Guardian Dogs
Guardian
dogs are not for everybody. These
dogs were bred to guard houses, people, valuables and livestock. Relatively gentle traditional search and rescue
dogs are also considered guard
dogs, such as
Newfoundlands and
Saint Bernards. These
dogs serve as guardians over the lost and injured, instead of guarding against human or animal predators. They make wonderful and dependable pets, even with their large size and excessive drooling.
Doberman pinschers,
mastiffs and rottweilers are among
dogs who were bred to guard people and property. They do tend to be more dominant than other breeds. If your guardian
dog is poorly bred, not socialized enough or untrained, their guarding instincts can work against you. They bond tightly with their family, but even when socialized, they can be wary of strangers. Your guardian
dog must be very well socialized and always be supervised with others, if you love to entertain and have company over at your house.
Maremma sheepdog and Great Pyrenees are among the guardian
dogs that were bred to protect livestock rather than humans. Many of these
dogs are still used like this today, in the United States farms and ranches, as well as in their countries of origin. Sometimes, the protective instinct of these guardian
dogs can put them at odds with a human household. Their job is to protect their herd, and they make great watchdogs because they see their owners as their herd. However, they may overwhelm a family not experienced with dominant
dogs, and be wary of strangers and strange animals.
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