World’s Best Guard Dog Breeds - Part II

6. Border Collie

Yes, they’re cute, but they are also very smart with an instinctive herding nature that can be merged with training to have them help you keep track of wayward toddlers. A collie is known to herd a child away from dangerous situations such as a pond or highway, and they are also quick to alert you to the presence of a stranger. Border collies grow 18-22” and their lush coats come in a variety of colors.

5. Rottweiler

In truth, it is irresponsible ownership that is to blame for the mean, ferocious “junkyard dog” reputation that Rottweiler’s have unfairly earned. Although this powerful animal is certainly quite capable of inflicting serious damage with those huge jaws, ferocity is not their true nature. Rottweilers are gentle, very calm and not easily provoked. They are also extremely loving and devoted toward their owners, which is at the heart of their protective instincts. A Rottweiler defending its family is fearless.

4. Labrador Retriever

In many instances, intelligence and obedience are more valuable requirements in a guard dog than brute strength and intimidation. Labs are wonderful assistance dogs that are trained as therapy dogs, security detection dogs, and seeing-eye dogs. They are gentle with children, very friendly and loving, and instinctively protective even without professional training.

3. Doberman Pinscher

The Doberman was bred to be a protection dog, large and intimidating in appearance, and are often stereotyped as aggressive and ferocious. In fact, these traits are part of the reason the Doberman is acknowledged as an excellent guard dog, but most especially because they are also extremely obedient and only behave aggressively on command. They are adoring of their owners and outstanding personal defense dogs. Dobermans are black-and-tan, about 24-28” tall and weigh 60-90 lbs.

2. German Shepherd

German Shepherds are strong and smart, and are used in police and military roles around the world, although they were developed originally for herding sheep. They respond extremely well to obedience training, and as family dogs they are known to be loyal and protective as well.

1. BEST GUARD DOG………(drum roll, please)….DACSHUND

Surprise! What were you expecting, a pitt bull? This pint-sized terror is in fact one of the most protective, ferocious and capable dog breeds of all. This short-legged, long-bodied dog was bred to hunt and kill the fierce, burrow-dwelling badger, and was used in WWII for sniffing out and digging up land-mines. Don’t disregard the weiner-dog as a guard dog because of its small stature. They are quite territorial and have no concept of fear. Dacshunds will bark wildly at intruders, chase off dogs much larger than themselves, and will attack and kill poisonous snakes.

The 13-year-old Dacshund here is named Teddy Turbo who during his lifetime has chased away a pair of wandering Rottweilers, killed a rattlesnake in my garden, and alerted me to an attempted burglary. Am I biased in naming Dacshund the #1 guard dog? Ya think?