Which breeds are good guard dogs but gentle enough to have around children

[Colleen27]

We have a chocolate lab. She's just big enough with a "mean" enough bark to scare people who don't know her, and so protective of the kids that even now that she's 14, arthritic, and mostly deaf she sleeps with her back against the front door so no one can get in without her approval. But she's a total teddy bear. Two of my three kids learned to walk holding on to her, and all three have used her as a pillow at times. She isn't a guard dog as much as she is a protective companion, but that's what we wanted and it is good enough for our purposes.

The downside is that I'm not sure if she'd protect the house at all if no one was home.

 

[tikkipoo]

With my experience, German Shepherds and Rottweilers are great with kids and also naturally protective of the family. Pit Bulls as well, but I know some people have bad feelings toward that breed. I currently have boxers and I absolutely love them. I can't say for sure how protective they would be, but they definitely look like they could take someone out.

 

[cedricandsophie]

For a second dog I'd recommend a corgi. Great with kids, live to be cuddled. Our Cedric barks at any noise and goes nuts when people come to door. However once they enter home he would help them out with stuff if he could. Just wants to be loved and fed. Get an alarm system. Ours has saved us a couple of times. Police alarm goes to alarm co. And if not called off in 60 seconds police are called. The fire alarm goes right to fire house and can't b called off. After a couple false fire alarms due to smoky kitchen we switched from smoke alarm in kitchen to heat sensitive alarm. Our doors and first floor windows that open are alarmed. We have old house and many windows don't open so we also have glass breakage alarms in each downstairs room so if someone breaks window the alarm goes off. Well worth the cost but we live in an urban environment with lots of break ins. Frankly I think the signs out front noting we have an alarm is just much a deterrent as the actual alarm.

 

[ELSA711]

We have had great luck with Labs, German Shepards, Boxers, Newfies and Rhodesian ridgebacks.
I have worked in rescue for years and merged into mixed breeds, mutts like the Tramp now which gives us the best of both breeds.

 

[JaxDad]

 

[FlightlessDuck]

 

[lovin'fl]

 

[yoopermom]

The natural instinct to "protect" is bred into some breeds, but there will be individuals within many breeds who will have that instinct, as well. A good trainer can help you pick out a dog that shows this inclination (more easily observed in one that is older than a puppy).

A protective dog is one who is naturally observant. Most hunting dogs I've owned over the years would go berserk over a deer or bear coming through the yard, but would sleep through visitors pounding in and out of the house directly. However, Bravo (in my picture), is a washout of a hunting dog, but an excellent protection dog because he is keenly aware of where *I* am at all times, and of the environment outside of the house, as well as the behavior of "strangers" who come to visit. He would definitely alert me to someone entering the home, but I would not expect him to do much aside from slow down the intruder, which would hopefully give me time to deal with the situation in a way I see fit.

Many of the breeds who were originally bred to be this way are *not* very popular here in the U.S., but are wonderful dogs in their own right: akitas, chows, Swiss Mountain Dogs, Rottweilers (in their original form, not the modern breeding down), Bullmastiffs, Bouvier des Flandres, etc.

Any home invader with determination is not going to be deterred by a dog, no matter how ferocious. For that you need to look at other means of self and home defense.

However, a good protective dog may set your mind at ease, and provide companionship to your children.

Terri

 

[Terapin]

Our standard poodle is an excellent alert dog. Her bark is really fearsome and deep. But she couldn't be a guard dog as she isn't aggressive, so she is wonderful with kids. I just want people at the door to think twice.

One of our Dalmatians also has a serious bark - he sounds so mean. They are very good at deterring strangers. But although they are great with our kids, they are too high-strung to be recommended as great with kids as they are energetic and can knock over littles when excited, and need good, solid training to realize their awesome potential.

 

[pweyl36]

I agree with everyone else about the security system.

But I really believe that ANY dog loyal to their family can be a guard dog whether it be a smaller dog alerting their human by barking or a larger dog physically protecting them.

Boxers are family dogs. I have no doubt that my boy would fight to the death to protect us... And he doesn't even really like kids. My cousin's breed of choice is Rotties. His dogs are the biggest babies you've ever seen. They would unlock the door and show a thief the valuables

I 2nd this boxers are the best protecters

 

[Tiggeroo]

I think dogs such as GSD's can act as a deterrent. Yes, a determined burglar will get around any dog but unless your home is sitting over Fort Knox I think many burglaries are crimes of opportunity. An every day burglar will scope things out a bit and seek the easiest target. So if you look over your home and make sure there are not hiding places near windows, it is well lit and has the presence of a larger dog who looks like he could be aggressive you may eliminate a decent amount of random crime.

 

[Wendy31]

Our standard poodle is an excellent alert dog. Her bark is really fearsome and deep. But she couldn't be a guard dog as she isn't aggressive, so she is wonderful with kids. I just want people at the door to think twice.

One of our Dalmatians also has a serious bark - he sounds so mean. They are very good at deterring strangers. But although they are great with our kids, they are too high-strung to be recommended as great with kids as they are energetic and can knock over littles when excited, and need good, solid training to realize their awesome potential.

That's exactly the way Maks (our Keeshond) is. He's a great alert dog & has a very fearsome bark when there's someone outside. But he's not aggressive at all & would never be a guard or attack dog.

And, like you said, I just want someone at the door to think twice. We also have an alarm though.

 

[ford family]

Another vote for Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
Before we retired and downsized to the city we had a couple of Ridgebacks. They were great with the kids but were off putting to strangers.

ford family

 

[parrothead365]

Another vote here for German Shepherds. We have one that is a great deterrent ( just ask the fedex/UPS guys). But he is a big baby and very loving to all that we invite into the house. You need to use reputable breeder and try to get one with true German blood lines not cheap but worth the money.

 

[cabanafrau]

We always laughed that we hoped an intruder only heard our Golden and didn't get a look at the wagging tail. He did have a very deep bark and occasionally a meter reader or delivery person might actually be intimidated if they weren't really a dog person. If you want a dog to deter intruders one with a big bark is probably a good way to go. I don't think hearing yap, yap, yap is going to deter many.

As lovable as ours was, I do wonder what would have happened if he ever truly thought one of us was being threatened. If you want a second dog, get a second dog you won't mind living with.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

We have a black lab/golden retriever mix- but he just looks like a black lab. He is the most loyal, loving dog. He's patient with the kids, and never runs away if he's out without a leash- but he's good on a leash too. However, he barks CONSTANTLY. I mean, after 11 years, he still barks at us when we come home. He barks incessantly at rabbits, other dogs walking by, the UPS man. I suppose if someone was afraid of a large dog that barked like that, they would refrain from robbing us. At least it hasn't happened to us yet!

 

[tzolkin]

Staffordshire Terriers are WONDERFUL.

I was thinking the same thing. Staffordshire or Pit Bull Terrier can make wonderful family pets.

Two things the OP would have to consider:
Barking- Most of the other suggestions have been dogs that bark a lot. So if that's what you're looking for this would probably not be the right type of dog since most do not bark much. For me, that's a huge plus. Dogs that make a lot of noise drive me crazy and I would not have the patience for that at all. I suppose it's a "warning" but I would only want a verbal warning if there was a true danger, not barking at every person/thing that goes by. I have only ever heard my dog really bark twice and both were times that she felt we were being sufficiently threatened. That said, the bark/growl is very intimidating. (More so than much larger dogs I have been around.)

Other dogs- Many are not good with other dogs. You would either need to get a puppy and socialize it with your other dog early on or adopt an adult dog that has proven to be great with dogs. Our dog is very fearful/aggressive with other dogs. We know she was attacked because she has many bite scars (mostly on her face), but dog aggression is a common trait with the breed regardless of their life experiences. This has required a huge time investment in training/socializing, but she is truly the perfect pet in every other aspect: wonderful with my kids (9-16), obedient/quick learner, quiet, never any destructive incidents/behaviors like chewing, "potty" accidents, etc.

Also, not specific to this breed, but everyone should call their insurance company prior to bringing home any new dog. I had read through our policy and there was no mention of dogs, but I still made DH call before we adopted our dog. They provided us with the following list: "vicious dogs including Akitas, American Bulldogs, Beaucerons, Caucasian Mountain Dogs, Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Staffordshire Terriers, Wolf Hybrids, or any mix thereof" We had to change our insurance company and would never have imagined how difficult it was to find something that did not have any breed restrictions.

 

[yoopermom]

Totally OT, but I *never* understand how Great Danes make those "vicious dogs" lists, except for their height. I have met ones that are fear biters and are extremely shy and unstable, but vicious? Not!

The rest of the breeds *can* be excellent guard/protection dogs (with the exception of the wolf/wolf crosses) which is why they are on the list, unfortunately, because some people misuse/abuse them, or breed/raise them for the wrong reasons .

Terri

 

[hereyago]

Rottie or GSD.


My big boy GSD died yesterday, very unexpectedly,it was awful.

He was a barker, i hated that, but it is so quiet today.

my dd recently had a baby, my big boy would lie next to her bassinett. the father of the baby came over and he went to pick her up and Del got in between , but i said its ok and he was fine after that.

We also have a Basenji mix, no barking, not a big dog, thinks she is a cat.

We had a rot/husky mix, one of the best dogs ever.

 

[ELSA711]

Rottie or GSD.


My big boy GSD died yesterday, very unexpectedly,it was awful.

He was a barker, i hated that, but it is so quiet today.

my dd recently had a baby, my big boy would lie next to her bassinett. the father of the baby came over and he went to pick her up and Del got in between , but i said its ok and he was fine after that.

We also have a Basenji mix, no barking, not a big dog, thinks she is a cat.

We had a rot/husky mix, one of the best dogs ever.

So sorry for your loss. I swore I'd never get another dog after my first past unexpectedly, but the quietness of my house almost made me lose my mind. Now 6 dogs later