Most dogs, once established in their household, will exhibit some form of protective behavior, yet there are specific protection dog breeds that have been created solely for the purpose of guarding territories and people.
Protective dog breeds are different from a typical watchdog, as they do not merely alert their owners of a possible intruder with their barking; these dogs are trained to alert and prevent a break-in or attack from occurring. Some of the most common protection dog breeds are the Rottweiler, Doberman, American Pit Bull Terrier, and the German Shepherd.
The Rottweiler is a very intelligent and easily trainable breed that needs structure to avoid unwanted aggression. Dobermans go to great lengths to please their owners and are very loyal. It is recommended that these dogs be socialized early. Pit Bulls are often a very intimidating breed that has been linked to many attacks, yet owners of these dogs swear they are an excellent breed that if trained properly and not put in abusive households, are wonderful around children and make wonderful companions. Finally, the German Shepherd is a highly recognized breed in law enforcement, giving it the familiarity of a protective breed. There are several other large breed dogs that could act as a protection dog, yet might not be as easily recognized as a threat to an intruder as the breeds above.
Protection dog breeds oftentimes are not forced to physically attack, as their size, low growling, and deep barks are usually sufficient enough to scare their enemy. Since these dogs are usually living in residential areas, certain precautions and training needs to be established to ensure that those who are innocent and intend no harm are not attacked. In general, females of these breeds tend to be more protective than males. Various states regulate animal laws and what pets can be owned; protection dogs are often affected by these laws, and potential owners should inquire with their city hall before purchasing these particular breeds.
Protection dog breeds can make excellent companions and are often very loving and loyal to their owners. While they do work to protect, they also work to please their owners. When trained properly and treated with love and respect, these animals will learn to channel their protectiveness in the right circumstances, rather than showing harmful aggression to all humans and other animals.
