The best guard dog breeds for protection

A medium-sized dog, the boxer is affectionate, playful, patient, and all-around great with kids. They’re brawny and athletic, and look intimidating, even if they’re not actually aggressive. With training, however, this brindle dog breed can be great watchdogs. They have high energy levels, though, and need frequent exercise. Boxers are more prone to certain health conditions than other breeds, including mast cell tumours, ulcerative colitis, and heart disease, according to Petful.com.

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This name translated from Latin means “bodyguard dog,” and it has been bred to be devoted to its family. Also known as an Italian Mastiff, this breed is enormous, often weighing more than 100 pounds. Its short, stiff coat lends to its imposing appearance and, indeed, this breed can be aggressive with strangers. It’s said to be impervious to pain, as even electric fences won’t deter it, Petful.com notes. But with its family, the cane Corso is affectionate. For these reasons, the cane Corso is one of the best guard dog breeds, though not for first-time dog owners. Training is imperative to prevent the dog from “owning” its family.

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Don’t let the friendly appearance and gentle demeanour of these fluffballs fool you. With muscular bodies that weigh up to 50 kilograms, Bouviers are powerful and courageous, in addition to being super-smart. Thankfully, they’re also pretty laid back and loving when they’re just hanging out with the family, and will only become aggressive when a threat is imminent. They don’t shed a lot, but their fur can trap dirt and their beards can drip water, Orvis cautions.

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One of the best guard dog breeds, the Doberman is a sleek, powerful, fearless, and fast dog. It’s considered the fifth-smartest dog breed in the world, and is alert and loyal in protecting its people. It will also bark a lot. If it needs to, it will take a threat seriously, pinning an intruder against the wall or cornering it until humans take charge, according to InsideDogsWorld. When it’s off duty, the Doberman can be a big-time goofball. It has high energy needs and would make a great running companion. Unfortunately, it is also prone to a host of health conditions, including spinal compression, blood clotting problems, obesity and skin issues, notes CertaPet.

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This dog is loving and devoted toward children and other family members but might choose one individual as its adored person. Intelligent and brave, it won’t hesitate to defend its people or their home, the AKC says. The Estrela is relatively calm in temperament, but definitely needs its space and daily walks. If it’s cooped up in tight surroundings, it might turn destructive. This big galumph of a dog – weighing up to 60 kilograms – can be hard to find outside of its home nation of Portugal, according to DogZone.com.

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A classic choice because of his imposing stature and loud bark, this German dog breed is widely seen as one of the best guard dogs. Its loyalty and bravery know no bounds and it is willing to risk its own life for that of its family, the AKC says. It is a natural learner and easy to train, says CanineJournal.com. Sometimes a GSD can take its job a little too seriously, though, and needs to be taught not to pounce on anyone who approaches you or the home, GermanShepherdCentral.net points out. These dogs do shed a lot and like to have a job to do, so consider that before committing to one.

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These extra-large dogs were bred more than 6000 years ago to protect livestock, so they’re suspicious and watchful by nature. Given their size – up to 68 kilograms – and their loud bark, they’re likely to deter any would-be interlopers. The downside is that they can be overly aggressive with visitors and unknown dogs. And because they are territorial, they need a fair amount of space to “patrol,” so apartment life isn’t for them. They are very loyal and protective of their family but not necessarily obedient except with firm training, advises CertaPet.

This is the Scooby-Doo breed. Unlike the clumsy Scoob, however, real-life Great Danes are graceful despite their incredible height of about 80 centimetres, CanineBible.com reports. They’re also courageous and have a deep, scary-sounding bark – not at all like Shaggy’s best friend. It’s this bark, combined with their intimidating size, that makes Great Danes a good choice for a watchdog. However, just like the cartoon dog, they have affectionate, gentle personalities, and probably won’t actually bite an intruder. CCProtectionDogs.com notes that Great Danes are also playful and patient with kids. They tend to have shorter lives – usually about six to ten years – and are prone to heart, bone, and gastrointestinal conditions.

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This breed’s name comes from the distinctive ridge of fur that grows in the opposite direction of the rest of the dog’s coat and stands up along its spine. The AKC notes this watchful dog was originally bred to help hunt lions, so standing up to suburban threats is no big deal. This breed can be stubborn and domineering, and like all other guard dogs, needs to be trained. Among family, the ridgeback is affectionate, patient, friendly and loyal, but definitely needs to be taught how to interact with children, Hillspet.com says.

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Rotties, as they are known to their fans, can be sweet and playful with their families, and are very protective of them. To outsiders, rottweilers may appear aloof, the AKC says. The breed is actually descended from ancient mastiffs and almost went extinct in the late 1800s. A bit smaller than their mastiff cousins, coming in at an average of about 45 kilograms when fully grown, Rotties can still play the intimidation card – and back it up with their bite. Because they can inflict severe injury, it’s imperative that rottweilers be socialised and trained early on so that they understand when it is and is not okay to act aggressively. Training can also help prevent their barking from becoming a nuisance.

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