14 Best watch dogs & breeds that are good guard dogs

This is a list of the best watch dogs out there. Some are the predictable stand-bys, but a few on this list will surprise you by being extremely good guard dogs. They will be divided into family dogs and work dogs.

Remember, do extensive research when looking for a dog that has a reputation as a watch dog or a guard dog. Some home insurance companies and lessees will not allow their clients to have dogs that have a reputation as being aggressive.

Watch dogs usually have strong personalities and need excellent training. While this list gives a general idea of how breeds will be with kids, individual dogs can vary. Children should be taught to never approach, or pet, a dog that they don’t know.

14 Best Watch Dogs & Breeds That are Good Guard Dogs

Video: Top 10 Most Capable Guard Dogs

Family Dogs

Mastiffs

This breed comes in many variations including the Bullmastiff, English Mastiff, French Mastiff and many more. Mastiffs are great watch dogs. They could even be considered guard dogs.

From the Argentinian Mastiff to the Neapolitan Mastiff, there is sure to be a variation that fits your style and family. These dogs are very affectionate and great with kids.

They are not the smartest dog, and may be difficult to train, so they are best suited for an experienced dog owner. Also, these dogs are not suited for hot climates, so if you live in a hot area, your dog will need to be an inside pet.

Video: Top 10 Best Guard Dogs

Schnauzers

From miniature to giant, dogs from the Schnauzer family make excellent guard dogs. All Schnauzers are suspicious of strangers.

They are bold dogs- standing their ground and alerting their family to intruders. Schnauzers will remain so until they are notified by their owner that a person is allowed.

These dogs are active, with all sizes needing daily exercise. They are okay with kids, but your kids would need to know the proper way to treat and respect a dog.

Australian Shepherd

Not only are they one of the best watch dogs, these are great all around dogs. Australian Shepherds are good with other dogs and cats.

They are excellent with children. Like most herding dogs, they do have a tendency to nip at moving targets such as running cats, running kids, or joggers.

Australian Shepherds are very intelligent dogs, and take to training easily. These would be considered more of a watch dog than a guard dog. They are fairly needy and like to be around their family most of the time.

German Shepard

German Shepherds are one of the best watch dogs for good reason. While they are aloof with strangers, they are extremely affectionate with their family.

This breed is friendly with, and protective of, the kids in their family. They are also independent, making them great to work as a trained guard dog. German Shepherds are aggressive with other dogs and cats that they were not raised with.

This is an intelligent bread, making training a breeze. They are moderately adaptive to all types of weather. German Shepherds can spend some time alone, but they do prefer the company of people. In fact, socialization is recommended to tame some of their natural aggressiveness towards strangers.

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is one of the smartest dogs in the world. It has, in many cases, an undeserved bad reputation. This breed is more of a guard dog than a watch dog.

They are confident and strong. Rottweilers are calm and calculating. They remain level headed in most situations. They are not friendly towards strangers and animals outside their family unit.

They do not do well with cats, at all. These are intelligent dogs that take well to training, but they are dominant minded and need a strong, effective trainer. These dogs need to be well socialized at an early age to control their dominant behaviors. Rottweilers are better suited to an experienced dog owner.

Poodle

The may not be a dog that you’d expect to find on our list of the best watch dogs. They are another breed that has a poor reputation, but for different reasons. Poodles can be groomed to look prissy, and sometimes downright silly, but that does not match their personality.

They are one of the most intelligent, easily trained dogs in the world. They are smart, thinking dogs. They love challenges, and they need to play games and learn tricks. Poodles do the best in a household where the training never stops and they remain actively engaged in new activities.

These dogs are very friendly. They are excellent dogs for children. Poodles are active and need daily exercise. They make good guard and watch dogs. They have a loud bark and aren’t afraid to use it. A Poodle’s high intelligence means they can discern from usual activity and unusual activity, and respond appropriately.

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