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Best Family Watch Dog Breeds: Guard Dogs That Make Great Pets

By Theresa Miller • October 30, 2023

Theresa is a tenured PuppySpot employee and breed expert. She is currently the manager of our Profile Approval department and interacts with our breeders daily. Theresa has been involved in the pet industry for over 20 years and has hands-on experience with many dog breeds. Theresa is also the proud pet parent of Marta, a German Shepherd Dog who is a trained service dog, a miniature Labradoodle named Eleanor, and her two cats, Bonnie and Katie!

Reviewed and fact checked by Bruce Whittle, DVM

Looking for a family dog that’s great with kids and also provides protection? We’ve got some great suggestions below, but keep in mind that a dog that’s great as both the family pet and family guard dog is one that:

Is age-appropriate for your kids (large dogs may not be as good of a fit with small children)
You have trained well to respond to commands (ideally with a professional trainer)
Your children have been taught to give commands to

All dogs should be trained to understand boundaries and to return to you when called, but dogs with natural instincts to protect and that are naturally large and strong could accidentally knock over a small child (for example) without proper training. In addition, larger, stronger dogs are easier to train when they are smaller and more manageable.

Some breeds to consider include:

	Australian Shepherd Medium-sized breed (between 35 and 70 pounds) Natural leader with great herding instincts, so they are always alert to their surroundings. They might herd the kids! Smart dogs They’re very energetic, which makes them great playmates Often used in search and rescue and in agility competitions Browse available Australian Shepherd puppies for sale by breeders
	German Shepherd Dog Fearless, with a natural instinct to protect their family Loyal Can be highly trained (even to listen to commands from kids) Smart dogs Intimidating bark Loving family companion Require a lot of activity and attention Often trained as a police, military, or service dog Browse available German Shepherd Dog puppies for sale by breeders
	Doberman Pinscher Like the German Shepherd Dog, loyal and protective Can be highly trained (to listen to commands from adults and kids) Large dogs (between 70 and 100 pounds) Fierce bark Smart dogs Wonderful family companion Excels in obedience competitions Browse available Doberman Pinscher puppies for sale by breeders
	Newfoundland Strong and massive (between 120 and 180 pounds) One of the nannies of the dog world - gentle and calm with children Cuddly and require only moderate exercise Have a strong bark when they choose to use it Built to withstand cold temperatures Natural swimmers and work in water rescue Do best in larger living spaces Browse available Newfoundland puppies for sale by breeders
	Saint Bernard Along with the Newfoundland, one of the nannies of the dog world - sweet and considerate with children Large size and strength (between 120 and 180 pounds) Cuddly and require only moderate exercise Strong bark Originally bred to be working rescue dogs Love colder climates

If you don’t have small children, you might consider these breeds and ensure that you are socializing them with children as puppies:

	Akita Large and powerful (between 70 and 130 pounds) Loyal and courageous Originally bred to be guard dogs and hunt big game Should be introduced to children at a young age Browse available Akita puppies for sale by breeders
	Bullmastiff Large (between 100 and 130 pounds) Loyal and affectionate Courageous Easy to train Higher energy and need mental stimulation
	Great Dane Powerful and athletic Can weigh between 100 and 200 pounds Do best in larger living spaces but can also make great apartment dogs Easy to train Calm and gentle Giant couch potatoes Browse available Great Dane puppies for sale by breeders
	Belgian Malinois Between 40 and 80 pounds Strong and agile Smart and easily trained Often used as military and police dogs due to their confident and hardworking nature Form a tight bond with human companions and require a lot of attention from their person Browse available Belgian Malinois puppies for sale by breeders
	Catahoula Leopard Dog Between 50 and 90 pounds Agile, powerful, muscular Independent and protective Require firm training and early socialization Affectionate, loyal, and gentle when treated with love and respect by their human
	Rottweiler Protective, loyal, and affectionate Smart dogs Weight between 85 and 135 pounds Excel at police work and herding Can appear intimidating to strangers but often have calm and silly personalities Can come with a docked or full-length tail Fairly active Browse available Rottweiler puppies for sale by breeders