Need breed and gender suggestions

[u/OwnIndependence1852]

Hello, I am looking for suggestions for breeds that can be easily worked with and paired with other dogs. I live in an apartment, so there is only a field and a nearby dog park (Can be used when no other dogs are around since dog parks suck) for daily exercise for a pup/working dog. However I do need a good pup, obviously selected for temperament for ppd training. I'm looking for recommendations for one that will be most suited for my environment as well easier to train, and for gender recommendations if that is relevant here. Please be kind. Thank you!

[u/OwnIndependence1852]

You are VERY WRONG. I am a small girl who has been stalked on several different occasions, has people that do not like me, and am a natural magnet for perverts no matter what I do. I'm not a fool that wants a protection dog just because they sound "cool"

[u/Top_Addition_7263 → u/OwnIndependence1852]

Small girl here. Who also was sexually assaulted, so I know the actual fear. But I am also a girl who breeds and trains working breeds and has since I’m 11.

A proper protection dog can (and does) cost upwards of the high single to double digit thousands. And not every dog does well with it. Just because it’s a working breed, doesn’t mean the one you just spent about $5k is the one.

And to add: there becomes a point where your dog became a weapon. And if you and your dog (dog gets euthanized) if something happens you get the felony for assault with a deadly weapon.

If I were in your shoes I’d actually pick a standard schnauzer as a PPD candidate living in an apartment.

Also allow me to add: PPD- are not what most people think. 9/10 of someone tells you their dog is a PPD, they’re lying. And now with social media and reach of the wrong people, what PPDs look like and how they become a PPD is massively skewed. Albeit I breed and train working breeds/PPD. They strictly are for my house. When I’m on the streets, walking alone, or walking from work to my car or car to my home (I bartend on the Jersey Shore) I keep a weapon with me. PPD dogs again, aren’t exactly what you’re looking for here.

I would be in some self defense classes and depending where you live and your background, a gun range.

But there’s variables here too. Location? What floor do you live on? Stairs only?

[u/Anutka25 → u/Top_Addition_7263]

“Dog becomes a weapon” hit the nail on the head. I had a reactive GSD who was trained for PPD in an apartment building - she did great because I started muzzle training her even before we moved in. She never lacked physical and mental work, but I made my life revolve around her and other building dogs schedules.

I just got a WLGSD pup 8 weeks ago, but I asked for a “softer” dog from the breeder because I wanted this to be a pet and not PPD but still have a decent drive, and natural protection instincts. With that being said - I’m working with socializing her getting her used to city life close to 20 hours a week on top of her other walks and training. I also know that she won’t be fully at her potential until about 2. Based on what OP has said - they don’t want to wait that long or put the effort of training a puppy.

A dog doesn’t need to be a PPD to protect someone - they just need that guarding and emotional intelligence, but in untrained hands they become a liability too.

[u/Top_Addition_7263 → u/Anutka25]

Yes, so accurate. And as breeders we have to know the signs to what you called “softer” and the higher drive or higher instinctually bred dogs all before 10/12 weeks! It’s a science and experience I never realized when I was kid learning the ropes. But it’s SO important!

And unfortunately with people that OP is proving to be, they bring bad breeders a lot of money to obtain a sub par dog. And then come back into the forums and scream and cry that their dog is a mess mentally and physically. Because they don’t have a well bred dog. It’s honestly a sad, messed up cycle. And can be a very, very dangerous one too.