Which dog breeds are best for home protection?

Which dog breeds are best for home protection? Is size the most important characteristic or aggressiveness? Bravery and loyalty are undoubtedly important, as are their ferocity and alertness.

And while you want a dog that will be there to protect you and your family, you often need a puppy that won't be aggressive or pushy towards you and yours.

If you want your dog to be a companion animal, it should be gentle and affectionate towards you and children and be able to play well with others. Here are the 11 best dog breeds for home protection.

#1 Rottweiler The Rottweiler was bred to guard livestock and family, and at around 100 pounds, they can be fierce animals when they need to be. However, they still know how to be loving pets and understand when it's time to be gentle and sweet with children and other animals.

#2 Doberman Pinscher Often used as military guards or to protect royalty, the Doberman Pinscher has been protecting people since the late 1800s. This excellently trained pooch is medium-sized, but all muscular with a sleek coat that doesn’t require much grooming. They also make great family pets that can fit in anywhere.

#3 German Shepherd This breed has been used in the military and for police work since the 1800s all over the world, and is known for their courage and ability to know who to follow and who to love. The German Shepherd is also a gentle and sweet pet and loves to be brushed. 

#4 American Pitbull Terrier This breed is thick and built like a tank with a massive head and mouth that just gives them a fierce look, even though they are cuddly fur babies at home. This amazing dog knows who to love and who to chase, and they are brave enough to protect you from anything.

#5 Belgian Malinois Smart, strong, and confident, the Belgian Malinois is well-suited to protecting your home. Their eagerness to please their humans and aloofness toward strangers makes them highly sought after as police and military K9s around the world. Malinois form unbreakable bonds with their humans, making them puptastic four-legged family members.

#6 Bullmastiff The Bullmastiff is a dog that no intruder would want to cross with. Strong, alert, and fearless, these imposing dogs were bred to catch hunters in Merry Old England. Today, they are beloved family members. Bullmastiffs are actually very docile when they are with their people, but as with any large guard dog, early training and socialization are essential.

#7 Giant Schnauzer Despite their cartoon-like appearance, the Giant Schnauzer takes their role as a loyal canine companion very seriously. A highly protective and territorial breed, giants love their people and feel a great responsibility to keep them safe. These extremely intelligent dogs also learn quickly and are able to tell the difference between friend and foe.

#8  The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a dog you'll want on your side. Originally bred for fighting, this muscular yet agile dog is fearless and tenacious. With early training and socialization, Staffies make terrific additions to the family. They are known to be patient with children and only aggressive when protecting their people.

#9 Appenzeller Sennenhund Although smaller than other guard dog breeds, the Appenzeller Sennenhund possesses all the qualities to keep you and your loved ones safe. They are muscular, agile, intelligent, courageous, and suspicious of strangers, making them fierce watchdogs that cannot be corrupted. Originally bred to herd livestock in Switzerland, Appenzellers do not do well in apartments and need plenty of space for their boundless energy.

#10 Puli Don't be fooled by the Puli's goofy appearance, because underneath all those natural dreadlocks is a compact and powerful dog that's ready to protect their family. Bred to herd large flocks of sheep in Hungary, Pulik are alert and suspicious and will bark when they see anything unusual.

#11 Akita Inu This dog was bred to be a fighting dog and was used to hunt bears and wild boar, so they are definitely full of courage and strength. They also love people and other pets and can be very cute and playful. They clean like cats, so you don't have to groom them too much either.