Some dogs have an instinct to protect their home and the people who take care of them — and these qualities make them excellent guard dogs. But that does not mean these dogs tend to be vicious or aggressive when unprovoked. With proper training, the best guard dogs are as affectionate and gentle as they are brave and strong-willed.
To compile a list of the best guard dogs, 24/7 Tempo reviewed information on each of the 282 dog breeds currently listed by the American Kennel Club, the country’s purebred dog registry. We included the 34 breeds the AKC has classified as the best for protection and listed them in alphabetical order.
Most of the dogs on the list belong to the working or herding groups. They are loyal and confident dogs, as most people may expect. But unlike what some people may assume, these dogs are not necessarily big and heavy. The best guard dogs vary from medium size, which is defined as between 50 and 70 pounds, to really big — around 130 pounds or more. With few exceptions, working and herding dog breeds normally live between 12 and 14 years.
Guardian dogs are, in addition to protectors, wonderful companions, but some dogs require more physical and mental stimulation to reach their full potential. Some dog breeds are also considered more intelligent than others — here are the smartest dogs in America.
Click here for the best guard dogs
Methodology
To compile a list of the best guard dogs for protection, 24/7 Tempo reviewed information on each of the 282 dog breeds currently listed by the American Kennel Club, the country’s purebred dog registry. We included the 34 breeds the AKC has classified as the best guard dogs. Dog breeds are listed in alphabetical order. Twelve breeds are still fairly new in the U.S. and did not have a popularity ranking as of March 2021.
Akita
> Personality: Courageous, Dignified, Profoundly Loyal
> Overall popularity: 48 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 26-28 inches (male), 24-26 inches (female)
> Weight: 100-130 pounds (male), 70-100 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 10-13 years
> Group: Working
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Anatolian Shepherd Dog
> Personality: Loyal, Independent, Reserved
> Overall popularity: 85 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 29 inches (male), 27 inches (female)
> Weight: 110-150 pounds (male), 80-120 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 11-13 years
> Group: Working
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Appenzeller Sennenhund
> Personality: Agile, Versatile, Lively
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 19-22 inches
> Weight: 48-70 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
Australian Shepherd
> Personality: Smart, Work-Oriented, Exuberant
> Overall popularity: 12 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 20-23 inches (male), 18-21 inches (female)
> Weight: 50-65 pounds (male), 40-55 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
> Group: Herding
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Barbado da Terceira
> Personality: Loyal, Joyful and Fun Loving, Intelligent
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 21-22 inches (male), 19 – 21 inches (female) inches
> Weight: 55-60 pounds (male), 46-57 pounds (female) pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
Beauceron
> Personality: Gentle, Faithful, Obedient
> Overall popularity: 121 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 26-28 inches (male), 24-27 inches (female)
> Weight: 70-110 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Herding
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Belgian Laekenois
> Personality: Affectionate, Alert, Intelligent
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 24-26 inches (male), 22-24 inches (female)
> Weight: 55-65 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Herding
Bergamasco Sheepdog
> Personality: Independent, Sociable, Intelligent
> Overall popularity: 173 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 24 inches (male), 22 inches (female)
> Weight: 70-84 pounds (male), 57-71 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 13-15 years
> Group: Herding
Black Russian Terrier
> Personality: Intelligent, Calm, Powerful
> Overall popularity: 126 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 27-30 inches (male), 26-29 inches (female)
> Weight: 80-130 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Working
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Boerboel
> Personality: Confident, Intelligent, Calm
> Overall popularity: 123 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 24-27 inches (male), 22-25 inches (female)
> Weight: 150-200 pounds
> Life expectancy: 9-11 years
> Group: Working
Bouvier des Flandres
> Personality: Affectionate, Courageous, Strong-Willed
> Overall popularity: 94 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 25-28 inches (male), 24-27 inches (female)
> Weight: 70-100 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Herding
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Boxer
> Personality: Bright, Fun-Loving, Active
> Overall popularity: 14 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 23-25 inches (male), 22-24 inches (female)
> Weight: 65-80 pounds (male), females are about 15 pounds less
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Working
Briard
> Personality: Confident, Smart, Faithful
> Overall popularity: 150 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 23-27 inches (male), 22-26 inches (female)
> Weight: 55-100 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12 years
> Group: Herding
Bullmastiff
> Personality: Affectionate, Loyal, Brave
> Overall popularity: 55 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 25-27 inches (male), 24-26 inches (female)
> Weight: 110-130 pounds (male), 100-120 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 7-9 years
> Group: Working
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Canaan Dog
> Personality: Confident, Alert, Vigilant
> Overall popularity: 184 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 20-24 inches (male), 19-23 inches (female)
> Weight: 45-55 pounds (male), 35-45 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
> Group: Herding
Cane Corso
> Personality: Affectionate, Intelligent, Majestic
> Overall popularity: 25 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 25-28 inches (male), 24-26 inches (female)
> Weight: Proportionate to height
> Life expectancy: 9-12 years
> Group: Working
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Catahoula Leopard Dog
> Personality: Loyal, Independent, Watchful
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 22-24 inches
> Weight: 50-95 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-14 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
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Caucasian Shepherd Dog
> Personality: Fearless, Bold, Kind
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 23-30 inches
> Weight: 99-170 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
> Personality: Independent, Courageous, Self-Confident
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: Minimum 26-28 inches
> Weight: Minimum 88-110 pounds
> Life expectancy: N/A
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
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Chesapeake Bay Retriever
> Personality: Affectionate, Bright, Sensitive
> Overall popularity: 50 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 23-26 inches (male), 21-24 inches (female)
> Weight: 65-80 pounds (male), 55-70 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 10-13 years
> Group: Sporting
Doberman Pinscher
> Personality: Loyal, Fearless, Alert
> Overall popularity: 18 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 26-28 inches (male), 24-26 inches (female)
> Weight: 75-100 pounds (male), 60-90 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Working
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Estrela Mountain Dog
> Personality: Alert, Intelligent, Brave
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 25-29 inches
> Weight: 77-132 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-14 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
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German Shepherd Dog
> Personality: Confident, Courageous, Smart
> Overall popularity: 3 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 24-26 inches (male), 22-24 inches (female)
> Weight: 65-90 pounds (male), 50-70 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
> Group: Herding
Giant Schnauzer
> Personality: Loyal, Alert, Trainable
> Overall popularity: 67 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 26-28 inches (male), 24-26 inches (female)
> Weight: 60-85 pounds (male), 55-75 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
> Group: Working
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Hovawart
> Personality: Alert, Faithful, Intelligent
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 23-28 inches
> Weight: 69-90 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-14 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
Perro de Presa Canario
> Personality: Confident, Calm, Strong-Willed
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 22-26 inches
> Weight: 84-110 pounds
> Life expectancy: 9-11 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
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Puli
> Personality: Loyal, Smart, Home-Loving
> Overall popularity: 143 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 17 inches (male), 16 inches (female)
> Weight: 25-35 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-15 years
> Group: Herding
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Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog
> Personality: Loyal, Independent, Confident Guardian
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 27-29 inches
> Weight: 100-130 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
Rottweiler
> Personality: Loyal, Loving, Confident Guardian
> Overall popularity: 8 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 24-27 inches (male), 22-25 inches (female)
> Weight: 95-135 pounds (male), 80-100 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 9-10 years
> Group: Working
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Spanish Water Dog
> Personality: Playful but also Work-Oriented. Very Active and Upbeat.
> Overall popularity: 149 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 18-20 inches (male), 16-18 inches (female)
> Weight: 40-49 pounds (name), 31-40 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
> Group: Herding
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
> Personality: Clever, Brave, Tenacious
> Overall popularity: 81 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: 14-16 inches
> Weight: 28-38 pounds (male), 24-34 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
> Group: Terrier
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Thai Ridgeback
> Personality: Loyal, Independent, Agile
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 20-24 inches
> Weight: 35-75 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-13 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
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Tibetan Mastiff
> Personality: Independent, Reserved, Intelligent
> Overall popularity: 140 out of all 195 on AKC ranking
> Height: Minimum 26 inches (male), minimum 24 inches (female)
> Weight: 90-150 pounds (male), 70-120 pounds (female)
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
> Group: Working
Tornjak
> Personality: Friendly, Courageous, Intelligent
> Overall popularity: N/A
> Height: 23-28 inches
> Weight: 62-110 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
> Group: Foundation Stock Service
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