Forget about elaborate, complicated, and expensive alarm set-ups! While these can be helpful when it comes to protecting your home, a well-trained guard dog is one of the best security systems around! Protecting their owners has been one of the primary jobs of domesticated dogs for centuries, and this comes instinctually to many breeds.
A large, well-trained dog can be far more of a deterrent to would-be criminals than a fence or alarm. Some breeds make great guard dogs due to their acute hearing, alert temperament, and loud bark, while others will gladly put themselves in front of an intruder to protect their family.
With this in mind, we set out to find out which breeds make the best guard dogs for protecting the home and found these 13 options. Let’s get started!
The 13 Best Guard Dog Breeds
1. Akita
| Lifespan: | 10–15 years |
| Weight: | 85–130 pounds |
| Temperament: | Loyal, courageous, intelligent |
The muscular, courageous, double-coated Akita originated in the mountainous regions of Japan and is an ancient breed famous for their devotion, loyalty, and intelligence. They have a spiritual significance in their native country and are a symbol of health, happiness, and long life. Although the Akita is a powerful guard dog, they do have a tendency for aggression toward other dogs and need dedicated training and socialization—they are not recommended for first-time dog owners.
If you need guidance on training your dog, we suggest you speak to a professional trainer or a vet.
2. Belgian Malinois
| Lifespan: | 14–16 years |
| Weight: | 40–80 pounds |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, hardworking, energetic |
Closely resembling their cousin, the German Shepherd, the Belgian Malinois was originally bred as a herding dog but now more commonly serves as a police and military animal. These dogs are athletic and full of energy and need a ton of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. They are sensitive, though, and do not respond well to harsh training methods. If trained correctly and given plenty of stimulation, this breed makes a loyal guard dog that will be a close companion for life.
3. Boxer
| Lifespan: | 10–12 years |
| Weight: | 60–80 pounds |
| Temperament: | Active, playful, intelligent |
The muscular Boxer needs no introduction, as this is one of the most popular breeds on the planet and for good reason. Their muscular, stocky build alone is enough to ward off most would-be intruders, but their high intelligence and loyalty also make them formidable protectors. They are fearless, alert, and powerful animals yet are playful and friendly, making them ideal family dogs. They are independent, headstrong animals, though, which can make training a challenge.
4. Bullmastiff
| Lifespan: | 8–10 years |
| Weight: | 100–130 pounds |
| Temperament: | Fearless, calm, independent |
The formidable appearance of the Bullmastiff alone is almost enough to make them a great guard dog, but when you take into account their high intellect and loyal character, they are one of the best guard dogs out there. Although this breed is large and powerful, they are not super high energy. They can adapt to a variety of living situations, even apartments, provided that they get adequate stimulation. They need a firm hand and consistency in training early on, though; otherwise, these independently-minded pups can quickly rule the roost!
5. Cane Corso
| Lifespan: | 10–12 years |
| Weight: | 90–120 pounds |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, even-tempered, affectionate, loyal |
A working dog that does best when given a job to do, the Cane Corso is an Italian breed that was developed for protection and hunting. While they are generally friendly and even-tempered dogs and bond strongly with their owners, they take a while to warm up to strangers, which makes them great when tasked with protecting the home. They are energetic animals that need a large amount of space and a great deal of regular exercise and are not happy to be lying around all day. While this can make them a large responsibility, the effort is certainly worth it.
6. Doberman Pinscher
| Lifespan: | 10–13 years |
| Weight: | 75–100 pounds |
| Temperament: | Obedient, confident, loyal |
The Doberman Pinscher originated in Germany and was developed as a guard dog, so the breed is synonymous with protection. They are popular animals within the police and military, but they make great family animals too, even though they are often stereotyped as being vicious and aggressive. In truth, they are loving, loyal, and obedient dogs that are natural family protectors. They need a ton of exercise, though, and are known to resort to destructive behavior without it.
7. Dutch Shepherd
| Lifespan: | 11–14 years |
| Weight: | 42–75 pounds |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, reliable, alert, intelligent |
Supremely obedient and endlessly affectionate, the Dutch Shepherd may not seem like a likely guard dog, but their trainability, loyalty, and intellect make them an ideal family protector. They have traditionally been used in their native Netherlands as all-around farm animals but are now commonly used in police work and as service dogs. They are fairly rare and are known for their ease of training, even for beginners, and make wonderful family pets.
8. German Shepherd
| Lifespan: | 9–13 years |
| Weight: | 50–90 pounds |
| Temperament: | Confident, alert, loyal, courageous, intelligent |
The famous German Shepherd is likely one of the first breeds that come to mind when you imagine a guard dog, and they have been used as such for centuries. They are supremely loyal, making the breed one of the most popular in the United States, and they are incredibly devoted and intelligent. These versatile pups are ideal family animals that do well with children. They are also devoted guard dogs and have been used widely in police work, as service animals, and in search-and-rescue operations. They are high energy, though, and need a ton of daily exercise.
9. Great Dane
| Lifespan: | 8–10 years |
| Weight: | 100–200 pounds |
| Temperament: | Devoted, friendly, gentle, reserved |
The enormous size of the Great Dane alone is enough to scare off most visitors, let alone criminals! They are, however, sweet-natured, gentle, and loving animals that love to play and have an innate desire to please. They were originally bred for hunting, though they are kept mostly as devoted companion animals nowadays. They are eager to please and intelligent, making them a breeze to train, and they are great with children, making them ideal all-around family protectors.
10. Great Pyrenees
| Lifespan: | 10–12 years |
| Weight: | 85–160 pounds |
| Temperament: | Patient, fearless, reserved |
The large Great Pyrenees was originally bred as a protector of livestock on farms and is commonly used as a therapy dog nowadays. They still have a powerful protective instinct, though, making them an excellent guard dog. These are highly intelligent animals that can be independently minded at times, making them great protectors but rather challenging to train. They need a ton of dedication, patience, and socialization, but their calm and reserved demeanor makes them ideal family pets.
11. Rhodesian Ridgeback
| Lifespan: | 10–12 years |
| Weight: | 70–85 pounds |
| Temperament: | Strong-willed, dignified, loyal |
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a loyal family protector that was bred in Southern Africa expressly for this purpose, along with hunting. They are supremely athletic animals that are extremely high energy as puppies but tend to calm down as they grow older. The breed is still commonly used for hunting but has also become a popular family pet due to their dedication, loyalty, and protective nature. They are known to be somewhat independent and strong-willed animals and need a great deal of patience and dedication in training.
12. Rottweiler
| Lifespan: | 8–10 years |
| Weight: | 85–130 pounds |
| Temperament: | Obedient, calm, alert, confident |
The Rottweiler is instantly recognizable and has an outsized reputation as a vicious and protective guard dog. In reality, however, they are a gentle animal that make an ideal family pet. Still, they can take some time to warm up to strangers, giving them their formidable reputation. This breed is commonly used as a police dog and in the military due to their fearless nature and intelligence. They are also one of the most common breeds kept as guard dogs. They are powerful and intense animals that need dedicated and consistent training.
- You might also like: Why You Should Never Pat a Dog on the Head
13. Tibetan Mastiff
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Weight: | 75–160 pounds |
| Temperament: | Protective, tenacious, strong-willed, intelligent |
Originally developed in Tibet centuries ago as a guard dog, the Tibetan Mastiff has been gaining popularity around the world due to their gentle nature. These large, powerful, intimidating animals make great guard dogs, but they’re sweet and loving with their human companions, which means they’re also excellent family pets. They are fairly independent animals that need consistent and early training, as they can be a great deal to handle and are known for their stubborn nature.
Final Thoughts
People want to protect their homes and families, but they want a canine to help out with that instead of an alarm system. The breeds presented in this list make ideal guard dogs and great companions. They are loyal but lovable an alert but friendly. They are the perfect combination of a family friend and protector.
Featured Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock
