If You Need Protection These 5 Powerful Guard Dogs Do The Job

Guard duty may have been the first and most crucial job dogs did for humans. A pre-historic man may have noticed that many other animals feared the wolf. So they may have domesticated wolves to act as guard dogs against predators such as the saber-tooth tiger.

If you need protection, powerful guard dogs are available to do the job.   You don’t need to train a guard dog yourself. You can hire a guard dog to protect your business or home, and the company picks up the dog afterward. You benefit from the dog’s protection capabilities without always having an aggressive dog around.

Guard Dogs Vs. Watch Dogs

 

Watchdog and guard dogs are not the same. A watch dog’s job is to alert its owner by barking. Their barking might scare away the intruder. However, the watchdog will not necessarily do anything but bark if the bad guy does not run away.

Watchdogs do not have to be large or aggressive. Many smaller breeds, such as the Poodle, make excellent watchdogs. Many of the larger guard dogs are also attack dogs if adequately trained. Attack dogs defend persons or property aggressively and can inflict severe pain or bodily injury to the bad guys.

The guard dog takes the watch dog’s duty’s to another level. Guard dogs alert their owners but will also attack or chase the bad guys if barking does not do the job. The intruders do not have to be human. Herding dogs guard sheep, cattle, and other livestock and will attack predators such as wildcats, bears, and wolves.

Most dogs come by their watchdog status with little or no training. Sometimes, it is necessary to curb the enthusiasm of smaller dogs who consider themselves more ferocious than they are.

Dog Breeds Used as Guard Dogs

Farmers and herders have long used dogs for their guarding abilities. Many of today’s guard breeds have a history of herding and guarding livestock.

Some dog breeds commonly used as guard dogs are:

German Shepherd

(German: Deutscher Schäferhund) –  The German Shepherd is a herding dog. However, German Shepherds also make excellent guard dogs and will fearlessly defend their owners and property. This dog will sacrifice its life for you.

They are easy to train and are well known for their police work. The military also uses them and even prepares them to parachute from aircraft. Some German Shepherds are trained to be guide dogs for the blind.

German Shepherds are a popular dog breed. It ranked #2 in popularity by the AKC  for 2019. German Shepherds are a versatile breed and are great family pets. They also star in movies and television. Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd and one of the first dogs to become a famous movie star.

The German Shepherd may be the best all-around dog breed for working dogs and loyal family pets. My first childhood dog was a German Shepherd and that great dog, Lucky, is why I have such great love for dogs today.

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler (Rottweiler Metzgerhund) is a German dog bred for farm and herding duties. They have great strength and were used to pull carts filled with butchered meat. They now find jobs in search and rescue, guard duty, and police work.

They have a significant intimidation factor as guard dogs. An angry Rottweiler can quickly strike terror in anyone who is up to no good.

The Rottweiler is a loyal, calm, confident, and part-time lap dog despite weighing around a hundred pounds. They are territorial and protective, so they will need early socialization and continued training to prevent them from being dangerous to strangers. They are in the top ten most popular AKC dogs.

Doberman Pinscher

Being a tax collector in Germany during the late 19th century was sometimes a dangerous job. Louis Dobermann was a dog breeder and tax collector who wanted a dog to protect him when collecting taxes. Unlike some other breeds, Dobermans were guard dogs from the very beginning.

The breed got its name from Dobermann, but it dropped the second “n” in Dobermann’s name. Louis Dobermann was very successful at breeding dogs. Not sure if he had as much success in collecting taxes.

The Doberman Pinscher has an excellent reputation for its police and military work. It is a brave dog who has frequently lost its life in the line of duty. Only the most foolish intruder will try to test the Doberman Pinscher’s guarding capabilities.

They are helpful in search and rescue, therapy, and service dogs for the disabled. Like any big, powerful dog, they need proper training, socialization, and supervision. They are affectionate family dogs, good with children, and friendly to other pets.

Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is another shepherd dog breed now widely used for guard, protection, police, and military duties. The U. S. Secret Service uses this dog breed to guard the White House.

The Malinois has served with such distinction in the military that the breed’s bronze statue stands at the Special Forces K9 Memorial in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Belgian Malinois dogs are intelligent and active dogs that need plenty of exercise and socialization. They are good family dogs for the right family.

Bullmastiff 

Estate owners bred the Bullmastiff to guard their property and keep poachers away. The Bullmastiff comes by its guarding instincts naturally. This dog will react if it believes its family is in danger.

Bullmastiffs are giant dogs weighing around 120 pounds. They must be socialized very early before they get too big to handle. Otherwise, they may tackle any stranger who enters their territory.

Bullmastiffs are not generally military or police dogs.

Guards Dogs For Sale

You don’t have to train your guard dog. Some companies will do the training for you if you need protection for your home or business but don’t know how to prepare one properly. Some will teach the dog you own or sell you a fully trained dog.

If you want to buy a fully trained dog but already have other family dogs or pets, you must ensure your current pets get the proper training. The protection company will work with you and your pets before delivering the guard dog.

You can find guard dogs for sale by doing an online search.

Guard Dogs For Rent

Renting is probably a short-term solution. Some security companies will rent dogs if you don’t want a dog in your home or need protection for a short time. You will need to inquire about rates but expect to pay about $50 per hour on average. If you need a handler, expect to pay up to $150 per hour.

Rental dogs are usually delivered after your business closes and picked up before your business reopens. Security companies that rent guard dogs may also offer other services such as bodyguards.

Want A Different Guard Dog Breed?

The dogs we covered here are among the most widely used breeds for guard dogs, military, and police duty. However, several other breeds are big and powerful enough to be effective guard dogs. The list includes breeds such as the Akita, Boxer, Giant Schnauzer, and others. For a longer list, visit the AKC website.

Guard Dogs Compared

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