I am thinking of getting a dog

I have a relatively large unfenced yard (cannot be fenced per hoa) and a pool that no one other than the dog will use.

I want a dog that will serve as a watch/deterrent dog but the dog has to be friendly with kids outside the house. The neighborhood is full of kids and there are no fences.

I am down to german shepherd and lab - I have had a german shepherd and they are my favorite dog breed. I also love labs and have taken care of a lot of friends labs but never owned a lab.

I would like to get a shepherd but I am really worried about the kids in the neighborhood and no fences.

Could labs serve as a good watch dog - at least bark if there is any noise ? My experience with labs has been they want to play with everybody strangers included.

One plus for the lab would be at least someone would use the pool.

Any other breed that I should look into ?

Thanks,

Mike

My labrador guards my poultry from furry and winged predators but she is no deterrant to people at all.

My Lab doesn't even bark when the Realtors come to show the house.

I like Labs but this last one has been a pain. To high bred I suppose but dietary issues, ear problems, allergies. I paid a lot for him and the papers show he's champion mat'l but... not actually.

Whatever you choose it will take lots of time to yield what you are speaking of.

I've had more than ten labs over the years. They are all different, but the common qualities are that they bark at stangers, approaching cars or anything out of the ordinary. Once that subject is within reach, they attack them with a wagging tail.

The lab will offer some degree of deterence, but will really shine when it comes to the kids and the pool. They are awesome dogs.

I have had no health issues at all.