If you’re a first-time dog owner, the experience can be overwhelming but exciting. Several factors need to be considered when choosing a dog for the first time, such as your needs and lifestyle. The selection process becomes even more complicated when looking for a guard dog as a first-time dog owner. It is crucial to check out breeds that can be the best guard dog for first-time owners. This article discusses what to look for and a few things to keep in mind.
Top 5 Breeds That Make the Best Guard Dog for First Time Owner
Bernese Mountain Dog
What is the best guard dog for first time owner? This breed is a huge and intimidating breed that can weigh up to 160 pounds. It can grow up to a height of 27 inches.
When it comes to temperament, it is a rather good-natured dog. It is known to be a friendly and calm dog.
The Bernese is extremely loving and patient. It gets along well with kids, although they require optimum socialization to make sure they have good interactions with kids and other pets.
This breed is extremely intelligent and highly trainable. They are easy-going to please their human owners. They love the challenge of learning something new.
But owners need to be cautious. Because of their size, energy, and strength, they might be a handful. It is recommended to train them at the puppy stage when they are easier to handle. What is the best guard dog for first time owner?
Although the Bernese is a calm and gentle dog, he is a mix of Mastiff and other guard dog breeds, which gives him a natural protective instinct to defend his territory and family.
The Bernese is loyal and extremely devoted to his human family. Although they seem calm and standoffish with strangers, this breed can attack if the situation warrants it.
Boxer
What is the best guard dog for first time owner? Boxers are a medium to large-sized breed and can weigh up to 80 pounds. They can reach a height up to 25 inches. Boxers are known for their playfulness and high-energy. They require plenty of physical activity to stave off boredom and to keep them from developing destructive habits.
The Boxer is extremely patient and a great addition to your family since he is good with kids. This breed makes a loving and loyal pet who wants to be in his human owners’ company, with which he has formed a strong bond.
Boxers are intelligent and highly trainable. If you want them to be the ultimate guard dogs, start training them at the puppy stage. They are large and muscular dogs that need to be controlled. But Boxers are fast learners, which makes training them a fun and rewarding activity.
As with every breed, it is crucial to socialize them early to make sure that they grow to be an even-tempered and friendly dog.
By nature, Boxers aren’t aggressive. But they are instinctively protective. Boxers are distrustful of strangers but welcoming to friendly people who pose no harm. The Boxer can switch to the fighting mode when it is extremely necessary to defend his territory and his family.
Boxers are extremely playful and affectionate. They have close bonds to their family and highly trainable. Boxers are great for first time owners without much experience with dogs.
Great Dane
What is the best guard dog for first time owner? The Great Dane is a large and imposing breed that can weigh up to 180 pounds. They can reach a height up to 31 inches. They hold the record of being the tallest dog. One Great Dane measured 44 inches.
Great Danes are a cross between the English Mastiff and Irish wolfhound. They were bred for hunting wild boars.
Although they have an intimidating appearance, Great Danes are known for their gentleness, nobility, and friendliness when it comes to their temperament. They are known as gentle giants because of their tenderness and playfulness, especially with kids.
Great Danes want to be with your family and get along well with other animals and enjoy the company of people, including strangers. What is the best guard dog for first time owner?
You can depend on this breed to guard your home and family, especially when there is a threat. In such cases, Great Danes are dependable protectors.
Because of their size, it is crucial to enroll them in obedience training classes at the puppy stage to ensure that they are manageable and have good manners when they grow into adults.
Great Danes are people pleasers making them highly trainable. But it would be best if you were firm and consistent. This breed is a good match for first time dog owners because of this breed’s good nature. You can integrate them successfully into your family.
Leonberger
This breed is a giant dog and can weigh up to 150 pounds. They can reach a height up to 30 inches. Leonberger is a mix between the Newfoundland, St. Bernard as well as the great Pyrenees breeds. They exhibit the good qualities of these breeds. What is the best guard dog for first time owner?
Despite its immense size, this dog is gentle and friendly. It is an awesome family dog who is patient and playful, especially with kids.
The Leonberger enjoys interacting with people and wants to be always close to his family. It cannot bear being left alone for long periods.
This breed makes a loyal and obedient companion to his human owners. It is a dependable watchdog who can protect and alert his family in emergencies. They are not aggressive dogs and can adjust to any situation.
But it is crucial to socialize them early, so they do not grow into fearful and suspicious dogs.
Because of their size, it is crucial to start training them at the puppy stage. They are extremely intelligent and have an urge to please and obey their human owners. This breed is trainable, but you need to be calm and patient with them. They make awesome guard dogs for first time owners.
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is under the working dog category. It is a large breed and can weigh up to 176 pounds. They can reach up to 28 inches in height.
Originally, they were bred to aid anglers in Canada. They are well known as a rescue water dog.
Newfoundlands are a large and strong breed. But when it comes to their temperament, they are calm and docile. They have a good and sweet nature, which is one of the crucial characteristics of the breed.
What is the best guard dog for first time owner? Their temperament makes them awesome as a family dog. They are great with kids. When you factor in their size, strength, and vigilant, loyal, and reliable disposition, they can be the ultimate guard dog. The Newfoundland is ready to protect its human owners and will put himself between family and intruders.
This breed is extremely social and needs to be around family and other pets. It cannot stand being left alone for long periods.
You must socialize and train them early. It makes sure that they will grow to be a well-balanced dog.
Newfoundlands are people pleasers and highly trainable. But do keep in mind that they will only respond to gentle and patient training. Avoid applying harsh methods and corrections.
Top 8 Tips for First Time Owners That Have Young Children – Best Guard Dog for First Time Owner
It should be acknowledged that every dog is an individual dog. Although the breed of dog predicts its behavior, there will always be exceptions to the rule.
A first-time dog owner will make mistakes
A first-time owner will make plenty of mistakes. Dogs bred as guard dogs might bite, be aggressive, and be dangerous to young kids. As a first-time owner, it is crucial to be cautious when selecting a dog.
Training is crucial
First off, no dog will be a dependable guard dog until they are trained. You need to commit to serious obedience training. Six weeks of classes might not be enough. You need to maintain and train them well. Even if your dog has undergone protection program classes, they still need consistent and continuous work. Behavior and training should be reinforced. A dog that is not well-trained can be a real danger. You will need to have them undergo basic obedience. Only after this can you start training them as a guard dog. You need to continually reinforce the training and make it clear what are acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Know what dog breeds can do
It is crucial to distinguish between dogs. Some breeds can provide an alert. It is typical of smaller breed such as Terriers. But they might alert you for every insignificant event. Such as when a tree drops or the mailman comes.
In some cases, you will only require a dog that barks to scare off intruders. However, if you want a dog to protect you, it is crucial to get a large breed. The size of the dog may be a sufficient deterrent. A majority of intruders are scared off by big dogs. However, if you want your dog to attack an intruder, it should be noted that most breeds aren’t good at defense. As mentioned, they need to undergo training.
In some cases, you only need a dog who will provide you with security. This dog might not really be aggressive but only protective to those it regards as family.
It would help if you were clear about what you require of a guard dog and get a breed that matches your needs.
Working dogs as guard dogs
Working breeds are often trained as guard dogs and even police and military dogs. Typically, the Belgian Malinois is utilized for this purpose. However, do not get this breed if you are a first-time owner and have small children. This breed is similar to babies, and they enjoy putting stuff in their mouths. At some point, this breed might accidentally bite you or your family. They might do this because they are feeling exuberant. These dogs have strong force bite. They are excellent guard dogs but are not recommended for families with young kids and first-time owners.
Labradors and Golden Retrievers
Labradors and Golden Retrievers are both well-known breeds. If they are well-trained, they can provide both alert and protection. However, the word well-trained should be emphasized. There are instances where a super friendly Golden Retriever will only lick an intruder. Likewise, a Lab will gladly show the way where the silverware is located if they are petted. These breeds are great for their barking and size but aren’t really a threat.
Gentle giants
Newfoundlands and Leonbergers are gentle giant breeds. They are huge and imposing dogs. However, they have a short lifespan and expensive. They also shed copious amounts of hair. But they are good with kids. They are extremely gentle for their size. They will be bonding with kids more than adults. Although they are not bred as guard dogs, they can be fiercely protective of those they bond with. You might want to consider these breeds as a first-time owner.
Alert dogs
If you only require a dog who will alert you, there are several terrier breeds to choose from. Rat terriers are awesome at this. They are great with their human owners and quick learners. Corgis are also awesome alert dogs; however, they have a reputation for being quick to bite.
Herding breeds
You might want to steer clear from herding breeds. These breeds have a reputation for overwork. One example are Border collies and Kelpies. If you don’t give them a job to do, you might find them herding kids and nipping at their feet as if they were herding sheep or cattle. If they are bored, they might even make a mess of your garbage cans.
Final Thoughts – What Is the Best Guard Dog for First Time Owner?
If you purchase a dog intending to make them guard dogs, it is crucial to know which breeds can be handled by a first-time owner. Keep in mind that some breeds require higher levels of expertise and training. Breeds that make excellent guard dogs have the downside of being aggressive and mouthy, especially if they haven’t been trained well. It would be best if you struck a balance between a dog that can be in fighting mode and a dog that will be a gentle and even-tempered addition to your family.
