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EspañolGUARD DOG
A 'guard dog', 'watch dog', or 'sentry dog' is a dog employed to guard against, or watch for, unwanted or unexpected animals or people.
Both guard dogs and watch dogs bark to alert their owners of an intruder's presence. The barking is also an attempt at scaring away the intruder. The watch dog's function ends here, while a guard dog might be trained to restrain or attack the intruder. For example, livestock guardian dogs are often large enough and strong enough to attack and drive away predators such as wolves. In cases where intruders are more likely to be human, guard dogs are sometimes trained simply to restrain an intruder with his owner's guidance, as in Schutzhundor K9 Pro Sports training. Occasionally, guard dogs are trained to attack human intruder(s), though this practice might be locally illegal. Some breeds (such as Keeshonden) are excellent watchdogs but not so excellent guard dogs, as they bark loudly to alert their masters of intruders but are not given to attack behavior.
Many of the now prominent guardian breeds such as rottweiler started as multipurpose dogs but then developed over many years into guardian breeds. Some breeds, such as the Weimaraner and Rhodesian Ridgeback were originally bred for hunting, but their large intimidating look and territorial instincts have helped them evolve into guard dogs in todays society. Others like Dobermans were specifically designed as guards. Many of the below breeds have a greater amount of molossoid or mastiff DNA. This is confirmed by a DNA study done on 414 pure breed dogs. The study suggests that in the distant past after the 14 ancient breeds broke off early on after which a group of mastiff style dogs were developed[1]. The German Shepherd Dog has a significant relation to and is grouped with the mastiffs yet the Great Dane and Irish wolfhound are not1. The Irish wolfhound (a traditional hunting guardian breed) has evidence that its population was nearly wiped out 200 years ago and its existing members descend from a very small group of dogs and thus it is a rebuilt breed, but evidently out of somewhat different building blocks[2]. Some people think that the Irish wolfhound contributed to the Great Dane.
The St. Bernard is also somewhat different from the mastiffs and is not in the molisoid group1; however, the Swiss mountain dogs are. The Moscow Watchdog thus likely inherits its guarding ability not from the St. Bernard but from its other major contributor, the Caucasian Ovcharka (no evidence other than speculation and the known breed characteristics). Great Danes are odd because they are not in the mollisoid group1 and traditionally behaved as though they should be.
The original Saint Bernard was used for alpine rescue in the Saint Bernard Pass by the monks. An avalanche killed off many of the dogs used for breeding. The Saint Bernards had to be bred with larger dogs like mastiffs that gave it the large size and the guard dog instinct we know the Saint Bernard to have today.
Perhaps the best way to find a guard dog is to look at the history of the breed. Dogs like mastiffs have been used in the guard role for centuries. These dogs have had the territoriality literally bred into them typically by killing those who fail at their job. Common guard dogs with breeders are found using the above method. Two of the most successful include the German short-hair pointer and the Chesepeak Bay Retriever. These two breeds are so aggressive that it limits their popularity. They are also very dominant breeds and should not be owned by inexperienced owners. Stories have circulated about these two breeds keeping intruders in one place until the owner has returned. There is even one where a boyfriend of a Comador breeder being bitten by his girlfriend's Short hair and being stuck by the door with the dog bitting his arm for several hours.
★ Doberman Pinscher
★ Rottweiler
★ German Shepherd
★ Pit Bull
★ Kangal Dog (recognized as Anatolian Shepherd in USA and UK)
★ Bullmastiff
★ American Bulldog
★ Kunming Dog (In Asian nations)
★ Šarplaninac (Ilyrian Shepherd}
Female dogs tend to make better personal guardians than males, due to their natural instinct to protect their young. However, males are better for guarding property because they are more territorial than females. This result was further backed by European German Shepherd studies[3].
Note some are not AKC, UKC, recognized and a few are not FCI recognized, but all at least have their own breed club.
★ Akita Inu (Japan)
★ Alano Español (Spain)
★ American Bulldog (USA)
★ Argentine Dogo (Argentina)
★ Askal (Philippines)
★ Bandog (USA)
★ Beauceron (France)
★ Black Russian Terrier (Russia)
★ Boerboel (South Africa)
★ Bouvier des Flandres (France)
★ Boxer (Germany)
★ Bully Kutta (Pakistan)
★ Cane Corso (Italy)
★ Canis Panther (USA)
★ Caucasian Ovcharka (Georgia)
★ Chow Chow (China)
★ Danish Broholmer (Denmark)
★ Dogo Guatemalteco (Guatemala)
★ Dogue de Bordeaux (France)
★ Fila Brasileiro (Brazil)
★ Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Switzerland)
★ German Shepherd (Germany)
★ Hovawart (Germany)
★ Icelandic Sheepdog (Iceland)
★ Kangal Dog (Turkey)
★ King Shepherd (USA)
★ Moscow Watchdog (Russia)
★ Neapolitan Mastiff (Italy)
★ Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Islands)
★ Perro de Presa Mallorquin (aka: Ca de Bou)
★ Rhodesian Ridgeback (Africa)
★ Saint Bernard (Switzerland)
★ Shiloh Shepherd Dog (USA)
★ Tibetan Mastiff (Tibet, Mongolia)
★ Weimaraner (USA, Germany)
★ Black Russian Terrier (Russia)
★ Boerboel (South Africa)
★ Caucasian Ovcharka (USA)
★ Great Pyrenees (France)
★ Australian Cattle Dog
★ Chesapeake Bay Retriever (a water retriever related to the Newfoundland)
★ Dachshund (bred to hunt and kill badgers and small burrowing mammals in Germany during the 1700's, very alert and lively.)
★ Rhodesian Ridgeback (a hound developed from native African and multiple European breeds)
★ Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
★ Airedale Terrier (developed to hunt and destroy large vermin, used in late 19th and early 20th century as police dogs, a role now controlled by the German shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, and Doberman.)
★ Giant Schnauzer
★ livestock guardian dog
In a study1 85 pure breeds (5 dogs/breed tested) were sampled for DNA then analyzed for similarities in the DNA to determine relation. Some interesting and unexpected results were evident in this study which also included a DNA sampling from Wolves. First several "ancient" breeds were identified based on a strong similarity in the single nucleotide repeates (SNR) in their DNA and the repeates in the Wolf set which were never domesticated. These breeds were thought to be some of the first breeds formed and domesticated. The next grouping of breeds to emerge from the SNR data were large molossoid breeds with a few odd additions and some exceptions as described in the guard dog section above. Finally the last grouping that could be identified were herding breeds.
In another study2 a boxer had its entire genome sequenced and compared to other breeds as well as other animals. The result of this study illustrated that many breeds of today were actually of relatively recent origin in their present form. Other known past breeds have since disappeared.
Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael)
1. "Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog" Science, 21 May 2004: Vol. 304. no. 5674, pp. 1160 - 1164. http://intl.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/304/5674/1160?ck=nck ''(Subscription required)'' 'Note': pay special attention to Figure 3 of the study.
2. "Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog" Nature 438, 803-819 (8 December 2005) | doi:10.1038/nature04338 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7069/full/nature04338.html
3. Genetics of the Dog, , Malcolm B., Willis, , ,
Both guard dogs and watch dogs bark to alert their owners of an intruder's presence. The barking is also an attempt at scaring away the intruder. The watch dog's function ends here, while a guard dog might be trained to restrain or attack the intruder. For example, livestock guardian dogs are often large enough and strong enough to attack and drive away predators such as wolves. In cases where intruders are more likely to be human, guard dogs are sometimes trained simply to restrain an intruder with his owner's guidance, as in Schutzhundor K9 Pro Sports training. Occasionally, guard dogs are trained to attack human intruder(s), though this practice might be locally illegal. Some breeds (such as Keeshonden) are excellent watchdogs but not so excellent guard dogs, as they bark loudly to alert their masters of intruders but are not given to attack behavior.
Breeds
Breeds like this Dobermann, were specifically made for guard duty.
Many of the now prominent guardian breeds such as rottweiler started as multipurpose dogs but then developed over many years into guardian breeds. Some breeds, such as the Weimaraner and Rhodesian Ridgeback were originally bred for hunting, but their large intimidating look and territorial instincts have helped them evolve into guard dogs in todays society. Others like Dobermans were specifically designed as guards. Many of the below breeds have a greater amount of molossoid or mastiff DNA. This is confirmed by a DNA study done on 414 pure breed dogs. The study suggests that in the distant past after the 14 ancient breeds broke off early on after which a group of mastiff style dogs were developed[1]. The German Shepherd Dog has a significant relation to and is grouped with the mastiffs yet the Great Dane and Irish wolfhound are not1. The Irish wolfhound (a traditional hunting guardian breed) has evidence that its population was nearly wiped out 200 years ago and its existing members descend from a very small group of dogs and thus it is a rebuilt breed, but evidently out of somewhat different building blocks[2]. Some people think that the Irish wolfhound contributed to the Great Dane.
The St. Bernard is also somewhat different from the mastiffs and is not in the molisoid group1; however, the Swiss mountain dogs are. The Moscow Watchdog thus likely inherits its guarding ability not from the St. Bernard but from its other major contributor, the Caucasian Ovcharka (no evidence other than speculation and the known breed characteristics). Great Danes are odd because they are not in the mollisoid group1 and traditionally behaved as though they should be.
The original Saint Bernard was used for alpine rescue in the Saint Bernard Pass by the monks. An avalanche killed off many of the dogs used for breeding. The Saint Bernards had to be bred with larger dogs like mastiffs that gave it the large size and the guard dog instinct we know the Saint Bernard to have today.
Perhaps the best way to find a guard dog is to look at the history of the breed. Dogs like mastiffs have been used in the guard role for centuries. These dogs have had the territoriality literally bred into them typically by killing those who fail at their job. Common guard dogs with breeders are found using the above method. Two of the most successful include the German short-hair pointer and the Chesepeak Bay Retriever. These two breeds are so aggressive that it limits their popularity. They are also very dominant breeds and should not be owned by inexperienced owners. Stories have circulated about these two breeds keeping intruders in one place until the owner has returned. There is even one where a boyfriend of a Comador breeder being bitten by his girlfriend's Short hair and being stuck by the door with the dog bitting his arm for several hours.
List of breeds commonly used as guard dogs
★ Doberman Pinscher
★ Rottweiler
★ German Shepherd
★ Pit Bull
★ Kangal Dog (recognized as Anatolian Shepherd in USA and UK)
★ Bullmastiff
★ American Bulldog
★ Kunming Dog (In Asian nations)
★ Šarplaninac (Ilyrian Shepherd}
Female dogs tend to make better personal guardians than males, due to their natural instinct to protect their young. However, males are better for guarding property because they are more territorial than females. This result was further backed by European German Shepherd studies[3].
List of other guard dog breeds
Note some are not AKC, UKC, recognized and a few are not FCI recognized, but all at least have their own breed club.
★ Akita Inu (Japan)
★ Alano Español (Spain)
★ American Bulldog (USA)
★ Argentine Dogo (Argentina)
★ Askal (Philippines)
★ Bandog (USA)
★ Beauceron (France)
★ Black Russian Terrier (Russia)
★ Boerboel (South Africa)
★ Bouvier des Flandres (France)
★ Boxer (Germany)
★ Bully Kutta (Pakistan)
★ Cane Corso (Italy)
★ Canis Panther (USA)
★ Caucasian Ovcharka (Georgia)
★ Chow Chow (China)
★ Danish Broholmer (Denmark)
★ Dogo Guatemalteco (Guatemala)
★ Dogue de Bordeaux (France)
★ Fila Brasileiro (Brazil)
★ Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Switzerland)
★ German Shepherd (Germany)
★ Hovawart (Germany)
★ Icelandic Sheepdog (Iceland)
★ Kangal Dog (Turkey)
★ King Shepherd (USA)
★ Moscow Watchdog (Russia)
★ Neapolitan Mastiff (Italy)
★ Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Islands)
★ Perro de Presa Mallorquin (aka: Ca de Bou)
★ Rhodesian Ridgeback (Africa)
★ Saint Bernard (Switzerland)
★ Shiloh Shepherd Dog (USA)
★ Tibetan Mastiff (Tibet, Mongolia)
★ Weimaraner (USA, Germany)
List of guard dog breeds rapidly gaining in popularity but still rare
★ Black Russian Terrier (Russia)
★ Boerboel (South Africa)
★ Caucasian Ovcharka (USA)
★ Great Pyrenees (France)
List of breeds which are not developed primarily as guard dogs but have above average guardian instincts
★ Australian Cattle Dog
★ Chesapeake Bay Retriever (a water retriever related to the Newfoundland)
★ Dachshund (bred to hunt and kill badgers and small burrowing mammals in Germany during the 1700's, very alert and lively.)
★ Rhodesian Ridgeback (a hound developed from native African and multiple European breeds)
★ Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
★ Airedale Terrier (developed to hunt and destroy large vermin, used in late 19th and early 20th century as police dogs, a role now controlled by the German shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, and Doberman.)
★ Giant Schnauzer
★ livestock guardian dog
Genetic similarity analysis
In a study1 85 pure breeds (5 dogs/breed tested) were sampled for DNA then analyzed for similarities in the DNA to determine relation. Some interesting and unexpected results were evident in this study which also included a DNA sampling from Wolves. First several "ancient" breeds were identified based on a strong similarity in the single nucleotide repeates (SNR) in their DNA and the repeates in the Wolf set which were never domesticated. These breeds were thought to be some of the first breeds formed and domesticated. The next grouping of breeds to emerge from the SNR data were large molossoid breeds with a few odd additions and some exceptions as described in the guard dog section above. Finally the last grouping that could be identified were herding breeds.
In another study2 a boxer had its entire genome sequenced and compared to other breeds as well as other animals. The result of this study illustrated that many breeds of today were actually of relatively recent origin in their present form. Other known past breeds have since disappeared.
Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael)
References
1. "Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog" Science, 21 May 2004: Vol. 304. no. 5674, pp. 1160 - 1164. http://intl.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/304/5674/1160?ck=nck ''(Subscription required)'' 'Note': pay special attention to Figure 3 of the study.
2. "Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog" Nature 438, 803-819 (8 December 2005) | doi:10.1038/nature04338 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7069/full/nature04338.html
3. Genetics of the Dog, , Malcolm B., Willis, , ,
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