Introduction

What makes a good family protection dog? Here at Czech Working Line we hear more and more people asking this question. With many cities experiencing rising crime, it makes good sense to think about a family guard dog. A well-trained family protection dog can be a significant deterrent against intruders. Plus you can get a great companion while you are at it. Friends with protection benefits! Adding a family protection dog to your home is a long term commitment. Choose the right kind of dog and your life ought to be measurably better. On the other hand, choose something not suited to your family’s lifestyle and activity level and you set yourself up for years of frustration. This article covers the basics on seven essentials in a good family protection dog.

Good Family Protection Dogs Have a Good Off Switch

The best family protection dogs have a cool heads.. They should be confident and alert, not aggressive or fearful. Too often people will see a dog react in stressful situations and think, “wow” my dog is there to protect me. When in reality the dog is being reactive or nervous. Unlike calmer dogs capable of remaining level headed in stressful situations, reactive dogs tend to be those that bite the mailman or some unruly neighborhood child. Dogs that bite without being told to do so can land their owners in a world of trouble. A dog with a good off switch is a dog that will thrive under pressure. Good family protection dogs are the kind of dogs that love doing bite work. They are easy to train for protection work. They make great trained guard dogs in part because they have inherited a desire and capacity  bite work. But the best dogs have an off switch. A clear off switch. When it’s time to come in the house, a good family protection dog will roll over on its back and ask the kids to scratch its back. While some of this has to do with early socialization (Wilsson & Sundgren, 1997), inherited capacity will be critical.

What Dog Breeds Should I Consider?

Breeds with a history of guarding, such as the German Shepherd, Dobermans, Rottweiler and Malinois are the four most common dogs breeds associated with protection training. As professional dog trainers, our focus here at Czech Working Line is on working line German Shepherds. We have written at length in previous articles on why we never use show line GSDs in our breeding program. The health hazards of their extreme roach backs alone are enough to steer clear of these lines. For more information on why show GSDs ought to be avoided, see here and here.

Rottweilers as Good Family Protection Dogs?

While many Rottweilers serve as exemplary family protection dogs, they fall short of our requirements. As Duffy, Yuying and Serpel demonstrate in their academic research on the subject, Rottweilers often exhibit an above average degree of aggressiveness towards owners as compared to other dog breeds (Duffy et al., 2008). With the theme of this article addressing the question of what makes a “good family protection dog,” with an emphasis on “good,” aggression towards the owner in our minds immediately rules out this breed. It doesn’t take too much digging to find quite a bit of corroborating research on this point. There is a reason why few Doberman’s are completing their Schutzhund exams. With many dogs demonstrating a stubborn streaks, this stubbornness in combination with their human aggression rules them out as the ideal breed for a trained guard dog for the family.

Doberman Pinchers as Good Family Protection Dogs?

Doberman’s fall into a similar category as Rottweilers, but for slightly different reasons. While the Rottweiler too often displays raw aggression towards owners, many Doberman’s have gained a reputation as nervous nellies. Where Rottweiler’s have been known to display greater aggression towards their owners, this is less common with Doberman’s. Their reactiveness is more often directed towards strangers, people they don’t know (Duffy et al., 2008). And this is the last thing a family needs with a trained family guard dog, a dog that reacts and bites strangers without being told to guard… With that said, Doberman Pinchers remain fan favorites for many people. Majestic dogs, this breed can present an imposing force when intruders attempt to gain entry and are met with such a force. Nevertheless, since our focus here at Czech Working Line is the development and training of dogs that thrive as family protectors, this penchant for reactiveness to strangers rules them out in our context as the ideal dog to protect our family.

Belgian Malinois as Family Protectors?

Find a picture of a USA special forces team repelling from a helicopter with their dog— most likely the dog is a Belgian Malinois. Smaller framed than German Shepherds, these smaller wiry dogs have drive for days. In fact, they have what is often referred to as the “Malinois Spin” where they chase their own tail! Few dogs on the planet have more drive than the Malinois. These crazy high drive dogs make amazing trained guard dogs for serious working contexts. This is why they are so commonly used by special forces in a military context. They possess a seemingly unending supply of energy. They can run for miles. They love this. But as protectors of the family? Most families just don’t have the time or mental space to keep a Belgian Malinois mentally stimulated. Although an amazing breed as trained guard dogs, the unending energy of these dogs puts them in an over the top category for most families. Far too many Malinos end up in rescue situations after their owners realize they have bit off more than they can chew. For some wealthy estates where owners have staff including on premise dog trainers, Malinois can be a fantastic choice. But for most families, they are far too much dog. As professional dog trainers, this is even true for our family. We just don’t have the bandwidth in our home for this degree of go. Which leads us to working line German Shepherds, and why, in our opinion, these dogs hit the sweet spot.

Working Line German Shepherds as Good Family Protection Dogs!

For many families, finding a well-bred working line German Shepherd puppy for sale will be the right choice when looking to bring home a new dog to watch over your family. Bred since the 1800’s as protection dogs, these higher drive dogs have enough go to get the job done, but can throttle it back with enough of an off switch that they will often be the right mix for a family context. As noted above,  our strong conviction is that show line GSDs ought to be avoided with prejudice. The extreme slanted hindquarters and crazy curved spines so often lead to all manner of health issues. Do yourself a favor and choose a straighter backed working line GSD. The structure of these dogs reflects what we see in nature. Form follows function for a reason. The flatter back structure of authentic “old world” German Shepherds are not something new, they are the “OG” of GSDs. Do a search online for what German Shepherds looked like back in the 1900’s to 1960’s. Virtually all German Shepherds during this time frame can be seen with a more natural, flatter back. But joint health is not the only reason to choose a working line German Shepherd, temperament and character run a close second. Choosing a puppy from titled lines will go a long ways towards ensuring you end up with strong inherited protection instincts. Titled dogs have been tested against an objective, external standard. They pass exams. These exams prove a dog’s ability to thrive in obedience and protection work. Here at Czech Working Line, we ONLY use titled stud dogs. Titling a dog is so different than winning an AKC championship. A champion dog under the show system is literally a beauty contest. Which dog looks the most like the desired structure. But this says nothing about its ability to do obedience and protection work. Titled dogs in contrast have been tested against an objective standard. Find a pedigree stacked with dogs that have proved themselves capable of high level obedience training, dogs passing protection exams with high scores. Do that, and you have a litter worth considering. For our family, the more stable character of the working line German Shepherd over Doberman’s and Rottweilers makes them a far superior choice for a good family protection dog. And, when it comes to the Malinois, their active personality, but far less than the Malinois again makes them the obvious choice. All in all, our experience has led us to focus our breeding and training on working line German Shepherds as the ideal choice when it comes to a trained guard dog for families.

Strong Bond with the Family

A good protection dog must form a deep bond with its owners. Dogs that are naturally social and enjoy being with their families are more likely to defend them in a threatening situation. Studies suggest that dogs with strong attachments to their owners exhibit heightened protective behaviors (Topál et al., 1998).

Unlike independent or aloof breeds, a family protection dog should be eager to interact and seek guidance from its handlers. The ideal candidate should also be calm with children, distinguishing between friendly visitors and potential threats.

High Trainability and Obedience

A dog’s ability to learn commands quickly is essential for protection work. High trainability ensures the dog responds correctly in stressful situations. Research indicates that certain breeds, such as German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, show higher levels of problem-solving skills and obedience compared to others (Bray et al., 2021).

A well-trained protection dog should master essential commands such as sit, stay, heel, and recall. Advanced training should include controlled aggression, bite inhibition, and release commands. These commands trains the dog to only act when instructed. Dogs that struggle with impulse control will not be suitable for family protection roles. This is one of the reasons why we here at Czech Working Line breed neither Rottweiler or Dobermans. With one struggling with handler aggression and the other with reactiveness towards strangers, dogs with calm (dry nerves) like a well-bred working line German Shepherds are more often than not a far better option. For a good online course on training your guard dog, see here.

Confidence Without Excessive Aggression

Confidence is a key trait in any protection dog. A fearful dog may panic in stressful situations, while an overly aggressive one can become a liability. A study on canine aggression found that fear-based aggression is more common in poorly socialized dogs (Duffy et al., 2008). This highlights the importance of selecting a dog with natural confidence rather than nervousness.

A good family protection dog should stand its ground when faced with a threat. It must remain composed under pressure. And it should only escalate to aggression when truly necessary. An ideal candidate will assess situations rationally. A good family protection dog respond when commanded, rather than attacking indiscriminately.

Strong Protection Instincts

While training plays a significant role, a natural protective instinct is essential. Some breeds have been developed over centuries for guarding and protection work. A dog with strong territorial instincts will naturally recognize its home and family as something to defend.

A study on canine behavior found the best protection breeds are naturally more inclined to watch over the families they protect (Mehrkam & Wynne, 2014). However, the right family protection dog should not be excessively territorial or aggressive toward non-threatening individuals. Proper training ensures the dog can differentiate between everyday situations and true dangers.

Low Reactivity to Stress and Distractions

A protection dog must remain calm under pressure. High-stress environments, loud noises, and unfamiliar situations should not cause excessive anxiety or erratic behavior. Dogs that startle easily or overreact to minor stimuli may not be reliable protectors.

Research suggests that dogs with lower stress reactivity perform better in working roles such as search and rescue or protection (Batt et al., 2009). A good protection dog should be exposed to different environments, noises, and situations during training to ensure it remains composed in various circumstances.

Conclusion

A family protection dog must be more than just a deterrent. It should be the kind of dog that is also a great companion. These dogs of necessity ought to possess the physical strength to handle threats. They have stable temperaments, dry nerves and a good off switch.

Choosing the right family protection dog starts with choosing the right breed. And then from there, choosing a breeder whose breeding practices align with your long term goals of what you want to accomplish. Proper training and socialization will further enhance your dog’s ability to protect. With the right combination of genetics, training, and handling, a family protection dog can provide both security and companionship. Not only will your dog protect your family, most of his time will be spent loving and enjoying your family. So take the time to do your research and choose the right dog the first time.

Bibliography

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