List Of Best Attack and Guard Dogs
Introduction
These dogs do more than just bark. For example, livestock guardian dogs are often large enough and strong enough to attack and drive away predators such as wolves. In cases where intruders are more likely to be human, guard dogs are sometimes trained simply to restrain an intruder with his owner’s guidance, as in Schutzhund or K9 Pro Sports training. Occasionally, guard dogs are trained to attack human intruders. Some breeds (such as Keeshonden) are excellent watchdogs but not so excellent guard dogs, as they bark loudly to alert their masters of intruders but are not given to attack behavior.
Many of the now prominent guardian breeds such as Rottweilers started as farm dogs but then developed over many years into guard breeds. Some breeds, such as the Weimaraner and Rhodesian Ridgeback, were originally bred for hunting, but their large intimidating look and territorial instincts have helped them evolve into guard dogs in today’s society. Others like Dobermans were specifically designed as guard dogs. Many of the below breeds have a greater amount of molossoid or mastiff DNA. This is confirmed by a DNA study done on pure breed dogs.
The St. Bernard is also somewhat different from the mastiffs and is not in the molisoid group; however, the Swiss mountain dogs are. The Moscow Watchdog thus likely inherits its guarding ability not from the St. Bernard but from its other major contributor, the Caucasian Ovcharka (no evidence other than speculation and the known breed characteristics). Great Danes are odd because they are not in the mollisoid group and traditionally behaved as though they should be.
The original Saint Bernard was used for alpine rescue in the Saint Bernard Pass by monks. An avalanche killed off many of the dogs used for breeding. The Saint Bernards had to be bred with larger dogs like mastiffs that gave it the large size and the guard dog instinct we know the Saint Bernard to have today.
Perhaps the best way to find a guard dog is to look at the history of the breed. Dogs like mastiffs have been used in the guard role for centuries. These dogs have had the territoriality literally bred into them typically by killing those who fail at their job. Common guard dogs with breeders are found using the above method. Two of the most successful include the German Shorthair Pointer and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. These two breeds are so aggressive that it limits their popularity. They are also very dominant breeds and should not be owned by inexperienced owners.
Female dogs tend to make better personal guardians than males, due to their natural instinct to protect their young. However, males are better for guarding property because they are more territorial than females.
