These 9 Breeds Make Excellent Guard Dogs

Meet the dogs that will go above and beyond the call of duty to protect their owners. Using data from Animal Planet, PetBreeds ranked the best guard dogs by popularity, according to the American Kennel Club.

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Dedicated hunters and protectors, Rhodesian ridgebacks have a reserved, loyal nature that makes them excellent guard dogs.
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Originally bred for duck and bird hunting, poodles impress their owners with their intelligence and loving nature.
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Doberman pinschers were bred by a tax collector to protect him while he carried money in dangerous neighborhoods, so it's no exaggeration to say they were born to be guard dogs.
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Don't mess with a bull terrier — its strong jaws and powerful muscles make it a formidable opponent. These loyal companions make great protectors.
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Descending from the Molossus, an ancient war dog, the mastiff may have inherited its impressive size, but it has a much sweeter temperament.
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This fiercely intelligent breed is known for being loving and loyal. Highly trainable and aloof around strangers, German shepherds are ideal guard dogs.
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This high-energy breed is as loving as it is protective and tends to be cautious around strangers. With no sheep to herd, an Aussie may keep busy by monitoring small children instead.
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The ancient chow chow may have first started working as a guard dog when it accompanied Mongolian troops in the 13th century.
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Bred to hunt boars and deer, half the Weimaraner's brain is devoted to its sophisticated sense of smell. Intelligent and loyal, these vigilant dogs are always on alert.
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