Guard Dogs: The Ultimate Illustrated Guide

You probably have several reasons for getting a dog, one of which is for protection. After all, dogs were first domesticated to protect our houses. A good-sized dog, according to 65 percent of convicted burglars, would scare them away and prevent them from breaking into a property.

Table of Contents

History

Dogs have been used as guardians since the dawn of time, according to legend. When dangerous dogs were present on a property, the Romans would place cave canem mosaics (Cave canem mosaics) at the entrance of the house to warn visitors and intruders that they were present. When it came to livestock guardians, one of the first dog breeds to be used was the ancestral Mastiff-type landraces of the group known as Livestock guardian dogs, which guarded livestock against large predators such as wolves, black bears and leopards.

Geryon’s red cattle are protected by Orthrus, a famous example of a livestock guardian dog from Greek mythology, who is known for protecting Geryon’s herd of red cattle. The extinct bandogges, for example, were used as ancient guard dogs in more urban areas, where they were chained during the day and released at night to protect properties, camps, and villages.

The Original Watch Dogs

German Shepherds were the first “watch dogs” when they were introduced in 1899, and they continue to be one of the most sought-after breeds in the United States today. Around the turn of the twentieth century, the concept of protective pooches began to permeate popular culture, and police departments and military units began training German Shepherds to perform tracking duties.

After the New York Police Department discovered that a dog’s sense of smell is at least 10,000 times more accurate than a human’s, the department established the nation’s first K9 law enforcement unit, which began patrolling the streets of New York City in 1907. These furry police officers typically serve for 6-8 years on the force and are trained in narcotics, explosives, or cadaver detection, among other things. Each canine is assigned a human handler, with whom the dog will communicate by pawing (as in the case of drugs) or sitting (as in the case of bombs) beside the spot where it detected a suspicious scent.

Dogs are also used to assist military troops on the front lines, thanks to their finely tuned noses, steadfast loyalty, and protective instincts. Dogs can locate up to 80 percent of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), compared to the estimated 50 percent that can be found by American forces currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Furthermore, they can search a given area four times faster than a human while covering four times the amount of ground. In light of these factors, canines are considered superior bomb detectors, outperforming even the most sophisticated technological advancements.

What Is A Guard Dog?

A guard dog or watchdog (not to be confused with an attack dog) is a dog that is trained to guard and keep an eye out for intruders who are unwanted or unexpected, whether they are humans or animals. The dog is well-adjusted so that it does not annoy or attack the humans who live in the house.

Qualities to Look for in a Good Guard Dog

It is important to understand that various breeds typically make good guard dogs because they exhibit the characteristics that you would expect from a dog tasked with keeping an eye on their owners in a dangerous situation. Some of the most important characteristics that a good guard dog can have are as follows:

Obedient – Good guard dogs must be obedient and responsive to at least the most fundamental of commands, such as sit, lay down, stay, and heel.
Intelligence – Aside from that, canine intelligence assists your dog in distinguishing between potentially dangerous and merely unusual stimuli.
Loyalty – In order to prevent your guard dog from becoming a welcome committee, you will need him to be exceptionally loyal.
Allegiance – His allegiance to you and your family must be unambiguous.
Courage – Your dog must be courageous enough to confront any danger that may arise. Consider the fact that your average criminal is likely to be twice the size of even a 100-pound Doberman or shepherd – only a courageous dog will be willing to stand up to such dangers.
Territorial Instincts – Dogs that have a strong attachment to their home and are willing to protect it from intruders are unquestionably better suited for guard work than dogs who do not mind trespassers intruding on their territory.
Adorable Characteristics – While all good guard dogs are fearless in the face of danger, the most affectionate guard dogs melt into a wiggly pile of face-licking love when they are with their owners or trusted friends.
You want a dog that loves when it is appropriate to love and protects when it is appropriate to protect.

Don’t Confuse Aggression With Guarding

It’s sometimes assumed that an aggressive dog will make a good guard dog, but this isn’t always the case. Excellent guard dogs have independent thought and protect the people who entrust them with their lives because they are loyal to and affectionate toward them, as evidenced by their ability to protect them. In a dangerous situation, a good guard dog thinks its way out, listens to its owner’s commands, and only uses the amount of strength and aggression necessary to deter or subdue an intruder.

Do dogs actually deter burglars?

It all depends, as it does with most things in life. It is dependent on both the dog and the intruder to determine this. After asking inmates and former burglars about their burgling days, one inmate stated that “dogs are a deal-breaker – big breeds, home protectors are the best to keep people out.”

Houses with dogs are less likely to be robbed. Dogs are noisy, difficult to spot, and can bite. Not even an attack dog is required — just a barking dog will suffice. Thieves would rather save themselves the trouble and move on to the next house.

Dogs that are highly trained and alert are often the best line of defense for a family. A large and intimidating dog, according to convicted felons, would have scared them away in 65% of the cases they have faced.

What You Should Remember About Getting A Guard Dog

While the breeds listed are dogs that have been bred as guard dogs it is important to remember a few key points when you go looking for the ideal guard dog breed for your family.

Breed Profiles

Every dog owner, whether they have a mixed breed or a purebred dog, can benefit from learning more about their dog’s breed profile and improving the quality of their dog’s life. If you have a mixed breed dog, you should become familiar with the breed profiles of each individual breed that makes up your dog. Are you unsure of the breed of your dog? There are a variety of simple DNA tests available to assist you in determining this.

Individual Temperament | Individuality

Every individual dog, just like every individual person, has his or her own temperament. Just because a breed, such as the Doberman pinscher, has earned a reputation as a good guard dog breed, does not imply that every dog of that breed will make an excellent guard dog as well. There are numerous factors that influence a dog’s temperament and, as a result, whether or not the dog will make an effective guard dog.

Traits

The following traits should be considered when selecting your guard dog:

Protective Nature
Always Vigilant
Are not Nervous Dogs
Will not Bark without Cause
Ability to judge Friend from Foe

Barking

Both guard dogs and watchdogs bark incessantly to alert their owners to the presence of an intruder and to scare the intruder away from their property. After this point, the watchdog’s role is completed; a guard dog is then capable of attacking and/or restraining the intruder.

Often large enough (100-200 lbs.) and powerful enough to attack and drive away livestock predators, livestock guardian dogs are commonly used to protect livestock. Although some smaller breeds (such as Keeshonds and Tibetan Terriers) make excellent watchdogs, they are not considered guard dogs because they bark loudly to alert their owners of intruders, but they are physically small and do not exhibit assertive behavior.

In order to alert their master and warn off an approaching animal or human threat, guard dogs will bark prior to interception of the trespasser. Their barking is different from that of the smaller watchdogs in that they do not continue to bark; instead, they act. To be more specific, livestock guardian dogs such as the Kangal use loud alarm barks as a first line of defense against presumed threats; if these are ineffective in deterring a perceived foe (whether human or animal predators), other displays such as bluffing and charging are used.

Proactive forms of defense such as bites are only used by livestock guardians if all other forms of deterrence have failed.

It is possible to train a suitable dog to be aggressive towards unidentified humans and then leave him tethered or enclosed unsupervised in an area that the owner wishes to protect when he is not present (for example, at night). The stereotypical “junkyard dog” is an example of this type of training. If the dog’s job is to guard the home against human intruders after dark, a large, dark-colored dog in a dark house (with the lights turned off) would give the dog an advantage over the intruder in this situation. Female dogs are said to make better personal guardians than male dogs because of their maternal instincts, but male dogs are thought to be better at protecting property because of their greater territorial instinct. All dogs are individuals, despite the fact that this may be true in general.

Genetics

The genetic lineage of a dog is one of the most important factors in determining the temperament of an individual dog.
A dog that comes from a genetic lineage that has a history of unstable temperaments may be more prone to developing their own temperament issues. An example of this type of temperament concern is a dog that develops sudden aggression during adulthood and is a source of concern. If this type of “snapping” behavior has been observed in previous dogs from the same genetic line, it is almost certainly a heritable characteristic.

The thorough investigation of the family line of the sire and dam of a dog prior to bringing them home is one method of attempting to screen out individual dogs with genetic temperament concerns. The lineage of a good quality breeder will never breed a dog that has evidence of such difficulties in its lineage; however, temperament issues can sometimes go unnoticed.

Environment

The environment in which a dog is raised is another important factor in determining the temperament of a particular dog. When it comes to dog behavior, there are numerous factors that can influence the way the dog behaves in the long run. Unfortunately, there is no set “blueprint” that can be used to link a specific contributing factor to a specific type of temperament, nor is there any way to predict one’s temperament. A dog that is used in dog fighting, on the other hand, is a good example of how the environment can influence a dog’s temperament.

Due to incorrect training, this dog has been socialized to be overly aggressive, and because this behavior is rewarded, the dog will continue to try to please its master. Beyond the fact that dog fighting is a repulsive activity, the problem with this is that even dogs who have been trained to have aggressive temperaments can be unpredictable and cannot be relied upon. It is easy for a dog that has been trained to be overly aggressive to turn on its handler, other pets, or even children who are in the house.

What’s the difference between a guard dog and other dogs?

Difference between Guard Dogs and Watch Dogs

You may have heard people using the terms ‘watchdog’ and ‘guard dog’ interchangeably. While both types of dog can show similar traits, they’re not really the same thing. Watchdogs can be trained to protect a particular area – perhaps a garden or a house – and will do everything they can to alert their owners when someone tries to enter that space. Great Danes, for example, make excellent watchdogs but their friendly nature means that they’re more likely to greet someone than attack them.

A guard dog, on the other hand, will be willing to physically put themselves between you and whatever is coming the other way – postmen, visitors, burglars, you name it! They are usually larger, muscular dogs whose very presence is enough to send an intruder packing! Whatever type of pup you decide to go for, dog insurance is a must.
Purely Pets offers 15 levels of cover, so you can find the right one for your pup and your pocket.

Difference between Guard Dogs and Attack Dogs

Some people believe that the term “attack dog” refers to a type of guard dog. Personal protection dogs are a more accurate term for what is commonly referred to as an “attack dog.”

Many people confuse an attack dog with a guard dog because they both have an aggressive connotation to them. However, there are some significant differences between the two, and a dog can rarely be trained to perform both functions effectively. The majority of families, and even the majority of normal dog owners, simply do not have the resources or training set up necessary to have a true attack dog.

An attack dog, in the wrong hands, can pose a danger to both the dog and others. Attack dogs are typically the dogs that you have seen trained to attack on command. They have been trained to respond to threats with specific, aggressive behaviors that are intended to deter an intruder or a person in danger from entering the premises. In part, this is due to the fact that attack dogs frequently require their owners’ permission to attack and are typically trained in a manner that makes them more suitable for working with law enforcement and the military rather than as guard dogs. Guard dogs are inherently trained to protect their owners and their property.

They are intended to have an inherent protectiveness over their territory as well as the family or property that they are guarding or defending from harm. This behavior is similar to the characteristics that have been bred into shepherd dog breeds. Shepherd breeds have such an instinctive protectiveness for their flocks or herds that it is something that occurs at the most fundamental level.

Quality guard dogs will frequently behave in a manner that is very similar to that of shepherd dogs. The primary function of a loyal, protective guard dog is to protect their owner’s family members. While many breeds can be trained to behave as guard dogs, finding a breed that has personality traits that are compatible with you and your family is often the best way to find the best fit when looking for a guard dog for your family.

Training

Teaching Your Dog to Bark for Intruders

Consider the following scenario: you decide to adopt a mixed-breed puppy after learning that the puppy’s parents are good watchdogs. The question is, what do you do next? “Don’t encourage excessive barking at a young age”. Territorial barking does not usually emerge until a dog is 9 months to 3 years old.

Then, when the dog reaches adulthood, you can train it on how to perform its duties. Every time the dog barks, tell him or her to be quiet, and then call him or her to you and give him or her a treat or chew toy to encourage him or her to be quiet. The goal is to train a dog to bark when something unusual happens and then go to a family member to ask what is wrong and stop barking.

The term “clicker training” refers to one version of this technique. The owner praises the dog for following instructions by using a small clicking device to alert the dog that it has performed the correct behavior. The dog then receives a treat from the owner. This results in the dog becoming more familiar with the sound of the clicker and the taste of the treat.

The use of a clicker is extremely effective because the device allows the dog to instantly recognize that it has completed the desired task because it hears the clicking noise immediately after it has completed it.

A verbal command can be used in place of both the clicker and the treat as soon as the dog becomes comfortable with the requested behavior. “Quiet” and “enough barking,”, should be taught as firm word commands. “Quiet” and “enough barking” are examples of phrases that should be taught as firm word commands.

“If you yell ‘Shut up!”, it is considered rude.

Many owners find it difficult to teach their dogs to be quiet because their dogs become overexcited and start barking at everything. The use of a “interrupter,” such as shaking a can with pennies in it or giving the command “quiet” while squirting water into the dog’s mouth, can be beneficial in this situation. The dog will stop barking if you allow it to lick the water; then reward it with a tasty treat.

We believe that with these strategies, the dog will eventually respond to the command on its own, and the use of noise or squirt will no longer be necessary.

It is critical to recognize that you are employing aversive conditioning and that the interrupter you choose should be appropriate for the dog. If the conditioning is too strong, the device will elicit a fear response, which is the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve with the device. It is also important that your dog does not come to the conclusion that appropriately barked is inappropriate, as this is an important part of its job.

When a dog starts barking in the middle of the night, you should get up and take a few steps back before telling her to calm down. When she realizes that you are doing your part, the dog will also calm down.

Training a Guard dog for protection

Early training is essential for developing a dependable guard dog.

If training starts at the age of six months, the dog will be ready when it is approximately 1.5 years old.

Training your guard dog from an early age is essential because an owner must maintain control over his or her guard dog. It is important to put the dog in different situations and bring in decoys to act as intruders, attackers, kidnappers, or car thieves, among other things, to train him.

Socializing the dog and to include training in public places such as parks should be included in the training process. If someone breaks into your home or attacks you, the dog is trained to respond aggressively and attack the perpetrator.

If the attacker stops moving, the dog will let go, or if you call him off, the dog will step away.

A second attack by the same individual will result in the dog springing into action.

Untrained dogs from a shelter with the intention of using it for protection is a potentially dangerous proposition.

Types of Dog Protection and Event Security Services

Dog protection services are available to a variety of individuals and businesses. When it comes to high-profile individuals who require a security detail or venue managers who require assistance with event security and crowd control, these dogs can be used in the following events:

Schools as Meeting Places
Private Residences
Prisons and other correctional facilities are places of business.
Airports

Legality

Across the world, laws governing the ownership and use of guard dogs differ from one country to the next. A guard dog on a commercial property is governed by the Guard Dogs Act 1975, the main legislation governing the use of guard dogs on commercial premises is contained within the 1975 Guard Dogs Act.

The act specifies the requirements for kennels, as well as the requirement for guard dog warning signs to be posted at the entrances to construction sites.

Responsible Ownership

Owning a guard dog breeds entails a significant amount of responsibility. Make certain that your dog receives appropriate training from a young age. Socialization and obedience training should be the first steps, followed by enrolling your dog in professional guard dog training classes. This will give you the greatest amount of control over your pet, as well as helping to ensure the safety of your entire family.

What laws are there relating to dogs?

If your dog is not properly trained, it may result in you being charged with a crime. Many states in the United States have a dog bite law that states that if your dog bites someone, you are liable (which, I suppose, makes sense because they can’t fine the dog or otherwise put the dog in legal trouble).

When someone provokes your dog (for example, by breaking into your home or otherwise threatening the dog or encouraging it to bite), that person is responsible for the dog bite and you are not, according to the law.

Some states have a one-bite rule, which means that the first time your dog bites a person, you are not responsible (because you were unaware that your dog was a biter), but the second time your dog bites a person, you are responsible (because you were aware that your dog was a biter) (because since it had already bitten once, you did know).

There are also laws stating that if your dog barks excessively, especially at night, your neighbors can file a noise complaint against you, which may result in you being prosecuted in that jurisdiction. The most important lesson to take away from these laws is that if you do not intend to properly care for and train your dog, a dog will almost certainly cause you more harm than good, and you should avoid getting one.

Liability for Dog Bite Injuries

When your guard dog attacks another person or dog, what happens is up to you. Dog owners must take responsibility for their animals and exercise reasonable caution in order to prevent injuries from occurring. In the event that a dog owner is found to have been negligent and that negligence results in their guard dog injuring another person or pet, the owner may be liable. As a final point, it is critical to always comply with leash laws, which may require a dog to be contained and/or on a leash in certain areas. In the event that a dog owner fails to comply with leash laws, they may be held liable for any injuries caused by their dog.

Because dog bite laws differ from state to state, it’s important to become familiar with your state’s laws before filing a claim. In Indiana, for example, some victims (police officers and postal workers) are entitled to additional protections following a dog bite incident. These victims are given special consideration because their jobs require them to work in close proximity to dogs, and it is common for dogs (particularly guard dogs) to become territorial when a stranger enters their territory. Also in Indiana, if a tenant’s dog causes an injury, the landlord may be liable for the damages caused by the dog.

Dog Bites

Understand How to Handle Dog Bites

The fact that guard dogs are trained to be protective means that they may bite another person or another dog, or even bite you in the heat of the moment, if they feel threatened or threatened by you. In light of these considerations, it is extremely important to ensure that your dog’s vaccinations are always up to date. Additionally, you should be knowledgeable about how to treat dog bites as well as any wounds your dog may have sustained as a result of an altercation.

Soap and warm water should be used to clean the wound. If the bite caused the flesh to break, gently press on the wound to draw a small amount of blood, which will flush out bacteria.
Immediately wipe away any blood if the wound is bleeding while you are attempting to wash it.
Apply an antibacterial ointment to the bite to prevent infection.
Bandage the wound with a new bandage to keep it clean.

Infections

You should also be aware of the signs and symptoms of infection. Infected wounds are typically red, swollen, warm, and extremely tender to the touch when they are infected. If you suspect that the dog bite victim or your pet has an infection, see a doctor or go to the nearest medical facility right away.

If you have your heart set on getting a guard dog, start thinking about the requirements as soon as possible so that the process goes as smoothly as possible. Determine the type of personality you want your dog to have so that you can narrow down the breeds to consider purchasing.

Consult with a dog trainer about what you want the dog to be able to do and how you want it to behave in certain situations. If you are not satisfied with some of the more aggressive training techniques used by some trainers, talk to them about alternative methods and ask for recommendations.

Prepare your finances and living space so that you can accommodate a new dog, and look for a breeder who can provide documentation of the dog’s lineage. Despite the fact that it costs a lot of money to purchase and care for a guard dog, many owners believe it is well worth it.

Guard Dog or Family Pet?

Can They Be Considered a Family Pet?

Yes. Guard dogs make wonderful companions for families! They are fiercely loyal to all of their family members and adore them to the moon and back. Despite their enormous size, they are also extremely gentle with children.
When they are not guarding their home, the majority of them are devoted to their families and can be big, cuddly babies.

Insurance

Several people desire dogs to keep them safe or to look after their belongings, and as a result they purchase dogs that have been trained as guard or protection dogs. Guard dogs have been trained to bark at strangers and, in some cases, to attack those who come too close to them, according to the ASPCA.

Bully breeds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and Akitas, are among the most popular. (Please double-check your insurance policy because different breeds are covered by different insurance companies.)

Facts:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.
Approximately 885,000 requiring medical attention for their injuries
Approximately half of these are children.
Senior citizens are the second most common victims of dog bites, after children.

Many traditional insurance policies either exclude coverage for certain breeds of animals or restrict coverage for animal liability altogether. Given that insurance policies are becoming more exclusionary, it is very possible that you will not be covered by your current homeowners insurance policy if your pet is involved in an accident.

Who needs insurance:

We highly recommend you insure if you are:

Owner
Traininer / work with guard dogs
Work with Protection Dogs
Work with Service Dogs

How do you stay safe around dogs?

If you plan on bringing a large (and therefore potentially dangerous) dog into your home, you should educate yourself on how to stay safe when around dogs. It’s common sense to be cautious around dogs, at least to some extent.

When you meet someone for the first time and they offer you a handshake, you are likely to accept it; however, when you meet someone for the first time and they punch you in the face, you are somewhat likely to punch them back in the same manner as they did to you (whereas you definitely would not have punched the handshake-offering person). Although not always the case, dogs that have been abused or even dogs that have not been properly trained can be unpredictable, making them more difficult to manage and/or handle.

If the owner is not present, you should never approach a strange dog, or any dog that is not yours, if you are in doubt about its identity.

To keep yourself and your friends and family, as well as strangers, safe around your dog, you must first ensure that your dog has received proper obedience training, and then ensure that you (and everyone else who comes into contact with your dog) always treat the dog with kindness, giving it no reason to distrust or dislike people. If you want to keep strangers safe around your dog, you must first ensure that your dog has received proper obedience training.

Why do dogs make such excellent guardians?

These animals are born with an innate understanding of the social hierarchy in their environment, and they will show their devotion to whoever they perceive to be their “master.” The ancient Greeks, Babylonians, and Assyrians were among the first civilizations to rely on dogs for protection, according to historians. Since then, a large number of canines have been developed specifically for this purpose.

Protection for Women and Kids

Guard dogs offer a peace of mind and companionship for those in the most delicate of situations.

Guard Dogs for Livestock

In addition to being excellent livestock guardians, dogs can be extremely aggressive towards predators while remaining extremely gentle with people and small or young livestock. Compared to your average farm dog, companion dog, or herding dog, livestock guardian dogs are a step up in terms of protection and training. If you haven’t guessed it yet, their specific skill and function are as follows: Providing protection for livestock. They become full-time members of the flock or herd that they have been tasked with guarding or protecting.

Livestock guarding dogs are bred to be self-thinkers. They don’t need to wait for your command in order to react; instead, they’re capable of independently evaluating the threat level of any situation — and then taking appropriate action.

If a strange person approaches, they notice, assess the threat, and bark.
If a coyote begins stalking the perimeter, they run and attack when the threat becomes too great.
If an owl gets too near the chicken run, they’re ready to prevent any carnage.

Not everyone needs a livestock guardian dog (or two); however, if your property is large enough and you raise chickens, goats, sheep, or cattle, or chickens, it’ll be worth having canine assistance to reduce predatory threats to your livestock.

Remember to Socialize Your Livestock Guarding Dogs

Because their owners entrust them with the responsibility of protecting an entire herd of livestock, livestock guardian dogs are well-known for their intelligence and bravery. In addition to possessing a high level of intelligence that allows them to assess and respond to threats on their own, they can also be extremely stubborn, even when given clear instructions from their owner.

Providing you prioritize consistent training and socialization, on the other hand, you can be confident that your livestock guardian dog will obey your commands when the situation calls for it.

Guard dog vs Security System

Which is preferable in terms of home security?

On paper, a guard dog appears to be the superior option for home security. They have the ability to warn you of danger from a greater distance, as well as to protect you from a current threat. This, of course, will not always be the case.

Guard dogs aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Guard dogs necessitate a certain level of financial commitment.
After all, a well-trained guard dog is essential to his effectiveness. As a substitute for spending money on a professional trainer, you will have to invest your own time in training your dog.

Unless you have the time or money to train a guard dog, an alarm system will be your best option for home security if you do not have those resources. Alarm systems, while they may not be as effective as a guard dog, are still a worthwhile investment in your home’s safety and well-being. It is preferable to have some security measures in place than to have none at all, as the saying goes.

Guard Dog Advantages

While an alarm system can be very beneficial, you’ll find that guard dogs come with a lot of the same benefits and then

While an alarm system can be extremely beneficial, you’ll find that guard dogs provide many of the same benefits, if not more, than an alarm system. While an alarm system will alert you if an intruder has entered your home, a guard dog will alert you before the intruder has managed to gain entry to your home or business. Furthermore, the warning bark of a guard dog is loud enough to wake you if there is a break-in.

And, perhaps most importantly, in contrast to an alarm system, a guard dog is professionally trained to protect you.

In the event of an intruder breaking into your home, your guard dog will keep them at bay until the police arrive. In the event of a break-in, it should be loud enough to alert you.

Will most likely alert you to the presence of an intruder before they are able to enter your home.

If the situation necessitates it, I will attack any intruders I encounter. They make excellent companions.

Breeds to Avoid

Dogs that do not make good guard dogs are usually calm or low-energy breeds that will either ignore strangers or welcome them into your home if they come into contact with them. Canines that are known for being extremely friendly, such as Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Irish setters, are known for being happy-go-lucky dogs who will welcome anyone into their home. In general, basset hounds are laid back, and this breed may not even get out of its dog bed when someone walks into the house.

We have compiled a list of the best guard dogs:

Breed	Obedient	Intelligence	Loyalty	Allegiance	Courage	Territorial Instincts
German Shepherd	5	5	4	5	4	5
Rottweiler	4	5	4	5	5
Australian Shepherd			5
Boxer	3	3	5		5	5
Great Dane			5
Doberman Pinscher			4
Cane Corso			3
Belgian Malinois			5
Rhodesian Ridgeback			4
Akita			4
Chesapeake Bay Retriever			4
Bullmastiff			4
Giant Schnauzer			3
Great Pyrenees			5
Dogue de Bordeaux			5
Staffordshire Bull Terrier			5
Chow Chow			3
Anatolian Shepherd Dog			3
Dogo Argentino			5
Bouvier des Flandres			5

Is a guard dog worth the investment?

This is a difficult question that revolves a little bit around your definition of the term “guard dog.”
Depending on what you mean by “guard dog,” you’re looking at a price range between $45,000 and $65,000 for a properly trained guard dog who is trained to remain calm, attack on command, and refuse food from strangers.
Put another way, you could either have one of those dogs or you could have a new Audi[15] with a Cove security system installed.

We’re not telling you what to do, but it appears to be a fairly straightforward decision unless you’re being pursued by hit men on a regular basis (in which case you probably have enough money to have a proper guard dog and a new Audi and a Cove security system).

In the case of a fun family dog that will deter burglars who are afraid of dogs and don’t know how to bribe them with steaks, you should get one if you are a dog person and you want a dog. If you are not a dog person and you want a dog, you should get one. It may or may not be beneficial to your home security, but it is not a decision that should be made solely for security reasons.

In either case, you will almost certainly want a home security system — such as the Cove system — because, even if you have a family dog, the responsibility for your home security is a significant burden to place on your dog’s back (even if your dog is a German Shepherd or a Doberman Pinscher).