10 Guard Dogs You Don’t Want to Mess With
Guard dogs are a special breed of dogs, bred for the sole purpose of protecting the people they love from the dangers of the outside world. For the last several years, the most common animal that people rely on for the safety of both their belongings and their family are guard dogs. However, the best guard dogs are not necessarily the ones that can bark the loudest or bite the hardest. There are other factors that come into account when looking for the perfect guard dog.
While some dogs are better equipped physically to be a guard dog, other traits also come into play when picking the ideal guard dog to meet all your needs. Guard dogs need to have a high level of intelligence along with an unwavering sense of loyalty and unconditional love.
Moreover, they need to be easy to train or their protection instincts may go haywire and they might go overboard in trying to protect their owner, seriously harming someone’s health in the process. The best guard dogs are often those that also make great family dogs. The balance between family and the outside, means that they are well socialized and integrated into a loving environment, making them easy to train and more obedient.
When in the market for a good guard dog, there are some breeds that possess the traits that are valuable in a great guard dog. Here are some breeds that you should definitely consider:
- Bullmastiff
The Bullmastiff is a breed known to be extremely loyal and brave, both traits that come in handy when looking for a good guard dog. They were originally bred by gamekeepers to protect their game from poachers. On account of their looming size, this breed of dogs is very intimidating to intruders. However, they remain very affectionate towards their family, making them an excellent companion. The Bullmastiff is not only a good guard dog, but is very active and good in tracking, carting and even therapy work, making it a great all-rounder - Giant Schnauzer
The giant Schnauzer lives up to his name by measuring a massive 66-71 cm in height and up to a staggering 48 kg in weight. This looming size along with their permanently scowling faces makes them terrifying to any stranger. They not only bark at their offenders but have also been known to bite if the threat persists. They are known to remain calm in dangerous situations, knowing when to bite and when to just bark to alert their owners to the threat - Akita
The Akita is notorious for being a hard breed to raise, however, a well-trained Akita can be a great companion, as well as an effective guard dog. Large in size, this breed is known to be not only alert and brave, but also very loyal. They not only make amazing guard dogs, but are also good family dogs who are very well behaved with family, rarely barking without reason.
They are also very suspicious of strangers, and show no hesitation in taking action against a threat. However, at their owner’s command, they would be happy to welcome guests into the house.
- Anatolian Shepherd
The Anatolian Shepherd is breed of dogs that has been bred for over a millennia with the sole purpose of guarding livestock. Unlike other herding dogs, the Anatolian Shepherd does not herd the sheep, rather it guards them, keeping away all threats. It is known to be a hard worker that is very loyal to its owner. While a ferocious guard, the Anatolian Shepherd is a great dog for families and can happily integrate in a home environment - Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff may just be the greatest guard dog ever. On account of his large size, nothing gets past this intimidating, large and powerful dog. Historically, these dogs were the guardian dogs of Tibet, meaning that the urge to protect runs through it’s veins. However, in a relaxed setting, the Tibetan Mastiff is easygoing and affectionate, only lashing out if feeling threatened by strangers. - Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a large, muscular and obedient guard dog known for being fearless and alert. As a naturally protective breed, the Rottweiler is a great guard dog for your family. However, it is imperative to remember that Rottweilers only listen to their masters when trained properly. Rottweilers naturally take action against outside threats, however, you need to make sure that they are trained to not out rightly attack - Chinese Sharpei
While the outward appearance of the Chinese Sharpei, with all those wrinkles, might make it look all cute and cuddly but it should not be taken lightly. The Chinese Sharpei demands to be considered a serious protection dog that is well equipped to guard families. They were originally bred to be farm dogs with the job of securing farm parameters and act as a watchdog, all while protecting the flocks and eliminating threats. Even today the Chinese Sharpei has an innate desire to protect its owners and disallows strangers from entering into their homes - Doberman
The Doberman breed is known to be a great dog not only in terms of being a family dog, but also a great military and guard dog. They are extremely energetic and alert, detecting threats as soon as they present themselves. They are also very loyal and obedient, making them relatively easy to train.
The Doberman can easily be considered a family dog rather than just a guard dog. They forge a strong bond with their family, making it their sole purpose to protect you. However, consistent training sessions and proper socialization is a must for a healthy Doberman. The good news is that Dobermans are very easy to train.
The Doberman is not a shy dog at all and pounce to action in the event of an intruder attack. Their barking is known to be very intimidating, sending most people off even before they had a chance to enter into the Doberman’s territory. However, if the intruder does not leave, the Doberman will not hesitate in getting physical. At the same time, the Doberman shows great respect for its owners and would step back the moment the owner ordered him to
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a muscular and intelligent dog that was originally bred to be a hunting dog in Africa. They are known to be very affectionate with their families, and very distant to strangers. The Ridgeback rarely barks, only showing emotion at something highly unusual things. Ridgebacks naturally have an in built desire to protect, as they were originally hunting dogs - German Shepherd
The German Shepherd has the undoubtedly great reputation as a guard dog. It was originally bred in Germany as a guard dog to herd sheep. Not only does the German Shepherd show unwavering loyalty, it also shows great protective instincts. They make for great family guard dogs, barking to alert to any threat. However, while the German Shepherd makes for a great guard dog, they are also very loyal and obedient.
