Protection /Guard Dogs vs. Watchdogs

The basic difference between a guard dog and a watchdog can come down to the difference between a dog whose ancestry and training prepare him to restrain and, on occasion, be aggressive with an intruder, and one of a number of breeds that warn and alert at the presence of strangers. There is some overlapping of these groups; sometimes dogs are adept at being both watchdogs and protection dogs, such as the Australian Shepherd.

There are guard dogs that have been flock guardians evolving into guardians of households and some that are great protectors of property and the home front, generally.
The guard dog heading includes also personal protection dogs and professional security dogs. Such well-known breeds as the Akita, Doberman, Weimaraner, Rottweiler, Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chow Chow, American Bulldog, German Shepherd and Giant Schnauzer are a few of the more popular breeds falling into this category.

It is sometimes believed that female dogs tend to make better personal guardians, due to their maternal instincts; but males are more proficient as property guardians. Female protection dogs also appear to learn and train at a faster rate, being a little less independent than males and more inclined to better adapt to families and family circumstances. Widely recognized, the German shepherd has earned a place of honor in service with police forces and security companies in both the United States and the UK.

Some of the dogs most suited to wear the title of “watchdog” include a long list of small and toy breed dogs that have mastered the art of a good bark. They are basically “alert” dogs when there is an intruder approaching. They can become highly animated and energized in their determination to arouse attention. I have seen my friends’ two Yorkshire terriers running up and down on their pet steps and dog ramps raising quite a ruckus in their instinctive attempts to appear more threatening to approaching strangers, often succeeding.