Anecdotal considerations from personal experience with both:
Although this doesn't speak well towards the s**tty neighborhoods I've lived in, i have experience with both dogs in terms of break-in response.
First break-in was with Sam, a GSD we owned when I was a child.
Family in the rear of house, crashing glass in front room, Sam the GSD runs to deter intruder. Gnashing of teeth, snarling, sam latches onto intruder's thigh and shakes violently. Father, fresh from Vietnam grabs rifle, runs to greet intruder who slightly-too-late recognizes he chose wrong house.
Intruder shoots and fatally wounds dog, father repeatedly shoots and fatally wounds intruder.
In this case, the dog clearly subdued threat and literally gave his life to protect his family. Still sad to think of it. Sam was a great dog and put up with all sorts of hair pulling from three small boys. Let me ride on his back like a horse. (note:i was small)
20 years later:
Rhodesian Ridgeback family pet. Because of my upbringing, we were taught that dogs are to be useful as well as pet...so I'm not a big fan of advice to buy small yappy dog as stated earlier in this thread.
In unfortunate event dog is necessary, a small dog will be completely useless after the first kick.
Wife and I were sleeping upstairs in a large home we were renovating and appeared vacant from outside. Loud crash downstairs (door kicked in), dog wakes, sprints barking towards stairs which lead directly to front door. Apparently intruder didn't try or didn't make it out front door before trapped by 119 pound ridgeback. Ridgebacks are bred to TRAP lions, not necessarily attack them. In packs this works as each dog lunges in, jumps away snarling and pressing game into corner while avoiding attack.
This trait was displayed with our intruder. By the time I made it downstairs with large caliber rifle, intruder was backed into furthest corner of downstairs. Ridgeback jumping in, quick grabbing bites, never grabbing and shaking like a Shepherd is known to do. Our dog seemed to be enjoying herself and in no apparent danger so I did nothing to stop the altercation. Yelled to wife to call 911, aimed large barrel towards unfortunate intruder and waited patiently for police to arrive. Dog attacked constantly in same manner for several minutes before police arrived.
So in terms of personal safety, both dogs are excellent visual crime deterrent while walking/jogging outside. It would take a complete moron to attack someone with either dog.
Attack styles: shepherd is vicious, violent attack. Ridgeback is incessant biting, jumping, trapping, cornering but not extremely violent mauling. It certainly looked painful and completely broke the will of intruder. He ended up bloody, crying on the floor begging for me to make it stop. (the ridgeback seemed happy, so I let her enjoy her moment, much to the dismay of unwelcome house guest)
Insurance rates in some states discriminate against shepherds, but not ridgebacks.
Trainability: GSD wants to please owner. Ridgeback wants to please owner when it's convenient to ridgeback. Both highly intelligent. Ridgeback uses intelligence to her advantage. GSD uses intelligence to owner's advantage.
Our ridgeback recently died of cancer and we're choosing a new dog. Currently trying to decide between breeds. Found this thread. Still can't decide.
Trainability of GSD is enormous plus. They chase and return a frisbee all day.
Ridgeback will return a frisbee twice before looking at you exasperated, seemingly thinking, "a**hole, I just got that thing for you twice and you threw it away again. You get it this time."
I like that spirit in a ridgeback.
I guess I should get one of each. You should too.
