What is the most guard dog?
10 of the Best Guard Dog Breeds
When it comes to protecting your home, there are several types of dogs. Some are alert barkers, meaning they will let you know anytime anything moves outside your home that is “not supposed to be there,” or when someone knocks at the door, rings your bell, etc. Then there are guardian dogs. These breeds will not only let you know there is someone around, but they would also do something about it. This list covers 10 breeds that take guarding your home and family seriously.
#1 – Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzer is not only intimating due to its size, but they have a menacing bark and fierce bite.
#2 – Akita
An intelligent and intense breed, the Akita can be very loyal to their owner and very standoffish to strangers. Of course, this is what they were bred for. Like most of these breeds, they need to be well socialized if you plan to take them off your property or want to have people over.
#3 – German Shepherd Dog
Generally thought of as a “herding” dog, they are actually tenders, meaning they were bred to run the border and keep the flock where they were supposed to be, as well as watch for predators. Very intense and loyal, they will easily attack someone who threatens their home.
#4 – Chow Chow
The Chow Chow’s somewhat iffy reputation comes from the fact that they are great guard dogs. Considering they were once used to guard the great palaces in Asia, it makes sense that they would be temperamental and very protective.
#5 – Kuvasz
Considering they were bred to guard livestock, its only fitting that they would be good at guarding your home as well. Unless provoked, this protective breed has a very sweet nature.
#6 – Chinese Shar-Pei
While all those wrinkles may look cute and cuddly, the Shar-Pei is a serious family protection dog. They were bred to be the all-round farm dog, running the perimeters of the property as a watchdog, as well as protecting flocks and killing vermin. Today, they still have a strong desire to protect their family and can be aggressive toward strangers coming into “their home.”
#7 – Doberman Pinscher
The nice thing about having a dobie, is chances are high that it will never have to attack anyone. Most people that see a Doberman on your property will quickly rethink trying to enter uninvited.
#8 – Komondor
Known for the unique cords most people give them, the Komondor is another livestock protection dog that was bred to stay with the flock and protect without the assistance of their owner. They are very “reserved and serious” with strangers, and since they are bred to work alone, you can be assured that your home is protected while you are gone.
#9 – Belgian Malinois
This herding dog is intent on making sure no one hurts their family. Their intensity and drive to protect has made them very popular in Schutzhund training as well as guard dog work.
#10 – Rottweiler
Like the dobie, the rotty can probably get away with guarding your house just on their looks alone. Intimidating to look at, the Rottweiler is sweet and easy going with their family. However, if they feel that you are threatening their family, they can turn fierce quickly.
Security Dogs
Since their domestication thousands of years ago, dogs have been used to protect the home and the workplace, giving owners a sense of security against intruders. The most common dogs used for protection are larger breeds like Dobermans, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Chows, and Pit Bulls.
“But pet owners should be careful when using a dog solely for protection,” says Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, Clinical Assistant Professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
“When dogs are trained to protect the home, they are using their natural territorial instinct and can attack anyone unfamiliar to them, which may include a friendly visitor,” says Blue-McLendon.
Dogs used for protection can also be unreliable depending on their own unique personality.
Some dogs are naturally aggressive and may attack any animals or humans that violate their territory. Guard dogs are often trained to be aggressive toward people and may view anyone outside the family as a potential threat. This may present a constant danger since owners can never be completely sure that their pet will not someday view a family member or friend as a threat.
Aggressive behavior in a pet dog may become an added liability for its owner, especially if the animal has bitten before.
“Many cities have laws regulating aggressive dogs and some require a special type of permit for those that have bitten other animals or people. In most cases, owners of protection dogs should look into increasing their liability insurance,” said Blue-McLendon.
However, if you do need a specially trained guard dog, try to maintain control of the animal. Dogs in the wild remain submissive to the dog they view as the leader, referred to as the “alpha dog,” and will protect it and the surrounding territory.
“Owners and family members should all assume the role of ‘alpha dog’ by taking control of their pet while they are still young,” says Blue-McLendon. “Puppies often view humans as dominant because of their greater size and age. Owners can further reinforce this image by controlling access to toys and food.”
Rewarding animals for good behavior helps them to see the owner as the leader or alpha figure, which provides them with greater control of their pet and may prevent attacks.
“Most guard dog owners do not realize that the presence of a dog is usually security enough and that specialized training may be excessive,” said Blue-McLendon. “Dogs are sensitive to their surroundings and will usually alert their owners to a disturbance by barking, which may be enough to scare away potential intruders.”
Other security animals include some surprising ones – peacocks, geese and parrots, which can also offer some protection by using vocalized, “alarm calls” to announce someone’s approach.
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.
