The Best Guard Dog for Children: A Comprehensive Guide
All dogs were bred for a purpose of some kind — for example, herding, hunting, or simply companionship. Yet, some breeds are also natural-born protectors, and these dogs make brilliant guard dogs.
And, while they make superb deterrents for intruders, what if you have kids? Not all of these canines mix well with youngsters.
The Best Guard Dog Breeds — What To Consider?
A common misconception is that all guard dogs should be vicious and aggressive breeds. These canines aren’t fighting dogs and shouldn’t show aggression unless they’re provoked. Instead, the best guard dog for family life should be more about the protection they offer.
The personality of the best dog breeds for guarding can be just as important as their physical makeup and size when they’re around children.
Patience
Kids can be energetic, loud, and unpredictable, especially when they’re younger. So, how the dog reacts when in the company of children is crucial.
Is the dog gentle enough to deal with infants and learn how to interact with toddlers as they grow? Or, is the breed more suited to older children who can take the responsibility to be more gentle with the dog?
The best guard dogs for children are breeds known to be incredibly tolerant of kids, just not that tolerant of intruders!
Intelligence
How easy is the chosen breed to train? While any puppy needs a consistent training routine, the best family guard dogs will need to demonstrate more obedience and be quick learners. Many protector dogs are large, powerful canines that can become unruly and destructive if not trained properly from an early age.
Protection dog training should teach the pup exactly how to behave when safeguarding the family and how to avoid exhibiting aggressive behavior when it isn’t needed or wanted. A good guard dog should be able to respond to an owner's command to back off.
Alertness
Does the pooch notice details and recognize potential threats instantly? Good protector dogs will understand the family routine of the house and be able to identify when something is off.
Many of the best family security dogs will happily tell their owners when the mailman approaches the home, or they hear footsteps outside the door. Barking and whining can be a good indicator of a potential threat for you to investigate.
Courage
Does your pup have what it takes to be a brave guardian dog? Dogs protecting their owners have a long history, going back to when humans first domesticated wolves. Unfortunately, as we’ve adopted even more breeds into our lifestyles, some have become too domesticated and can be nervous or less confident pups.
The best dog for security and family lifestyles isn’t nervous around strangers. Brave and confident dogs make for ideal family watch dogs who will guard the whole family and home.Our 10 Favorite Black Dog Breeds With Pointy Ears
Black dogs with pointy ears come from all walkies of life and in all sizes. Here are 10 of our favorite tailwaggers with upright, or prick ears, to suit almost everyone.
1. German Shepherd
Height: 22 - 26 inches
Weight: 50 - 90 pounds
German Shepherds are considered by many to be the best dogs for protection on the planet. This breed has a long history as a police and military dog. Their loyal and protective nature also makes them great companions for children.
GSDs are large family dogs with a confidence that could easily intimidate strangers, and they will bark if they feel a threat is close to your home. Although courageous, the German Shepherd isn’t aggressive, they’re a very gentle breed who loves kids.
2. Doberman Pinscher
Height: 24 - 28 inches
Weight: 60 - 100 pounds
Most people know Doberman Pinschers as the best dogs for security — often patrolling around properties for intruders. With their stern appearance, alert ears, and threatening bark, they will deter most people.
Dobermans were purposefully bred as guard dogs, they would protect tax collectors in Germany while collecting debts. As such, this breed is fiercely loyal to their owners and views kids as cherished members of their pack to defend.
Highly intelligent dogs, Dobermans learn quickly and make fun companions. As long as the Doberman gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, they can be calm and patient playmates for children.
3. Boxer
Height: 21.5 - 25 inches
Weight: 50 - 80 pounds
A perfect example of ‘all bark, no bite,’ Boxers look more menacing than the fun-loving pups they actually are. Distant cousins of Bulldogs, they share the same intimidating snarl but are thought to get their name from their playful nature — they often stand on their hind legs and jab with their front paws when playing.
The Boxer’s constant craving for human affection, especially from children, is one of the more enduring aspects of the breed. In addition, they’re loyal, passionate, and tolerant with young ones, but also good protector dogs. Sharp and alert, the Boxer is always on the lookout for potential threats or an intruder.
Early socialization and puppy obedience classes are essential to channel all the joyful exuberance of this breed. Highly intelligent, these dogs are easy to train, although get bored pretty quickly. For more frail adults or smaller toddlers, sometimes their playful bounciness can be overwhelming. However, Boxers will also use that natural athleticism when protecting the family.
4. Bernese Mountain Dog
Height: 25 - 27.5 inches
Weight: 80 - 115 pounds
With a heritage that can be traced back to Roman times, Bernese Mountain Dogs (affectionately known as Berners) would be used to herd and guard livestock. Berners are intelligent dogs who are reserved around unfamiliar faces — perfect guardian dogs for a modern family.
These canines are also warm-hearted, so don’t expect them to do much more than bark and growl (often with a tail wag too) if they sense a threat or an intruder. But they do have a big bark, and their imposing size is an equally large deterrent.
Intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please the whole family, the Berner is especially patient and loving with children (they’ll even let them sleep in their dense coat). Living with a Bernese Mountain Dog does come with a big commitment to grooming though, with that thick double coat requiring daily brushing, and it does shed — a lot!
5. Rottweiler
Height: 24 - 27 inches
Weight: 95 - 135 pounds
Rottweilers have received a pretty bad rap over the years and are often portrayed as vicious dogs who should be kept away from children. However, with the right upbringing, the Rottweiler can make a calm, confident, and lion-hearted companion, and one of the best guard dogs for families.
Large, powerful, and self-assured, Rotties can appear quite imposing. Just one sight of this brawny breed should be enough to keep most intruders away. An incredibly smart canine, Rottweilers can detect the slightest of variations in their surroundings, objects, and people too.
6. Great Dane
Height: 28 - 32 inches
Weight: 110 - 175 pounds
If you’re looking for a goofy guard dog for your children, the ‘gentle giant’ that is the Great Dane won’t disappoint. With their clown-like antics, kids will love the Great Dane, but intruders won’t. Fiercely loyal and protective Great Danes make good family watch dogs.
Their impressive size and deep bark are normally enough to scare off most unwanted visitors, which is a good job as they’re incredibly sociable animals. But, when confronted with a situation where they sense a threat, the Great Dane will happily face off with anybody trying to mess with their family.
7. Giant Schnauzer
Height: 23.5 - 27.5 inches
Weight: 55 - 85 pounds
Giant Schnauzers make the best family guard dogs when somebody in the house suffers from allergies. The wiry coat of this breed is non-shedding, meaning they’re classed as hypoallergenic dogs.
Giant in size, this Schnauzer also has a giant, loyal, protective, and bond-forming nature, making them one the best dog breeds for guarding. For hundreds of years, police in Europe have been using Schnauzers as detection, protection, and guard dogs.
Although normally placid, the Giant is extremely vigilant and territorial, they feel it's their duty to keep their family safe and will not hesitate to defend them. Don’t worry though, Giant Schnauzers are bright dogs who are easy to train. Plus, they’re sturdy enough to play with the rowdiest of kids.
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Height: 14 - 16 inches
Weight: 24 - 38 pounds
A dog that looks like a Pitbull, the Staffie is one of the best family guard dogs for owners who may live in smaller spaces such as an apartment. Fortunately, good breeding has transformed this former gladiator of a fighting dog into a mild-mannered, playful companion with a special affinity with children.
The instinct to guard and protect still remains in this breed, earning them the nickname of a ‘nanny’ dog. Staffies can be extremely loyal and often treat children as one of their pack to keep a watch over at all times.
9. Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Height: 23 - 30 inches
Weight: 99 - 170 pounds
When you first see the Caucasian, you may think these large dogs look so scary you wouldn’t want them anywhere near your children. (You probably won’t get too many people offering to visit either). But, with a big yard and a confident dog owner who can meet the challenge of training, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs make one of the best family guard dogs.
This breed has been used for centuries to protect properties from trespassers and guard livestock from both large and small predators, such as wolves and coyotes. Hence, they know a thing or two about protection.
Yet, the Caucasian is way more gentle, loving, and affectionate with children than they ought to be. Although they can be an active breed outdoors, in the home this Shepherd Dog is fairly quiet. However, should an intruder step foot over those boundaries, they will receive a Caucasian-style ‘welcome’ that would deter all but the most foolhardy.
10. Bullmastiff
Height: 25 - 27 inches
Weight: 110 - 130 pounds
Bullmastiffs used to be known as the ‘game keeper’s night dog’ — they were employed to guard the nobility of England’s estates from poachers. Not quite as large as his cousin the Mastiff, this breed is still a formidable size that should put off most intruders.
The Bullmastiff has natural protective instincts and thrives in a family atmosphere. Known as silent watchdogs, they don’t bark like crazy, the Bullmastiff will step in if their family is in danger — they can easily knock a grown man to the floor.
Final Thoughts
Many people would argue that guard dogs and kids don’t mix — their defensive nature can pose a risk of harm to your children. Typically protector pooches tend to be larger in physical size, more energetic, and have an intimidating presence with a deep-throated bark to deter any potential threats.
If you’re looking for the best guard dog for children, hopefully, our 10 dogs will give you some ideas. Remember though, as with all dogs, training and socialization is key to ensuring your child is safe with their new guardian.
The Best Guard Dogs for Children FAQs
Which Dog Is Most Protective of Children?
German Shepherd Dogs are widely recognized as being the best dog for families who want a pooch to protect their child. The GSD forms strong bonds with the family and looks after kids as if they are their own pack, both in the home and when outdoors.
What Is the Safest Dog Breed for Children?
Although you don’t want an over-friendly guard dog, you should be confident enough to leave the pup in the same household as your children. Gentle giants like the Great Dane are super calm dogs who very rarely show aggression to anybody and are gentle with children.
Are Guard Dogs Safe Around Kids?
Traditionally, many people are scared of guard dogs, that’s why they make the best dog breeds for guarding. With the correct training though, protection dogs can be completely fine around children.
Early socialization is key with most dogs, always try to get the guard dog as a puppy who can grow up alongside your child.
What Is the Easiest Guard Dog To Train?
Although some breeds may require specialized protection dog training, the German Shepherd, with their high levels of trainability can just about be trained by anybody to do almost anything. As a highly intelligent pup, the GSD is employed in many roles, such as a police dog, military companion dog, guide dog, therapy dog, and of course, a guard dog.
Which Is the Best Dog for Families Who Are First Time Dog Owners?
Again, German Shepherd Dogs win this title. With their awesome brain power, willingness to learn, and gentle yet courageous nature, most dog lovers and breed experts would happily recommend the GSD to first-time owners.