What dogs make the best guard dogs and yet are good with family/kids?

Answer 1

consider a Great Pyrenees dog...they are sheepdogs and will protect their flock with their lives, even killing wolves and bears to protect the sheep in rural settings ages ago !!....they are formidable and scary looking, because they are immense, large dogs, yet appear that way, because they are very hairy, and have a large head and face....to the family they are big softies and sweeties.......they are wonderfull with children and will let kiddies tug on them, pull on them, and even ride them, without nipping or biting !!....they don't eat as much as a large dog like a St. Bernard due to their low metabolism, and will weigh between 100-130 lbs or so depending on male or female !!...their only drawback is they slobber a little, but not as much as st.Bernards, which are slobber machines !! they will sleep against the front door, because of their heredity, and no one will enter the house, without going through the dog !! they are playfull and affectionate, yet not rowdy or destructive, and are easy to train, because they want to please their masters !! i got an AKC female Great Pyrenees 23 yrs ago, my first dog, to jog with my wife and protect her, and be a companion & guard dog, for our house, and my 2 dtrs. aged 2 & 4 at the time !! coconut was a fabulous dog, and even got along with our 2 older cats also !! this breed was the royal dog of King Louis the 14th of France, and guarded the royal palaces and homes !! they have a fabulous history..check them out and be AMAZED !! i would recommend them highly...they are beautifull and regal looking dogs, and make GREAT guard dogs, and EXCELLENT companions also !!..any other questions..email me, if i can be of further help to y'all !!! good luck, in your search for a family guard dog and companion !! i vote for Great Pyrenees aka Pyrenean Mountain dog !!!...check petfinder.com and type in your Zip code, and Great Pyrenees, to see what they look like... perhaps, visit one of the rescue groups, and meet a Great Pyrenees in person, to appreciate their beauty and personality !!!

Answer 2

ANY dog!
Actually, the best guard dogs are ones that you have raised and trained! That means any dog is capable. Labradors are way too ADHD! Goldens-that's a joke right? Pits are great dogs as long as you know how to raise a dominate dog. That doesn't mean hit them or yell and scream but be a strong pack leader!
If you are looking for intimidation Pits, Dobies, Rotts are all good choices on the guard dog. If you are looking for just being alerted Beagles, Jack Russell Terriers and Scotties. Really just about any of the terriers.
The best all round for guarding, good with kids, and intimidation would be one of the guardian type dogs such as Great Pyrs, St. Bernards, Bernese Mt. Dogs.

Malinois are now the choice for most police dogs and are also a good option for intimidation.

Answer 3

People will probably put a thumbs down to this as well, because whomever owns the Rottweiler, or pit or any breed that is deemed to be a "dangerous" pet it is not there pet it is the person who owns that pet. Not to mention if you look at the statistics of pets that have bitten and attached their owners you will be surprised to know that the "dangerous" dogs are not on top of that list. You have pets from Labs, to Goldens to even chihuahua, so with that don't stop at this breed or that breed because it is considered dangerous, get the pet because it fits your life style. Yes, German Shepard Dogs are known for being good all round dogs but they require lost of exercise and socialization, in fact most of the breeds of dogs that fit into the great with kids but make good guard dogs fit into the working dog category which if not most require a lot of exercise and socialization. You could also get a dog that even though not a guard dog but by looks would scar most would be bad people away from your property and family. Like I would like an Alaskan Malamute and although is not considered a guard dog per se but with its wolf looks and its size unless you know the breed would probably stay far away. Well I hope all works out.

Answer 4

German Shepherds are very good guard dogs, but if someone has a guard dog that is not good with children, people, ext... it is only half trained and dangerous.
Any guard dog of quality should only be trained by a proper guard dog trainer...guard dogs or protection dogs if you prefer should have all qualities of a normal pet dog, until commanded to attack, and should also stop on another command. German Shepherds are the best I've found, but many others can be trained for the job as well.

Answer 5

Golden Retreivers
Labs
St. Bernards
Collies

We had all of the above during childhood. All were great. We crawled all over all of them and never had a problem. I would recommend getting your new family pet as a puppy though, so they can learn who is the boss. Older dogs are unpredictible.

For everyone that is going to give me a hard time about the puppy comment- I am all for rescuing animals from shelters. Every pet I have now has been resuced either from a shelter or gotten from an owner who didn't want or couldn't take care of their pet. For someone that has small children, it is important for the dog to learn they are not alpha. If the children were older, I would be more into getting an older dog from a shelter. However I am assuming this person's children are younger. That is NOT a risk I would be willing to take.

Answer 6

You need to look into what breed will fit in best with your lifestyle as far as size, exercise needs, attitude, etc. I have 3 dogs, Sugar is a 40 lb hound mix that prefers being outdoors and lets me know when someone comes into the yard. Sassy is a 7 lb Cairn Terrier who barks madly when someone comes up on the porch or to the door. Kyra is an 80 lb American Bulldog who is scared of her own shadow, but is large enough to make people uncomfortable. Each is an excellent guard dog in their own way and all of them are wonderful with children.

Having any dog in your home will act as a deterrent for break-ins. Most intruders will pick a quiet house without barking inside. It really boils down to which breed (or mutt) suits your family the best as a pet. Most dogs are territorial of their family and their yard, so the guarding part will take care of itself.

Answer 7

German shepards, Dobermans, especially Rottweilers are very "family" protective I've known several thateven though they know me, there wouldbe NO way Icould walk into the house, without his owner being there, onceHe knows I am accepted, and sit down he or she is like super friendly , rotties are super Family protectors ... There are other breeds as well, that Might surprise you how protective they can be of the Family... Chances are a Lab, irish setter, golden if it really felt there was a real threat would take action, but in each breed chances are the goffy factor would take over...lol

Answer 8

Kangal or Malakli. Both are livestock Guardians, but don't let that scare you. They have been bred to be calm and loving, with a strong bond to their family. Intelligent enough to know when to guard, and with a measured response. Malakli probably the most capable defender, able to stop anything. But are HUGE dogs. Both breeds are best with a strong owner to be boss. But if you want to be SAFE, there is no better.

Answer 9

The akita is the ultimate guard dog and family dog because they where breed to fight bears and the chinese would leave there kids in the house with and akita knowing that, that akita would give it's life for those kids so thats a short and simple answer for u.

Answer 10

Bluetick mix with black lab - my boyfriend had one named Baloo and he was the greatest guard dog and playful with kids!

Rotties (if trained well enough - I knew a rottie named Daisy she was so sweet and could get the paper, slippers, paw, all these tricks but also knew attack and guard commands)

Labs and Retrievers - i know many people with black and yellow labs that are great with kids but stay alert.

German Shepards are good too.


Coonhounds and Beagles (which I've grown up around all my life - they bark/alert you when someone's coming but they could be a little too friendly and not realize disguised danger....but usually they sense when something's wrong)

Answer 11

I've seen a number of very good guardian dogs, including a part-collie named Dusty, a Saint Bernard called Bobo, a hound named Andy, and another dog who looks like she might be part lab named Daisy.

It's more a matter of the dog's personality and training than breed. But if you make the dog feel that he is part of the pack, he will defend that pack.