Top 10 Best Guard Dogs

The first occupation of a dog was protector; of the home, of its owner and its owner’s family. This job has also not entirely changed, either. Many people still get dogs to guard their homes, and it can be hard to decide which breed is right for you. One thing to remember is that guard dogs will still need to be treated like a part of the family; connecting the dog to the family will ensure that it will want to protect them as members of their pack.

Qualifications for guard dogs include a desire to protect, and a strong sense of territory. Some other qualifications, which are less vital than the first two are resistance to counter attacks, courage and a wariness of strangers. A panel of dog experts also decided that certain temperament aspects were important as well, such as loyalty and resistance to stress.

1. Fila Brasileiro

One of the best guard dogs is the Fila Brasileiro, or the Brazilian Mastiff. They are very loyal and fearlessly protective. If they feel their owner is in trouble, they will do anything it takes to protect them. Originally the dog was bred to protect Brazilian plantation owners and was bred from bloodhounds, bulldogs and mastiffs. This is one of the few breeds that is still specifically bred to be wary, even aggressive, towards humans they weren’t raised with. Great guard dog, but not the best option for someone with young children.

 

 

 

 

2. Rottweiler

Another great guard dog is the Rottweiler. They were bred as a herd dog, with the duty to protect the cattle as well as their owner. They are intelligent dogs and very loyal. While they have received negative press in the past few decades, they are both protective and friendly. Depending on the level of socialization and training, these dogs can be more passive than other guard dogs, even clownish at times. However, they are always fiercely protective of their pack.

 

 

3. Doberman Pincsher

The Doberman is one of the most popular guard dogs in the media, and for good reason. Dobermans were originally bred to be a personal protector by a tax collector, and the females are typically more protective than the males.   This dog also excels as a search and rescue dog, a police dog and a seeing eye dog. It is an intelligent, highly loyal dog with a drive to please its owner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino, or the Argentinian Mastiff, is the first white coated dog on the list. This dog was originally bred to be the ultimate hunting and fighting dog. Despite the fact that it was bred to be a fighting dog, unprovoked aggression is considered a defect, and these intelligent dogs are very loyal and protective of their family. They are very social dogs and love children and because they have limitless energy, they’re often playmates as well as protectors.

 

 

5. Belgian Shepherd Dog

Belgian Shepherd Dog is a general term for different breeds of dogs that are closely related. They all make excellent guard dogs and are intelligent and lively and love spending time with their human family. They are quick learners and very eager to please. However, they do not do well in jobs where they are handled by random people that are not a part of their family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. South African Boerboel

The South African Boerboel is considered by many to be one of the best guard dogs. Said to be the only breed to guard without being aggressive, they were bred to know when you feel threatened. They will only attack if told to or if they are directly preventing aggressive actions. They will not attack if you merely feel threatened, as some guard dog breeds will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Cane Corso

Cane Corso, or the Italian Mastiff, is another breed designed to protect while maintaining a stable temperament. It is a generally quiet dog, only barking to alert the family of things that are out of the ordinary, it also tends to be docile towards its family. These dogs require quite a bit of training, however as males tend to have dominant personalities, which can be very difficult for owners unfamiliar with these characteristics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Tosa Inu

The Tosa Inu is a guard dog breed originating from Japan, and they were bred with much of the Japanese culture and mentality in mind. They were bred with many different European breeds in order to give the dog a larger size. They are courageous, well-tempered and docile, with a fierce loyalty towards their human family. One of the only dogs that are still legally fought, these fights are meant to be a matter of domination rather than bloodshed.

 

 

 

 

9. Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is one of the most recognized Mastiffs because of their grey coat, saggy faces and large size. One of the oldest breeds to maintain most of its characteristics, it was originally bred as a protector and a guardian, and it strikes an intimidating figure on its own. It is not supposed to be outwardly aggressive. It has a steady temperament and a loyal disposition and should only attack when ordered to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux, or French Mastiff is another dog that owners rely on its size and appearance as much as their actual behavior for protection Despite their large size and original breeding as hunting dogs, they are very docile towards children and small animals. They are very aware of their strength, and are therefore not easily provoked by fear. He will usually only react if he feels his family or his territory is being threatened.