A professional dog trainer has shared a list of five breeds he believes to be the most “protective” – though they do need proper training and early socialisation to “thrive”
A professional dog trainer has listed the five breeds he believes to be the “most protective” of their owners and families – and there’s a controversial mention. Choosing to get a dog is a major commitment that prompts a big lifestyle change.
Before opening your home to a canine companion, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and consider how the dog may impact your life. They need constant care, attention and commitment from their owners for their entire life. Many people do their research before deciding on a breed, with lots of options to consider. Some want a lap dog while others want a protective guard dog.
This is where content creator and “dog behaviour expert” Casey Ray comes in. He regularly shares videos on YouTube offering insight based on his decades of experience working with dogs.
In a recent video, he shared the top five dogs he believes to be the most protective. The trainer began: “I should preface by saying all five of these breeds are more your powerhouse type breeds with big hearts.
“So, early training, early socialisation, structure, maintenance is vital for these dogs to thrive – but when these five breeds have that; fantastic.”
Remember, no matter the breed, never leave a dog unaccompanied around babies and children.
Pit bull terrier
A controversial start, the ownership of pit bulls is a hotly debated topic due to their history as fighting dogs and their intense physical strength.
Casey said “you either hate them” and described them as “the misunderstood protector”.
He said: “The kind of downside to these is their pain tolerance and heart make them ultimate ride or die companions. And that’s exactly, unfortunately, the same reason why they’re good fighting dogs.”
He continued: “But, you know, this breed, they don’t guard out of aggression. They protect out of devotion.” He conceded they are “controversial” but said they “will take a bullet for you”.
The term “pit bull” usually refers to several breeds. Pit bull terriers are a banned breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Owning, breeding, selling, or abandoning a pit bull type dog is against the law here in the UK.
Belgian Malinois
Also known as the Belgian shepherd, the Belgian sheepdog or the Chien de Berger Belge, this breed is a herding dog that’s medium in size.
They’re known for their protective, confident, friendly, hard-working nature, as well as their stubbornness. They’re alert and active dogs, and need lots of exercise, mental stimulation and training.
Casey described this breed – one he has extensive personal experience with – as “the professional guardian”.
He stressed how much he “loves this breed” and praised their loyalty and devotion to their owners.
Dobermann
Dobermanns are relatively large dogs known and loved for their obedience, loyalty and intelligence, as well as their fearlessness alongside their alert, confident temperaments.
They’re usually kept as guard dogs or companion dogs.
Casey said: “This breed is fantastic and [can] be a fantastic family breed, but it will rise up when needed. And again, it goes back to you have [to have] the proper socialisation, training structure on these dogs.
“They know what’s a threat and they will fire up.” He summarised: “Sleek, intelligent, and fiercely loyal.
“Designed to protect and please. They sense danger long before you do and act with precision, not chaos.”
Rottweiler
Casey began: “A blend of mass, muscle, and heart. Protective instinct that runs deep.
“This breed here is the one that actually got both me and my wife into the dog world, the dog industry back in 1994, ‘95, somewhere around there.
“It’s the Rottweiler, the defender with a heart.”
Rottweilers are medium to large dogs that originally hail from Germany. They’re popular thanks to their loyalty, obedience and courage, while their devoted good-naturedness makes them favoured among families.
They’re known to be calm, confident and self-assured but they do require training and early socialisation to “harness” their “territorial instincts in a positive way”, as per the AKC.
Casey added: “The Rottweiler, you cannot go wrong – it’s a fantastic breed.”
German Shepherd
In first place, Casey put “the ultimate protector”, the German shepherd. They’re known for their protective instincts, as well as their loyalty.
This is a strong, intelligent, confident and courageous breed that can be stubborn.
Casey said: “They will take a bullet for you. This dog is strongly bonded to their family and they will rise to the occasion whenever they need to.”
