What is more comforting than coming home to a pup who is ready to jump on you and greet you? Dogs are social animals! They play with their littermates, need attention and care from their mother, and make great companions with their humans.
Dogs exhibit attention-seeking behavior when they feel bored or frustrated. Another possible reason is that they might not be getting enough exercise for adequate mental stimulation. Or sometimes they are genuinely not getting enough attention.
Dogs are known for their loyal and affectionate nature. While most dog breeds crave for the love and attention from their humans, many breeds are naturally protective and wary of strangers. In other words, dogs can also be introverts just like humans.
Here are 7 popular dog breeds that are not so friendly with strangers.
Dog Breeds that Don’t Like Strangers
1. Chow Chow
Breed Overview
Weight: 45 to 70 lbs.
Lifespan: 8 to 12 years
Breed Group: Non-sporting
Temperament: Aloof and wary of strangers
Chow Chow is a Chinese breed that was meant to serve as an all-purpose working dog. They are known for their lion-like appearance and independent personality. While they are loyal to their owners, Chow Chows tend to remain aloof around unknown people.
They are wary of strangers and show aggressive behavior towards them. Chow Chows typically do not socialize with individuals outside their family. This standoffish behavior is attributed to their territorial nature.
We recommend you use precaution while introducing your Chow Chow to unfamiliar faces. It is worth mentioning that early socialization throughout their life can help you control their aggression. However, during training, they retain a sense of independence and are more inclined to their families.
2. Bouvier de Flanders
Breed Overview
Weight: 70 to 110 lbs.
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Breed Group: Herding group
Temperament: Loyal and affectionate
Originally bred in Belgium, the Bouvier de Flanders is a versatile dog. Having a calm temperament, this dog is gentle, docile, and playful around its family members. Their protective nature makes them wonderful family dogs.
However, they are suspicious of strangers. These dogs look shaggy in appearance and become friendly once they feel comfortable around new people. We’d suggest you take care of your Bouvier de Flanders while introducing them to unknown faces.
Bouvier de Flanders is an agile and obedient herding dog. It likes rolling in mud and dirt, so its coat gets very dirty. It is a high maintenance breed that requires a lot of grooming. The members of this breed can live up to 10 to 12 years.
3. Shiba Inu
Breed Overview
Weight: 17 to 23.5 lbs.
Lifespan: 13 to 16 years
Breed Group: Non-sporting
Temperament: Aloof and friendly
Known for bold and confident personality, Shiba Inus make good friends with their humans. They also form strong bonds with children. But when it comes to strangers, they tend to remain aloof and standoffish. If not socialized properly, they turn into aggressive dogs when provoked by unfamiliar people.
Shiba Inus don’t have an outgoing nature and they do not like making new friends outside their homes. Instead they are reserved and cautious. Their stubborn nature makes them less likely to warm up to unknown faces.
Small to medium sized dogs, Shiba Inus have a fox like appearance and strong-willed personalities. Most people who get a Shiba Inu have no idea what they are signing up to. As a result they fail to raise them properly.
4. Doberman Pinscher
Breed Overview
Weight: 60 to 100 lbs.
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Breed Group: Working
Temperament: Loyal
Doberman Pinscher was originally bred in Germany to serve as a guard dog. The dogs of this breed are loyal to their humans, cautious, and alert. They show aggressive behavior towards strangers. However, early socialization can help them become more accepting towards new friends.
Training can help them differentiate between intruders and daily interactions. Dobermans are naturally protective and fearlessly defend their humans against potential threats. They are sociable and have a soft temperament.
According to the American Kennel Club, they are muscular and compactly built dogs that stand 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder. Dobermans are highly energetic dogs that possess a lot of energy to burn. They need lots of exercise and activity for physical and mental stimulation.
5. Tibetan Mastiff
Breed Overview
Weight: 70 to 150 lbs.
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Breed Group: Working
Temperament: Loyal but standoffish towards strangers
Tibetan mastiffs are popular for their ability to guard their owners. They are wary of strangers and do not let anyone enter their territory. Obedience training and socialization can help these intelligent pups behave properly around strangers.
Originally bred as livestock guardian, they tend to develop firm bonds with their families. These loyal and naturally protective canines will go to any extent to defend their families against any threat. You need to socialize and train this mastiff breed at a young age to make them social members of the family.
Tibetan mastiffs can become very aggressive upon seeing unknown individuals, so make sure to have supervised introductions with them. The members of this breed make wonderful guard dogs. However, due to their independent nature and strong personality, they are not ideal for inexperienced owners.
6. Akita
Breed Overview
Weight: 70 to 130 lbs.
Lifespan: 10 to 14 years
Breed Group: Working
Temperament: Aloof
Hailing from Japan, Akitas are large and powerful dogs with a confident nature and quiet temperament. Initially bred to protect royalty, they make ideal guard dogs for families. While they are very loyal to their family, they tend to be suspicious and aloof towards strangers.
Akitas are reserved and suspicious towards new people. They have strong-willed and independent personalities. Proper training and socialization at a young age can help them differentiate between friends and enemies.
Akitas resemble Shiba Inus a lot in appearance. They have pointed triangular ears and fox like face. But unlike Shibas, Akitas are large dogs. PetMD claims that they are prone to hip and bone issues. Therefore, maintaining healthy weight through diet and exercise is important.
7. Rottweiler
Breed Overview
Weight: 80 to 135 lbs.
Lifespan: 9 to 10 years
Breed Group: Working
Temperament: Gentle and docile
Yet another breed on our list that does not like strangers, Rottweilers are also naturally protective. They are loyal and affectionate to their families but can be a bit suspicious towards strangers. A mere sight of an intruder can make them aggressive.
According to Omlet, Rottweilers are calm, confident, and docile guard dogs. They are typically quiet, but bark to let you know if someone enters your property. They form solid and close bonds with the people they love. Their intelligence and trainability make them good working dogs.
This breed needs proper socialization and training to distinguish between real threats and new friends. Consider adopting a Rottweiler only if you are an experienced owner who can provide consistent leadership to the members of this breed.
Conclusion
Dogs are meant to guard their human counterparts. Several dog breeds are highly intelligent and naturally protective. They show affection and love to their families and are very social. However, some breeds are wary of strangers. If you own a dog breed that does not like unfamiliar faces, take caution while introducing them to new friends!
