A truly versatile dog, the Giant Schnauzer can be trained for any role. Whether you need a guard dog or one trained for therapy, this breed is highly intelligent, easy to train, and loves to be around people.

Originating in Germany in the nineteenth century, this large, powerful dog was crossbred  between Standard Schnauzer and a Great Dane as cattlemen needed a bigger dog to help drive their herd. During the twentieth century, they were used as a guard dog, and later, and for the military during World War II. For awhile, this breed faded in popularity but has seen a recent rise lately as it reprised its role as a herd dog.

This is a highly intelligent, active breed and is not suited for apartment living unless you want the dog to bounce off the walls. A nice adequate yard and frequent walks will keep your Giant Schnauzer happy and healthy.

Also, these dogs do very little shedding, so they need constant brushing and grooming or their coat tends to get knotted. The colors of their coat range from solid black to a salt and pepper mix.

The Giant Schnauzer makes an excellent guard dog for they were bred for the sole purpose of working. Their large size and strong bark make excellent deterrents to intruders. They have boundless levels of energy, and at the same time, with proper training, are calm loyal dogs. They love being around their master and respond well to training as long as a firm, consistent pack mentality is established. Giant Schnauzers tend to be dominating, so the key to training is to understand your role in the pack. You must be the Alpha male and demonstrate authority with a calm and consistent manner.

Without proper training, these dogs can become overprotective and immediately suspicious when introduced to new, or less familiar, faces.  Also, without the proper daily exercise and mental stimulation, they can get destructive. If not kept busy, these dogs will find something to do whether it’s rearranging your living room or digging up your yard. Most people who buy Giant Schnauzers tend to give up on this breed within two years because of the high level of maintenance this beautiful dog needs.

As with any large breed dog, exercise and proper grooming, firm and consistent training are keys to keeping the animal in good health.

Around the world there is much debate as to which dogs make the best ones for guard duty. Most experts just judge the effectiveness of dogs they are familiar with, while ignoring unfamiliar less local dogs. Most lists tend to be regional and not global. In England, large terriers show up higher on the list, while in Europe they tend to lean toward the traditional dogs like German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers. American lists tend to add Pit Bull terriers and while the Japanese add the Tosa Inu. The top ten list here takes these factors into account and presents a good balance of guard dogs from around the world.

10. Tosa Inu

The Tosa Inu is a stately, massive dog.  Bred for hundreds of years in Japan, the Tosa is surprising athletic and agile. With a large head and broad skull, it has a large mouth with very powerful jaws.  The sheer size and deep bark of this dog is an excellent deterrent for intruders.  Tosa Inus are crossbreeds between Great Danes, Saint Bernards, and Mastiffs and were created to be large fighting dogs.  They are highly intelligent and do not need repetitious training, but do to their size, they should not be left with children unsupervised.

9. American Akita

The American Akita, separate from the Akita Inu, is a large dog breed that originated in the mountains of Japan.  The Akita is a beautifully striking dog with the appearance of strength and nobility.  Physically, these dogs were bred for cold weather. They have luxuriously thick coats and large bear-like heads. They are very affectionate, loyal and very territorial. They tend to be socially dominant towards other dogs, reserved barkers, and can be hard to train. But unlike the Tosa, the Akita is well suited for families looking for more than a watch dog.

8. Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer is a large compact dog that operates well in clear defined pack relationships. It is a calm, versatile work dog that loves to be with its owner at all times. The Giant Schnauzer is easy to train and responds to firm consistent behavior. The key to this breed is for it understand that all other humans around it are higher up in the pack. The Giant Schnauzer lives in pack mentality, and it is crucial to have a consistent behavior with this dog to remain a great guard dog.

7. Komondor

The Komondor is a large dog with Hungarian origins that is covered with a heavy corded coat and a robust body. The Komondor is a natural guardian that is used to protect livestock and property. These dogs were almost wiped out during World War 2 when the Germans and Russians had to slay them before entering the properties they were invading.

6. Puli

Similar to the Komondor, the Puli is a medium sized guard dog. Its fur is similar to the Komondor and differs in color and tends to be darker than its cousins.  The Puli is an intelligent, agile dog used both for guarding and herding livestock and are very loyal, easy to train dogs.

5. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed that is indigenous to South Africa. The Ridgeback’s distinguishing feature is the ridge of hair along its back running in the opposite direction to the rest of its coat and are typically muscular with a light wheaten coat, which should be short, dense, sleek and glossy in appearance and neither woolly nor silky. Ridgebacks are loyal and intelligent, but tend to be aloof to strangers. A Ridgeback of proper temperament will be more inclined to ignore a stranger than to challenge them. This breed requires positive, reward-based training, good socialization and consistency, and is often not the best choice for inexperienced dog owners.

4. Bull Mastiff

The Bullmastiff is a powerful dog, which was originally a cross between the English Mastiff and the Old English Bulldog. Originally bred to find and immobilize poachers, the breed has proven popular as a family pet. A Bullmastiff can be fearless and confident, yet docile. It has a very strong protective instinct and will defend against any threat to its owners, as well as any threat to its territory. Their protective instinct combined with their great size and natural wariness of strangers means that early socialization and obedience training are essential.

3. Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is a medium to large breed originating in Germany as a herding dog. It is a hardy and very intelligent breed with well developed genetic herding and guarding instincts, but the potentially dangerous behavior in Rottweilers usually results from irresponsible ownership, abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization and training.

2. Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. The Pinscher are short coat dogs compactly built with endurance and speed and have a proud, watchful, determined, and obedient temperament. Although once commonly used as guard dogs, watch dogs, or police dogs, this is less common today.

1. German Shepherd

One of the most registered breeds in the world, German Shepherds are a relatively new breed of dog, whose origins date to 1899, and were developed originally for herding sheep. The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose. Because of their strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training they are often employed in police and military roles. Shepherds have a loyal nature and bond well with people they know.  They are in the top five on most guard dog lists.

Note, while the Pit Bull is a popular dog, it is also the top dog for viciousness and I would not recommend it for a guard dog due to its chaotic temperament and history. The Pit Bull can be a very loving dog and excellent deterrent as a watch dog and we need to bring these loving dogs back into the world as a safe breed for families.