Best Guard Dogs for Your Home (Guest Blog)
Beware of Dog sign in Glasgow Necropolis
The following text comes from guest blogger Elspeth, who is writing on behalf of YourLocalSecurity.com.
A good guard dog is worth more than his weight in dog food. When you own a guard dog, it helps protect your home and family from intruders and potential disasters. The peace of mind that comes from owning a guard dog makes it a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.
Owning any guard dog is a major financial commitment. You need to feed your dog, provide them with shelter and take them to the veterinarian for regular medical exams and vaccinations to ensure they remain healthy and strong. Because it is an investment, as well as a companion, it is important to find a breed that has the physical and mental traits of a good guard dog that fits your lifestyle.
Here are the top five breeds of dogs we think you should consider when looking for the right canine to guard your home and protect your family.
Rottweiler
Source: gespendet von: Dr. Manfred Herrmann Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (ADRK) e.V.
This German breed is a popular choice for people who want a guard dog. Rottweilers are large, muscular dogs. The average Rottweiler weighs between 80 and 130 pounds and gets to be between 22 to 27 inches when full grown. This breed also has a lifespan of 9 to 12 years.
Rottweilers are a good choice for a guard dog because they are a highly intelligent breed. They are easy to train because they are alert and obedient. Besides protecting your home, Rottweilers make good pets. They possess a gentle disposition, are calm and become protective of the people under their watch.
German Shepherd
Source: Wikimedia Commons
The German Shepherd is a natural born guard dog. It was originally bred in Germany to guard and herd sheep. A typical German Shepherd weighs between 50 and 80 pounds and is 21 to 26 inches when full grown. It also has an average life span of 8 to 10 years.
This breed is a popular choice for search and rescue animals, police dogs and watch dogs. One reason why is a German Shepherd is a highly intelligent dog. They are easy to train and are highly active dogs. When a German Shepherd is brought into a home, it will form a protective bond with children and will be loyal to the family it is tasked with guarding.
Belgian Tervuren
Photo by sannse at the City of Birmingham Championship Dog Show, 30th August 2003. Transferred from en.wikipedia
Also called a Belgian Shepherd Dog, Belgian Tervurens are a high energy breed. This dog originated in Belgium and is distinguished by a thick shaggy coat. A typical Belgian Tervuren weighs between 55 to 65 pounds and is 22 to 26 inches when it’s full grown. Their average lifespan is 10 to 12 years.
Belgian Tervurens make good guard dogs because they are highly alert. They pay attention to the smallest details and can alert you immediately if something is amiss. Owning a Belgian Tervuren means you will get a large dose of daily exercise. This is an energetic breed that is prone to nervousness when kept in confined spaces for long periods. Taking them on walks and runs will help work out that nervous energy so they can be effective as guard dogs.
Doberman Pinscher
Source: Flickr
This breed is one of the first to come to mind when you think of guard dogs. Doberman Pinschers, similar to several other popular guard dog breeds, originated in Germany. A typical Doberman Pinscher weighs between 60 and 100 pounds and ranges from 25 to 28 inches when they are full grown. The average lifespan for this breed is 10 to 11 years.
Doberman Pinschers have short black and brown coats like Rottweilers. They are an athletic breed and easy to train in carrying out guard dogs duties. Loyalty and obedience are common characteristics for a Doberman Pinscher. This breed makes an excellent pet because they are highly protective of their owners and their homes.
Kuvasz
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Being a guard dog in the Kuvasz’s blood. This breed was developed in ancient Hungary and tasked with guarding livestock. When a Kuvasz is full grown, it will weigh anywhere from 75 to 150 pounds and will be about 26 to 30 inches long. A typical Kuvasz has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
The Kuvasz are large and athletic dogs. They feature a distinctive white coat. A Kuvasz becomes attached to its owner from a young age, but requires extensive training and socializing to function well as a pet. These dogs are intelligent and protective. They can be trained to bark whenever something suspicious or potentially dangerous occurs.
Adopting a Guard Dog
If you decide to get a guard dog for your home or family, adopting one from your local animal shelter is the best way to go. These dogs need a home and you can save their lives by preventing them from being put to sleep in order to make room for other animals. Dogs adopted from a local shelter typically have been spayed or neutered and they are up-to-date on vaccinations and medical exams and can even save you money in the long run.
Owning a dog reduces stress and loneliness and it increases happiness for you and your family. There is nothing better you can do to improve your life and guarantee your safety.
Guest blogger Elspeth is a contributing author that loves dogs, cats, and pets of all sorts! When she’s not writing about home security and guard dogs, she enjoys volunteering at animal shelters, drawing, painting, and photographing animals.
What breeds would you add to this list? Has your dog ever scared away an intruder at your home?
Foster dog Charlie Machete thinks he’s a pretty good guardian of our yard. Check out his Adoptable profile. He is available through Midwest Adopt-a-Bull.
Posted on August 7, 2012, in Dogs and tagged adopting a guard dog, Belgian Tervuren, best guard dogs, doberman pinscher, German Shepherd, kuvasz, rottweiler. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
Wayward Dogs 
My Dalmation saved me twice from intruders. Probably worth a post at some point. I never viewed her as a guard dog. She was my companion. The best guard dogs are those that are closest to you. They will do anything to protect you. I hope anyone that thinks of getting a guard dog sees them more as their “best friend” than simply an alarm/protection system. Encouraging them to rescue an animal in need is a fabulous thing.
You should absolutely write about your dalmatian! What a good dog. I also TOTALLY agree with you that the best “guard dogs” are actually companion dogs, whose loyalty stems from their love and bond with their human family.
Please do tell the story about the dalmation!
While I’m sure they’re all ferociously protective, I want to snuggle their faces.
Our Norwegian Elkhound actually is a wonderful guard dog. Bailey, rest her little furry soul, did in fact scare away an intruder at our old house. I always felt safe with her and their breed is known for their fierce loyalty.
Love to hear stories like that 🙂
I hope to meet your pup sometime, Amy. Maybe you can bring her on a walk with the KC Pittie Pack!
Nice post!
I would add that you really need to research any breed of dog you decide you may want before bringing them home to make sure they are a good fit. I am always a little leery of promoting certain breeds for certain things because too many people buy/adopt on a whim and then in the end they are not happy and the dog ends up in the shelter or worse. I also think socialization is a must for any dog so they know the difference between friend and foe. I agree with Long Life Cats and Dogs when they said “I hope anyone that thinks of getting a guard dog sees them more as their “best friend” than simply an alarm/protection system.”
One of the first things I say to anyone who is interested in my dogs is “they are not a breed for everyone” then I follow with a very straight forward explanation of why, some people it turns off and that’s a good thing because they probably would not be happy with a Chessie and vice versa and those that are intrigued, well we have further in depth discussions and if my dog club is having an event I will invite them so they can meet many different examples of the breed. I guess bottom line is really research any breed of dog you are thinking about getting and make sure they are a good fit for the whole family.
I agree with you 100% on the need to research any breed (or mix) before committing. The surge of popularity in specific breeds has led to overpopulation and breed degradation for many kinds of dogs over the years, perhaps worst of all with pit bulls. Thanks for being so responsible when homing your Chessies.
I think any dog that is bonded to you and treated as a member of the family will protect his pack. I remember reading an article about a family who adopted a St. Bernard from the shelter, and just 6 hours later the dog chased an intruder out of their house! Dogs know when someone saves their life, and they will repay that debt.
I’ve also seen videos and heard tales of very tiny dogs scaring off non-human intruders, including bears and badgers. Dogs are way more brave than people.
Misty- I think you explained that perfectly. I feel like no matter how hard you try to categorize dogs that would be good for certain situations/families/homes, there is always an exception to the rule. Getting a dog is a huge time commitment and an investment that should be taken seriously. Research is imperative!!!! Hope everyone enjoyed the post as well as guard dog resource that we created. To \’Long Life Cats and Dogs\’, I would LOVE to hear the stories about how your dalmation saved you from intruders. Please share (send me an email @ elli-at-drivenetwork-dot-com or comment on here!)
I would add Caucasian Shepherd. It’s not a dog for everyone but is a formidable guard dog.
I was thinking the same thing when I looked up the picture of the Kuvasz.
Love all these breeds, but I completely agree. A dog is always your companion first, guard dog second! I’ve heard Cane Corsos make good guard dogs as well. They are huge! And beautiful.
I only heard about that breed recently, when some friends were considering getting one.
I’d hate to see the look on someone’s face if he/she tried to hurt my peeps. Scotties’ jaws pack the punch of a German Shepherd’s – did you know that? – and I’m as fierce as the next guy to defend what’s mine.
I can believe that. You Scotties have very long snouts, and that’s the same thing that gives wolves and German Shepherds such impressive jaw power. I wouldn’t cross a Scottie! 🙂
You are one smart peep! Now, on the other hand, I love to snuggle, too. Ah, the joys of dogdom.
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