Having a guard dog blesses you with peace of mind that someone is always watching over your family. Guard dog breeds are known for their unwavering loyalty and strong protective instincts. They bond tightly with their owners and are willing to sacrifice their lives in defense of their loved ones.
Guard dogs usually have a muscular build and imposing presence, due to which they can easily scare away intruders. Their physical prowess, stamina, and endurance enable them to stand firm against all sorts of dangers.
Despite all the power and strength, they tend to be calm and relaxed around their loved ones. With proper training and socialization, they turn into well-behaved family pets. Like all other breeds, guard dog breeds also need daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
Have a look at these 7 relaxed guard dog breeds, balanced and family-friendly.
Relaxed Guard Dog Breeds: Balanced & Family-Friendly
1. Kuvasz
Kuvasz is a working dog of impressive size, immense strength, and imposing presence. These canines are beautiful, smart, and incredibly loyal companions. Their rich history as livestock guardians makes them very protective of their flock, people, and territory.
Their protective instincts, combined with their ability to form strong bonds with their humans, make them excellent guard dogs. Kuvasz are naturally wary of strangers and make formidable guardians of your home and property.
PetMD describes Kuvasz as confident and intelligent dogs. They are not overly energetic or strong-willed, but they were bred to think and make decisions independently. That is why they have an independent streak.
At home, Kuvasz tend to be calm yet attentive. Their snow-white coat enables them to blend well in the flock and protects them against the weather.
2. Great Dane
Often named as ‘Apollo of Dogs,’ Great Danes are gentle giants with a quiet demeanor. One of the tallest dog breeds out there, Danes tend to be calm and relaxed dogs. Despite their large size, they have a sweet temperament.
This protective dog breed is very affectionate to its family members and has a friendly nature. Danes also do well with children, but are suspicious of strangers. Thanks to these traits, they make great family guard dogs. Great Danes need regular daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
They benefit from brisk walks at least twice a day and excel at many canine sports like tracking and agility. Great Danes generally behave well with children. They have a gentle and eager-to-please nature, so they respond well to firm and consistent training.
Their smooth coat does not shed much year-round and requires only minimal regular grooming to stay in top-notch condition.
3. Newfoundland
Newfoundland dogs are fiercely loyal dogs with a protective nature. Their great size and strength make them the best family guard dogs, explains the American Kennel Club. However, their calm disposition makes them loving family pets who behave well around children.
Thanks to their large size and intimidating appearance, Newfies can scare away intruders with their mere presence. These multi-purpose dogs make devoted companions and need only moderate exercise daily to stay healthy and active.
Newfoundland dogs possess a thick coat that protects them against extreme temperatures and enables them to swim in water. Newfies are excellent swimmers and can be very helpful in water rescue tasks. Their lung capacity and size allow them to bring drowning victims ashore.
Their gentle and patient nature makes them well-suited for homes with children of all ages. However, Newfies should be supervised around small children as they can accidentally knock them over.
4. Great Pyrenees
Don’t let their fluffy white coat fool you, Great Pyrenees are big pups who can scare away intruders with their mere presence. They were originally bred as livestock guardians. These calm dogs guard properties by patrolling and conserving energy for fending off whatever may threaten their flock.
One of the most protective dog breeds, the Great Pyrenees are incredibly loyal companions wo can do anything to defend their family and property against intruders. Pyrs are the right guard dog for families who can keep up with their moderate exercise needs, but are experienced in handling large dogs.
These affectionate yet strong-willed dogs need only a few walking sessions every day for physical and mental stimulation. Their gentle nature makes them suitable for families with children who know how to interact with dogs.
Pyrs are intelligent dogs who learn quickly, but have an independent streak which can make training a bit challenging.
5. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are quite relaxed and gentle dogs with incredible strength, large size, and high intelligence. These loyal companions are naturally protective of their loved ones and form strong bonds with them. They do not like strangers and are highly territorial.
These traits make them the best guard dogs and loving family pets. Originally bred to work in the Swiss Alps, Saint Bernards are inquisitive and playful dogs. Despite being a large and powerful breed, they need only moderate exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
According to Hill’s Pet, Saint Bernards are placid dogs. One long walk and half an hour play session every day provides adequate stimulation. Saint Bernards are kind-hearted and eager to please, so they start responding to commands as soon as they understand what is expected of them.
Do You Know? Saint Bernards have been a part of two popular children movies of the 1990s, Beethoven and Beethoven 2.
6. Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient dog breed known for its impressive size and muscular build. They are usually mellow and calm around the house and sweetly devoted to their family. Tibetan Mastiffs are loyal companions who are highly territorial.
They are naturally protective of their owners and do not like strangers a lot. Their powerful and substantial bodies alone can scare away intruders. Tibetan Mastiffs possess a thick double coat, which enables them to excel as guard dogs even in extremely cold environments.
Surprisingly, the coat requires minimal maintenance. Only weekly brushing using a slicker brush is enough to keep the coat clean and tidy. Like all other guard dogs, Tibetan Mastiffs also need regular exercise and proper training to turn into well-behaved pets.
7. Rhodesian Ridgeback
Recognized by a ridge of hair growing in a direction opposite to the rest of the coat, Rhodesian Ridgebacks were originally bred to hunt lions in Africa. Their historical background says a lot about their strength and stamina.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are incredibly loyal to their owners and are extremely protective of them. They are aloof towards strangers and have strong territorial instincts. Due to these traits, they make excellent guard dogs.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks possess many appealing qualities, but are too much to handle for first-time dog owners. These athletic dogs require moderate daily exercise to stay physically and mentally fit. Rhodesian Ridgebacks love taking part in canine sports like agility and tracking.
Conclusion
Relaxed guard dog breeds have an instinct to defend their people and territory. They are incredibly loyal and fiercely protective of their people, but do not like strangers. Good protection dogs usually have strong territorial instincts.
Best family guard dogs stand firm against all potential threats, but are mellow and calm around their loved ones. With proper training and socialization, they can be a good fit for family life. Like all other breeds, guard dogs also need regular exercise to stay content.
