Anyone have personal experience with any of these breeds?

Please let me know what these dogs are like (protective, health problems, energy level?)I'm really interested in their temperment.Akbash DogBeauceronBelgain MalinoisCanaan DogCaucasian Ovtcharka (Caucasian Mountain Dog)Central Asian Shepherd DogChinookDalmationDutch ShepherdEnglish ShepherdEstrela Mountain DogGreat PyreneesHovawartKangal DogKarelian Bear DogKing ShepherdLeonbergerPortuguese PointerRhodesian RidgebackSarplaniac (Sharplaninatz)Shiloh ShepherdThai RidgebackI have experience with GSDs and Australian Cattle Dog. I don't want the dog to be aggressive (will do extensive socialization); I just want one that I feel confidant would protect me if someone to come into my house in a rural area. I also enjoy a challenge, so that answers some of your questions.

That is a lot of dogs to be asking about. Maybe you should be researching online or asking a vet to find out what breed is right for you.

GD do something for yourself

I can't help it, but you didn't include the famous Newfador/ Timber Wolf hybrid on your list.Why?Are you discriminating against them????

i have a german shepherd (thats close to a shiloh shephepherd) and hes the cutest thing ever

If you are on here asking advice on these dogs I would say you shouldn't own about 95% of the dogs on your list. They are for very experienced dog owners. I also couldn't help but notice most of the dogs are usually stereotyped as aggressive and you asked about protectiveness. Why exactly do you want a dog?

My pet sitter has several Rhodesian Ridgebacks and she says they're the sweetest dogs ever.Where do you plan to find half of these dogs? And do you realize how much it'll cost?

1. Look it up for yourself. 2. What did you do, try to find some of the most challenging dogs? (BTW- the King Shepherd isn't a breed)

You need to get a dog book, most are rare breeds and require a strong willed owner. Forget a dalmation they have the most health issues out of the bunch. Caucasian Ovtcharka will be too much for anyone who needs to ask about it. Same goes for the Beauceron, good luck even finding a breeder for some of those, most these dogs have good sound breeding as they aren't popular except the King shepherd.Look up Leonberger and Shilo Shepherd.

well i dont know about all of those breeds but i know about a few ill go down the list dalmations are good tempered and are good with children they have a lot of energy and need lots of exercise great pyrenees' are good tempered im notsure if they work well with kids or not but they are large so they might be a problem i think they ted to be couch potatoes but im not sure as far as health problems i think they are known for having arthritis the rhodesian ridgeback are not known for working well with with kids they are more of a one person dog and were bred for lion hunting in africa so they can be aggressive those are all of the dogs that i know about for the rest you'll have to do some research yourself

I have a Great Pyrenese (sp?)..They are the laziest dogs, but they are very protective, they get very big...Mine is at 160lbs, all she does is guard the windows all day long, rarely moves..loves swimming and going for hikes

Dalmation, great pyrenees, leonburger, and rhodesian rigdebacks I have worked with. Dalmations are great if brought up right, they have a good disposition, are pretty smart, and their energy lvl on a scale of 1-10 is about a 7 I'd say, at least until they grow up. They also get along great with other pets and kids if socialized well. Great pyrenees are also wonderful dogs, they require extensive grooming however, but they also have a good disposition, energy lvl about 5 for the most part. All the ones I have known have been very laid back, but as with the dalmation, if you socialize them well, they're great with kids and other pets. (I know one whos bestfriend is a teacup yorkie). Leonburgers have the personality of a saint bernard, and the inteligence of a poodle. They are very sweet dogs, but also need alot of grooming. They have a great disposition and tend to be naturally gentle natured, and energy lvl is about 8. Rhodesian ridgebacks remind me of a red doberman. They have a good disposition as well, but they're muscle heads. They're also very sweet and if socialized enough are good with other pets and kids, energy lvl 7-9 depending on the owner.

The best dog on your list is a Leonberger . I'M biased as they are the only dog for me they are wonderful, laid back and can be fun and full of energy they are grouped in the mastiff and grow to be very big they shed there coat twice a year and when i say shed you have hair falling by the bag load. They are messy dogs as they love mud, water and filth, they are great with kids and fabulous watch dogs. But they are the most loving loyal breed of dog you can ever have the pleasure of sharing your life with they are not for everyone, as they take a lot of looking after and are really not for the first time dog owner.If you were to consider owning a dog like this be sure you are the right owner for this breed as they only deserve the best owners , who are willing to give to a relationship as much as a Leo will to them .

I don't have personal experience with these breeds but i have a website that would be very handy for you. It lists all different breeds and their tempers. Good luck http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/purebred.htm

I'm picking only one on this list.Karelian Bear Dogs are incredible, but they are high energy and very intense dogs. They make me think of a Border Collie mixed with an Elkhound or Siberian, and not just because they're both black/white and spitzy. They are independent and hard-headed, incredibly intelligent, and absolutely require a job. They will bark at intruders, but I have no idea about actually engaging one (unless it is a bear).I had the opportunity to get one from a good friend of mine, but didn't know if I'd be able to keep it busy enough.If you're looking for a dog just to hang around and keep your house safe, I wouldn't recommend one.I'm sure there are breed club websites for just about every one of these breeds (except the King Shepherd, which is someone's money-making experiment).Google "[Breed Name] Club" and you'll get all the info you need.

I am the proud Mom of a Great Pyrenees. He is truely a gentle giant. He is cautious around our Yorkie (3lbs), would love to be a lap dog if he could only fit on our laps, yet he is also quite protective of his domain and his people. He will bark at a knock at the door and normally stand between us and the door when we answer. He monitors our fence line and informs us when the sirens are going past our house. As a youngster he use to chase balls and play tug o war with us but now even as a senior dog still wants to play but just doesnt want to chase anything. He has been one of the best dogs we have had. However he has food and seasonal allergies. We also fight ear infections on occassion. You have to maintain their coat and it consists of brushing him alot to keep that undercoat free of shedding. I feel that this breed made a wonderful pet but if you have small yard I would consider a smaller dog. He is definitly a XXL breed. Dalmations can have several health issues, such as blindness. They can be high strung but as with all dogs just because you see one hyper dog not all of them are high energy. A family member has two dalmations Spot and Dot. They are beyond hyper!! (Shakes head at the thought of the dogs) They also had another one and he lived to be 8 but due to a cancer and blindness they had to put him to sleep. I have heard and seen a few of the other breeds you have listed but do not know much about them..

I LOVE Malinois. That are incredibly intelligent, very attuned to their owners, and loyal and protective. Dalmations can be a little nutty if you don't work them long and hard every day. They're not known for human protection.Great Pyrenees are protective of their flocks, but again, probably not that much for humans. Leonberger- very sweet, I didn't perceive them as very intelligent or protective.Rhodesian Ridgeback- very fun, but stubborn.Shiloh Shepherd- pretty much the same temperment as the German Shepherd.The Malinois has my vote!

You wanna watch out for those ferrrrrocious Rodesian Ridgebackshttp://www.hunt101.com/img/463948.jpg

Great Pyrenees is the dog I will address in your question. I'll include one or more links so you can search breed traits for yourself because you really should NOT simply depend on us to teach you about these dogs, and some of the answers you've gotten already are useless... like "they're so cute" type responses. That doesn't give you the help you're looking for.Pyrs are harder to train because they are strong minded, independent thinkers. You have to learn ahead to be a good strong Alpha Pack Leader. They were bred to keep the shepherds company in the pyrenean mountains and stand guard so the shepherd could sleep at night. Farm bred pyrs prefer to work at night guarding your property. They do require grooming, but I don't find it a hardship. Grooming helps also with bonding the dog to you. Being in a rural area, you have the ideal living situation for a pyr, but they adapt amazingly well for town and city dwellers who know how to give them enough exercise. You need good fencing, as they can be "disapyrs" if they have that tendency. I'm very rural and noone fences their dogs... just their cattle. We do have hot fencing to help keep the dogs on our property, but since our house is atop a hill, the dogs stay close to home as they like to lie on the high ground to have the best view while they guard. Pyrs are excellent guardian dogs. If I remember correctly, the Akbash is a more dog aggressive dog, but most pyrs are not as dog aggressive. Pyrs like to control predators by doing pre-emptive barking, to scare the predators off so they won't have to fight. BUT... if a fight is required, they are surely up to it. If you have stock and house them with the stock, they will be primarily stock guardians. Mine are allowed in the house and they know I am more important for them to guard than the cattle. They escort me as I travel during the day. At night they (two pyrs) ward off coyotes and other predators. I have seen each of my pyrs meet someone they didn't trust. My male was more aggressive in his actions, but if anything, including a cow, is too close and a threat, my female steps up strongly to guard me. Pyrs would meet your addendum comments just fine. My 3rd dog is half shepherd, and half blue heeler and the pyrs taught him how to be a pyr guardian! So long as you're a good Alpha Pack Leader and socialize the dogs, the pyrs are excellent. Just remember:- They do bark; some bark a lot.- Some are escape artists so you need fencing to keep them out of the street.- They do shed; some drop a lot of fur.- They do need grooming.- They are challenging to train.- Two are better than just one and more entertaining to boot.- They are a large breed so they eat a lot.- It's amazing to see how they change as they grow from pup to adult... See Sabrina's photos. Good Luck in your search, and please do the google search on breed traits. Don't just depend on us.

I've got experience with many of the breeds listed above, but to answer more specifically about the Rhodesian Ridgeback, there are different temperaments bred by different breeders (different lines)Best to go visit with a breeder of any of these breeds and find out the particulars of each breed.Thai Ridgebacks are not related to Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and from those I have seen that have come to rescue, they are very very dog aggressive. But with all dogs there are exceptions.I recommend trying to find a Natural Rearing breeder for any of the dog breeds listed above. I've been breeding naturally for 6 years now, and you are going to find less disease, bad temperaments, long lifespan in a dog raised without vaccinations and fed a proper raw diet.