One of the earliest duties of the domestic dog was guarding the property of its owners, whether that property be land, livestock or his owner's home.
There is a distinction between guard dogs and watch dogs.
A watchdog simply watches the home and alerts others to the intruder by barking. Watchdogs typically are smaller, more excitable breeds that will bark vigorously at the presence of an intruder or in most situations they experience as out of the ordinary. Many small and toy dog breeds, which would not qualify as guard dogs are excellent watch dogs, as their only duty is to alert their owners with their barking.
Please note that ALL of these breeds are excellent guard dogs and that the differences in performance between these top guard dog breeds will ultimately depend on the breeding lines and training.
Moreover, each of these breeds may present individuals displaying superior guard dog qualities that make them stand out even when confronted with dogs belonging to breeds that appear before them in this classification. The individual character, temperament, training and blood lines of a dog have more weight than his belonging to a specific breed. In some breeds females also tend to be more protective and have a stronger sense of territoriality than males. This classification, therefore, is only meant as a GENERAL guideline.
Another remark is that black or dark-colored dog breeds are usually considered as more dissuasive than other colors. In self-reporting surveys among burglars black or darker dogs always appear as a stronger deterrent than any other coat color. That's why black and dark colored breeds also score higher here.
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A guard dog not only watches and alerts but also threatens the intruder to the point of retreat. Most guard dogs will instinctively do anything possible to protect their human family and the area they consider as their territory, ranging from dissuasion towards potential intruders until, eventually, attack. Fortunately, their intimidating appearance and low voice often is enough of a deterrent to any would-be intruder. Nevertheless, the trainability of a guardian dog should be on the top list of the qualities required of a guard dog. It is this quality that will ensure that the natural sense of territoriality and protectiveness of a guard dog remains within the limits set by the law.
