The dog is from a puppy mill and is more likely to grow up with behavioral problems. Dr. Mark is a veterinarian. Purple Collar Pet Photography/Getty Images, Zachary R Wilson Photography/Getty Images, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do Not Sell My Personal Information CA Residents. Get up and make sure it happens.

However, just like the cartoon dog, they have affectionate, gentle personalities, and probably wont actually bite an intruder. A mix of mastiff and bulldog, bullmastiffs were originally bred to ward off poachers on estates in England. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on August 24, 2018: Irene, you need to be very cautious because of your daughter. Boxers are also more prone to certain health conditions than other breeds, including mast cell tumors, ulcerative colitis, and heart disease, according to Petful.com. Dogs are usually less than 18 kilos (about 40 pounds) but they are solid enough to act as guards. Breeders like to point out that the dogs have a good sense of humor and are good with kids and a lot of fun for their family. They dont shed a lot, making them a great choice for someone looking for a hypoallergenic guard dog, but their fur can trap dirt and their beards can drip water, Orvis cautions.

With adults measuring between 22-26 inches, German Shepherds one of the most popular larger dog breeds, and are also one of the most common police dog breeds. Most are good watchdogs since they do not bark all of the time. With their bearded chin and folded-down ears, Airedales have won the Westminster Dog Show four timesalthough the last time was in 1933. Many medium-sized dog breeds make good guard dogs. We had a min Schnauzer 'Pepper' along with our Doberman Major and she was the boss in all respects. Its said to be impervious to pain, as even electric fences wont deter it, Petful.com notes. Estrela Mountain Dogs are especially lovey dovey and are great choices for families with young children. Answer: You really need to decide if you want the dog as primarily a guard or as a friend to your friends. Country Living editors select each product featured. What is a good medium sized guard dog for a senior citizen? Bergamasco Sheepdogs are social creatures, affectionate with their families as well as other animals. Having a well-trained dog to help watch over your home can provide peace of mindand a loving, loyal companion to greet you when you walk in the door. Lizz Schumer covers pets, culture, lifestyle, books, entertainment and more as Good Housekeeping's senior editor; she also contributes to Woman's Day and Prevention. If its cooped up in tight surroundings, it might turn destructive. The king of terriers, the Airedale is friendly and exuberantsometimes seeming to have no off switch, according to VetStreet.com. Appenzeller Sennehunds are quick and agile, bred to work on farms and drive cattle. If this sounds like too much work for you, youll want to know the best low-maintenance dogsfor busy people. I think most burglars, upon hearing a dog, will seek happier hunting grounds. They are very loyal and protective of their families, but not necessarily obedient except with firm training. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on March 19, 2014: Chows are like Basset Hounds--many of them are large medium, and are too big to really be a medium sized dog. A classic choice because of his imposing stature and loud bark, this German dog breed is widely seen as one of the best guard dogs. Typically, they bark only when theres a really good reason, says the Akita Rescue Society of America. Weighing between 50 and 80 pounds when fully grown, AmStaffs are muscular and powerful, and have a reputation for being unruffled by pain. Good luck with finding a medium-sized guard dog that meets your needs. The medium-sized Aussie is both beautiful and brave. Modern Dog magazine says this doggo will shed a lot, too, and its waterproof coat has a tendency to be a bit smelly. These massive pups know exactly how to respond if they sense a threat to your house or family members, so don't underestimate their disarming fluffiness. They will require firm training, however, to prevent them from dominating their families. in tip-top shape. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Do not buy your new puppy from a pet shop or internet puppy warehouse. Aussies are best suited to homes with plenty of space to roam as they're high energy and require plenty of daily activity and exercise. Country Living editors select each product featured. Voted up, useful and interesting. Bullmastiffs are a great walking companion, but leave them at home when you go running, since they're not built for sustained speed. This type of guard dog bonds closely with its owner, so they won't do well if you leave them alone for long periods of time. Dinner Recipes, Dad Jokes To Keep the Whole Family Laughing, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Give them the training they need when they're young and these pets will do everything they can to protect you from harm. Because they can be powerful and fierce, especially with strangers, Caucasian shepherds have a long if somewhat complicated history as guard dogs. They may also rank among the smartest or most loyalbreeds.

Standard Schnauzers are alert and easy to train. Chessies are polite with strangers, but still cautious and not overly affectionate with those they don't know all of which makes them excellent watch dogs. The AKCs DiNardo says this is the most naturally protective of the sporting dogs. Thankfully, theyre also pretty laid back and loving when theyre just hanging out with the family, and will only become aggressive when a threat is imminent. Honestly, what better breed for a guard dog than one that can so easily go undercover as a mop? This dog, despite his appearance, is actually closely related to the wolf, and some of his personality traits reflect that.

Most at home on a ranch or in a rodeo, these dogs are natural herders and will take any opportunity to get other animals (or even kids) in line. If you fit the Chow Chow profile, and you can deal with the hair, they are an awesome dog to choose. With their calm demeanor and confident, fearless attitude, Beaucerons can be terrific guard dogs.

Keep in mind that, before you adopt any dog, you'll need to be able to commit to extensive training and ongoing socialization, as they are especially important for guard dog breeds who tend to be more territorial. They'll protect your house from intruders and are so loyal that they will form a strong bond with you. Most of them are great with kids, and, although they have a lot of energy, as long as they are walked every day will not become bored and destructive.

For these reasons, it is one of the best guard dog breeds, though not for first-time dog owners. Dobermans also bark a lot. Laurie is a lifestyle writer for RD.com covering current events, finance, technology, and pets. Standard Schnauzers are also healthy and do not have as many problems as their miniature and giant varieties. He is a good dog, but if you rent some leases will not allow this dog, if you own some insurance companies will not cover this breed, and since most of his aggression is dog-to-dog, and he is not really the best choice for guarding the home. Rotties, as they are known to their fans, can be sweet and playful with their families, and are very protective of them. Akitas have a large build (just look at the size of that head!) Height: 22-27 inchesWeight: 80-135 poundsLife Expectancy: 9-10 years, 24 Low-Maintenance Plants for the Lazy Gardener, The Best Michigan Beach Town for a Summer Getaway, Easy, Cheap, 30-Minute (or Faster!) Originally bred in the Bavarian Alps to watch over homes, inns, and farms, Giant Schnauzers remain excellent guard dogs, and are affectionate with their families, intelligent, and easy to train. Not everyone has the space for a large animal in their home, but that doesn't mean they don't need a powerful guard dog. This dog is healthy, and many go their whole life with no problem more severe than an injury. I am in need of a more aggressive dog Thank You. Puppies are black but become bluer (grey, actually) as they age. Unfortunately, guard dogs often get a bad reputation for being vicious or dangerous, but that's not entirely accurate. Just like any other working dog, when a guard dog is off the clock, they'll also be ready to offer you a lifetime of love and affection. This big galumph of a dogweighing up to 130 poundscan be hard to find outside its home nation of Portugal. They also tend to chase pets that are smaller than them (basically all other pets), so they do best when theyre the only animal in the home.

If you like the way he looks, and are willing to deal with the bristly coat, the Shar-Pei is one of the best dogs on this list. Sometimes that size just not matter, does it? Some breeds, like the Appenzeller Sennenhund or Australian Shepherd, require lots of exercise, while pups like the Briard need frequent grooming. And, with all that hair, they look even bigger! Very few dogs were imported into the U.S. so they do have some health problems due to inbreeding, and, since they became so popular so fast, over breeding. Height: 22-27 inchesWeight: 55-100 poundsLife Expectancy: 12 years. Puli dogs were originally meant for herding, so they learn fast and can easily outsmart any predators. Time to get to the front and guard the house. They're devoted family dogs and natural protectors. I think the breeds that bark all the time are worthless, since the owners just learn to ignore them. But Airedales are great with kids,quick learners, and generally thought to be hypoallergenic, too, making them one of the best guard dogs for families. RELATED: The 20 Best Dogs for Kids and Families That Will Be Your Pal for Life. They also can be aggressive toward other animals, and even play a little too rough with their family, unless trained otherwise. How old is she?A Boerboel or a Neopolitan Mastiff both make good family guard dogs, but be aware that if your daughter has friends over there is a chance that the dog can get worked up seeing the kids playing and might even bite. Most breeders recommend Chow Chows be purchased and trained only by experienced owners. Some people looking for a good medium-sized guard dog will also choose the Staffordshire Terrier, which is a little smaller than the American Pit Bull Terrier. If you know anyone with a Rottweiler, chances are that you've experienced their gentle nature around their owners. Here are some great examples of protective pooches who will be the loving, watchful eyes and ears in your home. This stocky, curly-tailed Japanese mountain dog is revered in its native country as a symbol of good health and long life, according to the AKC. Height: 23.5-27.5 inchesWeight: 55-85 poundsLife Expectancy: 12-15 years. This massive dog was bred as a kind of superdog for the Russian army in the 1930s, according to the AKC. Considered the fifth-smartest dog breed in the world, it is loyal in protecting its people and always alert. These dogs may be brawny, athletic and look intimidating, but theyre not actually aggressive. Thanks for taking the time to leave a message. Bred to retrieve waterfowl, Chessies like to be active and, specifically, to hunt, so theyre not a good fit for sedentary families. To ensure they mind their manners, socialize your Rottie with other people and dogs in addition to taking them to training classes to make the most of that big ol' brain. If you would like a guard dog but cannot manage or do not want one of the larger breeds in your home, these medium-sized dogs are some good choices.

This is the Scooby-Doo breed. Estrelas are thought to be one of the oldest breeds in Portugal, where these dogs are named after a range of mountains. This dog is medium-sized but longer than he is tall, muscular and compact. They are usually calm, like the wolves at the zoo, but when something happens they can have ferocious bursts of energy. They have high energy levels, though, and need frequent exercise. Its loyalty and bravery know no bounds, and it is willing to risk its own life for that of its family, the AKC says. He has been working with dogs for more than 40 years. Originating in the Caucasus Mountains, the breed was first used centuries ago to protect livestock and property, and to kill wolves and hunt bears. German Shepherds are one of the most common breeds for police dogs, but they're just as popular as pets. Generally weighing in at less than 40 pounds, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are muscular, brave and natural fighters when they need to be. The Giant Schnauzer is basically a stronger, larger version of its standard counterpart. Similar in appearance to the German shepherd, the Malinois is strong, intelligent, and loyal, making it a great choice for a guard dog. With training, however, thebrindle dog breedmakes a great watchdog. But, some dogs can be distracted by food, so a burglar may try that to gain entry safely. Intelligent and brave, it wont hesitate to defend its people or their home, the AKC says. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on March 21, 2014: Hi Bob! Among family, ridgebacks are affectionate, patient, friendly, and loyalbut definitely need to be taught how to interact with children. The Shar-Pei has lots of wrinkles and some people consider him too cute to work. One of the best medium-sized dog breeds for an apartment, the Standard Schnauzer can also be trained as a personal protection dog or used as a guard. Height: 21.5-25 inchesWeight: 65-80 poundsLife Expectancy: 10-12 years. best medium-sized dog breeds for an apartment, How to Manage Barking by Training Your Dog to Bark on Command, How to Train a Dog for Personal Protection (5 Tips). To avoid altercations with other animals or people, they're best suited for houses with fenced-in yards. They tend to have shorter livesusually about six to ten yearsand are prone to heart, bone, and gastrointestinal conditions. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on May 01, 2020: Anna, what did you write down here? However, the Australian Cattle Dog might surprise you. But with its family, the cane Corso is affectionate. They can be trained fairly easily and are good as guards since they have a fierce bark. If they need to, they will take a threat seriously, pinning an intruder against the wall or cornering it until humans take charge. The dog's watchdog abilities were not affected by inbreeding and over breeding. This dog is loving and devoted toward children and other family members, but it might choose one individual as its adored person. These pups will help protect you and become beloved members of the family, too. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Amazon Prime Day Baby Deals for 2022, The Most Popular Baby Names the Year You Were Born, Father-Daughter Quotes to Warm Your Heart, 43 Beautiful Quotes to Share With Your Stepdad, Your Kids Will Love These Swimming Pool Games, 33 Delightful Graduation Instagram Captions. During World War I, the breed earned a reputation for bravery and focus, thanks to the dogs roles as sentries and couriers, notes the AKC. These dogs enjoy mental stimulation and have tons of personality, the AKC says. You might do your best and still end up with an aggressive Whippet or a shy Chow. Given their sizeup to 150 poundsand their loud bark, theyre likely to deter any would-be interlopers. Pamela N Red from Oklahoma on March 19, 2014: Chows are really big at least all of the ones I've seen. You'll also want to choose a breed that fits your lifestyle. Appenzellers do better in colder climates and need a lot of space, so apartment living is out. These large, muscular dogs are a cross between Bulldogs and Mastiffs in a super-size package. Akitas represent happiness and long life in Japan where the breed was developed in the 17th century, and are known for being courageous and loyal to their owners. Height: 19-22 inchesWeight: 48-70 poundsLife Expectancy: 12-15 years. In reality, the very same traits that make these breeds the best protectors also make them incredible family pets: fierce loyalty to the people they've adopted as their "pack," the intelligence to make them trainable to respond to actual threats and a lovable streak a mile wide. Akitas can be aggressive with other dogs and need to be socialized early on to interact appropriately with them as well as with people.