A guard dog or watch dog is a dog The dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The domestic dog has been one of the most widely kept working and companion animals in human history used to guard against, and watch for, unwanted or unexpected people or animals.

Both guard dogs and watchdogs bark Barking is a noise most commonly produced by dogs. Woof is the most common representation in the English language for this sound , other than "bark." Other transliterations include the onomatopoeic ruff, arf, au au, yip (for small dogs), and bow-wow loudly to alert their owners of an intruder's presence and scare away the intruder. The watch dog's function ends here; a guard dog is capable of attacking or restraining the intruder. For example, livestock guardian dogs A livestock guardian dog is a domesticated canine used to defend livestock against predators. LGDs are also commonly referred to as sheepdogs since they most often have guarded flocks of sheep, but most are capable of guarding other species of livestock. They can be characterized as part of Pastoral dogs. Unlike a herding dog such as the border are often large enough and strong enough to attack and drive away livestock predators In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey (the organism that is attacked). Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption. The other main such as wolves The grey wolf , often known simply as the wolf, is the largest wild member of the Canidae family. Though once abundant over much of Eurasia and North America, the grey wolf inhabits a reduced portion of its former range due to widespread destruction of its territory, human encroachment, and the resulting human-wolf encounters that sparked broad. Likewise, if the risk is from human intruders, a suitable dog can be simply trained to be aggressive towards unrecognized humans and then tethered or enclosed unsupervised in an area the owner wishes to protect when he is not around (such as at night); the stereotypical "junkyard A scrapyard or junkyard (American English) (also called wreck yard, wrecker's yard, salvage yard, breakers yard and scrapheap), is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are dog" is a common example of this. Other guard dogs intended for police or more supervised work are trained to bite, restrain and release an intruder only on the specific commands of its handler—as in Schutzhund Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test whether German Shepherd Dogs exhibit the traits necessary for police-type work, rather than simply evaluating a dog's appearance. Today, many breeds other than German Shepherds can compete in Schutzhund, but it is a demanding test for any dog and few are able to or K9 Pro Sports training. Some breeds (such as Keeshonden The Keeshond is a medium-sized dog with a plush two-layer coat of silver and black fur with a 'ruff' and a curled tail, originating in Germany. Its closest relatives are the other German spitzes such as the Pomeranian. Originally called the German Spitz, more specifically the Wolfsspitz, the name was officially changed to Keeshond in England,) are excellent watchdogs but not excellent guard dogs because they bark loudly to alert their masters of intruders but are not given to assertive behavior. Similarly, even very small but attentive dogs (among a few other species) may function well as watchdogs.

Breeds

Many of the now prominent guardian breeds such as Rottweilers The Rottweiler is a breed of domestic dog known for its medium to large size and its strength. They originate from Rottweil, Germany and were known as "Rottweil Butcher's Dogs" because they were used to herd livestock as well as pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market. Some records indicate that earlier started as farm dogs types Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function; dog types are not identical to modern dog breeds but dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance, including ancestral forms that arose undocumented over a long period of time but then developed over many years into guard breeds. Some breeds, such as the Weimaraner The Weimaraner is a dog that was originally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game such as boar, bears, deer. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals like fowl, rabbits, and foxes and Rhodesian Ridgeback The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa where it was used to hunt big lions. This is most likely why this dog is known for its bravery. Its European forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi, were originally bred for hunting, but their large intimidating look and territorial instincts have helped them evolve into guard dogs in today's society. Others like Dobermans The Doberman Pinscher or Doberman is a breed of domestic dog originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Dobermann Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used as guard dogs or police dogs, this is less common were specifically bred as guard dogs. Many of the below breeds have a greater amount of molossoid Molosser is a type of large, solidly-built dog comprising several breeds, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia, a subregion of ancient Epirus, ancient Greece, where the large shepherd dog was known as the Molossus or mastiff DNA. This is confirmed by a DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid ( /diːˌɒksɨˌraɪbɵ.nuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæsɪd/ (help·info)) (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information. DNA is often compared to a set of study done on >270 pure breed dogs. The study suggests that in the distant past thirteen ancient breeds broke off early on after which a group of mastiff style dogs were developed^[1]. These dogs are grouped with the mastiffs Great Dane The Great Dane , also known as German Mastiff (German: Deutsche Dogge) or Danish Hound (German: Dänischer Hund), is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) known for its giant size. The breed is commonly referred to as the "Apollo of all breeds". The Great Dane is one of the world's tallest dog breeds. The current world record and Irish wolfhound The Irish Wolfhound is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), specifically a sighthound. The name originates from its purpose (wolf hunting) rather than from its appearance. If their connection to the Celtic dogs used at the sacking of Delphi during the Iron Age is accurate, then their name derives indeed from that of the earliest. 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^[who?] think that the Irish wolfhound contributed to the Great Dane.

The St. Bernard The St. Bernard Dog is a very large breed of dog, a working dog from the Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its enormous size is also somewhat different from the mastiffs and is not in the molossoid group;^[1] however, the Swiss mountain dogs are. The Moscow Watchdog Moscow Watchdog is a breed of dog that was bred in the Soviet Union. It descends from crosses between the St. Bernard, Caucasian Shepherd, and Russian Spotted Hound breeds. The breed is very large and weight is between 100 and 150lbs. Unlike its modern St Bernard counterparts, the breed needs lots of vigorous exercise. They do not drool like many thus probably inherits its guarding ability not from the St. Bernard but from its other major contributor, the Caucasian Ovcharka The breed has two types: mountain and plain. Plain dogs have a shorter coat and appear taller as they are more lightly built. Mountain types have a heavier coat and are more muscularly built. The breed's weight range is 102–180 pounds , although individuals over 220 pounds (100 kg) are not uncommon, and the height range is 25–29 inches (64–78 (no evidence other than speculation and the known breed characteristics). Great Danes are odd because they are not in the molossoid group^[1] 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 such as mastiffs, which give it the large size and the guard dog instinct that the Saint Bernard has today.

It is claimed that female dogs tend to make better personal guardians than males, due to maternal instincts, but males are considered better for guarding property because of their greater territorial instinct.^[3] Female protection dogs are much easier to train and learn at a faster rate. Less independent, they are adept at integrating into their new family and swiftly blend into any situation they are consigned to.

The Jindo dog is widely used in civilian and military in South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (Korean: 대한민국, pronounced [tɛːhanminɡuk̚] ( listen)), is a country in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul. South Korea lies in a temperate climate.

The German Shepherd dog is widely used by the Metropolitan Police Force and private security companies in the UK^[4].

List of breeds commonly used as guard dogs

• American Bulldog The American Bulldog is a courageous dog . Though larger in size, they are the closest surviving relative of the Old English Bulldog, because they were not altered to as great an extent while in America as their European cousins. There are generally considered to be two types of American Bulldog, the Johnson type and the Scott type. These types
• Anatolian Shepherd The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is descended from ancient livestock guardian dog types that migrated with the transhumance, guarding flocks of sheep from wolves, bears, jackals, and even cheetahs. It is probable that dogs of this type existed 6,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. The dogs were called Çoban Köpeği , and over the centuries, regional (US and UK) or Kangal Dog Kangal is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and is the national breed of Turkey Kangal, which weigh between 120-170 pounds (55-78 kg) full-grown, was originally used as a livestock guardian dog. It is of an early mastiff type with a solid, pale tan or sabled coat, and with a black mask
• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) The Belgian Shepherd Dog (pronounced /ˈmælɪnwɑː/) is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. The Malinois is recognized in the United States under the name Belgian Malinois. Its name is the French word for Mechlinian, which is in Dutch either Mechelse herdershond (shepherd
• Black Russian Terrier The Black Russian Terrier (or simply BRT) is a breed of dog developed originally as a guard dog and police dog. It is rare outside its native country and is just starting to be recognized elsewhere; for example, it is one of the AKC's most-recently recognized breeds, gaining full status in July 2004. This breed is the largest of all terriers (Russia)
• Boerboel The Boerboel is a large working molosser breed of dog from South Africa. The word "boerboel" derives from "boer", the Afrikaans/Dutch word for "farmer"; boerboel thus translates as either "farmer's dog" or "Boer's dog" in Afrikaans/Dutch. There is a lengthy history of breeding the boerboel in South (South Africa)
• Boxer Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn, brindled,white, or even reverse brindled with or without white markings. Boxers are brachycephalic , and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism (an underbite), very strong jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large (Germany)
• Bullmastiff The Bullmastiff is a powerful dog, which was originally a cross between the English Mastiff and the Old English Bulldog. Originally bred to find and immobilize poachers, the breed has proven popular as a family pet
• Cane Corso (Italy)
• Chow Chow Chow chow, or chow, is a breed of dog that was first developed in Mongolia about 4,000 years ago and was later introduced into China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan , which literally means "puffy-lion dog" (China)
• Doberman Pinscher The Doberman Pinscher or Doberman is a breed of domestic dog originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Dobermann Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used as guard dogs or police dogs, this is less common
• Fila Brasileiro The Fila Brasileiro is a large working breed of dog developed in Brazil (Brazil)
• German Shepherd The German Shepherd Dog , (German: Deutscher Schäferhund) is a breed of medium-sized dog that originated in Germany. German Shepherds are a relatively new breed of dog, whose origins date to 1899. As part of the Herding group, the German Shepherd is a working dog developed originally for herding sheep. Because of their strength, intelligence and
• Giant Schnauzer The Giant Schnauzer is a large, powerful, and compact breed of dog. It is one of the three Schnauzer breeds. Like most large breeds, the Giant Schnauzer needs a fair amount of exercise
• Komondor The Komondor is a large white colored Hungarian breed of livestock guardian dog with a long, corded coat. The Komondor is an old-established powerful dog breed which has a natural guardian instinct to guard livestock and other property. The Komondor was mentioned for the first time in 1544 in a Hungarian codex. The Komondor breed has been declared (Hungary)
• Korean Jindo (Korea)
• Kunming Wolfdog The Kunming Wolfdog, or Kunming Dog (simplified Chinese 狼狗,traditional Chinese 狼狗 is an established breed of wolf-dog hybrid (In Asian nations)
• Kuvasz The Kuvasz is a dog breed of ancient Hungarian origin. Mention of the breed can be found in old Hungarian texts. It has historically been used to guard livestock, but has been increasingly found in homes as a pet over the last seventy years
• Puli The Puli is a medium-small breed of Hungarian herding and livestock guarding dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat, similar to dreadlocks, make it virtually waterproof. A similar looking, but much larger Hungarian dog breed is called Komondor
• Rhodesian Ridgeback The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa where it was used to hunt big lions. This is most likely why this dog is known for its bravery. Its European forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi (Africa)
• Rottweiler The Rottweiler is a breed of domestic dog known for its medium to large size and its strength. They originate from Rottweil, Germany and were known as "Rottweil Butcher's Dogs" because they were used to herd livestock as well as pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market. Some records indicate that earlier
• Shar Pei The Shar Pei, or Chinese Shar-Pei, is a breed of dog known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue. The breed comes from China. The name translates to "sand skin" and refers to the texture of its short, rough coat. As puppies, Shar Pei have numerous wrinkles, but as they mature, these wrinkles disappear as
• Sharr Mountain Dog The Šarplaninac or Sharplaninac, also known as Yugoslav Shepherd Dog or Illyrian Shepherd Dog , is an ancient livestock guarding dog breed from the mountain region of former southeastern Yugoslavia now the south of Kosovo[a] and the north of Republic of Macedonia.The Šarplaninac was first registered by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Macedonia)
• Tibetan Mastiff The Tibetan Mastiff is a very ancient breed and type of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) originating with nomadic cultures of Central Asia

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 The Akita Inu is a breed of large dog originating in, and uncommon outside of Japan, named for Akita Prefecture, where it is thought to have originated. It is sometimes called the Akita-ken based on the Sino-Japanese reading of the same kanji. In most countries (with the exception of the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs), it is considered a (Japan)
• Alano Español Alano Español, sometimes called the Spanish Bulldog in English, is a very large breed of dog of the molosser dog type, originating in Spain. The breed is best known for its former use during Spanish bullfights (Spain)
• Argentine Dogo The Dogo Argentino is a large, white, muscular dog that was developed in Argentina for the purpose of big-game hunting, primarily cougar and boar (Argentina)
• Australian Cattle Dog The Australian Cattle Dog is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia for droving cattle over long distances across rough terrain. Today it is a versatile breed: a courageous and tireless worker, an intelligent and athletic companion and a loving and playful family pet. They can bite "if harshly treated", they tend to nip(Australia)
• Bandog The term Bandog originated around 1250-1300 in Middle England, referring to a mastiff type dog that was bound by a chain during the daytime and was released at night to guard against intruders. In 1570 Johannes Caius published a book in Latin which in 1576 was translated into English by Abraham Fleming under the name Of Englishe Dogges, in which (USA)
• Beauceron The Beauceron is a guard dog and herding dog breed falling into the working dog category whose origins lie in the plains of Northern France. The Beauceron is also known as Berger de Beauce or Bas Rouge (red-stockings) (France)
• Bouvier des Flandres (Belgium)
• Bull Terrier (England)
• Bully Kutta (Pakistan)
• Cão de Castro Laboreiro (Portugal)
• Canis Panther (USA)
• Caucasian Ovcharka (Georgia)
• Ciobănesc de Bucovina (Romania)
• Danish Broholmer (Denmark)
• Dogo Guatemalteco (Guatemala)
• Dogue de Bordeaux (France)
• Dutch Shepherd Dog (Netherlands)
• English Mastiff (England)
• Fila Brasileiro (Brazil)
• Great Dane (Germany)
• Great Pyrenees (France)
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Switzerland)
• Gull Dong (Pakistan)
• Gull Terr (Pakistan)
• Hovawart (Germany)
• Icelandic Sheepdog (Iceland)
• Karelian Bear Dog (Finland)
• Mioritic (Romania)
• Moscow Watchdog (Russia)
• Mucuchies (Venezuela)
• Neapolitan Mastiff (Italy)
• Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Islands)
• Pariah Dog (India)
• Perro de Presa Mallorquin (aka: Ca de Bou)
• Saint Bernard (Switzerland)
• Schipperke (Belgium)
• Shiloh Shepherd (USA)
• Swinford (USA)
• Tibetan Mastiff (Tibet, Mongolia)
• Weimaraner (Germany)

Rare breeds

• Antebellum Bulldog (USA)
• Black Russian Terrier (Russia)
• Boerboel (South Africa)
• Caucasian Ovcharka (Russia)
• Chippiparai (India)
• Combai (India)
• Formosan Mountain Dog (Taiwan)
• Jindo dog (South Korea)
• Kanni (India)
• Rajapalayam (dog) (India)

See also

• Livestock guardian dog
• Military dog
• Police dog
• Schutzhund

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "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. ^ Willis, Malcolm B.. Genetics of the Dog.
4. ^ http://www.securityguarddogs.co.uk

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