When considering home security, one should consider man's best friend - a guard dog or a watchdog. In addition providing home protection for you and your family, they can also make wonderful companions. The distinction between a guard dog and a watch dog is however different, the former will physically protect against an intruder, while the latter will give you a warning when an intruder.

 

Most large dogs make good guardians, examples of guard dogs are the German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher and my personal favorite Rottweiler.

On the other hand, most all breeds can be trained as a watchdog. As they get older, most dogs naturally develop the ability to bark moderately to signal the approach of a stranger. One of the breeds better suited for this function is the Shetland Sheepdog.

 

Ideally, the watchdog does not bark too loudly or insistently and, generally speaking, does not physically threaten individuals. Please remember that all dogs that are assigned tasks protecting property should be properly trained. You can find a list of dog trainers here.