by David Braybrooke

Created on: May 12, 2010

While most modern dog breeds will instinctively protect the home to some extent, a few stand out from the pack as the ultimate defenders of property and loved ones.  When selecting the best dog to protect your home keep in mind the size of your particular property and how crucial its defence is, depending on value of possessions, safety of family members etc.  Although some varieties of dogs will naturally do a better job of protection than others alot will depend on how well they were trained in the first instance.  It can be a good idea for the owner of the dog to attend and be part of any training sessions so that the dog will have a better tendency to respond to owner commands when needed.

Most of the very best guard dogs happen to be the larger breeds of darker color (for night time camouflage), but if owning a big pet is not practical or easy for you then any of the smaller terriers and dogs with noisy barks can act as a warning signal and deterrent to would be thieves and unwanted visitors.  Even a highly strung Chihuahua, although not being much of a protector in the case of a break-in, will indicate if danger and threats are present in a very efficient, stridently vocal way. 

For those needing an effective canine protector the following breeds are suggested - some being more recommended than others depending on the type of protecting role and level of security required:

Cane Corso ~  An Italian breed of Mastiff, black or fawn in coloring, that has a superior reputation of intelligent protection.  The name comes from the Latin word 'Cohors' which translates as 'Guardian' or 'Protector'.  Very athletic and well-muscled dogs with even, stable temperaments that are also easy to train. They tend to be quite good with children and calm with their owners.  They do not befriend strangers easily which is a plus when talking about home protection and will react with great efficiency when a real threat is present.  They are not as prone to false alarms as some breeds.

Fila Brasileiro ~  The Brazilian Mastiff may be the ideal choice for those who want a dog that does not discriminate between strangers or other house guests.  Although they will faithfully protect their loved ones, children included, Fila Brasileiros tend to dislike just about everybody else!  They will react aggressively to anyone who is not part of their recognised group. 

Other recommended breeds

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