Best Dog Breeds For Guard Dog Training

So you want to put your dog through guard dog training? What kind of dog do you have? Some breeds are better suited to be a guard dog than others. A chihuahua, for example, wouldn't be the best candidate; it's too small and weak to be truly intimidating. But a Great Dane on the other hand, wouldn't be a great candidate either; despite their great size, they're gentle giants and head-strong. Here are the dog breeds best suited to undergo guard dog training:

Rottweiler

Rottweilers are an intelligent and hardy dog breed. They are very strong working dogs. With black and tan markings, Rottweilers have a powerful appearance and play a number of roles in the working dog society. Originally bred as a herd dog, their intelligence and eagerness to work has seen them through fill other work roles: guide dogs for the blind, guard dogs, police dogs and search and rescue dogs. Rottweilers are highly trainable, but require strict discipline to socialize properly. Irresponsible owners will find their Rottweiler attempting to be the alpha dog and show overtly aggressive behaviors. Male rottweilers tend to be more aggressive and quicker to challenge authority. Unless neutered, males rottweilers do not get along with each other.

German Shepherd

German Shepherds are a large breed of dog originally bred for herding sheep. Their strength and intelligence are very note-worthy and useful in obedience and guard dog training. Their protective nature also make them good guard dog candidates. If not socialized properly, German Shepherds can become overly aggressive and prone to biting. Their strong will requires a firm hand to train. They bond well with people they are familiar with, but they are not quick to befriend strangers. They vary in color from tan to black with various markings in between.

Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinschers tend to be the first breed people think of when guard dogs come to mind. This is due to popular media portrayals. And truth be told, Doberman Pinschers have all the desirable characteristics of guard dogs: loyalty, athleticism, intelligence, strength and fearlessness. Typically black with tan markings, although some Dobermans can be brown, this dog breed is a medium size dog that is highly trainable. Dobermans' ears are usually cropped at 7 to 9 weeks of age. This is what makes their ears point up, although in their natural state, Doberman ears flop down like other dog breeds. This is done to prevent ear infections and diseases.

These 3 breeds of dogs are all well-suited to go through guard dog training and be successful. They possess the characteristics of guard dogs: loyalty, strength, loyalty and obedience. They're all highly trainable and, with the proper training technique, all would do well in a course for guard dog training.