Top Family Guard Dog For You

Finding the right guard dog for you family is hard as you need to think about all your family not just you and that can make the choice more difficult but here are my top family guard dogs.
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Here on The Will Atherton Canine Show we make videos about man’s best friend so if this is your first time here don’t forget to subscribe! These videos are made and aimed at adults in a stage of their life to purchase or adopt a dog, we want to help them choose the right breed and become excellent canine leaders to help end the number of dogs that end up in shelters.

[@ryanmalone2681]

My Cane Corso goes from 0-100 when people come on the property. As soon as I tell him it’s safe, he’s chill and friendly with the person he just wanted to rip the head off. It’s so cool and he definitely does scare the shit out of everyone. He’s also happy to lounge around the house or go do some exercise, as long as it’s not hot.

[@waitam5014]

KZbin has not post your video in my list for a while. anyway, welcome back if you have been away and thank you for your content. I always enjoyed your presentations.

[@Oldfatbastard57]

For years we had an import Rottweiler who was everything in the breed description but our best watch dog is our dachshund ain’t nothing going on that he isn’t aware of and he is more than willing to step up into the fray , as for the rottie she had no fear but watchfulness wasn’t her strong suit

[@drugfreelifter]

I seen a bloke with a huge black and tan Hovawart last week. A big noble and handsome looking dog with a guarding and watchful presence about it.

[@christopherbloom5259]

Love the channel Will! Long time follower. Recently I've had the pleasure to spend time with my friend's Dogue de Bordeaux. I had never put much thought into them when thinking about a future guardian, but I think they're great. Recency bias of course, but they're smaller than say an English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, or Boerbol; but they're not as high energy as the Cane Corso or Presa Canario. I was wondering if you might have anything to add to my surface level observations. American, but cheers mate

[@katrina2931]

I’ve always lived with giant breeds. My parents had St Bernard’s when I was a kid. As an adult, I’ve had Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and English Mastiffs. The downside is they don’t live terribly long and are extremely strong, so being drug around is going to happen until they’re trained. But dogs from the working dog group are the easiest to live with. They all have a different guarding style. The Saints were an all around protector of property and people. My Newfoundland was very much a personal protection dog, without any training. She moved in many times to guard me personally l but did not guard the property. My mastiffs are mainly concerned with guarding the property and aren’t to quick to guard people, other than stand there looking imposing.

[@JacksonHighlander]

I've been dragged by a monster dog like those you mentioned for 8 feet before. He also threw me around 2 feet when I tried to wrestle him. Freaking loved that dog.

[@zymkriger]

I never hear anyone mention Bouvier des Flanders. I had one for several years and he was amazing with our kids but was also very alert and willing to put himself between his people and a potential threat. I think they are very underrated dogs

[@lornamadden1099]

Agreed 💯

[@perriecampbell3063]

I no longer have one, but Elkhounds are outstanding all-round dogs and would be a great choice for a family guardian.

[@cujo5858]

I love my dog and he loves me. Bullmastiff/Australian shepherd/Doberman mix... mom was a bullmastiff and dad was a Australian shepherd, Doberman pincer mix. He's are guard and I'm his guard.

[@bernardocoelho168]

Could you talk about the groenendael?

[@weotalks2810]

Presa CANARIO..Working GERMAN SHEPHERD AND WORKING ROTTI

[@michaeljuanis1684]

just got my 2ndf rotti, hoping for another awesome 12 years. they keep the house locked down.

[@BiggDaddy479]

Where does the Bull mastiff fit on this list?

[@treyjohnson1728]

I would love too know what you think about neapolitan mastiffs ? Me and my family are highly considering one . great videos .

[@lp9476]

Superb family guardians, but usually a little less stable than many of the other mastiff types. A showline one may be a bit saggier, but it’s likely to have a more stable temperament.

[@treyjohnson1728]

@L P alright thank you for that! What is your thoughts on buying a neo puppy and a newborn? Thank you for the reply btw

[@lp9476]

@@treyjohnson1728 I’m not a fan of puppies in general; big adult dogs are my jam. But yes, that does ensure you’re able to socialise your guardian well! Just be prepared for mastiff adolescence… it’s a special one! 😉

[@treyjohnson1728]

@L P I wonder how tricky haveing a baby and a neo at same time would turn out ?

[@lp9476]

@@treyjohnson1728 I’d personally never recommend a dog and a baby full stop-but it can work beautifully if the dog is well-selected and well-socialised!

[@anshsharma7396]

Cane corse vs boreboel

[@STJ-789]

What do you think of the little known Bouvier des Flandres???

[@christopherbloom5259]

More of a herding dog if I'm not mistaken. Similar but better for guarding, Giant Schnauzer

[@mitmamitmus4113]

Central Asian Shepherd is the best of the best imo

[@amyjenison1861]

Any thoughts on a Presa Canario as a family guard dog?

[@lp9476]

Extremely unwise.

[@sianhall329]

Not an expert, but I wouldn't say they're a good family dog overall. They're bred for killing - be it a predator threatening livestock, an intruder on the property, or a dog they've been thrown in the ring with. So obviously they can be awesome guard dogs, but I don't think they're compatible with family life as they can't really ever be trusted around other people/pets.

[@neverbored8589]

In we temperature can go up to 100°F. Can i keep Newfoundland if i use cooling vest, Cooling mats and AC room? Big fan from Bangladesh. Thank you for your videos.

[@spotsandstripes2]

Ask yourself would you like to live in the freezing cold .. if you care about what’s best for your dog get a breed that is suitable for your climate.. just because you can do something dosent mean you should 🙂

[@neverbored8589]

@@spotsandstripes2 😭

[@bojacksonsuperturtle7411]

Mastiff in the back like “ dislike my dads video and I’ll eat you” 🤣

[@TheCraigy83]

English Mastiff or Borboel , lets face it most of us keep an air rifle or crossbow handy at home.. Both dogs tick the boxes: will they ragdoll a dude YES , will they bite family members if they're being annoying NO...👍🏻

[@weslockley6684]

German Shepherd, end of

[@shae-alexishall2519]

Very 1/100 but my nans family had a newfoundler a story I’ve heard so many times! He dog had just kind of turned one day and completely mauled another boy a family member, he suffer major life threatening injuries his neck and one arm was bitten he lives but the Newfoundlander was out to sleep again very unfortunate circumstances sometimes even a profound breeder has an off dog! This could be due to inbreeding which is to this day a huge issue is breeding your canine but this simply was a bad day bad circumstances because the dog was actually known to be great with kids but there is always and a chance!

[@christian9387]

Why are American Bullies never included in these lists? They fit your description of a perfect family guard dog perfectly.

[@christopherbloom5259]

They're hardly low energy. American XL bullies can be low energy but at the cost of joint health. The APBT and the Amstaff are high energy deep into adulthood

[@smiley19881999]

American bully's are horrendous guard dogs!! bred purely for aesthetic purposes with ever decreasing genetics and they have absolutely zero pedigree of being a working dog in any way shape or form... they are basically a hodge podge of various bull breeds including the unhealthy English and French bulldogs... especially now where we are seeing so many attacks on children from these American/XL bully dogs due to poor breeding. there are probably about 30 other breeds you could put before an American bully that could fit a description of a family guard dog. Will mentions a few here but you could literally be here all day with others ( Rottweiler, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Great Pyrenean, St Bernard, etc etc)

[@Yeoman7]

They suck at guarding, unless you need protection from animals.

[@christian9387]

@@Yeoman7 You're confusing them with APBTs

[@georgekarakas9313]

they aren't guard dog

[@Rigbycat123]

Newfie’s are gorgeous but sadly don’t live very long. You love the droolers don’t you? I hate drooling so most of your suggestions are a ‘nope’ from me. Any others? Like in the Shepherd range?

[@kerrymoore5146]

I’ve just lost my 11 year old Rottie, now I just have my 7 year old Presa. She is a fantastic family dog, but also has incredible guarding instincts

[@BiggDaddy479]

Can we get a cleanest guard dog list? Low to no shedding and slobbering 🤤

[@alexeidenier4072]

Full size poodle would probably be on the list tbh. One of the few dogs that I know of that don't shed and my mom's mut that's part poodle doesn't really drool at all either.

[@perriecampbell3063]

@@alexeidenier4072 I have a Standard Poodle pup (9 months old.) Excellent watch dog, with a big, booming bark that sounds like serious business. But I wouldn't count on one as a guard dog. I've had many breeds of dogs; this is my first poodle and I am absolutely sold on the breed.

[@mikaelh1335]

Rottweiler is number Uno 🦾

[@WildieHere]

Come on,let's be honest... Amstaff May not the best GUARD dog but trust me only other Amstaff owners won't be too scared of yours! Love children,fantastic with other animals,so freaking cute! One of the best family dogs in my opinion! Friendly,loyal,playful,gentle,dramatic,perfect comanion if you ask me!

[@spotsandstripes2]

Depends on how it was bred, some are of unpredictable temperament due to bad breeding ..

[@WildieHere]

@@spotsandstripes2 true but it's not hard to find a responsible breeder

[@georgekarakas9313]

they aren't guard dog its more for protection dog

[@user-qr2gu5jh3o]

Why are there all these videos of these dog’s growling on you tube. ?

[@Ghost-sz7uo]

rottweiler > all of these 3 breeds combined.

[@papabear6860]

It's all subjective, Will is giving his opinion.

[@technophyle7682]

One of the best guardian,yes(best guardian is Caucasian/Georgian shepard in my opinion)but not so great with children

[@Hereward47]

@@technophyle7682 which makes them a liability

[@miichable]

He used energy/exercise requirements as part of his selection process for this video - being a herding breed, Rottweilers have massive exercise needs. I love them too ❤

[@natejackson7580]

They are high on energy and dominant which could result in disaster in a reg lifestyle

[@natejackson7580]

All of them are so big they will have MULTIPLE health issues and live way less than normal dogs

[@johnhesmond7764]

You are so wrong

[@Oldfatbastard57]

For years we had an import Rottweiler who was everything in the breed description but our best watch dog is our dachshund ain’t nothing going on that he isn’t aware of and he is more than willing to step up into the fray , as for the rottie she had no fear but watchfulness wasn’t her strong suit

[@irtap404]

My Rottie is the worst at guarding! He's so friendly it's hilarious, if a stranger comes home (like delivery man) he races towards them wagging his tail. Well he surely looks intimidating and does scare people away!