Guard dog breeds
A guardian isn't an aggressive dog: it's a dog that takes seriously who comes in and who doesn't. These 11 breeds score 4 or 5 in guarding instinct.
How this list was built
The rule, out in the open
- Guarding instinct ≥ 5/5
11 of 30 directory breeds qualify · 19 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)
The numbers come from the Lord Chucho deck: the scale published by the AKC and the books in our library, with a citation on every bar. Where there's no data, there's no breed: we'd rather leave the gap than make it up.
High guarding instinct demands a present owner: socialization from puppyhood and training. A guardian without guidance is a problem, not a bodyguard.
With their bars and their citations
The 11 breeds that qualify
Poodle Caniche (French Poodle)
- With strangers5/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking4/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Yorkshire Terrier
- With strangers5/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability4/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking4/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
German Shepherd Dog Pastor Alemán
- With strangers3/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Doberman Pinscher Dóberman
- With strangers4/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
American Staffordshire Terrier
- With strangers4/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability3/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Great Dane Gran Danés
- With strangers3/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability3/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Weimaraner
- With strangers3/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Akita
- With strangers2/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability3/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking2/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Rottweiler
- With strangers3/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking1/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: Wikipedia (2006 compilation, secondary source) · confidence medium
Chow Chow
- With strangers2/5waryparty with everyoneSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability3/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking1/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Saint Bernard San Bernardo
- With strangers3/5waryparty with everyoneSource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
- Guarding instinct5/5not a guardianborn guardianSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability3/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
- Barking1/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
And for your life, which one?
A list narrows things down; the recommender crosses your home, your energy, your kids and your neighbors with these same data, in seven questions.
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