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 29 breeds score 4 or 5 in guarding instinct.
The rule
What they have in common
- Guarding instinct ≥ 5/5
29 of 78 directory breeds qualify · 49 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)
The numbers come from each breed's page. Sources (in Spanish)
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
The 29 breeds that qualify
Miniature Pinscher Pinscher Miniatura
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingreports everything
West Highland White Terrier
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingreports everything
Shetland Sheepdog Pastor de Shetland
- With strangerswary
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
Poodle Caniche (French Poodle)
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
Yorkshire Terrier
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Corgi Galés de Pembroke
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
German Shepherd Dog Pastor Alemán
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Doberman Pinscher Dóberman
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
American Staffordshire Terrier
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Great Dane Gran Danés
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Weimaraner
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Cane Corso
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Dogo Argentino
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Shiba Inu
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitynegotiates every command
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Dogue de Bordeaux Dogo de Burdeos
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Giant Schnauzer Schnauzer Gigante
- With strangerswary
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Great Pyrenees Gran Pirineo
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Lhasa Apso
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Tibetan Mastiff Mastín Tibetano
- With strangerswary
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Airedale Terrier
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Akita
- With strangerswary
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Rhodesian Ridgeback
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
Rottweiler
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
Chow Chow
- With strangerswary
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Saint Bernard San Bernardo
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Newfoundland Terranova
- With strangersparty with everyone
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Neapolitan Mastiff Mastín Napolitano
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Mastiff Mastín Inglés
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Bullmastiff
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
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.
Other collections
More breeds for…
- Small 28
- Medium 18
- Large 35
- Fluffy 19
- Herding 9
- Giant 9
- for kids 39
- Hunting 18
- Calm 27
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) 10
- Smart 18
- Affectionate 53
- for apartments 12
- that (almost) don't shed 24
- Large calm 15
- The most common in Mexico 11
- that bark little 18
- Small calm 9
- Easy-to-train 47
- for first-time owners 28
- for older people 7
- for running 16
- that get along with cats 11
- for a house with a yard 31
- for hot climates 28
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