Best Guard Dog Breeds: Choosing the Right Dog for Your Needs

One might wonder, how did the ferocious hunting tribe of wolves get domesticated and started protecting humankind and became their best friends? Well, this process started about 30,000 – 40,000 years ago. The dog was the first species and the only large carnivore to have been domesticated. It remains debatable as to where and how were dogs domesticated but these carnivores became help for humans in herding, hunting, guarding, playing, and even emotional bonding.

Records show that ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq) had mentions of dogs being human and livestock guardians in their art.

Talking about guarding, the use of dogs as guardians is no new concept. Ancestral Mastiff-type dogs have guarded livestock against large predators such as wolves, bears, and leopards for ages. Many of these dogs initially started as farm dogs and now evolved into guard dogs. Today we keep them near our gates to alert us and protect us from intruders. And these dog breeds are not limited to Mastiffs but also include some shepherd dogs, Spitz dogs, cattle dogs, and some catch dogs.

The main personality traits that distinguish them as guard dogs are being territorial, averse to strangers, dominant, protective, and loyal to family. Some breeds are born with protective instincts and hence make great guard dogs. An ideal guard dog should be alert, observant, fearless, courageous, strong, and trainable. The basis that, we have made a tailored list of the top 10 guard dogs that you can choose from according to your needs.

10. Komondor

The once almost extinct breed, Komondor now finds a place in the top 10 best guard dogs. This unique-looking breed even called ‘mop dogs’ for their mop-like textured skin, is a white colored large one. The most noticeable feature of them is the dreadlocks that occur naturally. Now, this look may make you underestimate its strength and loudness, but do not do so. It is a very courageous breed that was bred purely for protecting livestock and property. No wonder it was referred to as the chief protector of herds.

9. Staffordshire Terrier

Popularly known as AmStaff, American Staffy is a strong and muscular dog breed, known for its ‘rose’ ears. It may look intimidating but is very playful, gentle, and friendly. But those intimidating looks are the ones that can make them wonderful watchdogs. Originally bred for fighting bears and bulls, aggression is in their genes now. With a strong and muscular body, they find a place in our top 10 list.

8. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The fact that they were specifically bred to fight lions leaves no doubt to us for adding them to our list. Known as the ‘African lion dogs’, Rhodesian ridgebacks are strong, muscular, and athletic. You can only imagine how great it would be to guard humans and livestock if a dog is a mix of a mastiff, greyhound, terrier, and bloodhound. You may also be interested in Thai Ridgeback, West Highland White Terriers.

7. Puli

The doppelgangers of the Komondor, the one with a mop-like skin, and Puli are the same looking dog breed and one of the very few ones with naturally occurring dreads. It is intelligent, agile, energetic, loyal, and alert. Otherwise happy and playful, these dogs will not let any unknown person or wild animals affect the livestock or humans. The herding instinct will be seen here when the owner’s heels are nipped at constantly.

6. Rottweiler

Having Mastiffs of the Roman legions as its ancestors, Rottweiler is a proven guard dog from Germany, where it was also called as Rottweiler Metzgerhund, meaning butcher’s dog. They were used to pull carts of butchered meat and drive livestock to the market, indicating their strength and courage both. But apart from that, they are very steady, devoted, good-natured and obedient. They make great family pets.

5. Akita

The world-famous Akita dog, Hachiko, who waited for the master for 9 years after his death has made this breed very popular and attractive. But not many know that apart from being loyal, it is also an excellent guardian. Bred for the royalty of Japan, it is courageous, alert, and protective. The better part is that all this will be done without much training as these are born with protective instincts. However, socialization training will be needed to cool-off unnecessary aggression. Explore the financial considerations of owning an Akita here.

4. Bull Mastiff

Mastiffs are natural and one of the oldest guard dogs out there and thus so is the Bull Mastiff, which is a cross between, as the name suggests, bulldogs and mastiffs. These large dogs with a solid build are different from other guard dogs. These do not bite or bark a lot. They quietly track the poachers without mauling them. Despite that, their excellence is proved by the fact that John D. Rockefeller brought these to the US to guard his country estate in Tarrytown, N.Y. Know more about the cost of a Bull Mastiff here.

3. Tibetan Mastiff

One of the most ancient and strongest breeds of dog on this planet, the Tibetan Mastiff, finds its origin in the Himalayas, where it was used to guard the monasteries and homes. A powerful physique with a bite of 500 pounds of pressure doesn’t leave any other question for us to justify the place in the top 3 guard dogs of all time.

2. Doberman Pinscher

Sleek, powerful, with a magnificent physique is what a Doberman Pinscher or the Doberman is, which finds its place rightly in the top 3 guard dog breeds of all time. Apart from being great guard dogs, they also perform great service for the police and the military around the globe. These are athletic and courageous and can chase almost any intruder in a matter of seconds. You may also be interested in Miniature Pinscher.

1. German Shepherd

German Shepherd is one of the most popular guarding, police, and military dogs around the world and is at number 1 on our list of the top 10 guarding dogs. It is a large, agile, and muscular dog that was originally bred for, as the name suggests, herding sheep. They are incredibly smart and highly trainable due to their need of pleasing their human owners. They make great family pets as well. Being an all-rounder, GSDs definitely deserves the top place here.

Dogs have been and will forever be loyal to their duty of guarding humans and their belongings. This guard dogs list does not include all the breeds out there that can make great guard dogs. Almost all breeds have a protective instinct in them irrespective of their size. Even small ones like Chow Chow, Shih Tzu, Poodle, Schnoodle etc. can make great watchdogs. But these 10 breeds have proved their strength, smartness, courage, and alertness from time to time to deserve a place on our list.

Happy Health and Mood to your dog and Lots of Love and Licks to you!