Maybe he is involved in whatever's going on in the field.

DoctorEdgeWild

I sympathise with your situation OP, it's a terrible thing to not feel safe in your own home.

However, as an owner of two German Shepherds, I'd just like to advise that they require a lot of training and attention in order to 'work' as guard dogs. They are highly intelligent, curious and wonderful dogs.

I think the landlord and the Gardai are more important to be involved than a dog. Every landlord wants happy tenants, explain yourself to him clearly and offer suggestions. Walls, fences, locks etc.

Best of luck to you.

TL,DR - A dog doesn't necessarily solve the problem you are having.

Witcher

lulu1 wrote: »

What I am wondering why is the landlord being so cagey about putting a lock on the gate. Maybe he is involved in whatever's going on in the field.

Probably because it's pointless, unless the gate is about 20 feet high they'll just climb over it :pac:

Bongalongherb

Blay wrote: »

Probably because it's pointless, unless the gate is about 20 feet high they'll just climb over it :pac:

Not if it's electrified.

The best alarm system in reality would be eircom phone-watch I think it's called. Once the alarm goes off the gardai will either be en route, or playing pool upstairs in the station if a cold night. Never know though, they might make it to you fast as well, it's a gamble, but better than having a dog just for security, because I knew folk before that got a dog just to watch the house but the poor feller was left in the back-garden for one purpose only and never much had human companionship.

Best bet is to get an alarm monitored from eircom if you are that worried. No point in getting any-kind of dog just to use as security. They can poison the dog as well if they really want to enter your abode at some time, so a dog is not the answer IMO.

Karen91

DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »

I sympathise with your situation OP, it's a terrible thing to not feel safe in your own home.

However, as an owner of two German Shepherds, I'd just like to advise that they require a lot of training and attention in order to 'work' as guard dogs. They are highly intelligent, curious and wonderful dogs.

I think the landlord and the Gardai are more important to be involved than a dog. Every landlord wants happy tenants, explain yourself to him clearly and offer suggestions. Walls, fences, locks etc.

Best of luck to you.

TL,DR - A dog doesn't necessarily solve the problem you are having.

Yes I know and I am also afraid of putting a dog in a dangerous situation, I have heard of dogs being beaten and poisoned by intruders.

A question about German Shepards and small dogs?

Can anyone tell me if the breed are ok around toy breeds we have a pom already so would the two be compatable?

bmm

The great thing about being a tenant is you can move. Plenty of dog friendly houses for rent around Limerick.

tk123

OP would you not just put a lock on the gate yourself? What happens if you do get a new dog and it escapes out of the garden via the gate and gets injured/causes an accident?

I have 2 retrievers - one of them will bark the place down if anyone comes into the garden. I've often looked out to see people delivering leaflets/church rubbish running out of the garden when the hear him!

DoctorEdgeWild

Karen91 wrote: »

Yes I know and I am also afraid of putting a dog in a dangerous situation, I have heard of dogs being beaten and poisoned by intruders.

A question about German Shepards and small dogs?

Can anyone tell me if the breed are ok around toy breeds we have a pom already so would the two be compatable?

Breed specific rules are often useless. My two are happy around any and all dogs. Our previous one was not good at all socially, especially around smaller dogs. It's almost entirely down to how they were raised, socialised, taught and trained.

I do fear that you are considering a dog purely for protection though, please don't take this the wrong way as I understand your safety fears, but taking on a dog in a huge commitment and should never be taken lightly or hastily.

josip

Bongalongherb wrote: »

Not if it's electrified.

The best alarm system in reality would be eircom phone-watch I think it's called. Once the alarm goes off the gardai will either be en route, or playing pool upstairs in the station if a cold night. Never know though, they might make it to you fast as well, it's a gamble, but better than having a dog just for security, because I knew folk before that got a dog just to watch the house but the poor feller was left in the back-garden for one purpose only and never much had human companionship.

Best bet is to get an alarm monitored from eircom if you are that worried. No point in getting any-kind of dog just to use as security. They can poison the dog as well if they really want to enter your abode at some time, so a dog is not the answer IMO.

If you electrify the gate you could end up being sued.

Dawggone

Rhodesian ridgeback.

ShaShaBear

Well you have two options if you are set on a shep. Either adopt from the pound or a rescue, or start the search for a very reputable breeder with a (rightfully) high adoption fee and a huge waiting list to avoid getting a pup who's back legs are so buckled they could camouflage themselves on a lily pond.
Then you run the risk that a big, "intimidating" dog could be exactly what these scoundrels are looking for, and it goes from running through your gate to breaking in and stealing your dog. Maybe it tries to defend the home, maybe it gets a nasty smack on the head for it's efforts.

Sorry for the harsh words but the reason most of these breeds are on that stupid list is because the kind of characters you are referring to keep them for the same reason you want one - intimidation. If anything, you'll draw more of them to you instead of scaring them away!

doubter

There's one thing that i gather here-they don't like light. Can't you install a movement senor that will switch on lights as soon as movement is detected around the gate? I would certainly advise a against a guard dog- they can gotten around and they can get hurt.
Camera, alarm system and motion sensor with light activation should do the trick.

Oh- and you can electrify the gate-as long as there's a clear warning put up

Pretzill

I wouldn't reccommend a dog (any dog) for security reasons. Besides which I'd rather have the dog stand with me if anyone entered the house and not have him stolen, beaten or poisoned outside. Dogs do make good house alarms though and if you have your heart set on getting another dog - most types will bark if they hear something odd at night.

However you already know someone has entered your property - a dog may not dissuade them - I would lock that gate regardless of what the LL says you have to live there - you have CCTV so if it happens again surely the gaurds will look into it. Another country tip is a Bull in feild sign on the gate - beware of dogs on your main gate - and the phonewatch system is a good one for the house.

sillysmiles

Was the house you are living in vacant before you moved in? Has it happened more than once? Is there any form of community alert in the area?
Personally I would log a formal complaint with the guards.

If you were thinking of getting a second dog anyway - something with a loud bark may become a criteria but if any intruders are determined, a dog will be dispatched first and not in any kind or human way.

Karen91

Yes I fear of the dog being injured, our small one is locked in the bathroom at night because we fear that if the house was broken into she would be taken and to be honest shes the most valuable thing they could steal and what I mean is personal value, we adore her and the next dog will be treated the same.

We went back to the guards today and we were told its a civil matter and they can do nothing as nothing was damaged or stolen.

aaakev

If your renting the house you do t need permission to lock a gate in your garden, big chain and lock and maybe some barbed wire on it too if it's not being used

Par1

Simply put..a dog is not your answer. You already have a dog, an alarm, cctv, and sensor lights. You say the pomeranian is a good alert dog - that is all you need. Setting a bigger dog on people is not an ideal situation and could turn into a very nasty situation. Even if the intruders are in the wrong then setting a dog on them is not the answer. How will you train the dog to distinguish between intruders and visitors? will the bigger aggressive tempered dog take to the pomeranian?..this are unclear.

It sounds like you should get your house alarm monitored by a reputable monitoring company who will notify the the guards in the event of an alarm.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Doom wrote: »

Put plenty of slippy grease on that gate and put some sort barbed wire around the top too.

Do this if you are interested in going to court.

Are the people using the field for hunting? is there any livestock in the field?

Karen91

Our garden gate is locked they are jumping over the wall its the gate into the field the landlord is refusing to lock. Its not a large field, its not hunters that are using it we know that or sure and its totally overgrown so they could actually be hiding anything in there. There is no livestock in the filed there is only one gate in and that is in our yard.

The next option is getting the alarm monitored, the worrying part about it is they know theres sensor lights, they are aware of the alarm and we have a sign warning of cctv in operation and they are still coming in usually this would be enough to put people off

josip

Karen91 wrote: »

Our garden gate is locked they are jumping over the wall its the gate into the field the landlord is refusing to lock. Its not a large field, its not hunters that are using it we know that or sure and its totally overgrown so they could actually be hiding anything in there. There is no livestock in the filed there is only one gate in and that is in our yard.

The next option is getting the alarm monitored, the worrying part about it is they know theres sensor lights, they are aware of the alarm and we have a sign warning of cctv in operation and they are still coming in usually this would be enough to put people off

That is fcuking weird.
Is there a pattern to the days/times/number of people?
If there's a car waiting on the road can you call the next neighbour down that direction to go out and get the reg as it passes?

Flippyfloppy

Are they after mushrooms??

OP you say they're aware of CCTV and sensor lights.

Is it possible that the reason they're not worried is because they don't think they're doing anything wrong? Just someone inconsiderate doing something they don't realise is invading your personal property?

I know a good few people who would think nothing of passing through someone's property to cut 5 mins of their journey or to go for a wee. I'm not trying to belittle your worries - I'd be worried too. But maybe this is far less threatening than it seems?

Either way choosing an intimidating dog breed doesn't sound like a great idea. Until the dog is raised/settled in the home, you wont know whether it's a barker, a chaser, protective, or shy. For all your effort you could end up with a dog that will bound up to intruders quietly and let them pet him on the head.

Inconspicuous

Karen91 wrote: »

Yes I fear of the dog being injured, our small one is locked in the bathroom at night because we fear that if the house was broken into she would be taken and to be honest shes the most valuable thing they could steal and what I mean is personal value, we adore her and the next dog will be treated the same.

We went back to the guards today and we were told its a civil matter and they can do nothing as nothing was damaged or stolen.

Karen,

I'm not sure who were talking to in your local station, but if I was to take a bet I'd say it was probably the local uniformed guard at the public counter. To be honest, he'll have no interest because he'll probably not see this for what it may be.

You say you have cctv and that you can see these lads on it (albeit not clearly). Can you get the dates and times that this is happening and try and establish some sort of pattern? If so, your best bet is to contact your local station again and tell them you want to speak to somebody in the drugs unit. Tell them you have some confidential info you want to pass to them about a potential stash of drugs/cash/guns and want to talk in confidence to somebody in the drugs unit.

You may well get a better response than you did at the public desk.

km991148

Inconspicuous wrote: »

Karen,

I'm not sure who were talking to in your local station, but if I was to take a bet I'd say it was probably the local uniformed guard at the public counter. To be honest, he'll have no interest because he'll probably not see this for what it may be.

You say you have cctv and that you can see these lads on it (albeit not clearly). Can you get the dates and times that this is happening and try and establish some sort of pattern? If so, your best bet is to contact your local station again and tell them you want to speak to somebody in the drugs unit. Tell them you have some confidential info you want to pass to them about a potential stash of drugs/cash/guns and want to talk in confidence to somebody in the drugs unit.

You may well get a better response than you did at the public desk.

Exactly. You have people regularly breaking into your property and the police i.e. the public servants paid by us to protect and police the state - told you you were overreacting.. wtf!

Go back to them and if necessary to to the ombudsman?

Inconspicuous

km991148 wrote: »

Exactly. You have people regularly breaking into your property and the police i.e. the public servants paid by us to protect and police the state - told you you were overreacting.. wtf!

Go back to them and if necessary to to the ombudsman?

Well, to be honest at most it sounds like this is tresspass as opposed to actual breaking and entering. It probably doesn't rank up there with everything else that is going on in Limerick. Not that I would for one moment belittle the effect it is having on the OP and her family.

I do agree that you should follow this up again, but maybe try a tactful approach first before going to the ombudsman. There are many levels in a garda station and if you have no success with a detective in the drugs unit, you can try the community policing unit or escalte it to the inspector, superintendent's or Chief's office.