BarkingDogs.net

The Best Watchdogs

Benjamin and Lynette Hart wrote a brilliant little book called The Perfect Puppy: How to Choose Your Dog by Its Behavior (1988). Unfortunately, the work is currently out of print.

The Harts interviewed 48 veterinarians and 48 obedience judges and asked each of them to rank-order 56 of the most popular dog breeds along 13 characteristics. Then, they compiled the results to make it possible to compare each of the 56 breeds, one to another, in some important ways. Fortunately, watchdog barking was one of the variables about which the Harts polled the experts. The term "watchdog barking" refers to the dog's tendency to bark at the things that you want a watchdog to bark at, like intruders and vandals. So we need to draw a distinction here between watchdog barking, which is a good thing up to a point, and inappropriate or excessive barking, which is definitely an undesirable trait.

It should be noted that, for all breeds, males and females make equally good watchdogs.

The Best Breeds for Watchdog Work -- Taken from The Perfect Puppy

#1 Rating: The poorest watchdogs Located here at the top of the chart are the breeds that are the least likely to bark at things they should be barking at. As you work your way down the chart, each successive group is that much better at sounding the alarm at appropriate times.	Bloodhood Newfoundland Basset Hound Vizsla Norwegian Elkhound
#2 Rating	Brittany Spaniel Bulldog Siberian Husky Afghan Hound Alaskan Malamute
#3 Rating	Golden Retriever German Shorthaired Pointer Old English Sheepdog Pug Bichon Frise Cocker Spaniel
#4 Rating	Labrador Retriever Weimaraner Great Dane Chesapeake Bay Retriever Beagle
#5 Rating Middling Watchdog Barkers	Australian Shepherd Collie Chow Chow Keeshond Irish Setter Dalmatian
#6 Rating	English Springer Spaniel Samoyed Boxer Pekingese Maltese Akita
#7 Rating	Lhasa Apso Shetland Sheepdog Welsh Corgi Toy Poodle Pomeranian
#8 Rating	Boston Terrier Shih Tzu Miniature Poodle Dachshund Silky Terrier Fox Terrier
#9 Rating	Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua Cairn Terrier Airedale Terrier Standard Poodle
#10 Rating: The best watchdogs Located here at the bottom of the chart are the breeds that are the most likely to sound the alarm appropriately.	Rottweiler German Shepherd Doberman Pinscher Scottish Terrier West Highland White Terrier Miniature Schnauzer

Click here for instructions on how to train a first-rate watchdog.

The Dog Science Network also sponsors a course in dog training, featuring a free workshop in canine
socialization, as well as an advanced course in obedience training, street safety, and watchdog work.

This page is part of Section Six:
the More Information section of barkingdogs.net