If you'd like a dog that will be loyal and affectionate while protecting you and the people you love, read on. Today, our Seattle vets discuss some dog breeds that are well-suited to be guard dogs for families.
When choosing a dog to protect you and your family, there are several factors to consider, such as whether they get along with children and other pets, their size, and energy level. Our Seattle team has chosen our top picks to help you decide on a new member of your family.
German Shepard
This popular family pet is brave, gentle, and loving, and will go to great lengths to guard and protect those they care about. When properly trained, they excel at learning, listening, and obeying commands.
If you choose to get a dog from a breeder, make sure that they are reputable and if possible, meet the dog's parents to make sure they are coming from a healthy environment.
Rottweilers
Rottweilers are excellent guard dogs, and if they are trained well can become loving family pets (even for small kids). They are among the smartest dog breeds in the world, and when properly trained they will be loyal and obey the commands you give them.
The key to incorporating a Rottweiler into your family (especially if you have young children) is to ensure that they are properly trained, as they can be aggressive if not. We also recommend regularly socializing puppies because they are naturally wary of strangers and other animals.
Doberman Pinscher
In general, this breed of dog seems intimidating and is very intelligent. They make good guard dogs because they are wary of strangers. They are incredibly devoted to you and will obey your commands to the letter with the right obedience training. They require a lot of exercise and activity every day because they are energetic, athletic dogs.
If you want to bring a Doberman pinscher into a family with kids, you should raise them from a puppy in the family environment instead of bringing one home once it has grown. This dog can be very destructive, so it's very important to have this dog well trained from a young age.
Boxer
This dog is a superb choice for guarding due to its "menacing" appearance and aptitude for discerning people's intentions. This friendly, outgoing, medium to large-sized dog will defend its owners with its athleticism. They are not aggressive and frequently crave affection.
Although, boxers have a lot of energy from the beginning and require lots of exercise from their owners.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Despite being unlikely to deliberately attack an intruder, this breed makes a great watchdog. They make great watchdogs because they are suspicious of strangers and will bark if they notice anything suspicious. They make a great family pet because they are also very playful and like being around kids. Contrarily, this dog needs frequent brushing and grooming because of its thick coat.
Giant Schnauzer
They are loyal and intelligent, and they can grow to be quite large, with an intimidating appearance that can deter strangers. This dog will be excellent with children if raised as a puppy alongside your children and family. However, you must brush and groom them on a daily basis.
Great Dane
Great Danes are large dogs with a loud bark that can deter intruders. This dog, on the other hand, is very gentle and patient with children and easily makes friends. Because of their gentle nature, they make better watchdogs than protectors.
This breed requires lots of exercise through daily walks and lots of positive reinforcement obedience training from the beginning. They also need lots of attention and supervision until they are used to the rules and become accustomed to your home.
Great Pyrenees
With training and guidance, this large, furry breed can make a loyal and protective guard dog. They are gentle and can adapt to the dynamic of your family and home but will be cautious of guests and intruders making them the perfect companion and guard.
This dog was not ranked first because it is difficult to train. They must be trained with love and attention from the time they are puppies because they have a habit of barking and growling when they are young and will not grow out of this unless they are trained. They also put their owners' leadership to the test, making them difficult to train.
Saint Bernard
This huge dog is great with kids and families and is extremely friendly, which doesn't make them good attack dogs. That said, their large size and loud bark can help intimidate intruders and make them rethink entering your home. If you are looking for a mild-mannered dog, with a bark that is bigger than their bite, this is the breed for you.
We advise against getting a Saint Bernard for a family with young children because they are clumsy dogs until they are fully grown and don't understand their size. Although they only need to be walked and brushed a few times per week, they can also be harder to train and eat more than other dogs.
Bullmastiff
They quickly decide to make their family their "pack" and will stop at nothing to keep you safe. They make excellent guard dogs without endangering your children because they also have an intimidating appearance and are constantly alert to what is going on around them.
This dog shows great attacking qualities and can easily take down a full-grown man. If you raise this dog from a puppy with your kids and family and provide them with constant training they can make a great, loving, member of the family.
This dog does require stern training from a young age in order to obey your orders and get along with others, without it they will become aggressive. They also need strict orders and lots of exercise.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.