Looking for a strong and mighty dog to adopt for your protection? We have gathered 10 of the strongest dog breeds in the world that are known for having incredible power and strength, excellent protective instincts, and intimidating size that is enough to scare away intruders and make them think twice before approaching you.
These strong dog breeds are alert and are great watchdogs. They were originally bred for the sole purpose of protection. Even without training, these strong dogs know what they are meant to do. Their intelligence and ability to grasp commands allow them to assess a situation properly and react appropriately.
Read on to learn more about the strongest guard dog breeds in the world, what makes them devoted dogs, and how you can provide proper obedience training to make them well-behaved pups.
Powerful Dog Breeds And What Makes Them So Mighty
1. German Shepherd
Originally bred for herding, German shepherds are known for their protective nature and devotion to their family members. They have a muscular build and sharp instincts, which make them ideal police, military, guard, and rescue dogs. Because of their intelligence, these dogs pick up commands quickly, which makes it easy to train them.
They act strong and alert around strangers but are affectionate, loyal, and loving companions for their family. German shepherds are the first dog breed that comes to mind if you want to bring home a guard dog. These dogs do not think twice before putting themselves in danger for their owner’s safety.
German shepherds are incredibly active pups, which is why they require regular exercise, mental stimulation, and consistent training to stay well-behaved.
According to PetMD, German shepherds are perfect for active families who understand their needs and can provide them with anything and everything they want. Without proper exercise and attention, these dogs can tend to show unwanted behaviors.
2. American Pit Bull Terrier
Muscular build, powerful jaw, athletic build, American Pit Bulls are considered to be among the strongest dog breeds in the canine world. Pit bulls are fighting dogs that were bred in the 19th century.
These dogs were originally bred to be aggressive towards predators, but never humans. However, because of irresponsible breeders, these dogs have caused many injuries to humans.
According to Britannica, these dogs have a controversial temperament; however, many dog owners have reported pit bulls as being playful, people pleasers, fun, and generally obedient pups. These strong dogs are generally quiet at home but love to play physically challenging games.
Though they are somewhat a stubborn dog breed, obedience training and early socialization can make them grow into well-behaved adults. These powerful dogs have high energy levels, which is why they need regular exercise and mental stimulation for 45 minutes to 1 hour every day to fulfil their energy needs.
3. Doberman Pinscher
Elegant and powerful pups, Doberman Pinschers are known for their protective nature, agility, and fearless attitude, which makes them effective guard dogs and among the world’s strongest dogs. These dogs are incredibly loyal and intuitive, which allows them to sense threats and respond accordingly.
Dobermans can be excellent guard dogs if given proper training and socialization from an early age. These dogs are intelligent and are the best addition to your family pets. They are a majestic dog breed that moves with elegance, but with their intimidating presence, they can scare away intruders easily.
Dobermans are highly active and thrive in families with an active lifestyle. They must be taken on hikes, should have appropriate play sessions, and regular walks to fulfil their energy needs. They can be aggressive, which is why they need behavioral training so they know how to behave in public.
Though they are healthy and considered to be the strongest dog breeds, Dobermans are prone to various health problems, which is why you need to keep a check on them and schedule vet visits to keep them in optimal health.
4. Siberian Huskies
Strong, graceful, and friendly dogs, Siberian Huskies are known to pull heavy loads and people on sleds on snowy mountains. These dogs were originally bred for endurance, which allows them to function for long hours without getting tired, making them excellent working dogs. Their double-layer coat makes them stay warm in harsh temperatures.
Huskies are smart and active dogs, which is why they require consistent training and constant mental stimulation from an early age. They need a lot of room to roam around and are great with children of all ages. They become bored easily with a sedentary lifestyle, which is why they need an active household to thrive.
Other than being a loyal companion, Huskies are known for their strength, stamina, and speed. They are a very high-maintenance breed, both in terms of behavior and grooming needs. This dog breed can not be left alone for a long time, otherwise they may become aggressive and start digging on the floor or chewing furniture, followed by howling and screaming at the top of their lungs.
5. Alaskan Malamute
Strong-willed and strong-bodied dog breed, the Alaskan malamute is an affectionate, loyal, playful, and dignified pup from the canine world. These strong dogs were used by hunters to pull sleds filled with prey such as seals and bears into the village. They have high stamina and a strong sense of smell, making them powerful pups.
These independent and strong dogs need firm training from an early age, which is why they are not the most ideal choice for being a family pet to first-time dog owners. Alaskan malamutes might not be the best choice for being a guard dog, as they are very loving towards humans; however, you might want to supervise their playtime with kids, as they might knock them over unintentionally.
These dog breeds have a lot of physical power and require a lot of strenuous activity; otherwise, they might become bored and engage in unwanted behaviors. They need at least 2 hours of exercise to prevent howling and barking as well.
6. Great Dane
Muscular build, massive size, and immense physical power. Great Danes are powerful pups who were originally bred to hunt wild boars. These gentle giants have a lot of strength, stamina, power, and speed, which makes them the strongest dog breeds in the world.
Great Danes are the perfect guard dogs because their imposing size is more than enough to deter intruders or predators. Though their bite force may not be the strongest among other dogs but their bite can still do a lot of damage to whoever comes in their way or tries to harm their owners.
They may look like strong dogs from the outside because of their muscular body and incredible endurance, but these dogs are affectionate and big-time softies at heart. They are loyal and loving towards their pet parents, which makes them amazing companions.
These muscular dogs are playful and okay with roughhousing, but at the same time, these great family pets are courageous with a protective nature who ensure their owners’ safety at all costs. This attitude also allows them to form strong bonds with their loved ones.
7. Cane Corso
Affectionate and large dog breed known for their big stature, the Cane Corso is a bodyguard dog who is intelligent, eager to please, and immensely loyal to their owners. These devoted companions are feared because of their power, intimidating size, and strong bite force.
Though loyal and protective, they can be difficult to handle at times, which is why they may not be the most ideal pet for first-time dog owners. Cane Corso are not very social and tend to be aloof around strangers, but keep a loving and calm demeanor around their family.
Cane Corso are high-energy dogs, which is why they need strenuous activity to feel happy and satisfied; otherwise, they might get bored and tend to unwanted behaviors.
According to Pawlicy advisor, proper socialization and training are recommended to help them identify threats. They are versatile working dogs and are the strongest breed for watching and guarding families and buildings.
8. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard is known for its powerful build, big size, and strength. These dogs have a lot of power and strength, but are named as gentle giants because of their friendly and patient personality.
Saint Bernards were once used to rescue travelers and help lost people. They are patient with children and loving towards their family, making them wonderful family pets. These laid-back, strong dogs do not need a lot of physical activity but do benefit from play sessions with the family. This also helps keep them in great shape.
Bernards do have a strong bite force, but they’re not much prone to aggression, which is why this is not a big issue. These gentle giants are not protective, but this does not mean they can not sense if something’s wrong. If they sense a threat, they try their best to respond accordingly and save the day.
9. Boxer
A working dog breed known for its fighting history, Boxers have a reputation for being courageous, intelligent, and aggressive. These pups have been widely used for police dogs, which makes them excellent guard dogs for your family and property.
Boxers are high-energy dogs, which is why they require both mental and physical exercise to feel happy and satisfied. These pups require a good amount of activity, but make sure to keep them in a fenced yard to prevent them from going after other small animals. These dogs must be trained properly to grow up to be well-behaved breeds.
Boxers are very obedient but can be stubborn at times. These dogs thrive with active families. They are highly intelligent, which allows them to pick up on new commands and tricks fairly quickly. They are not big barkers, but may bark to alert if they sense a threat around them, which makes them excellent watchdogs as well.
10. Rottweiler
Nicknamed as the “Butcher dogs”, Rottweilers belong to the group of working dogs that are stocky and of strong build. They have high protective instincts and a history of being efficient guard dogs. These strong dogs may act aloof and alert around strangers, which is why they require socialization training to feel comfortable around those who are not a threat.
Rotties are known for their intelligence, confidence, and muscular build, plus their black and tan color gives them an intimidating look, which is enough to ward off intruders and predators. Rottweilers are excellent watchdogs because of their protective instincts. These strong dog breeds have a great bite force that can do some serious damage to anyone who comes their way.
These dogs learn quickly but can be a bit stubborn when they don’t want to do something. These dogs are recommended for experienced pet parents who can understand their needs and provide them with proper care and attention.
Conclusion
These are the world’s strongest dog breeds, which not only make them great at protection but also amazing companions. Because of their history as working dogs and those who possess great strength, these pups are highly active and thrive in active families.
They require strenuous activity to feel happy and satisfied; otherwise, they may tend to show unwanted behaviors, which can be difficult to control without proper training and socialization. So bring home these strong dogs and experience companionship and protection like never before.
