The 10 Best Guard Dogs That Will Keep You & Your Premises Safe

Guard dogs come from a breed of canines that have an inherently strong urge to protect, when these breeds are carefully bred and raised, they can make the best guard dogs that will do anything to keep their family safe. There are a variety of dog breeds that have been specifically bred to provide protection, in fact, W.F Andelt states that guard dogs were incredibly popular amongst sheep and cattle herders since they could be properly trained to watch over entire herds independently.

Today, we are going to be taking a look at some of the best guard dogs out there, each breed has its own unique characteristics that make it suitable for various kinds of people. According to W.F Andelt’s work on best guard dog breeds, most of these breeds weigh more than 75 pounds, and have a shoulder height of around 25 inches, making them look quite intimidating than other dog breeds.

Remember, genetics alone are not able to define a dog’s ability to guard, in order to produce the best guard dog, you need to train it properly, teach it how to socialize and act as a loving parent to ensure that your dog will be completely loyal to you.

Training, Parenting, And Socializing

When people think of guard dogs, they picture fierce and hostile animals that will eagerly try and rip out any stranger’s throat if given the chance, however, there is a lot more to guard dogs than just their ferociousness. If raised in the correct manner, these dogs can be incredibly loyal and loving towards their family, and their hostility towards newcomers can be controlled as well.

Training your dog does not mean just teaching them how to be disciplined, you must also teach them how to interact with strangers, the easiest way to do that is by teaching your dog to be sociable from an early age. Social training is especially important for guard dogs since you need them to behave around your guests, neighbours and around people when you take them out for walks. According to “The Use of Guard Dogs in The Swiss Alps: A First Analysis” by Jean-Marc Landry, for guard dogs to be productive and practical, socialization is key. This keeps their suspicious nature under check and also gives them opportunities to learn how to tell good situations apart from bad ones.

Guard dogs can be quite intelligent and learn quickly from their environment, which is why exposure is an important part of their training, it helps them make better use of their instincts and become the best guard dogs.

Owning a guard dog can be a big responsibility as well, you need to make sure that they connect with you and that they remain disciplined, also, when picking a breed, you must make sure that you purchase a pup from a responsible breeder who carefully works on their dog’s lineage to ensure that their pups are genetically stable and healthy.

Now that we have taken a brief look at training and raising guard dogs, let’s discuss some of the best guard dog breeds.

The Best Guard Dogs List:

• Bullmastiff
• Doberman Pinscher
• Rottweiler
• German Shepherd
• Great Dane
• Giant Schnauzer
• Boxer
• Kuvasz
• Argentine Dogo
• Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog

Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a very popular breed amongst guard dog enthusiasts, as well as people who simply want a loyal and reliable dog for their home. What makes it so popular is its all-rounding personality; the Bullmastiff has plenty of strength, great tracking ability, plenty of agility, and are also highly intelligent, making them equally delightful therapy animals. You can find Bullmastiffs playing a variety of roles, ranging from being loving pets to being the best guard dogs.

An average male can weigh approximately 150 pounds, allowing it to tackle even larger humans with relative ease, their colour ranges from brownish grey to red. Bullmastiffs originate from England and have a lifespan of around 8 to 10 years, they can be pretty intimidating thanks to their size and build, but their high levels of loyalty and docile personality make them a great family pet as well.

Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans have quite a reputation for being the best guard dogs, in fact, their reputation alone can be enough to make sure that people will steer clear of your property. Dobermans have a compact and athletic frame that is accentuated by their sharp features; cropped ears, a wedge-like face, and a short tail. Its sharp looks further build on this breed’s already fierce reputation, Dobermans are hailed as the fifth most intelligent dog breeds in the world, their mental capabilities, coupled with their highly athletic and sensitive nature has made these dogs a favourite amongst militaries and police forces as well.

If you plan on keeping a Doberman Pinscher, then there is a good chance that even your neighbours will keep a distance from your property as these dogs not only look fierce but are also highly reserved towards strangers. However, if raised correctly, they can be incredibly loyal and friendly towards their owners.

The Doberman breed comes from Germany and has an average lifespan of about 10 to 14 years, their highly energetic nature means that you need to let them exercise frequently. If you live in a colder region then you should provide them with ample protection against the weather since they are not equipped to deal with low temperatures.

Rottweiler

People tend to confuse Rottweilers and Dobermans quite often due to their similar appearance, but there are a lot of differences between the two breeds. To start off, Rottweilers are burlier looking than Dobermans, they also pack a lot more strength and are generally scarier looking. Their strength and headstrong nature make these dogs a great choice for anyone who is looking for a guard dog that can also be taken to work.

Rottweilers tend to be pretty aggressive towards strangers, but they are fast learners and become docile towards people once they have been properly introduced. Keep in mind that raising a Rottweiler requires extra effort as they require regular exercising and need to be frequently taught to socialize, otherwise their overprotective nature can make them rather aggressive.

Rottweilers come from Germany as well and can live for up to 10 years, their burly build, deep growl, and astonishing speed makes them the best guard dogs and incredibly loyal pets.

German Shepherd

Even an amateur with absolutely no knowledge about dog breeds can spot a German Shepherd when they see one, these dogs are perhaps one of the most prolific species out there since they are raised for a variety of purposes. The US military and police force makes use of these dogs, they are also kept as guard dogs and pets by people in various countries.

What makes German Shepherds so versatile is their high level of intelligence and their incredibly solid build. German Shepherds are known for their great willpower and their undying loyalty towards their owners, as their name suggests, these dogs hail from Germany and were originally raised to herd cattle and sheep.

With an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years, German Shepherds become loving pets, alert watchdogs and a force to be reckoned with.

Great Dane

Did you know that Scooby Doo is a Great Dane? This dog breed is known for several things; its loveable and cuddly nature towards its owners, its immense size, and its highly active personality. Great Danes make the best guard dogs because of their physical prowess (especially their speed since they have long legs) and their obedient nature. Training a Great Dane is easy, they are quick to learn commands and can be taught to either be docile towards strangers or hostile towards them.

Do not let Scooby Doo’s depiction of this breed fool you, there are very few things that are capable of scaring a Great Dane, in fact, these dogs can become aggressive towards other dogs if they are not socialized properly. Great Danes come from Germany and Denmark, they can live for 6 to 12 years and make the best guard dogs thanks to their obedience, presence, and loyal nature.

Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer can be a handful to train because of its dominating nature and strong mentality, however, once you have trained them enough, they make the best guard dogs that can scare off pretty much anything or anyone that comes your way. They have a tendency to be incredibly loyal and loving towards families as well, making them a good option for families that want protection.

Giant Schnauzers can live for up to 15 years and have a calm nature, but if they are under-socialized or badly trained then they can become incredibly aggressive towards strangers, to a point where having guests coming over to your home can become a problem.

Boxer

This dog breed got its name thanks to its rather odd way of standing on its back legs and attacking with its front legs. These dogs are quite big and have a muscly figure, they have a very playful nature and are bursting with energy at most times. They make great family pets as they can be very loving towards owners, are friendly, and can be great with children thanks to their abundance of patience.

When faced with strangers, boxers quickly become alert and quiet, they can be ferocious protectors and have a very powerful bite as well, this combination of traits makes them popular amongst military forces as well. Boxers can survive for 9 to 12 years and are generally easy to train, but bad training can also result in them becoming too wilful and hard to control, but even then, their loyalty towards their owner can never falter.

Kuvasz

Kuvasz can be called guardian dogs due to their inherently protective and loving nature towards their family, but they have also been used as work dogs in the past since they have a powerful build and are quite well-muscled. Kuvasz generally stay cold towards strangers so they make good watchdogs, they are also friendly towards children.

The Kuvasz comes from Hungary and many people compare its movements with that of a wolf, calling it an elegant and powerful looking animal. One of the most noticeable features about the Kuvasz is its white fur, which can look stunning if kept clean and well-groomed. An average Kuvasz can live for 10 to 12 years and becomes a very lovable and dependable companion.

Argentine Dogo

The Argentine Dogo has a presence that one cannot miss, this dog’s huge, muscular body and calm demeanour make it an impressive guard dog to have. The Argentine Dogo was primarily bred for hunting big prey, it has more than enough strength to take down wild boar and even puma. These dogs have an energetic nature and must be taken on walks and physical activity in order to maintain their physique and health.

Argentine Dogos also have a pretty long lifespan, capable of living for up to 18 years, you should keep in mind that these dogs always need something to do, otherwise they can quickly become restless, so if you plan on keeping one, make sure that you have plenty of activity lined up for it.

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog has a small and well-built frame that shows off plenty of muscle, its broad shoulders and wide mouth, combined with its high energy drive make this dog quite intimidating for strangers. They make good pets because they are kind by nature and responsible as well, you can expect them to become great companions quickly as they learn fast and make a point out of protecting their family.

An average Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog can live for as much as 15 years and can be suitable as indoor and outdoor pets. This breed originated from the USA and is loved by many dog enthusiasts.

Remember that guard dogs are a handful and need to be trained well in order for them to do their job right and also become well-mannered pets, but having one is definitely worth it as they can make your property much more safe.