10 Great Guard Dogs

To guard and protect their owners is a universal personality trait among most dogs. Undying devotion and the sincerest form of loyalty are also high on the list in the description of man's best friend. During struggling financial times, may also come a slowly creeping crime rate. Many families are now deciding to choose a family dog that is both a natural expert in security and will provide 24 hour watch of the family grounds.

One important factor to consider, when choosing a particular breed, is how well training ability comes into play. The innate instincts of a guard dog can be a defining factor, but the proper training can make a difference between the safety of your home as well as the community you share. Your dog should be highly sensitive to the proper commands and when trained to "hold back" or "yield", they should be knowledgeable and experienced to do so. There are many accidents that have happened when a guard dog is left to his own devices and unable to distinguish between an intruder and an innocent passerby. The quality of training should be taken very seriously. Guard dogs trained to attack are equivalent to a loaded gun and should be handled as such and with the utmost priority.

1.Bull Mastiff ~ Bred in England during the late 19th century, the bull mastiff was trained to aid game keepers in the deterring of poachers. Extremely agile, powerful and loyal. The Bull Mastiff works as well in groups as they do alone. They possess strong instinctual abilities and leadership qualities. They also are considered to be excellent at discerning between friend and foe. Superior in territorial protection, the Bull Mastiff makes one of the best family guard dogs.

2.Doberman Pinscher ~ The Doberman Pinscher is known to be of a higher intellect and very capable in the guard dog arena. They are a loyal, obedient and keenly alert guard dog. They are wary of strangers, but considered to be very responsive to their family's needs. Keep in mind that with a Doberman Pinscher, they will need regular mental, as well as physical exercise. This will help in keeping them calm and not becoming destructive.

3.Rottweiler ~ During the Roman Empire, Rottweilers traveled in working packs in order to herd cattle. Incredibly strong and a larger size dog, the Rottweiler is famous for being one of the best watch dogs. Usually identified as being black with distinguishing markings on the face, this dog has expressive dark eyes and are usually calm and majestic. Rottweilers are accustomed to pleasing their owners and are quick thinkers that prefer to dominate their environment. This aggression must be curtailed through early training in social ability. Researchers believe the Rottweiler to be the best guard dog in the world and although negative attention surrounds this breed, it is the responsibility of the owner to not encourage attack behavior and instead gain proper control of this exceptional and brave dog.

4.Komondor ~ Originally the Komondor was breededby Hungarians who needed guard dogs to tend to their sheep. The Komondor breed dates back to the 16th Century and is believed to be descendent's of the dogs from Tibet. This is a large size dog that has a gorgeous white coat which uniquely displays corded hair. It's thickness and strength doubles as protective armor against the teeth and claws of aggressive enemies. They usually weigh between 100-125 pounds and stand 27" high. The Komondor requires serious obedience training and is best suited for rural areas or homes with large back yards. They are a great family asset and are protective by nature making them extraordinary guard dogs.

5.Giant Schnauzer ~ The Giant Schnauzer is muscularly defined and tends to have a square appearance. Grand in stature, it has deep set eyes and is always full of energy. This breed of dog is normally domineering and needs to be taught as soon as possible who's boss. This will require extensive obedience training, but will be well worth the effort. The Giant Schnauzer has a built in sounding alarm that is highly alert and will gain quick control of any type of threatening situation. Overall, good with children but should be closely monitored as the Giant Schnauzer may sometimes get overly excited.

6.German Shepherd ~ Considered to be one of the most trainable and highly effective guard dogs, the German Shepherd is naturally protective and highly confident. They are always ready and wary of strangers, but possess a more careful and wait-and-see demeanor. No need to ever worry though, the German Shepherd takes the approach of standing their ground with superior authority. Early breeds were developed as herding dogs and are commonly used today in the police, military, seeing eye institute, bomb and narcotic detection venues.

7.Rhodesian Ridgeback ~ Not easily classified, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is considered to be a working dog. Historical definition portrays this breed as a native of the African continent and were used to distract lions, therefore, allowing the native hunters to catch their prey easily. The Rhodesian Ridgeback has not been a popular choice as a pet due to the fact that it is fiercely independent. They have a tendency to test their boundaries with their owners and are not usually affectionate. Under the right circumstances and living conditions, such as a large property or farm land, this muscular dog will prove fearless, ruthless and a staunch protector of it's home.

8.American Pit bull Terrier ~ The American Pit bull Terrier was originally used as a fighting dog and was introduced in the mid 1900's by the English, Irish and Scottish who tried to cross breed bull dogs and terriers in order to combine strength and versatile physical prowess. They are a stubborn but formidable guard dog in their qualities of powerful agility. If not carefully trained early on, these dogs can become overly aggressive and difficult to control. Early socialization and extensive training is important in their overall guard dog ability. This is an excellent breed for service and is nationally acclaimed for their search and rescue abilities.

9.American Staffordshire Terrier ~ The American Staffordshire Terrier resembles the American Pit Bull in that they are both medium-sized, muscular, compact and stocky. They are extremely powerful and reliable with a highly intuitive protective instinct. The American Staffordshire Terrier knows no fear and can show signs of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Strangers who provoke this valiant breed will undoubtedly meet a brave and tenacious opponent. Training challenges must be handled early on to properly teach obedience to their sensitive but intelligent demeanor. They are friendly, devoted and intuitive under non-threatening circumstances and hold a reputation for being fearless protectors of the families they live with.

10.Chow Chow ~ The Chow Chow is believed to be related to the Spitz family and is native to the country of China. They are considered to be one of the most beautiful breeds of dogs and are naturally exquisite in design. They are naturally dignified and present themselves as regal servants. They are known to be aggressive, but it is more true to say they are highly aggressive but only when provoked. The qualities they possess to identify them as excellent guard dogs is their suspicious nature, fierce Independence and sharp protective abilities. The encyclopedia describes them in this way: "It has been said that the Chow will die for his master but not readily obey him; walk with him but not trot meekly to heel; honor him but not fawn on his friends and relations."