Guard dogs have personality traits that make them effective at defending their owners and properties. Intelligence, bravery, loyalty and a defensive instinct make breeds like the German Shepherd suitable as guard animals. Other than the shepherd, plenty of other breeds have these same instincts along with extra attributes that are beneficial.

Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large, powerful breed. It grows to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 100 lbs. The dog has a stout, muscular body and an imposing look. It is a naturally loyal and protective breed but is not overly aggressive. It is gentle with children and its family but will not back down from a threat posed by an intruder.

Akita

The Akita is a large, powerful breed, growing to 28 inches at the shoulder. It is heavily muscled, has a thick, two-layer coat and a curled tail. It is a natural guardian and will raise the alarm loudly if it detects an intruder. The breed’s temperament can differs from dog to dog so it is not ideal for families with small children.

Bouvier des Flandres

The Bouvier des Flandres is a large breed that grows to 27 inches at the shoulder. It has a sturdy, square body type with a long, double-layer coat. It is a brave, loyal and protective breed which makes a good family companion. It requires a lot of exercise and may become too playful around small children if not supervised.

Rottweiler

The rottweiler is an imposing, muscular breed, growing to 27 inches at the shoulder. If trained well and socialized, the dog is a loving pet. It enjoys time with its family and will defend its people from strangers with intense courage. The dog needs to be introduced to new people before it will trust them.

Kuvasz

The kuvasz is a large breed that grows to 30 inches at the shoulder. It originated from Tibet and has a thick, double-layer coat. Its natural guarding instinct makes it a good flock protector and it was used for centuries to defend sheep and cattle from wild predators. It is a reserved breed and does not show huge amounts of affection, but will protect its family courageously.

Komondor

The komondor is a large breed, growing to 25 inches at the shoulder. It has a distinctive, two-layer, corded coat which looks very much like a mop. This coat protects it from the bites of other animals. It, like the kuvasz, is a livestock protector. It is loving with its family but is suspicious and defensive towards strangers.