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Throughout history, domesticated dogs have done a great job at protecting their owners against people and other animals. Today, dogs have a natural instinct to protect humans. But certain breeds possess this quality more strongly than others. I mentioned in a previous article that the best way to survive a home invasion is to have an early warning system setup (like a dog). If you haven’t read it, I recommend checking that article out. With a good guard dog, it’s not likely that you’ll be caught off guard by an intruder. Let’s take a look at the 9 best family guard dogs out there.
The Top 9
9: Bullmastiff
Bullmastiffs are known for their physical strength, courage, protective instincts, and extreme loyalty to their owners. If they notice even a slight change in the surroundings, they’ll go investigate. If they see an intruder, they’ll use their physical strength to bring them to the ground.
Just because they’re one of the best security dogs out there, doesn’t mean they’re not loving. Even if you have small children, owning a Bullmastiff won’t put them in danger. As with all dog breeds, it’s best to train them as puppies. Overall, I would recommend them to any family looking for greater protection.
8: Rottweiler
Rottweilers have gotten a bad reputation thanks to the media. The truth is, if you raise them right, there’s no reason why they can’t be loving/affectionate and a great guard dog. As one of the best family guard dogs, Rottweilers were originally bred to protect cattle. Today, they’re known for their strength and bite strength. Despite what you’ve been led to believe, these dogs are not dangerous towards children. I know people who own these dogs, have small children, and there’s never been a problem. In fact, these big tough dogs turn into giant lovable teddy bears when they’re around small children. For protection, they’re quick learners and can definitely keep your home safe.
7: Doberman Pinscher
For protecting larger pieces of property, there’s no better dog to have than the Doberman Pinscher. They’re fast, smart, fearless, and downright loyal. They’re often referred to as one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. As one of the best family guard dogs, they’ll be able to reach an intruder within seconds thanks to their fast speed. Their bite strength might not be as powerful as a Rottweiler’s, but it’s still good enough to deter a home invasion. Although they might “look” scary, the truth is that they’ve just as lovable as any other dog breed.
6: German Shepherd
German Shepherds are known for their confidence, boldness, and fearlessness. No wonder why they’re used by law enforcement to chase down and restrain criminals. The reason why they’re one of the best family guard dogs is because they’re super-disciplined. Once you properly train them, they’re extremely good at listening to commands. You can buy them as puppies and train them yourself, or you can buy fully-grown German Shepherds that come already trained. Either way, I think they’re a great investment for keeping your home safe.
5: Komondor
Do NOT allow it’s “odd” look to fool you- these dogs are powerful. Komondors will seriously devote themselves to family, and distrust everyone else. If anyone tries to make their way into your property or home without your permission, you can be rest assured that the Komondor will take action. They’ve actually been known to be overprotective, so it’s important that you get them properly trained. Thanks to their strength and constant vigilance, they’re one of the best family guard dogs you can buy.
4: Giant Schnauzer
Giant Schnauzers are powerful, strong, and dominant. The reason why they’re one of the best security dogs is because of their strength. Although smaller than some of the other breeds on this list, their bite is still extremely powerful. Another thing is that they’re fast. If they catch an intruder in your yard, they’ll be at them within seconds. Because of their protective qualities, they’re commonly used to control prison riots. They’re also very attentive to commands by humans. Once you train them the right way, they’ll react to what you say immediately. Here’s a video of a police force training a giant schnauzer for prison riots:
3: Rhodesian Ridgeback
Not people many have heard of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. They were originally bred to hunt lions, so you can be rest assured that they’ll have no problems with humans. The reason why they’re one of the best family guard dogs is because they’re always attentive of their surroundings.
They’re very selective at what they bark so, so if you hear one barking, take it seriously. The Rhodesian Ridgeback, like most dogs, must be properly trained since they’re not naturally obedient. This isn’t to say that they’re dangerous to their owners though. Despite their aggressiveness, they’re excellent laptops with great and lovable personalities.
2: Kuvasz
Although they look like a giant cotton ball, this breed will provide you and your family with a high degree of protection. While they’re accepting of family members, they’re always highly suspicious of strangers. It’s this “trust no one” mentality that makes them one of the best family guard dogs out there. With children, they’re gentle and affectionate, but with intruders, they’re highly aggressive. As a side note, if you live on a farm, know that the Kuvasz won’t scare your animals. Quite the contrary, they’re known to protect llamas, goats, chickens, sheep, and horses.
1: Staffordshire Terrier
The Staffordshire Terrier is often confused with the Pit Bull Terrier, but they’re actually two different breeds. They were originally bred for bull fighting and bear fighting, so that alone should give you confidence in their protective capabilities. They are small, compact, and powerful, and pack quite a strong bite. This is why they are one of the best family guard dogs you can buy. Despite their relatively small sizes, Staffordshire Terriers can bring down even the largest of intruders.
Should You Keep Them Inside or Outside?
Here’s a good question: are guard dogs more effective outside or inside? Personally, I like to keep my dogs outside with the option of coming inside whenever they want (using a doggy door). Being outside, they’ll be able to keep a better eye out on the property, thus catching intruders earlier. By having a doggy door, they’ll be able to enter and exit the home freely, so you’ll never need to worry about letting them out. Just keep in mind that other animals can make their way into your home through this opening, so always be on the lookout for that. The best family guard dogs are most effective outdoors in my opinion.
The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training
Best Family Guard Dogs – Bottom Line
The breeds above are some of the best family guard dogs you can own. They’re powerful, fast, vigilant, and very loyal to their owners. I don’t think any of them are “better” than the other. Some are simply better suited for certain people and areas. When it comes to protecting your home, there’s no better way to do it than to invest in the best security dogs. They’ll give you the warning that you need to get you and your family to safety in the event of a home invasion. For more information on home protection, check out our article, 10 Cheap Ways to Protect Your Home. Thanks for reading.
Thank you to David for this post!
