City life is walking on a fine line between excitement and unease. The lights, the pace, the noise, the anxiety, it can all be a lot.
While locks and alarms can help do damage control, nothing compares to the comfort of having a brave, courageous, frightening dog by your side, working as your personal security system. One that’s not “all bark”, this intelligent confidant stands between you and the danger.
As time goes on, people are looking more and more into getting dogs. And not just for companionship, but for personal protection and peace of mind as well. Studies show that neighbourhoods that have in concentration the homes with guard dogs are much less likely to experience break-ins and robbery, the two variables being inversely related.
But even getting excellent guard dogs is a slippery slope, because not every dog is made for the role. This role does not just require courage and confidence, but the ability to remain calm under pressure, stay fearless amidst chaos, committed enough to protect what they consider theirs.
And such are the breeds we will be talking about today, making excellent companions and extremely protective of you and your family.
Bravest Dog Breeds for Urban Safety
1. German Shepherd
Starting off the list strong, we have the German Shepherd. Originally bred in Germany in the 1800s for herding and to guard livestock, this breed is among working dogs.
Keeping this in mind, these breeds are equipped to form strong bonds with their owners, making excellent family guard dogs. This dog’s temperament is gentle with their own family and can alert owners to anything unusual due to its hyper-vigilance.
They can get into any routine of your family life. They’re really intelligent dogs, which makes them highly trainable as well. They have a wolf-like appearance, which is no shock as they descend from wolves, too.
Because of this, they also have a very strict social structure and pack mentality, so they take their role and tasks very seriously. They require training and socialization from a young age to work at their optimum level.
The German Shepherd is a family-friendly breed with natural protective instincts. They’ve been largely used in history as military and police dogs, as AKC reports. It is a top choice for city residents getting a guard dog. They are also rated as great search and rescue dogs.
2. Beauceron
In France, the Beauceron is known as a guard dog, helper dog around the farm, helping with herding sheep or cattle, or a ring sport dog.
From this description, you can make out how trustworthy and effective guard dogs Beauceron must be. These protection dogs have an imposing presence, enough to deter intruders. It is a loyal breed that doesn’t shy from a dangerous situation.
They also make for good watchdogs. They require a firm hand in training and a lot of patience, as it is a dominant breed, but Orvis states that when treated with respect, they can learn just about anything quickly.
They are extremely territorial around strangers and other pets, so as long as they have had some basic obedience training and are acquainted with their family members, you’re in safe hands.
3. Rottweiler
A Rottweiler is a very loyal companion. They make great family pets and also great guard dogs. They are one of the most reliable guard dogs, combining their strong protective instincts with strength and loyalty.
They have long been trusted with families, business, properties, and even military and police forces.
Their lineage, tracing back to the Roman Empire, where they were used to guard and herd livestock, has bestowed upon them natural guarding instincts, making them a top choice as a guard dog.
They are muscular dogs with a strong build and immense strength. Unlike other dogs that need extensive training to be the best guard dogs, Rottweilers are natural guard dogs.
4. Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher requires a significant commitment. These dogs need their daily exercise, mental stimulation, and close proximity with the dog owner to maintain their calm demeanor and work to the best of their abilities.
But they are very intelligent, learn easily, and respond quickly to any situation.
Hill’s Pet notes that they are categorized as people-oriented dogs if trained properly and provided enough mental and physical stimulation.
They are good with children and people in general and require no particular guarding training. In fact, Pinscher experts advise against this as it could result in over-guarding and aggression. Their calm demeanor also makes them good rescue and therapy dogs.
5. Giant Schnauzer
Due to their breeding, succeeding from the Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, and the like, they are natural guardians. And so, they are naturally territorial and wary of strangers.
They require physical and mental stimulation as they are very intelligent and can get bored really easily. But they are great with children, and if you have any, this is the right guard dog to choose.
One of the more popular guard dog breeds includes the Giant Schnauzer. They make good family pets, but keep them away from other animals, especially small dogs and cats, because aggression is quite common in them.
They not only need proper training but consistent training so they remember who the boss is and to keep their protective nature in check, too.
But despite these tendencies, if they’re taught that they can trust other people and other pets and have nothing to worry about, they are among the best guard dog breeds.
6. Belgian Malinois
PetMD notes that the Belgian Malinois’s intelligence, confidence, and hardworking nature are what make them phenomenal pets, as long as they’re in the right home with the right family.
Being one of the most protective dog breeds, they were originally bred to herd, but their trainability led them to various other fields of work, such as police work, bomb and detection, search and rescue, etc. So they perform best in a house where they have work to do.
They are highly energetic, so if you don’t have the time to fulfil their physical exercise requirements, you are in for a ride, and they can be very difficult to manage.
They need extensive exercise on a daily basis. The Belgian Malinois needs a dedicated and experienced parent who is as excited to spend time with them as they are with their parent.
7. Rhodesian Ridgeback
Like any other breed, especially any other guard dog breed, a Rhodesian Ridgeback also requires daily training and exercise. A well-exercised dog is a pleasure to live with, and feels it is a pleasure to serve and protect you.
One good thing to know is that they are considered hounds, meaning they are driven by their nose. They have a strong sense of smell and will latch onto an unusual smell till they get to the bottom of it.
Also ideal for people who struggle with scents, in case there is smoke or fire in the house or a gas leak, etc.
In winter, they need a sweater, especially if it’s 40 or below, as they were bred in the warm climate of Zimbabwe. They are strong and muscular dogs who can cause some serious damage to any unwelcome presence.
So they need proper training to guard properly. Their ancestors can be traced back to breeds of hunting dogs, which adds to their resume of being the best guard dogs and protection dogs.
Conclusion
These breeds and their particular traits are to be kept in mind when making a decision to get a guard dog. Because there can be breeds that are very alert, so they can make good protective dogs, but not good guard dogs due to their friendly nature, like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier or the Labrador Retriever, which can learn new skills easily and quickly due to their intelligence, but again, are too nice for guarding duty.
With any other dog, you can let your guard down. But with guard dogs, you can sleep tight, but you need to keep your eyes and ears wide open in public because most of them are territorial. But keep in mind, it’s you who they’re territorial about. They’re the good guys.
