When it comes to owning a dog, we all have different reasons why we want to bring one into our home. Most are looking for that family companion that we can create memories with and others for security. Why would you want a dog for security? You may live in a rougher neighborhood or are having trouble with people coming onto your property.

Whatever the reason, if you are looking for a dog for security purposes, you will want a specific breed. Some breeds are bred to be natural guardians, so you will want to make sure you take a closer look at them. Below we have lent a hand and listed off the top protective dog breeds that will be your best choice in protection.  

Reasons Why You Would Need a Protective Dog

You may be looking to bring a new dog into your home but are trying to figure out what is the best breed. One of the factors you may be considering is a dog that will keep you and your family safe. But you are trying to figure out if you actually need a protective dog. What are the reasons someone would need a protective dog?

Bad Neighbourhood

If you are currently living in a rougher neighborhood and have unwanted attention around your home. Then a protective dog may be positive for you. Just the presence of a dog will help to deter intruders from your property. If their presence still does not help deter unwanted individuals and they come onto your property uninvited. Your dog will quickly bounce them from the area.

Animals

Many of us enjoy time spent in the outdoors. Say you enjoy the backcountry and love to camp or hike, but are worried about bigger animals in the area. A dog is a great companion to help deter these animals from your path.

Many backcountry hikers that spend time in bear territory choose to bring a dog with them. The reason is they will be able to detect if a bear is near and help to scare the bear off. If you are looking for a dog, for this reason, make sure you get a breed that is bred to be protective.   

What Makes a Dog a Protective Breed?

When it comes to these dog breeds, many of you may be thinking about what exactly defines a dog as a protective breed. The short and sweet answer is that they act as guardians to their owners. The more specific answer is that they are loyal, brave, and have a larger physical build compared to other breeds. This is why you may choose to get a German Shepherd rather than a Maltese. This is because German Shepherds have larger builds, are loyal, and naturally are the best guard dogs.  

If you were to choose the Maltese breed as your guard dog. Most likely its only line of defense would be to simply bark until the potential threat was annoyed. Overall, your chances are better with a German Shepherd than the Maltese.

Top 10 Protective Dog Breeds

As we have learned, a protective breed consists of certain characteristics. In order to ensure we pick the most loyal and protective dog breeds for our home and family, we need to ensure the breed we are looking at has these traits. Below we have listed the top ten dog breeds that are the top protective dog breeds for families.

German Shepherd

We have already looked at the German Shepherd and there is no question this breed would make our list. When we think about a German Shepherd the first thing that comes to mind is loyalty. Why do you think police officers choose the German Shepherd as a police dog? That’s because this breed is obedient and excels at guard dog training. If you are looking for a dog that will mainly be for protection, this breed should be at the top of your list.

Bullmastiff

Bullmastiffs are not only a loyal and protective breed, but also quite well behaved in a family environment. If you are looking for a fun-loving dog to create memories with, that is. But in the moment danger develops, it is ready to defend you, then the Bullmastiff may be the breed for you. These dogs are very obedient when small, so make sure you train them while young.

Akita

This breed makes such a great guard dog as it is quite large and has a muscular build. This means that if there is danger around, the Akita breed will be the first one to step up and defend you. These dogs due to there large build can not be the friendliest once they are older. So, make sure that you train your Akita early when they are a puppy. This way your dog will know who to protect once they are at an older age.

Doberman Pinscher

We are all familiar with the Doberman Pinscher. These dogs are known for being guard dogs and most likely you have seen them in a TV show or movie doing just that. They even just have a guard dog look to them. What makes this breed such a great guard dog is that they are loyal, fast, and smart.

If you are looking to go ahead with this breed to protect you and your family. Make sure you have the time and space to give your Doberman Pinscher the exercise it requires.  Either plan to take them for one or two walks per day or buy them fun interactive toys to entertain them. Better yet, do both. These are not dogs that can just sit on the couch day in and day out. 

Shepherd Dog

There is no wonder that these dogs made our list. This breed was bred to protect and herd farm animals. So there is no wonder if given the task to protect you and your family, it would be up for the job.

This breed also grows to be quite large, which makes them intimidating against intruders. Not only are they protective but they are also quite loving to their family. So, if you are looking for a dog that will be protective and will show your family endless amounts of love, a Shepherd is for you!

Catahoula Leopard Dog

These guys you may not have heard of as they are not common amongst domestic breeds. But, they are a great dog if you are looking for one that will look to protect you and your family. What makes the Catahoula Leopard fit into the guard dog category, is that it has a muscular build, fast, and territorial.

Not only are these beautiful dogs a great choice if you are looking for a protective breed, but they also will show love and affection to your family. They are extremely loyal and have time for fun, but in a moment’s notice will seek to protect you at any cost. 

Rottweiler

Similar to the Doberman Pinscher, most likely when you see a Rottweiler you think of a tough and protective dog. These dogs are known for their aggressive nature towards intruders, but also the loyalty and love they provide their owners.

If you choose to go ahead with a Rottweiler breed make sure to train them at an early age to make sure they are properly trained. It is tough to teach these dogs to be social at a later age.

Puli

If you are looking for the element of surprise, the Puli is a great dog to have by your side. At first glance, they look like a giant walking mop and not a threat at all. But have you ever heard not to judge a book by its cover?

Puli’s will look to protect you as they are always on alert and loyal to their owners. They are most notable for their speed and agility. This is another dog that needs a lot of attention and exercise. So, if you are looking to join this breed to your family, make sure you can provide the lifestyle it needs. 

Giant Schnauzer

These dogs, due to their size, are quite intimidating. It is recommended that you train this breed as early as possible before they realize their size and potential. Like the other breeds on our list, the Giant Schnauzer is loyal, large, and has quite a muscular build.

If you are planning on going ahead with this breed, make sure you have the land and time for them. They need plenty of exercise and stimulation. If you can not provide them with the lifestyle they requires, then you may want to look at another breed.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The last dog to make the list, but a breed that needs to be on it, is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. This is another dog that at first glance you may want to keep your distance. They are known for their muscular build and aggressiveness towards intruders.

Back in the day, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier used to be the choice for dog fights. Terrible, but it shows you their ability and protective nature. With proper training, these dogs will not only protect you and your family no matter the circumstances. But they will also shower you and your family in love and affection.  

Keep You & Your Family Safe

When it comes to you and your family, safety is your main concern. If you are looking to add an extra companion to the family troop, why not make sure they will not only love you but protect you as well.

Now that you know what makes a dog a great guard dog and the top ten protective dog breeds, you are now ready to make a decision on if you need protection. If you have decided you do, you now know what breed will work best for you and your lifestyle.