i had to get a gaurd dog as the street were in is a tad ruff and when am away working the junkies would try the door or prowl round the gardens so got my girlfreind a rottie had him from 5 weeks hes 18 month now from about 10 month old all the prowling and door trying stopped lol hes excellent with all the kids and never leaves the girlfreinds side i trained him my self he will attack and stop in comand ive noticed when it gets dark he seems to go into gaurd mode just listening for any unshal sound i would highly recomend a rottie