35 Best Guard Dog Breeds to Protect Your Home

The best guard dogs are incredibly smart, loyal, agile and fearless — all reasons that they take up so much space in our hearts.

35 Breeds That Make the Best Guard Dogs

When running down the list of desirable traits in a new family pet, protective instincts often rank pretty high. And while most people realize that the likelihood of an intruder might be low, it wouldn’t hurt to have an early warning system in place. However, a cursory search will reveal that not all dog breeds are cut out to be guard dogs.

While most dogs fall into the category of watchdog, meaning they’ll bark at any sign of approaching danger, guard dogs are different. These courageous pups are ready to throw down at a moment’s notice in defense of their loved ones. Generally speaking, the best guard dogs are incredibly smart, loyal, agile and fearless. Incidentally, those are the same reasons that our precious pups take up so much space in our hearts.

We rounded up the 35 best guard dog breeds to help you find which one might be the perfect addition to your clan.

American Staffordshire Terrier

When it comes to the best guard dog category, the American Staffordshire terrier leads the pack. These guys were originally bred for bear- and bullfighting, so while small in stature, they have a lot of fight in them, not to mention they look pretty intimidating.

It's important to note that American Staffordshire terriers are aggressive and protective by nature, so socialization is crucial. Once properly socialized, however, they make great family pets.

American Staffordshire Terrier Overview

Temperament: Friendly, Loyal, Attentive

Height: 16 to 19 inches

Weight: 40 to 60 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years

Akita

Standing up to 28-inches tall, Akitas have an imposing stature and a powerful presence — characteristics that are sure-fire deterrents to would-be troublemakers. Although they’re known to be stubborn, willful and “opinionated,” Akitas are also natural-born guardians.

Moreover, when it comes to family, they are extremely affectionate and intensely loyal.

Akita Overview

Temperament: Loyal, Affectionate, Protective

Height: 24 to 28 inches

Weight: 70 to 130 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Giant Schnauzer

Not only do giant schnauzers look pretty fierce, but they also have a reputation for being strong and dominant. These characteristics come together in perfect confluence for pups that are ideally suited for their job as guard dogs.

When it comes to family, giant schnauzers are really quite affectionate; strangers, however, are another story. They are naturally suspicious of strangers and tend to be aggressive with people and animals they don’t know; for this reason, socialization is crucial.

Giant Schnauzer Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Energetic, Dominant

Height: 23 to 27 inches

Weight: 55 to 80 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Belgian Malinois

When it comes to the best guard dogs, there are few breeds more fierce than Belgian malinoises — so much so that these guys are often the first choice for U.S. police and military. Originally bred as herding dogs, Belgian malinoises have strong protective instincts.

Additionally, they are extremely intelligent, alert and, perhaps most importantly, they require an experienced, firm hand.

Belgian Malinois Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Energetic, Playful

Height: 22 to 26 inches

Weight: 40 to 80 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years

Boxer

While they're known to be big mushy piles of puppy love and great with kids, boxers also make ideal guard dogs. Their affinity for which is written all over their large, muscular build and commanding presence.

They are also smart as a whip. Plus, they're fearless and easy to train, so they make great family pets.

Boxer Overview

Temperament: Confident, Energetic, Fearless

Height: 21 to 25 inches

Weight: 60 to 70 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Cane Corso

Anyone who has come face to face with a Cane Corso can tell you that these guys have an unassailable presence. Cane Corso’s are an Italian breed from the mastiff family originally bred to hunt and fight, so their protective instincts are off the charts.

These pups are highly intelligent and loyal to their families; however, their size and ferocity are nothing to toy with. Cane Corso’s must be socialized early, and pet parents are encouraged to establish and maintain clear and firm boundaries.

Cane Corso Overview

Temperament: Reserved, Quiet, Calm

Height: 23 to 27 inches

Weight: 90 to 120 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Kuvasz

Originally bred to guard livestock, Kuvaszok are inherently protective of their loved ones and wary of strangers.

Kuvaszok are extremely intelligent, great with kids and fiercely loyal to family, but there is a clear line in the sand. While they will tolerate guests, you won’t find them getting too cozy.

Kuvasz Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Independent, Protective

Height: 26 to 30 inches

Weight: 70 to 115 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Doberman Pinscher

While they’re also known to be loving and sensitive, Doberman pinschers rank high in protective instincts.

These guys are brave, confident and extremely intelligent. Pair that with the fact that they are light on their feet, and you can see why they’re not to be trifled with.

Doberman Pinscher Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Fearless, Confident

Height: 24 to 28 inches

Weight: 60 to 80 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 13 years

German Shepherd

German shepherds are notoriously nimble-witted and agile — in short, they have all the makings of an exceptional guard dog. Moreover, German shepherds are courageous and easy to train, making them a top pick for law enforcement officers around the world.

For these reasons, they also make great family pets with proper training and socialization.

German Shepherd Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Alert, Courageous

Height: 22 to 26 inches

Weight: 75 to 95 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years

Rhodesian Ridgeback

When it comes to the history of a dog breed, you’d be hard-pressed to find one more fierce than the Rhodesian ridgeback. After all, these dogs were bred to fight lions.

While they love to cuddle and often mistake themselves for lap dogs, protective instincts are embedded in their DNA. It’s also worth mentioning that they’re not inherently obedient, so training and socialization are crucial.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Overview

Temperament: Obstinate, Loyal, Intelligent

Height: 24 to 27 inches

Weight: 70 to 85 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Great Dane

Forever known as the gentle giants of the K-9 family, Great Danes are extremely gentle and affectionate with their family members but highly suspicious of strangers.

Generally speaking, Great Danes are not territorial, but they will spring into action in defense of their loved ones. More often than not, it’s their mere presence that “does the talking.”

Great Dane Overview

Temperament: Friendly, Gentle, Confident

Height: 26 to 34 inches

Weight: 100 to 200 pounds

Life Expectancy: 7 to 10 years

Rottweiler

Originally bred to herd and protect cattle, Rottweilers have garnered the reputation for being the “beast at the threshold,” if you will. These natural-born sentinels are also known to be extremely affectionate with their owners and family, but they don’t care much for strangers.

Beware that Rotties tend to straddle the line between protection and pure aggression. So, proper training and socialization are crucial; without them, they will lean into their bullying behavior.

Rottweiler Overview

Temperament: Courageous, Fearless, Confident

Height: 22 to 27 inches

Weight: 85 to 130 pounds

Life Expectancy: 8 to 11 years

Tibetan Mastiff

First bred as guard dogs, Tibetan mastiffs are fearless protectors fiercely territorial. It’s worth noting, too, that unlike a lot of other breeds on this list, Tibetan mastiffs are known to be pretty aloof and not very family-focused.

Their protective and dominant nature requires plenty of socialization; without it, they tend to be overly aggressive.

Tibetan Mastiff Overview

Temperament: Stubborn, Intelligent, Protective

Height: 24 to 30 inches

Weight: 75 to 160 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years

Bull Mastiff

Easily recognizable by their imposing stature and known for their brute strength, bull mastiffs are innately protective and, therefore, make wonderful guard dogs.

While a bull mastiff’s mere presence is an excellent deterrent against intruders, these sweet pups are actually pretty docile at home. Moreover, they’re extremely loyal and great for families.

Bull Mastiff Overview

Temperament: Alert, Loyal, Protective

Height: 24 to 27 inches

Weight: 100 to 130 pounds

Life Expectancy: 8 to 10 years

Komondor

Originally bred to herd and protect sheep, the Komondor's inherent protective instincts have remained intact. These dogs are intelligent, affectionate and eager to please, and with the proper socialization, they can make a good family dog.

Incidentally, socialization will dial down their aggression towards other dogs as well.

Komondor Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, Gentle, Fearless

Height: 25 to 27 inches

Weight: 80 to 100 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Great Pyrenees

Initially bred to protect livestock from natural predators like coyotes and wolves, Great Pyrenees dogs have honed their protective instincts in care of their people and loved ones. While these pups are plenty brave, their size alone is intimidating enough and speaks volumes to would-be intruders.

Additionally, Great Pyrenees are incredibly loyal and affectionate toward their family.

Great Pyrenees Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, Fearless, Confident

Height: 25 to 32 inches

Weight: 85 to 160 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Presa Canario

Known for their intelligence and indomitable presence, Presa Canarios make excellent guard dogs. Originally bred in the Canary Islands to guard farms and cattle, protective instincts are written into their DNA.

Presa Canarios are intensely loyal, and they won’t hesitate to leap into action if their loved ones are in danger. However, they are a large and powerful breed, so they require an owner who is always in control, and plenty of training is a must.

Presa Canario Overview

Temperament: Calm, Confident, Strong-Willed

Height: 22 to 26 inches

Weight: 84 to 120 pounds

Life Expectancy: 9 to 11 years

Beauceron

Beaucerons were bred as herders and hunters; today, they still make excellent guard dogs. These pups are incredibly intelligent and easy to train, not to mention loyal and protective — so much so that Beaucerons are often used by law enforcement agencies worldwide.

The Beauceron’s guarding instincts can often cross the line into territorial, so that’s something for pet parents to keep in mind when training.

Beauceron Overview

Temperament: Gentle, Obedient, Fearless

Height: 24 to 27 inches

Weight: 70 to 110 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

Dutch Shepherd

Dutch shepherds have a lot in common with their German shepherd cousins, but they are far rarer as you may have guessed.

These pups have all the essential characteristics of a good guard dog. They are intelligent, easy to train and wary of strangers — check, check check!

Dutch Shepherd Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, Alert, Loyal

Height: 21 to 25 inches

Weight: 50 to 70 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Fila Brasileiro

Thought to be a mix of mastiff, bloodhound and Spanish bulldogs, Fila Brasileiros were first bred by Spaniards to track escaped slaves. Today, Fila Brasileiros have a powerful appearance, rank high for protective instincts and are intensely suspicious of strangers.

While they are courageous enough to jump into action when the need arises, they also tend to develop strong bonds with their owners, and they’re fiercely loyal.

Fila Brasileiro Overview

Temperament: Obedient, Loyal, Brave

Height: 24 to 30 inches

Weight: 90 to 180 pounds

Life Expectancy: 9 to 12 years

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Also known as the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog hails from — you guessed it, Switzerland. These pups were originally bred to herd cattle and pull guard, and those protective instincts remain quite sharp today.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are large, muscular, intelligent and alert. Additionally, they are suspicious of strangers, so if there’s any whiff of trouble, you can bet these pups will have your back.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Overview

Temperament: Confident, Alert, Protective

Height: 23 to 28 inches

Weight: 85 to 140 pounds

Life Expectancy: 7 to 9 years

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian elkhounds were originally bred to hunt large game, so when it comes to bravery and courage, their cup runneth over. While they tend to be obstinate and independent, they still do well within families due to their friendly and affectionate nature.

These pups do particularly well in families with older kids, and they have a reputation for being tons of fun.

Norwegian Elkhound Overview

Temperament: Alert, Playful, Loyal

Height: 19 to 20 inches

Weight: 49 to 55 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Central Asian Shepherd Dog

Originally from Siberia, Central Asian shepherd dogs were often used to guard against bears and wolves. Today, they retain their status as working dogs by protecting cattle.

These pups are intelligent and loyal, and while they are happiest when spending time with their families, they are also highly suspicious of strangers. They are even known to be aggressive.

Central Asian Shepherd Dog Overview

Temperament: Bold, Curious, Independent

Height: 24 to 28 inches

Weight: 88 to 110 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Bucovina Shepherd

Bucovina shepherds originated in Romania, and they were bred to guard cattle and sheep. Today, these pups stay true to their origins, and they are known to be exemplary guard dogs and great companions.

While Bucovina shepherds are not known to be aggressive, they have a hardline defensive instinct, so they’re great for families. They are also quite stubborn, so patience and a firm hand are essential.

Bucovina Shepherd Overview

Temperament: Loyal, Courageous, Calm

Height: 25 to 31 inches

Weight: 70 to 90 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years

Boerboel

With a long history of defending their families and homes from hyenas, lions and leopards in South Africa, you can see where the Beorboel’s incredible sense of bravery comes from. Plus, one look at a Boerboel, and you can see why these pups make great guard dogs, as they are large, strong and muscular.

These courageous pups are also intelligent, affectionate and easy to train, so they make ideal family dogs.

Boerboel Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Confident, Territorial

Height: 22 to 28 inches

Weight: 110 to 200 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Airedale Terrier

The largest of all terrier breeds, the Airedale Terrier is a great family dog, as they can be patient with kids and are extremely protective of their kin.

Their can-do attitude mixed with the alertness that all terriers are known for make the Airedale an excellent guard dog. These athletic dogs are intelligent and also good hunters.

Airedale Terrier Overview

Temperament: Friendly, Clever, Courageous

Height: 23 inches

Weight: 50 to 70 pounds

Life Expectancy: 11 to 14 years

Appenzeller Sennenhund

The Appenzeller Sennenhound, also known as the Appenzeller Mountain Dog or Appenzell Cattle Dog, is a fearless, herding dog.

They're also very obedient, making them great for guarding but also for search and rescue.

Appenzeller Sennenhund Overview

Temperament: Agile, Versatile, Lively

Height: 19 to 22 inches

Weight: 48 to 70 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Black Russian Terrier

Another terrier on this list, the Black Russian was specifically bred by the Russian army in the 1930s to guard and protect.

Known for being confident and courageous, they are also quite aloof around strangers.

Black Russian Terrier Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Calm, Powerful

Height: 27 to 30 inches (male), 26 to 29 inches (female)

Weight: 80 to 130 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

A natural protector, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has all the traits of a retriever that people love: loyal, affectionate and energetic.

The Chesapeake Bay is an athletic hunter that is protective of its owners, while also not being overly friendly with strangers.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, Bright, Sensitive

Height: 23 to 26 inches (male), 21 to 24 inches (female)

Weight: 65 to 80 pounds (male), 55 to 70 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 10 to 13 years

Bouvier des Flandres

Another herding dog breed on this list, the Bouvier des Flandres hails from Flanders, Belgium. Originally bred for farm work — sheep or cattle herding and even cart pulling — this dog makes an excellent police dog, due to its tendencies to guard and be protective.

They are very loyal and loving to a family that puts their can-do attitude to good use — i.e., owners who will devote lots of time to this strong-willed, working pup.

Bouvier des Flandres Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, Courageous, Strong-Willed

Height: 24.5 to 27.5 inches (male), 23.5 to 26.5 inches (female)

Weight: 70 to 110 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Estrela Mountain Dog

Native to the Estrela Mountains in Portugal, this dog breed is quite large and was bred to protect herds and farmsteads.

While proper socialization and training is crucial for this sometimes stubborn breed, there's a family-loving softy under that big mound of fur.

Estrela Mountain Dog Overview

Temperament: Alert, Intelligent, Brave

Height: 24.5 to 29 inches

Weight: 77 to 132 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years

Anatolian Shepherd

A native to Turkey, the Anatolian is the perfect sidekick for a shepherd tending their livestock. Known for being protective and territorial, they are also very intelligent, patient dogs.

That said, an Anatolian can become dominant and demanding without the proper training and guidance from owners.

Anatolian Shepherd Overview

Temperament: Loyal, Independent, Reserved

Height: 29 inches (male), 27 inches (female)

Weight: 110 to 150 pounds (male), 80 to 120 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years

Caucasian Shepherd

Another large, protective herding dog, the Caucasian Shepherd is native to the Caucasus region (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Dagestan). They have long been used to guard livestock against everything, including wolves and coyotes as well as smaller, feisty predators.

This breed's loyalty translates well to being the ultimate family dog.

Caucasian Shepherd Overview

Temperament: Fearless, Bold, Kind

Height: 23 to 30 inches

Weight: 99 to 170 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Moscow Watchdog

A cross between the St. Bernard and Caucasian Shepherd, the Moscow Watchdog was originally bred in Russia. While their physical size and cuteness come from the St. Bernard, they get their assertiveness from the Caucasian Shepherd.

They are another large breed with a very gentle temperament if raised properly, which means they, too, are excellent with families.

Moscow Watchdog Overview

Temperament: Intelligent, Strong, Protective

Height: 25 to 27 inches

Weight: 99 to 150 pounds

Life Expectancy: 9 to 11 years

Bulgarian Shepherd Dog

In case you didn't realize by now, herding dogs make excellent guard dogs, and the Bulgarian Shepherd is no different. Originated in Bulgaria, this breed is also known as the Karakachan dog, named after the Greek nomadic shepherds of the same name.

This dog was once used as an army watchdog and has since been used for guarding livestock and property. As you might guess, this dog breed is very territorial, especially against other animals.

Bulgarian Shepherd Dog Overview

Temperament: Brave, Independent, Vigilant

Height: 25 to 30 inches

Weight: 85 to 125 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years