Thanks for joining us and for posting your topic. The Amstaff and Cane Corso are far apart in size and termperment but let me give this a try and ask a few more questions.
Do you want a dog with a double coat to be out in the Canadian winter?
Do you have a fenced in property?
Off the cuff, I would say a good German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois may fit the bill. However, if you want something that "look like" the Amstaff or Cane Corso but have the qualities you describe you could consider the Boerboel or even the Cane Corso.
In the furry category you can consider the Alaskan Malamute, Central Asian Ovcharka, the Danish Broholmer. For something smaller that will be a good watch dog you could consider one of the Laikas.
Please provide any other information about your situation that would help us to provide a better answer for you.
Here's my two cents, and before I begin I'll say for sure not a Malinois for you and your family. With that being said here is a list of breeds that I'd suggest would fit your criteria.
Leavitt Olde Bulldogs
American Bulldog
Cane Corso
Rottweiler
Presa Canario
Bull Mastiff
Dogue de Bourdeaux
Rhodesian Ridgeback
In the list of breeds that I'd suggest, they would all be wonderful pets for children and fit your criteria for temperament, but with that all being said the Corso and Rottweilers would be on the bottom of my list when it comes to young children but your kids are (5 & 7) of age and they can learn to be respectful to the dogs so that shouldn't be a big deterrent in not taking those breeds serious. In any event I'd take the time to find the most out-going and leveled tempered dog all the while socializing it early and often.
You didn't go into "details" into how you'd shelter your dog (indoor/outdoor) in home or a well weathered kennel? Aside from the Bourdeaux and Rottweiler, all the breeds mentioned are short haired, usually meaning "low shedding" but depending those "details" they'd all do well in Toronto weather. Just remember, they aren't Saint Bernard's or CAO's.
Aside from the Rhodesian, Bull Mastiff and DDB those other breeds would excel in advance obedience work and "bite work" not to say that the three above wouldn't. It's more "the exception to the rule" but basic/above basic training and you'll be fine with any of the breeds.
All in all, the breeds i suggest can all be "nice and calm family dog that will tolerate strangers but will protect if push comes to shove" just keep in mind that finding the right puppy, firm and moderate training and follow through from you the owner to see these goals through is important to having the dog you want. It definitely isn't just buying one of these breeds.
"A breeder is going to tell you everything you want to hear, cause he wants to make a sale"
My name is Steve the dog trainer based in Los Angeles Ca. I've trained and owned every breed I mentioned. I've titled AB's in Schutzhund and specialize in protection training.
I replied earlier on this topic from my phone. However, for some odd reason it didn't go through/ I will reply more later with my opinions. For now my number one suggestion is the presa canario. I admit I;m partial as this is the my breed preference. I would also say the Caucasian. As these or my top two favorite dogs. But Caucasian may be too big and shed too much based upon your criteria.
Based upon the criteria here's my small list. Of course more dogs could be included in the list. My choice is the Perro De Presa Canario. That's my preference. But I say that everyone should make their on choices based upon their research. Always research the breed and the breeder. When choosing a presa I narrowed my search down to the Presa, Cane Corso, Boerboel, and Dogo Argentino. I decided against the Boerboel because of the size being bigger than I wanted and wasn't going to be as agile or fast as a dog like a presa or the others. It is very agile for a dog of its size. I eliminated the Argentino because some white dog breeds have a genetic defect of deafness. I saw this was also true of the dogo. I didn't include the American Bulldog even though it is one of my top favorite breeds because I already was raising, breeding and training them. The Presa and Cane were so similar. But eventually I liked more of the Presa than I did of the Cane. Later I was happier with my decision based upon some trainer and breeders that I know that own or have owned the Cane Corso and the problems they experienced in the breed. I met others that didn't have the same experience, but too many did.
List:
Presa Canario
Boerboel
Dogo Argentino
Cane Corso
Giant Poodle
Bandog
Rottweiler
Doberman
I know most people do not think of Gian Poodles when they think of protection dogs or bite work. But they can do the work. You just don't see it often. About 20 to 30 years ago when I was breeding Rotties and went to a Schutzhund club for some training for my Rottie pup. I saw a Giant Poodle. It was doing a long send out. It hit the sleeve hard. I'm not advocating this breed over any other breed. It is just an option. I know it has longer hair than short hair breeds. But allegedly the poodle is supposed to be a low shedding breed. But it does have more grooming needs.
Of course you could include some dogs like the Belgium Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, or Pit Bull. But they are too small for my personal preference in protection work. Again that's my personal preferences.
Speaking about personal preferences I left the Schutzhund Club. It was my preference to train my dogs for personal protection over Schutzhund. I still like watching Schutzhund (IPO), French Ring, etc. But I want a personal protection dog for myself. One of the the thing that attracted me to the presa was they are known to be able to accept your friend over if you accept them while remaining watchful and ready to defend it;s family if needed.
Normally I would have Recommended a dog like the Caucasian Ovcharka for cold weather climate as my top choice. I love this breed too. The main reason I don't have one is the long hair. They have a short hair version but it is not my choice. Then I would add the Black Russian Terrier, and Giant Schnauzer and maybe the Akita. These may all shed more than you desire.
Normally I would have Recommended a dog like the Caucasian Ovcharka for cold weather climate as my top choice. I love this breed too. The main reason I don't have one is the long hair. They have a short hair version but it is not my choice. Then I would add the Black Russian Terrier, and Giant Schnauzer and maybe the Akita. These may all shed more than you desire.
Good that you recognized the Caucasian Ovcharka as one of the choices. They do love the cold weather climate but will do ok in warm climate if they have plenty of water and shade. It is not preferred to have them in hot climates but they are adaptable.
The Caucasian is one of my top 2 picks as far as dogs are concerned. They are beautiful dogs. I love their temperament. I may still end up getting one if I purchase more land. My only concerns were the hair and how well will they do in hot and humid Midwest. I know they can adapt, but I wasn't sure I would want to put them through it. Our heat is something else. It wouldn't be so bad if it was cooler in the shade, but here it is just as hot in shade as in the sun because of the humidity. When I go to the desert it is hot. But you get near a tree or any type of shade and it's cool or comfortable. Even at night it is too hot. You'd think it cool off when the sun is down but it is still hot.
I have had Samoyed, GSD, Alaskan Malamutes, Afghan Hound, and I have an Australian Cattle Dog that I rescued from the pound. After the the Cattle Dog (Red Heeler) I decided I didn't want any more long haired. dogs. Not because of the heat, but because if the hair. I don't recall any other dogs I listed or others that shed as much as these guys. having had poodles and I don't want a dog that needs to go to the groomer like poodles. I didn't have to groom my Sammies other than baths. The same for other dogs. The shedding that the cattle dog does has caused me to shy away from any long hair breed. The Sammies don't have close to the temperament for the type of dogs that I prefer. Neither do most the others that I listed. But the Caucasian is the one long hair dog that would make me give them an exception.
I recall a few years ago I saw some at a dog show. That made me desire them even more. This one guy that met said he was an Judge. He said that that was the one breed that they are not allowed to touch when judging. I thought that was odd. I thought that would be a Fila. But there were judges at this show touching the Caucasians. Later that day some guy brought his male too close to a few male presas. They fired up and so did the Caucasians. I watched how their handlers handle the situation and the dogs were back under control quickly. It wasn't their fault. I thought the judges might have a problem. But no one did. I was left with a very good impression of the dogs. As big and strong as they were they respected their owners and remained obedient. They were watchful and as there wasn't a threat they responded appropriately.
They are in my top 2 as favorites. Plus I prefer rare breeds. I won't see many of them near me. I was talking to a guy that showed my pup for me this weekend. He told me about a guy that has one near us. It was at the show. He was worried that the dog might try to bite the judge. I think it took Best in Show. Now I might have to go see this dog in person.
Hi Everyone,
My first post here I have been researching breeds for a while now and could use some help. Thanks in advance for any feedback suggestions.
My criteria:
Great With Kids I have a 5 and a 7 year old.
Low Shedding,
Can tolerate Toronto weather.
medium to large -- size wise think Am Staff to Cane Corso.
I plan on having him do obedience training and some bite work (not correct term but you get the idea)
Temperament: Tolerate Strangers, not to concern with dog aggression, Looking for a nice calm family dog that if push comes to shove will protect.
Thanks for joining us and for posting your topic. The Amstaff and Cane Corso are far apart in size and termperment but let me give this a try and ask a few more questions.
Do you want a dog with a double coat to be out in the Canadian winter?
Do you have a fenced in property?
Off the cuff, I would say a good German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois may fit the bill. However, if you want something that "look like" the Amstaff or Cane Corso but have the qualities you describe you could consider the Boerboel or even the Cane Corso.
In the furry category you can consider the Alaskan Malamute, Central Asian Ovcharka, the Danish Broholmer. For something smaller that will be a good watch dog you could consider one of the Laikas.
Please provide any other information about your situation that would help us to provide a better answer for you.
Best regards
P
I would not go for an am staff in your situation.
i would suggest a boerboel or cane corso then.
GSD shed alot, aswell do the alaskan malamute, CAO.
the belgian malinois is not calm enough and would get hyper when around kids at a young age.
i think the broholmer is a very rare and not to easy to Get dog ?
A boerboel is calmer around the house then a cane corso, but when they need to protect they can be harder to handle then a cane corso.
As gary said, can we hear a bit more about you area and living situations.
regards Frederik
I would not go for an am staff in your situation.
Agreed and they are ban in Toronto I was referring more to there size as the smallest I would wan't to go. I was not clear.
i would suggest a boerboel or cane corso then.
Thanks will research them both more. I have experience with CC as they are everywhere where i live. Are the BB's pretty docile? like the CC's
GSD shed alot, aswell do the alaskan malamute, CAO.
Agreed
the belgian malinois is not calm enough and would get hyper when around kids at a young age.
Plus Im not sure I could keep up with the exercise requirements.
i think the broholmer is a very rare and not to easy to Get dog ?
A boerboel is calmer around the house then a cane corso, but when they need to protect they can be harder to handle then a cane corso.
Thanks I guess that answers my question above
As gary said, can we hear a bit more about you area and living situations.
regards Frederik
Appreciate the help
Hi Frederick,
please tell us about your location and where the dog will be.. fence, yard, inside, city, wilderness...etc
Large yard in the Suburbs, 6 foot fence. Like the BB a lot however, that thing is massive!!
P
Consider a female, they are not to large :)
Will look into the females thanks Polishtatra.
Looking at the breed profiles of the Cane Corso and the BB seem somewhat similar any one have any insight into some major differences?
P
CC is more active, BB is less active.
CC requires more exercise then a BB
BB protective drive is stronger then CC
BB is heavyer then the CC
BB is more powerfull
S
Here's my two cents, and before I begin I'll say for sure not a Malinois for you and your family. With that being said here is a list of breeds that I'd suggest would fit your criteria.
Leavitt Olde Bulldogs
American Bulldog
Cane Corso
Rottweiler
Presa Canario
Bull Mastiff
Dogue de Bourdeaux
Rhodesian Ridgeback
In the list of breeds that I'd suggest, they would all be wonderful pets for children and fit your criteria for temperament, but with that all being said the Corso and Rottweilers would be on the bottom of my list when it comes to young children but your kids are (5 & 7) of age and they can learn to be respectful to the dogs so that shouldn't be a big deterrent in not taking those breeds serious. In any event I'd take the time to find the most out-going and leveled tempered dog all the while socializing it early and often.
You didn't go into "details" into how you'd shelter your dog (indoor/outdoor) in home or a well weathered kennel? Aside from the Bourdeaux and Rottweiler, all the breeds mentioned are short haired, usually meaning "low shedding" but depending those "details" they'd all do well in Toronto weather. Just remember, they aren't Saint Bernard's or CAO's.
Aside from the Rhodesian, Bull Mastiff and DDB those other breeds would excel in advance obedience work and "bite work" not to say that the three above wouldn't. It's more "the exception to the rule" but basic/above basic training and you'll be fine with any of the breeds.
All in all, the breeds i suggest can all be "nice and calm family dog that will tolerate strangers but will protect if push comes to shove" just keep in mind that finding the right puppy, firm and moderate training and follow through from you the owner to see these goals through is important to having the dog you want. It definitely isn't just buying one of these breeds.
"A breeder is going to tell you everything you want to hear, cause he wants to make a sale"
My name is Steve the dog trainer based in Los Angeles Ca. I've trained and owned every breed I mentioned. I've titled AB's in Schutzhund and specialize in protection training.
Best regards
I replied earlier on this topic from my phone. However, for some odd reason it didn't go through/ I will reply more later with my opinions. For now my number one suggestion is the presa canario. I admit I;m partial as this is the my breed preference. I would also say the Caucasian. As these or my top two favorite dogs. But Caucasian may be too big and shed too much based upon your criteria.
Based upon the criteria here's my small list. Of course more dogs could be included in the list. My choice is the Perro De Presa Canario. That's my preference. But I say that everyone should make their on choices based upon their research. Always research the breed and the breeder. When choosing a presa I narrowed my search down to the Presa, Cane Corso, Boerboel, and Dogo Argentino. I decided against the Boerboel because of the size being bigger than I wanted and wasn't going to be as agile or fast as a dog like a presa or the others. It is very agile for a dog of its size. I eliminated the Argentino because some white dog breeds have a genetic defect of deafness. I saw this was also true of the dogo. I didn't include the American Bulldog even though it is one of my top favorite breeds because I already was raising, breeding and training them. The Presa and Cane were so similar. But eventually I liked more of the Presa than I did of the Cane. Later I was happier with my decision based upon some trainer and breeders that I know that own or have owned the Cane Corso and the problems they experienced in the breed. I met others that didn't have the same experience, but too many did.
List:
Presa Canario
Boerboel
Dogo Argentino
Cane Corso
Giant Poodle
Bandog
Rottweiler
Doberman
I know most people do not think of Gian Poodles when they think of protection dogs or bite work. But they can do the work. You just don't see it often. About 20 to 30 years ago when I was breeding Rotties and went to a Schutzhund club for some training for my Rottie pup. I saw a Giant Poodle. It was doing a long send out. It hit the sleeve hard. I'm not advocating this breed over any other breed. It is just an option. I know it has longer hair than short hair breeds. But allegedly the poodle is supposed to be a low shedding breed. But it does have more grooming needs.
Of course you could include some dogs like the Belgium Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, or Pit Bull. But they are too small for my personal preference in protection work. Again that's my personal preferences.
Speaking about personal preferences I left the Schutzhund Club. It was my preference to train my dogs for personal protection over Schutzhund. I still like watching Schutzhund (IPO), French Ring, etc. But I want a personal protection dog for myself. One of the the thing that attracted me to the presa was they are known to be able to accept your friend over if you accept them while remaining watchful and ready to defend it;s family if needed.
Normally I would have Recommended a dog like the Caucasian Ovcharka for cold weather climate as my top choice. I love this breed too. The main reason I don't have one is the long hair. They have a short hair version but it is not my choice. Then I would add the Black Russian Terrier, and Giant Schnauzer and maybe the Akita. These may all shed more than you desire.
Good that you recognized the Caucasian Ovcharka as one of the choices. They do love the cold weather climate but will do ok in warm climate if they have plenty of water and shade. It is not preferred to have them in hot climates but they are adaptable.
They make good guardian dogs.
The Caucasian is one of my top 2 picks as far as dogs are concerned. They are beautiful dogs. I love their temperament. I may still end up getting one if I purchase more land. My only concerns were the hair and how well will they do in hot and humid Midwest. I know they can adapt, but I wasn't sure I would want to put them through it. Our heat is something else. It wouldn't be so bad if it was cooler in the shade, but here it is just as hot in shade as in the sun because of the humidity. When I go to the desert it is hot. But you get near a tree or any type of shade and it's cool or comfortable. Even at night it is too hot. You'd think it cool off when the sun is down but it is still hot.
I have had Samoyed, GSD, Alaskan Malamutes, Afghan Hound, and I have an Australian Cattle Dog that I rescued from the pound. After the the Cattle Dog (Red Heeler) I decided I didn't want any more long haired. dogs. Not because of the heat, but because if the hair. I don't recall any other dogs I listed or others that shed as much as these guys. having had poodles and I don't want a dog that needs to go to the groomer like poodles. I didn't have to groom my Sammies other than baths. The same for other dogs. The shedding that the cattle dog does has caused me to shy away from any long hair breed. The Sammies don't have close to the temperament for the type of dogs that I prefer. Neither do most the others that I listed. But the Caucasian is the one long hair dog that would make me give them an exception.
I recall a few years ago I saw some at a dog show. That made me desire them even more. This one guy that met said he was an Judge. He said that that was the one breed that they are not allowed to touch when judging. I thought that was odd. I thought that would be a Fila. But there were judges at this show touching the Caucasians. Later that day some guy brought his male too close to a few male presas. They fired up and so did the Caucasians. I watched how their handlers handle the situation and the dogs were back under control quickly. It wasn't their fault. I thought the judges might have a problem. But no one did. I was left with a very good impression of the dogs. As big and strong as they were they respected their owners and remained obedient. They were watchful and as there wasn't a threat they responded appropriately.
They are in my top 2 as favorites. Plus I prefer rare breeds. I won't see many of them near me. I was talking to a guy that showed my pup for me this weekend. He told me about a guy that has one near us. It was at the show. He was worried that the dog might try to bite the judge. I think it took Best in Show. Now I might have to go see this dog in person.
Check Olympicdogs.net that's where I got Anubis.