Guard dogs are naturally fearless, watchful, and protective. But did you know they are great partners for the grocery run at crowded markets? Ah, the hustle and bargaining of prices and the loud noises of vendors, a million people bustling around, and the thousand grocery bags lost every day.
You must have gotten the gist of what we are about to encounter, a goose chase for that one special item that you bought for your asian grandma, it’s suddenly nowhere to be found anymore. But don’t panic just yet, your Akita Inu won’t let anything slide from the grocery bags, hence it has hidden special items in a spot it found while it was patiently waiting for you.
Let’s find a best friend to take for grocery runs. Now, socialization can help guard dogs develop positive behaviors around strangers. There are probably going to be plenty when you are in a public setting like an open market. Hence, before you take these guard dogs out for a supply run, make sure they are not prone to stress or anxiety in unfamiliar environments.
Dog Breeds That Guard Grocery Bags at Markets
1. Doberman Pinscher
- Strength: The Doberman Pinscher has a bite force of 245 PSI.
- Trainability: Highly trainable but may test boundaries, so a firm and consistent approach is essential
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: This gun of a dog has enough horsepower output to run a gas-powered golf cart and can easily haul anything you buy.
- Vigilance and Protection Level: Always on the lookout for potential threats. Have velcro tendencies, hence burglars and thieves watch out, or this intimidating pup will scare the hell out of you.
Do you think anyone would even think of touching your grocery bags in the presence of this black and tan dog, who runs like a Ferrari and is immaculate in police work? We don’t think so, not happening today.
Owners who use Dobermans for long walks, exercise routines, and every other daily task are gaining an intimidating friend who loves to stay nearby and is ready to protect you in any situation.
But if you are the proud and lucky owner of a Doberman Pinscher and are still not using your sleek and shiny pet for hunting, aka shopping for the best produce of fresh vegetables and meat. Then what is wrong with you?
The AKC says they work wonderfully well when you need to grab something at night, and you know the streets are unsafe and empty, and also at rush hours when there are too many people present at the markets.
Doberman Pinschers are so easy to train, and these puppies are great protective pets for your family members, including children. But also wonderful resource guards for expensive truffles and cured meat, just get them started with basic commands, and they’ll be excelling in obedience training in no time.
2. German Shepherd
- Strength: The German Shepherd can deliver a bite force of 238 PSI.
- Trainability: Exceptionally High. Positive reinforcement is the best card in your arsenal.
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: Can typically pull 2/3rd of their body weight, which for an adult male can be 30-40 kg, and can also successfully pull carts and grocery bags.
- Vigilance and Protection Level: Will go to great lengths to protect their owners, instinctively alert, equipped with a machine gun-style loud bark, and are also incredibly fast at running behind thieves.
The German Shepherd was first used for herding sheep. These herding dogs are highly trainable and make good guard dogs and protection dogs for every family. But not just that, they are one of the world’s most instantly recognizable breeds.
If you end up getting your hands on one of these, rest assured, you have a perfect, protective, loyal, intelligent, and good-looking partner for life. Now we won’t say they don’t require your time, energy, or money to become the most well-behaved puppies.
But Omlet says German Shepherds are versatile and can adjust to any living situation. Hence, pack these formidable protection dogs, with a side of goofy antics, for your next shopping haul at Target or the Chinese market.
3. Belgian Malinois
- Strength: This Belgian Malinois has a bite force of 195-358 PSI.
- Trainability: Easy to train with positive reinforcement
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: Is quite athletic and intelligent, and thrives on all kinds of physical activity, including hauling grocery bags and shopping carts.
- Vigilance and Protection Level: Can pick on even the smallest changes in the environment. Its keen sense of smell, combined with its intelligence and natural guarding abilities, makes it an effective protection dog.
The Belgian Malinois is valued as a military and police dog.
VCA Animal Hospitals says the Belgian Malinois makes a great family dog. It just needs vigorous exercise and socialization from a young age to develop into a well-balanced adult. Highly adaptable and versatile on the field, these protective dogs are intelligent and easily trained.
Amusingly enough, these medium-sized dogs can be great assets for humans who like to buy stuff from crowded open farmers’ markets or take a trip to a nearby farm to get the best quality of produce.
4. Cane Corso
- Strength: The Cane Corso has a bite force of 552 PSI, making it one of the strongest breeds.
- Trainability: Easy to train with a reward-based method
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: The bulky muscles of this Italian fella are apt for hauling shopping carts and grocery bags.
- Vigilance and Protection Level: Always on alert, territorial, with a deep, powerful bark that can deter any passerby with extreme efficiency, an excellent guard dog breed for protecting anything at all.
The Cane Corso is the Italian version of the Mastiff, but did you know it is closely related to the wrinkly Neopolitan Mastiff? We bet you didn’t, but now you do. These large dogs are naturally protective of their owners and are usually used for hunting large game.
But nobody said they can’t accompany on a grocery trip or a quick ice-cream run. Because firstly, this Cane Corso is a strong and muscular pooch with incredible strength, and secondly, it is the scariest looking black pup who’ll deflect the bad guys with just his mighty presence.
PetMD quotes that the Cane Corso is a highly agile breed that would do anything to protect its owners, is so alert that even if it is napping, it’s still thinking about your protection, and is not for the faint-hearted. This strong-willed pup needs an owner who won’t give in to pressure so easily.
Hence, not only is this pup great for grocery protection but also for more daily activities on the go, cause he is a massively energetic and cool dog.
5. Bullmastiff
- Strength: The Bullmastiff has a bite force of 550 PSI.
- Trainability: Easy to train with a reward-based method, encouragement, and praise, works best.
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: Massively strong pups that can lift the weight of your groceries without much effort.
- Vigilance and Protection Level: Fiercely loyal, swift at alerting with a bark when they smell suspicious activity. Not unnecessarily aggressive.
Try running away after stealing the grocery bags they are dutifully protecting, and soon you’ll be caught up in a wrestle with the Bullmastiff, who’ll efficiently pin you down.
Worried about the increased risk of stealing and pocket picking in busy public places? This protective pooch was bred specifically for guarding and catching the bad guys. Hence, from the next time, take your Bullmastiff along on your family trips and grocery runs.
Because this medium-sized fella can be used for keeping the potential threats away from you and your children, not just at home but also in other unpredictable places. Like the subway, or a dark alley, a crowded market, or a shopping mall. Energy levels of guard dog breeds can vary significantly from low-energy to high-energy.
Purina UK says these moderately fueled puppies are so intimidating that they’ll ensure your well-being just by their looks.
6. Akita
- Strength: The Akita has a bite force of 400 PSI, making it one of the best attack dogs.
- Trainability: Highly trainable, socialization from an early age is recommended for best results
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: This strong guy is a Spitz breed, aka a great hauler of goods for long distances, even in the worst of cold temperatures. Their webbed paws even work as built-in snowshoes
- Vigilance and Protection Level: Territorial with a strong sense of ownership over their surroundings. They exhibit extreme levels of alertness from puppyhood and are exceptionally good guard dogs.
The Akita was originally bred to guard royalty and nobility in Japan. These excellent watchdogs can notice any unusual activity around their house quite instantly, and are profoundly loyal dogs. Hence can be exceptional in protecting your purchases and your children at the open markets.
Now, training and socialization are essential for these big, fluffy guard dogs to prevent unwanted aggression, which can be an issue in these independent puppies. But it is manageable if you keep them busy with a job to do, like taking them for grocery shopping runs.
Continental Kennel Club describes how these descendants of the Matagi dogs transformed and diverged into two separate breeds, namely the Akita Inu or Japanese Akita, which, according to the Japanese, are the real descendants of the Matagi Inu.
But Akitas are nonetheless great pets and ever-alert noble guard dog breeds that you’ll love.
7. Rottweiler
- Strength: The Rottweiler has a bite strength of 328 to 400 psi, making it one of the best attack dogs.
- Trainability: Early training is required for raising well-adjusted adults
- Power for Hauling Carts and Grocery Bags: The Rottweiler was originally bred to herd livestock and pull carts; hence, it definitely can carry your load of monthly groceries without any issue.
- Vigilance and Protection Level: These stocky pups are active and intelligent dogs that are fully confident enough to act on their own, which can help keep your groceries safe while you bargain for more necessities for your household.
Rottweilers were bred to work; hence do great when they have a job to do, from taking care of your little ones to protecting you.
These pups are great friends to take on a shopping trip. Well-socialized Rottweilers that have exposure to humans and other dogs get along nicely with everyone and make a great family pet. These daunting pups are fierce lovers and devoted dogs and will keep you on your toes more than other pets.
But Pawlicy Advisor says when you see the benefits these Roman drover dogs bring to the table, you won’t hesitate to get one of these. Regular vet checkups are important for maintaining the health of guard dogs; hence, make sure to take these muscular dogs for screening and testing consistently.
Conclusion
All guard dogs are watchdogs, but not all watchdogs are guard dogs. The list of versatile pooches mentioned in this article is not only great for personal protection, but their guarding instincts can also be harnessed to assist you in your busy family life.
If you take these police dogs with you to the market, you won’t have to report a theft or robbery to the police or security guards at the marketplaces. Their loud barks will be a good deterrent from dangerous people, and their independent streak will come in handy.
If you leave them with the grocery bags to buy something from a small bakery or cafe. These highly intelligent working dogs are fiercely loyal, and their strong bond with you will be an asset when you are facing the unpredictable outside.
