Ranking · 20 breeds
Best guard and protection dog breeds
In short The best guard and protection breeds are strong, brave and devoted defenders of home and family. These are serious dogs that need training, socialization and an experienced owner.
How we rated
Selected by guarding purpose (large and giant guardian breeds), ranked by size and power.
1
Pyrenean Mastiff (Mastín del Pirineo)
Family 5.0
Training 3.5
Weather 5.0
77 cm
2
Anatolian Shepherd Dog (Karabash)
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
76 cm
3
Kangal Shepherd Dog
Family 4.0
Training 3.0
Weather 4.5
76 cm
4
Akbash Dog
Family 4.0
Training 2.5
Weather 5.0
76 cm
5
English Mastiff
Family 5.0
Training 3.5
Weather 3.5
75 cm
6
Kuchi Dog (Afghan Shepherd)
Family 3.5
Training 2.5
Weather 5.0
75 cm
7
Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog)
Family 4.5
Training 2.5
Weather 4.5
73 cm
8
Broholmer
Family 5.0
Training 3.5
Weather 4.0
72 cm
9
Moscow Watchdog
Family 4.5
Training 3.5
Weather 5.0
72 cm
10
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
72 cm
11
American Tundra Shepherd
Family 3.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
72 cm
12
Bucovina Shepherd Dog (Ciobănesc de Bucovina)
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
71 cm
13
Buryat-Mongolian Wolfhound
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
70 cm
14
Black Russian Terrier
Family 4.0
Training 4.0
Weather 4.0
70 cm
15
Kuvasz
Family 4.0
Training 3.0
Weather 4.5
70 cm
16
Poligar Hound (Rajapalayam Dog)
Family 4.0
Training 3.0
Weather 3.5
70 cm
17
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Family 3.5
Training 2.5
Weather 4.5
70 cm
18
Komondor
Family 3.5
Training 2.5
Weather 4.0
70 cm
19
Rafeiro do Alentejo
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
69 cm
20
East European Shepherd
Family 4.5
Training 5.0
Weather 5.0
68 cm
Pyrenean Mastiff (Mastín del Pirineo)
Family 5.0
Training 3.5
Weather 5.0
77 cm
2
Anatolian Shepherd Dog (Karabash)
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
76 cm
3
Kangal Shepherd Dog
Family 4.0
Training 3.0
Weather 4.5
76 cm
4
Akbash Dog
Family 4.0
Training 2.5
Weather 5.0
76 cm
5
English Mastiff
Family 5.0
Training 3.5
Weather 3.5
75 cm
6
Kuchi Dog (Afghan Shepherd)
Family 3.5
Training 2.5
Weather 5.0
75 cm
7
Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog)
Family 4.5
Training 2.5
Weather 4.5
73 cm
8
Broholmer
Family 5.0
Training 3.5
Weather 4.0
72 cm
9
Moscow Watchdog
Family 4.5
Training 3.5
Weather 5.0
72 cm
10
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
72 cm
11
American Tundra Shepherd
Family 3.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
72 cm
12
Bucovina Shepherd Dog (Ciobănesc de Bucovina)
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
71 cm
13
Buryat-Mongolian Wolfhound
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
70 cm
14
Black Russian Terrier
Family 4.0
Training 4.0
Weather 4.0
70 cm
15
Kuvasz
Family 4.0
Training 3.0
Weather 4.5
70 cm
16
Poligar Hound (Rajapalayam Dog)
Family 4.0
Training 3.0
Weather 3.5
70 cm
17
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Family 3.5
Training 2.5
Weather 4.5
70 cm
18
Komondor
Family 3.5
Training 2.5
Weather 4.0
70 cm
19
Rafeiro do Alentejo
Family 4.5
Training 3.0
Weather 5.0
69 cm
20
East European Shepherd
Family 4.5
Training 5.0
Weather 5.0
68 cm
How the ranking is built
order: Height → Family → Training → Weather → breed · list composition as on the site, order by this rule
FAQ
Which breeds are best for guarding?
Cane Corso, Rottweiler, Dobermann, shepherds, Kangal, Tibetan and Pyrenean mastiffs, Giant Schnauzer, Black Russian Terrier.
Are guard dogs safe for the family?
Yes, with proper training and socialization — they are devoted to their family; aggression comes from a lack of training, not the breed.
Can a novice get a guarding breed?
Better not — the strength and guarding instinct call for experience, consistency and early socialization.