Top dogs: Big barkers

Be he named Spot, Rover or Fido, dog is man's -- and woman's -- best friend.

When you come home from a hard day's work, they're there with wagging tails and wet, sloppy kisses. Dogs happily follow you around and don't ask for much -- a good meal, fresh water, a nice place to sleep, a scratch behind the ears and an occasional game of fetch.

In return, they offer unconditional love and a bit of protection against the bad guys of the world.

A barking dog can act as a deterrent to criminals, said Fred Hassen, owner and head trainer of Sit Means Sit dog training schools in Las Vegas and San Diego.

"It might make you wonder what else the dog might do," said Hassen, who has taught advanced police canine courses.

Petrix, the company that makes TLC pet food, recently listed what breeds it considers the best barking watchdogs and those least likely to succeed.

Size is not necessarily an important factor in a good watchdog. Most of the top barking dogs are small, typically weighing around 20 pounds, and some are smaller. Many on the list belong to the terrier group, called "feisty and energetic" by the American Kennel Club.

Ranked from most to least alert, Petrix puts Rottweiler atop the list of best barkers.

According to the AKC, Rottweilers have an inherent desire to protect home and family. They are calm, confident and courageous, "with a strong willingness to work, making him especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all-purpose dog."

Heading Petrix's least-likely-to-succeed list is the bloodhound, described by the AKC as "one of the kindest and gentlest of all dogs." They are affectionate, somewhat shy and not prone to quarrel with people or other dogs.

Petrix also offered its recommendation for top security dogs, those that are territorial, strong, courageous and resistant to counterattacks.

Bullmastiffs, which head the list, are described as intelligent dogs who get along well with children and other pets, according to the AKC. Typically, bullmastiffs are brave, dependable and protective, but because they weigh between 110 and 130 pounds, the AKC recommends early obedience training.

Despite a dog's natural instinct, local animal experts agree that it takes more than breeding to make a good watchdog. Hassen said breeding is not a perfect science.

"Breeding two national champion protection dogs doesn't mean you will get another champion protection dog," he said.

Diane Orgill, vice president of The Animal Foundation, which operates Lied Animal Shelter in Las Vegas, agreed.

"There are dogs that are thought of as guard dogs, for example German shepherds and Rottweilers, but some have been overbred and are now timid," she said.

Orgill said good watchdogs are truly just part of a family and protecting them is more instinctual.

"Many breeds will be territorial, so it's not hard to find one who will serve in some sort of guarding capacity," said Doug Duke, director of the Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas. "Shepherds and Rottweilers, in particular, are very loyal."

Duke also suggested shelties and Pomeranians. He said dogs from both breeds are very alert and not afraid to bark.

"As long as they don't rely on the dog to fight for them, just to alert them (to a potentially dangerous situation), there are endless breeds to choose from," he said.

Duke said about half of the people coming to the SPCA shelter, especially those with children, have some idea about the size or breed of dog they are looking to adopt. Parents often seek Labradors and retrievers, he said.

While Duke said some research is helpful, he stressed the importance of looking at each animal's personality.

"Every animal is an individual," he said.

Both Lied Animal Shelter and Nevada SPCA promote the idea of adopting a canine companion instead of finding a watchdog.

"We don't encourage people to come in and get a dog just for guarding purposes," Orgill said.

In fact, both Duke and Orgill said their staffs screen for people who come in looking for dogs with mean temperaments or to use in fights.

Another factor homeowners must consider when selecting a dog is whether their homeowner's insurance will be affected.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, a New York-based organization, several companies will not write policies for homeowners with certain dog breeds including Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, pit bulls, chows, and wolf and wolf crossbreeds. Others will offer discounts to those who don't own dogs.

The institute states that dog bites account for one-third of all homeowner's insurance liability claims. Insurers paid roughly $310 million in claims in 2001, up from $250 million in 1996.

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