Let us immediately note that guard dog breeds differ from fighting and security dogs, because the dog must constantly be on the territory of the house or business, and not near the owner.
Also, the best guard dogs from our list have the following features:
- the dog does not come into direct contact with the attacker, but only notifies the owner about it;
- animals live in a separate house or booth, usually kept on a chain;
- Small and small dogs can guard just as well, but a large pet inspires more fear;
- a watchdog needs to be constantly trained and trained;
- the dog must be able to make decisions on its own and react to strangers;
- inherent endurance and unpretentiousness in terms of climatic conditions;
- the dog must be incorruptible;
- A guard dog must have a high level of intelligence and a physically developed body.
The best pets for protecting a house or apartment , which are included in the top watchdogs, are considered:
- Caucasian Shepherd;
- German Shepherd;
- Moscow watchdog.
Although they are more suitable for a private home rather than an apartment.
It is important to understand that when guarding an apartment, the dog must have its own place, insulated and with bedding.
Bullmastiff
- Height – 67 cm
- Weight – 58 kg
This is a large breed of dog, with muscles and a strong body, a wide chest. The coat is short and lies close to the body. The main color is brindle, fawn, red. By nature, these animals are distinguished by affection and love for their owner, they are active, learn quickly, and are hardy. The bullmastiff follows the owner's commands the first time, ready to stop an attacker or stranger.
Pros:
- devotion;
- simplicity in training.
Minuses:
- often make decisions independently, without obeying commands.
How to choose a puppy
You can buy a Moscow Ranger puppy in the territory of the former Soviet Union.
- A good breeder will provide all the necessary documents, talk about the pedigree of the breed, show the parents, and give advice on keeping and caring for the animal. It is necessary to ask about any diseases in the breed line to explain any problems in the puppies.
- Buying such a serious dog from a private person is highly not recommended. You may end up with an unhealthy, aggressive animal.
- Small guard dogs are furballs, fluffy and mischievous. They will be active and restless, with no abnormalities or visible abnormalities. It is necessary to determine the gender of your future friend, since males are larger, stronger and more stubborn than females, but their protective qualities are better.
The cost of a puppy depends on its class. An animal without a pedigree can be bought for 6,000-10,000 rubles, but a show class animal suitable for exhibitions will cost 50,000-60,000 rubles.
The Moscow Soterozhevaya is a high-quality purebred dog that will become an excellent guard. However, such an animal is quite serious and requires a lot of effort to raise an obedient and devoted dog.
Doberman
- Height – 70 cm
- Weight – 45 kg
The German Doberman has a muscular and well-developed body, slender legs and a wide chest. The color is black and red, the coat is smooth and short. The Doberman loves his owner, but is suspicious of strangers. It gets excited quickly, but when trained, it reacts calmly to stimuli. The dog has an excellent sense of smell and developed ingenuity; it can be kept in an apartment and used as a guard.
Pros:
- loves children;
- calm and balanced.
Minuses:
- requires long training and education.
Bodyguard dog for humans
Any dog that has security and guard skills can become protection for a person. Moreover, even if these skills are weakly expressed and the pet is not a worker. Thanks to his boundless devotion and love, he is able to protect his master in any dangerous situation.
A stable nervous system and psyche of the pet is another important factor. For example, a dog that is afraid of everything will be able to bite an enemy, but only if it is he who is in danger. In turn, a large and kind dog will get involved in a squabble, defending its owner.
Thus, we can conclude that a properly raised animal with a balanced psyche can become an excellent bodyguard for a person.
The guard dog is entrusted with a special mission - protection, protection of the owner and his property. With the right approach, the dog will cope with this task perfectly. In fact, a representative of any breed is capable of becoming a guard, but for this each dog must be trained. It is important not to forget, whatever the character of a four-legged friend, a person takes full responsibility for his behavior and upbringing.
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- Height – 66 cm
- Weight – 50 kg
The Caucasian Shepherd is considered the best guard dog. The breed is also recognized as one of the largest among all, the wool is thick, the color is gray, white, brown and fawn. Can easily withstand any weather conditions and learns quickly. By nature, pets are distinguished by perseverance, courage, and ingenuity. The Shepherd is suspicious of strangers, but requires constant training.
Pros:
- hardy;
- can live in any climatic conditions.
Minuses:
- requires attention and physical activity.
Boerboel
African breed of working dogs with excellent watchdog qualities. They belong to an ancient family of mastiff-like animals and are distinguished by their impressive size, muscular build, endurance, good speed, agility, instant reaction and the ability to quickly assess the situation.
Boerboels are not prone to excessive malice and unmotivated aggression, they treat children well and are loyal to other animals. At the same time, these dogs are independent, stubborn, strive for dominance and are extremely active, so they need a leader owner, quality training and space for physical activity.
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Cane Corso
- Height – 67 cm
- Weight – 50 kg
Considered one of the oldest Italian breeds, it can be used as a fighting or guard dog. The body is medium in size, but muscular, with slender legs and a wide back. The main instinct is to protect and protect the family. The character is characterized by perseverance, endurance, understanding, and devotion. Italian Cane Corsos have developed intuition and memory, and do not show aggression without a command or threat.
Pros:
- obeys the owner.
Minuses:
- Quite loyal to strangers.
Apartment security guard
A more stringent selection is required here, because the pet will live side by side with a person. Sometimes the main criterion is the size of the animal, especially if we are talking about modest areas. But for fans of large and giant breeds, this factor is not decisive, and they get a mastiff or Great Dane while living in a small apartment.
If we talk about average indicators, most future owners pay attention to the following:
- the dog must be medium or small in size;
- it is desirable that the animal sheds little or does not have this tendency at all and does not have the characteristic smell of a dog;
- short coat;
- the pet should not have excessive salivation;
- the dog must be clean;
- the animal should not be hyperactive and require a lot of space.
Of course, the owner himself determines what is important to him and what he can “turn a blind eye to.”
Moscow watchdog
- Height – 67 cm
- Weight – 55 kg
Another leader among guard breeds is the Moscow Guard, which is distinguished by its large body, developed paws and massive neck. The coat is thick, straight, color is piebald with red spots. By nature, this is a sociable and calm dog, which has guarding qualities from birth. Rarely leaves the territory designated for protection and strictly follows commands. The Moscow Watchdog is tied to one owner and requires training.
Pros:
- never leaves the protected area;
- devoted to the owner.
Minuses:
- will need training and constant attention from the owner.
Mating
Puberty begins at the age of 8-10 months, but since Moscow guard dogs take a long time to mature, the best age for females is 18-20 months, and for males - 2 years. The third heat is a signal that the girl is fully matured. On days 13-15 she should show signs of readiness: swollen eyelashes, light pink discharge and playful behavior. Most often, dogs lick their genitals, so it is recommended to apply cotton wool to the loops to detect the appearance of bloody lubricant.
Breeding bitches must always be registered with the kennel and have a breeding certificate. From the very beginning, you should choose a suitable male and agree on mating in advance. Animals should be checked for pathologies and diseases, and dewormed.
Animals must be provided with sufficient space. The female is brought to the male, where the dogs have time to sniff and get to know each other (10-15 minutes). If everything goes well, the girl will be allowed to live in the toilet. The action will last 5-10 minutes, closing - 15-20 minutes. During this time, the woman should support herself under the stomach and should not sit. Males are brought to the nipple. An experienced trainer is usually called in to untangle the male. Mating is repeated after 2 days.
German Shepherd
- Height – 65 cm
- Weight – 35 kg
Also considered the best guard for a house or apartment is a German Shepherd with a high level of intelligence and good memory. It has a large body, strong paws, and thick, black, spotted fur. The breed was bred for guarding, hunting, searching for people and drugs. Character is characterized by activity, obedience, balance, and leadership. A German Shepherd can be taught several types of commands at once.
Pros:
- maybe even a companion and guide;
- loves children and the whole family.
Minuses:
- The dog needs approval and attention from the owner.
German boxer
- Height – 60 cm
- Weight – 30 kg
A large breed of dog, the coat is short and smooth, the color is red, brindle, and has strong paws. The German boxer is characterized by loyalty, obedience, calmness, and loves children and his family. Learns quickly and follows all commands the first time. Used as a guide, companion, guard, detective or watchman. Distrustful and suspicious of strangers.
Pros:
- learns quickly;
- almost never gets sick.
Minuses:
- protects the owner and family rather than the house.
Rottweiler
- Height – 68 cm
- Weight – 50 kg
A large, service dog, the coat is short and shiny, the color is black with red spots. It has a wide back and large neck. The dog is active, hardy, ready to work hard and endure different climatic conditions. The short-haired Rottweiler is characterized by loyalty, ingenuity and fearlessness. But they can be aggressive and require training, training, long walks and attention from the owner.
Pros:
- hardy and can withstand even humans;
- learn quickly.
Minuses:
- you need to walk a lot and pay attention.
Kuvasz
Another large Hungarian guard dog breed with a shorter, thicker white coat. The ancient Magyars used these ferocious dogs to protect houses from predatory animals and robbers. Kuvasz radiate nobility and strength, are proportionally built, have developed muscles, tirelessness, are undemanding in terms of living conditions and can easily withstand bad weather.
They have a tough, self-possessed character, courage and fearlessness, and are ready to selflessly defend their owner and the entrusted territory at the cost of their own lives. Due to their innate pride, Kuvasz dogs are difficult to train, so serious attention should be paid to their early education.
Read The best dogs for children - top 20 breeds
Black Russian Terrier
- Height – 75 cm
- Weight – 60 kg
A medium sized dog with a strong body and good health. The paws are muscular, the fur is thick and dense, the color is black, sometimes with gray spots. The Black Russian Terrier easily tolerates any climatic conditions, does not go overboard with food, and almost never gets sick. Easy to learn, quickly remembers commands, but requires attention from the family. The dog makes its own decisions, is friendly towards other animals, and is reliable.
Pros:
- hardy, not pretentious in choosing a place to live;
- reacts calmly to familiar people.
Minuses:
- will require training and attention.
Photo gallery
Photo 1. Dobermans in an autumn landscape
Photo 2. German pinscher puppy with a toy
Photo 3. Miniature pinscher - puppies under care
Photo 4. Mountain hound – puppies posing
Photo 5. Komondor, like an explosion in a pasta factory
Photo 6. Leonberger on a winter walk
Photo 7. Buryat-Mongolian wolfhound – puppies
Photo 8. Sulimov’s dog at work
Photo 9. The dog is resting
Central asian shepherd dog
- Height – 70 cm
- Weight – 50 kg
The dog has a massive body, short neck, strong paws and a large head. The coat is straight and hard, the color is black, red, fawn and brindle. The instinct is based on security and protection, and they are able to learn new commands. The character of the Central Asian Shepherd is strength, endurance, devotion, moderate aggression and suspicion of strangers.
Pros:
- basic commands do not need to be taught;
- listens only to the owner.
Minuses:
- long and constant training.
Eighth place – Alabai
This breed of dog is a good guard, but a difficult learner. Alabai is difficult to train and rarely listens to its owner. To ensure that problems never arise with a dog of this breed, it should only be owned by a person who can easily find a common language with every dog.
Read more about the Alabai breed
Chow chow
- Height – 55 cm
- Weight – 30 kg
The dog is one of the oldest breeds and was bred for security and protection. It has a wide back, a massive body and a large head, and short legs. The coat is thick and soft, the color is cream, black, blue. The Chinese Chow Chow is loyal to its owner, almost non-aggressive, but very suspicious of strangers. They are difficult to learn, stubborn and make their own decisions. It is better to keep it in an apartment, because the pet is not very active.
Pros:
- quickly remember commands and get used to their place in the house;
- do not require long walks.
Minuses:
- without training and training they become lazy and disobedient.
Tibetan mastiff
An ancient breed, specially bred for protection in the harsh climatic conditions of the Himalayan mountains. The Tibetan Mastiff is quite balanced, not prone to excessive aggressiveness, but is extremely distrustful of strangers and is capable of frightening just by its appearance.
He is tall, athletic, with a large head, powerful paws, long hair and a thick mane, which makes him look like a lion. The breed is distinguished by intelligence, stubbornness, independence, cleanliness, unpretentiousness in maintenance and loyalty to animals.
The mastiff tends to constantly monitor the entrusted territory, loudly warns approaching strangers about itself and immediately attacks if the protected perimeter is violated.
South Russian Shepherd
- Height – 63 cm
- Weight – 40 kg
The dog has a large body, strong paws and long hair, the color is white, gray, gray-piebald. By nature, this is a smart, self-confident and active dog that makes its own decisions. It gets along easily in any conditions, is devoted to its owner, but is aggressive and careful with strangers. The South Russian Shepherd considers the house to be its own, so it begins to guard it at the age of two. Requires education and attention, otherwise it will attack even family members.
Pros:
- protective qualities are inherent from birth;
- loves her family and doesn’t let strangers near her.
Minuses:
- constant training and training.
If you are choosing a protector for an apartment or small cottage, then it is better to pay attention to medium-sized breeds, but with fighting and security qualities. Such pets are easier to keep and train.
Average
Which medium-sized guard dogs would be best for protecting a private home:
Boxer
A German fighting breed, which is distinguished by its charismatic appearance, athletic and muscular physique, and kind character. Easily fits into families or work teams, intuitively senses people with bad intentions. He loves children, but it takes a little effort to get him into the game.
Chases wild cats and doesn't particularly like domestic cats. At the slightest threat to the owner or his family, he rushes to defense, but does not attack as a last resort, as if biding his time . As practice shows, when you see such a dog, thoughts of attack immediately disappear. Despite its impressive muscle mass, the dog can develop high speed. At the same time, the dog is very funny and goofy with his loved ones.
Australian Shepherd
Something between a hyena and a husky. A very unusual breed, with protruding ears. The color is most often light, but there are also white or black and white options. Very friendly and calm towards other dogs and children. Doesn't like cats, but will make friends with a house cat. He is reluctant to learn commands and often reduces the learning process to a regular game.
He loves to go for walks, sometimes he breaks into the street himself. Does not require special nutrition, except that it loves fish and seafood. A good choice for those who lead an active lifestyle and walk a lot. This breed will be an excellent hunting or fishing companion, and will also serve as a nanny for your children.
Giant Schnauzer
The energy from this breed is in full swing every minute. If you are an active person, then this is a faithful and kind guard who loves children. He subtly senses the owner’s mood and does not insist on a walk if he sees that he is not in the mood.
An interesting fact is that only representatives of this breed have unique facial expressions that are very similar to human emotions. Even after a small offense, the dog feels guilty and tries to make amends for it. Does not attack domestic animals, but does not tolerate stray cats.
Chongqing
A breed from China that combines the features of a French bulldog and a pit bull. The dog is smooth-haired, the color is brown, red, brown. The character is wayward, but compromising, it can make concessions so as not to spoil relations with the owners and their environment.
Does not require a special diet or too frequent physical activity. Minimum: walks three times a week. He is not interested in street cats, but he can have a great quarrel with domestic cats. He perceives children as friends or brothers and does not attack unless provoked. He loves training and willingly learns new commands. Doesn't make noise at night and maintains discipline.
Shar Pei
Another visitor from China, with characteristic features - small, deep-set eyes and wrinkled, folded skin. The structure of the body is very powerful; considerable muscle mass is hidden under the folds. The character is calm, but to some extent arrogant.
The dog does not recognize everyone, you need to earn its respect so that it opens up and trusts you. Any food is suitable, because this breed is omnivorous. The only rule is less sweets. As for training, he shows miracles of logic, memory and learning speed. He loves cats and children, but in a conflict situation he shows his character.
Shar Pei, despite many disputes, is an excellent guard; if you are in danger, then Shar Pei will fight until his last breath!
Samoyed Laika (Samoyed)
A small fluffy animal that can protect your sleep and peace of mind. Very active and fast, he spent most of his history hunting. Can tolerate any climatic conditions. He eats only meat and does not like sweets.
He has a very positive attitude towards children and loves to play. Learns commands quickly and unquestioningly. Doesn't chase cats and is very friendly with other dogs. Nevertheless, he distinguishes well between “friends” and “strangers”, barks only when there is a real threat . Doesn't attack without a command unless you touch him first. Loves walks and active games in the fresh air.
