There can be a number of reasons for getting a guard dog. You might need to guard against burglars, may want one for personal protection or you may want intruders out of your lawn. It can be tough to choose the right one for you. Here is a list of the best guard dog breeds for both first-time and experienced owners:
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois or Belgian Shepherd is an excellent guard dog. Like Shepherd Dogs have pointy ears and a long snout. These dogs are a frequent choice for the army and K9 unit. Not only are they used as guard dogs at homes, but also at warehouses and government facilities.
It is a very active dog, so it best suited for you g people who have an active lifestyle. Without enough exercise they can become very destructive. Also, they should be properly socialised as puppies or can become aggressive. This breed is not recommended for first-time owners.
German Shepherd
This is probably the most commonly known guard dog breed in the world. They look somewhat like a wolf with long snout and cone-like ears. They are known for their loyalty and strength and are extremely common as police dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, sniffing dogs, and therapy dogs.
Despite their normally active lifestyle they are fairly easy to train. As long as they get enough exercise a German Shepherd can adapt to almost any lifestyle. This is an excellent guard dog for first-time owners.
Rottweiler
Another German dog in the list the Rottweiler were originally bred as herding and hunting dogs. They are medium dog with floppy ears and big teeth. They are very gentle towards their owners and just as fierce against strangers.
They are usually calm as long as they are socialised as puppies and get regular training classes. If they are not properly trained, they can become aggressive and are considered one of the most dangerous dog breeds in the world. Due to their independent nature, they are not recommended for first-time owners.
Doberman Pinscher
Another popular guard dog from Germany the Doberman is a thin, tall, and fast dog. Despite being from Europe they cropped tail and ears which are forbidden. Dobermans are usually single person dogs and are completely loyal to that person. However, if introduced as a puppy it can be a great family dog.
The loyalty and agility have made them widely popular as guard dogs. They have a lot of stamina and can easily chase down intruders. Sadly, the depiction of Dobermans in TVs and Movies make them seem like a dangerous dog breed. These dog breeds are great for both first-time owns and experienced ones.
Giant Schnauzer
Despite being big black dog, they don’t look imposing as the other guard dog breeds. Don’t let their looks fool you, because of their territorial instinct they make excellent guard dogs. They were originally bred as cattle dogs. They have also been used as police dogs, military dogs, search-and-rescue dogs and even guide dogs.
Despite their size they are loyal and gentle dogs for their owners. However, unless properly socialised they become very possessive of their loved ones. They are strong-willed and not usually suited for first-time owners.
Bullmastiff
They are large, muscular dogs which was bred by crossing an English Mastiff with an Old English Bulldog (extinct). They can become pretty aggressive so they should be bought as puppies and properly socialised.
They are good with family an gentle with children. They are also very good at recognising faces which make them such a good guard dog. Not recommended for first-time owners.
Akita
This dog may look pretty harmless and fluffy, but Japan’s national dog were originally bred to protect Japanese royalty. They were also used to hunters to take down deer, elk, wild boars, and even black bears.
They have a double coat and need to be brushed regularly to prevent excessive shedding. They usually don’t get along well with other dogs. However, they are fiercely loyal making them excellent guard dogs. They are not usually recommended for first-time owners. Check out the 10 dog care accessories every dog owner should know.
