Top 12 Protective Pooches That Love Families (and Keep Them Safe)

Are you looking for a guard dog for your family with children? You might consider medium-to-large breeds with a protective yet gentle temperament. While German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are popular choices, there are many other suitable options. Remember, no dog should be left unsupervised with children regardless of breed. In this article, experts from various fields will share their insights on the best guard dogs for families.

Great Pyrenees

For families with young children, I recommend avoiding high-intensity guard dog breeds like German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, or Dutch Shepherds. Instead, consider a Great Pyrenees, a livestock guardian breed with a mellow temperament. Their deep, intimidating bark makes them excellent watchdogs, and they form strong bonds with their families, tolerating children’s antics well. Great Pyrenees are exceptional guardians for both your family and property.

Boxers

Boxers are instinctive guardians who love being with their families, especially children. Their tolerance, loyalty, and protective nature make them a popular choice for families. Always alert to potential dangers, they are excellent guard dogs. Boxers require daily exercise but need minimal grooming.

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American Bulldogs

Known for their gentle demeanor and large presence, these gentle giants have the ability to integrate into a family setting seamlessly. American Bulldogs are affectionate, loving, intelligent and hard working – making them the perfect fit for a family protection dog.

Giant Schnauzers

Giant Schnauzers make incredible protection dogs, especially in houses where allergies are a concern. Their non-shedding and hypoallergenic coats ensure that you won’t have to sacrifice comfort for protection. For hundreds of years, Giant Schnauzers have been used as protection, guard, police and detection dogs. They are loving and gentle, yet able to protect the entire family at a moment’s notice.

Czech Shepherds

Czech Shepherds are beautiful, large shepherds with incredible smarts and fierce loyalty. They bond easily with their family and love to work. Czech Shepherds have a keen sense of emotion and are able to decipher human emotion easily. This makes them empathetic dogs that will comfort family members in times of stress as well as protect in times of danger.

German Shepherds

The German Shepherd is the best guard dog for families with children. Originating from Germany as a herding dog, it is now popular in the USA for its versatility as a police, military, and assistance dog. Highly intelligent and energetic, it learns quickly and enjoys various activities. Though not very friendly with other dogs, it is a terrific family pet that loves spending time with children and effectively protects your home and family.

Bullmastiffs

Bullmastiffs are another great choice for guard dogs for families with children. They are small, but they can still be an incredible threat to intruders. They have an innate sense to understand who belongs to the property and bark accordingly.

Great Dane

This dog breed is known for its huge size, and makes for an excellent guard dog as they are intimidating and intelligent. However, they are gentle giants, and do very well with families that have children, especially as they are very loving and loyal. The only warning I give is that due to their size they can accidentally knock a child over when excited!

Doberman

Originally bred in 1860 by a German tax collector, Dobermans are one of the finest security dog breeds. With a sleek and muscular build, this medium-sized dog is useful for several dog sports, military, and police activities. We give bonus points for the breed’s loyalty.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are amazing dogs for families with children. Their instinct is to guard and protect, hence, they’re commonly referred to as a ‘nanny’ dog. They are extremely loyal and will treat children as one of the pack to be on the look out for at all times. While they are protective of their ‘family’, they generally won’t express aggression to threats unless provoked, making them excellent guard dogs and family dogs.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

At first glance, this dog looks scary and you might not want him anywhere near your kids. But if you have a yard where he can enjoy and spend time, you will get the best possible family guard dog. Caucasian Shepherd Dog is way too gentle, loving, and affectionate with children. Do not let his gigantic size scare you. Plus, they are amazing guard dogs. They set the boundaries, and anyone trying to cross the line, will hear a loud roar and bark that will make them think twice.

Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are also a good option but require significant training. Though pups can sometimes be a little too playful with kids, a dog is always like an adult in the house with the kid, if trained well.