What Breeds of Dogs Will Instinctively Protect Me in an Attack?

Certain dog breeds are known to be protective in temperament. This characteristic combined with size and strength can make the dog an ideal choice for an individual who wants a dog that will protect him and his family if necessary. Dogs that fall into this category will generally require firm training at an early age to ensure that the animals will make suitable family pets.

  1. Bullmastiff

    • The Bullmastiff has been rated as the most effective guard dog by the Pet Meds Online website. This breed was developed by mixing the British Bulldog with the Mastiff to create a dog with a loyal and courageous temperament. The Bullmastiff will use its massive size to its advantage when protecting its owner. It does this by knocking over the intruder and then pinning the person down or standing in front of the attacker to stop them from getting past. This dog likes to be close to its owners all the time and does not like to be left alone, although it is generally wary of strangers.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback

    • The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed was developed in South Africa to act as a guard dog and to hunt lions. Because of this the dog has a fearless and independent temperament and will protect its owner with aggression if necessary. Despite this the Ridgeback is generally reliable around children according to the American Kennel Club. The owner of this dog should pay attention if it begins to bark, as it will usually only do so for good reason.

    German Shepherd

    • The German Shepherd has a strong protective instinct and for this reason the breed is often used to aid police and search and rescue teams. The German Shepherd is the third most intelligent dog breed in the world, notes Pet Meds Online. The German Shepherd is a dependable dog that will defend its owner fearlessly when required, although it is important for children to treat it with respect. The American Kennel Club state on its website that the breed is one of the most popular dogs kept as a family pet in the United States.

    Rottweiler

    • The Rottweiler has a good-natured, calm temperament when in the company of its family. It is affectionate with children and adults and is sometimes used as a therapy dog, although it will exhibit fiercely protective behavior if it feels that its family is under threat. This dog has a large amount of stamina and has an extremely high tolerance of pain, meaning that it will not retreat if it is hurt by an attacker.