When it comes to protection, only a few sights are as intimidating as a giant dog that is standing watch. With a towering size and gentle spirit, these breeds combine their power and devotion to make an extremely affectionate and loyal companion and protectors of the canine world.
They have been bred across centuries to guard, whether it’s livestock, property, or families.
The impressive part is not just their stature but their intelligence, intuition, and protectiveness towards the people they love. Their size may be enough to deter intruders and strangers, but they also possess the calm confidence and ability to assess situations with quiet authority.
In this guide, we will be exploring these top giant dog breeds that are not only massive but also extraordinary as guardians. Forming deep emotional bonds, they thrive with a purpose. These breeds prove that softness and strength can coexist in a giant, devoted heart.
Giant Dog Breeds That Are Super Protective Too
1. Great Dane
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The Great Dane is a German breed of a large mastiff-sighthound. It descends from hunting dogs of the Middle Ages. Used to hunt bear, wild boars, and deer, they were also used as guard dog breeds for the German nobility.
Among the top two large dog breeds of the entire world, this breed joins the Irish Wolfhound. They are known for their massive size and weight. With great size comes great responsibility. They must be monitored in the presence of children, just so they don’t knock them out.
Loyalty
They are exceptionally loyal. Great Danes are called gentle giants due to their patience with children. Their majestic appearance, regal bearing, powerful yet elegant build, and gentle temperament often make them get compared to the Greek god, Apollo, and nicknamed “Apollo of dogs”.
They are social in nature and love to hang out with their owners and follow them around the house. They’re intelligent, and so they are easy to train. You can count on a Great Dane to read the room; owners have reported feeling a deep, human-like connection with them.
2. Komondor
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The Komondor is a large dog breed. They are known for significant size and heavy musculature, and substantial strength. It was bred as a livestock guardian in Hungary. Their guarding instincts are deeply ingrained, making them capable of neutralizing threats immediately.
They have a densely corded coat that serves as an insulator but, more importantly, as an armour against predators and attackers like wolves and bears. Their deep chest, heavy bone structure, and robust body contribute heavily to their power and presence.
Loyalty
This is a very family-friendly breed. They are really good with children and make for very affectionate family dogs, according to the AKC. They can also be a little strong-willed, so they need an experienced, firm hand in training.
As long as they have a good trainer, the Komondor is a fairly easy-to-train breed. They don’t like to be left alone, and neither do they like other pets and dogs, being possessive of their family. They are territorial, too.
3. Leonberger
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With a bite force of approximately 399 PSI, this muscular and powerful breed was historically developed for working roles like cart pulling and water rescue. They have a deep chest and a solid bone structure.
Developed as a versatile working dog, they have protected livestock as well as worked as farm dogs and watchdogs. They are very large and strong. As puppies, they are also very enthusiastic and have a lot of energy.
Large dogs have a shorter life expectancy than smaller ones.
Loyalty
Despite their imposing size and strength, the Leonberger is famous for its loyalty and devoted companionship. This is a gentle breed and is strongly family-oriented. What makes any breed ideal for a family environment is its calmness, resilience, and confidence, and the Leonberger has all three.
They are particularly good with children, being very affectionate. This temperament makes them suitable with family members of all ages, as well as other dogs and pets. And the best part is, while they are affectionate with family members, they are always on guard with strangers.
4. Irish Wolfhound
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Among the tallest of all dog breeds, the Irish Wolfhound also stands out for its remarkable intelligence. These natural guard dogs you can trust to be best friends with small children. They are smart and capable learners, too.
They were originally bred to be large-game hunters; hence, they have ingrained in their DNA immense physical strength. They have protective instincts and are incredibly loyal. These traits alone make them one of the best guard dog breeds, an exceedingly great family dog.
Loyalty
The Irish Wolfhound is a breed that is deeply devoted and connected to its family. They are intuitive, can sense when their owners need comfort or something, and strive to provide it to them. Contrary to its size, like the other breeds on this list, the Irish Wolfhound is very gentle and calm with kids.
This calm temperament makes them popular guard dog breeds for families. They aren’t aggressive but are still protective. With big dogs around children, this is the balance you want. Imposing in size, yet the Wolfhounds are renowned for their gentle and kind nature.
5. Saint Bernard
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This excellent guard dog can pull stuff up to 30 times its own weight. Their bite force is approximately 500 PSI, on the stronger end. They have a large, muscular frame that can even cause them to accidentally knock someone over.
They need consistent training and physical exercise to maintain their calm demeanor. They enjoy outdoor adventures like short hikes, swimming, etc. They need early socialization and companionship to serve as the devoted companions they are meant to be.
Loyalty
The Saint Bernard has one of the biggest hearts in the canine world. They have this unwavering loyalty and affection for their family. As most protective dog breeds do, they are gentle to their family but don’t trust new people very easily. They are obedient and very loyal, according to PetMD.
They have a very friendly and warm presence. The Saint Bernard, being one of the smartest breeds, has helped out in search-and-rescue missions, too, due to their commitment and devotion. These great guard dogs are a great pick for families.
6. Tibetan Mastiff
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These are smart dogs because of their history and being developed to guard and protect. Hence, they are also easy to train as long as they have an experienced dog owner. They have a strong independent streak due to this history; hence, an experienced owner is a must.
They respond really well to positive, reward-based training more than any other. Their protective instincts, coupled with the right training, will put you in great hands as long as they are on duty. Socialization from a young age is really important for them to be able to trust new people.
Loyalty
Originally bred in the Himalayas, the Tibetan Mastiff was developed to protect homes and livestock. So, naturally, they will want to protect your home, as per PDSA. These dogs look very imposing and scary, but actually have a very calm temperament, are loyal, and gentle.
They love to spend as much time with their owners as they can. They have quiet and thoughtful personalities and are known to be more in-tune with their owners than other dogs. This is also due to their history of working closely with people, so don’t leave them alone for too long.
7. Giant Schnauzer
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The Giant Schnauzer was bred to handle cattle. This means they are fast, have high stamina, and are very agile too. Their size also means they are at a constant risk of maintaining dominance. So, they need a firm but fair hand that can manage their strength.
Their size poses a lot of physical demands from their owners as well as the need for a lot of mental stimulation in order to be on their best behavior. They need early socialization to ensure they remain well-behaved.
Loyalty
They are very alert and have an instinct to protect. These natural guard dogs are highly trainable because of their intelligence. They are incredibly loyal, not exactly a large dog breed. They learn new tricks and commands really fast.
They like having a job to do; their proper training includes a great deal of mental stimulation and physical exercise. They are serious in nature but can let loose with family and enjoy every once in a while.
Their protective nature makes them always on the lookout for anything unusual when with their owners.
Conclusion
With giant dogs, their presence alone commands respect. And their calm confidence and the unwavering loyalty and bond that they exercise with their owners are what take them a step forward in the race for the best family guard dogs.
What makes the best guard dog breeds isn’t the size or the aggression, but it is the intelligence to balance these two.
You can expect this balance from not only the breeds above, but also other breeds like the Cane Corso, Doberman Pinscher, or even the Great Pyrenees. With proper training, care, and affection, these dogs become trusted companions and irreplaceable members of the family, too.
