Guard dog facts for kids

A Boxer is a very powerful guard dog

A guard dog is a special kind of dog that is trained to protect its owner and their property from people or animals who shouldn't be there. Their main job is to keep everyone and everything safe.

A guard dog is different from a "watchdog." A watchdog usually just barks to let its owner know a stranger is coming. But a guard dog might be trained to attack if its owner tells it to, or if a stranger gets too close. If trained well, they will often give a warning first.

There's also a different type called a livestock guard dog. These dogs are naturally good at guarding flocks or herds of animals like sheep from predators. Their job is to stay with the animals and keep them safe.

Different Kinds of Guard Dogs

There are several types of guard dogs, each with a special role.

Personal Protection Dogs

Personal protection dogs are highly trained to protect individuals or families from any dangers. These dogs can go almost anywhere with their owners and are ready for many different situations.

At home, a guard dog can stop trespassers from coming in. Dogs have much better hearing than humans, so they often know what's happening sooner. They act like a home alarm. A dog's bark tells the owner someone is there and also warns the trespasser that the dog knows they are there. A guard dog can also offer protection if an intruder keeps coming.

Larger dogs often make better personal protection dogs. Some popular breeds for this job include German Shepherds, Boxers, and Akitas. They are easy to train and can look very intimidating to strangers.

Livestock Guard Dogs

Livestock guard dogs, also called livestock protection dogs, are bred specifically to protect farm animals from predators. For most of these dogs, their ability to guard their herd is instinctive. The dog forms a strong bond with the herd when it's young.

These dogs are not usually used to herd or move animals. Their only job is to guard the herd. Many shepherds sometimes choose a guardian dog whose color matches their sheep. The idea is that this makes the dog seem less threatening to the sheep and harder for predators to spot. This might be why many livestock protection dogs are white.

Property Guard Dogs

Property guard dogs are trained to watch over a property when the owner is not there. They are chosen because they are very loyal and smart. They often do their job without needing someone to give them commands.

Military Guard Dogs

Military guard dogs, sometimes called war dogs, are dogs used by the military. The US military has rules for these dogs: they must be at least 20 inches (51 centimeters) tall at the shoulder and no older than five years. They also cannot be afraid of loud noises, like gunfire.

These dogs are used for many different purposes and get special training. Like Police dogs, they might patrol an area and help against criminals. They can also be trained to find dangerous things like bombs, mines, harmful gasses, and ammunition. Military dogs are trained to watch for enemies and attack them.

At the start of World War II, the US military used 32 different dog breeds. By 1944, this list was shortened to five main breeds: the Belgian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Collie, and Giant Schnauzer.

Popular Guard Dog Breeds

Different breeds of dogs are bred for different reasons, and they are good at different tasks.

Here are some common breeds used as personal protection and property dogs:

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  Doberman Pinscher
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  German Shepherd
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  Rottweiler
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  Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael variant)
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  American Pit Bull Terrier

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  Giant Schnauzer

And here are some popular livestock guard dogs:

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  Kangal Dog
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  Great Pyrenees
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  Tibetan Mastiff
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  Komondor
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  Polish Tatra Sheepdog
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  Anatolian Shepherd dog

Images for kids

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  A raggedly dressed man being bitten by a house guard dog. Etching by Thomas Lord Busby, ca. 1826.

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  Roman mosaic of a large chained dog (with cropped ears and docked tail) at the Archaeological Park of Lilybaeum, Marsala, Sicily

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  German Shepherd dog guarding property

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  Guard dog training with Presa canario dog

Related Pages

• Dog
• List of dog breeds
• Best dogs for kids

See also

In Spanish: Perro guardián para niños