If you are looking for a low-maintenance guard dog then, you are on the right page. We’ve gathered a list of Low Maintenance Guard Dog Breeds that are easy to take care of, and they can go beyond their limits to protect you.
Here Are The Best Low Maintenance Guard Dog Breeds That You Can Own
Bullmastiff
Bullmastiffs are pretty low-maintenance guard dogs. They don’t require much exercise, a daily walk is enough for them, and they can easily stay home alone for hours.
Bullmastiffs are easier to groom as well because of their short coat. Plus, they shed very little.
They are well known for their courageousness and can do whatever it takes to protect you and your kids. They have a very docile nature with kids, and they make a great family guard dog.
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 24 to 27 inches WEIGHT: 100 to 130 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 7 – 9 years COAT AND COLOR: Short and dense coat; color includes fawn, fawn brindle, red, red brindle, red fawn, and red fawn brindle.
Doberman Pinscher
Doberman is a strong, brave, sleek, fast, athletic, and loyal dog. All these traits make them great guard dogs for farms or people with large property.
And when we talk about grooming, they are a low-maintenance breed. But as they are athletic, they require plenty of exercise to stay fit and healthy.
Doberman Pinscher is a very smart dog as well as good with children if raised with them!
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 24 to 28 inches WEIGHT: 60 to 100 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 12 years COAT AND COLOR: Short, sleek, and shiny coat; color includes black & rust, blue & rust, fawn (Isabella) & rust, and white.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are fast and powerful dogs and can have independent nature and strong prey drive as well.
They are very affectionate with the person they love the most and make good watchdogs and guard dogs for them.
This breed has good health as compared with other dogs, which makes them excellent running partners. Plus, they don’t require much grooming care. But they do need daily mental stimulation to reduce boredom.
Breed Overview GROUP: Hound HEIGHT: 24 to 27 inches WEIGHT: 70 to 85 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 12 years COAT AND COLOR: Short and dense coat; color includes light wheaten, red wheaten, wheaten, and more.
Akita
Akita is a courageous and loyal dog that has a muscular body with a broad and massive head. They are not very social with those they don’t know well, no matter if it’s a person, kids, or other dogs.
But they can make an excellent guard dog as they have all the traits of a guard dog because they were bred as a guard dog in Japan for the Japanese emperor.
They are completely goofy, silly, energetic, and playful dogs. And they require usual maintenance as other dogs do.
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 24 to 28 inches WEIGHT: 70 to 130 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 13 years COAT AND COLOR: Very dense double-coated; color includes black, brown brindle, fawn, red, white, brown, black overlay, and more.
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiffs are the ancient guard dogs and one of the finest breeds to keep as a guard dog. This breed knows very well why they were actually bred for!
They know how, when, and what to protect. TM’s aren’t the kind of dogs that love to play fetch with their owners.
They are the pure independent guardians who know their duty very well. Because of their heavy coat, it seems they require a lot of care! Though, they don’t; they only require minimal grooming. But they do shed quite a lot once a year in late spring or summer.
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 24 to 26 inches WEIGHT: 70 to 150 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 12 years COAT AND COLOR: Double coated, with a heavy, wooly undercoat; color includes black, black & tan, brown, red gold, and more.
Thai Ridgeback
Thai Ridgebacks are natural protectors for their loved ones, but they aren’t the best guard dog for first-time owners because they are independent and have a high prey drive. And require a professional owner who knows how to deal with guard dogs.
They have a tough, muscular, and streamlined body which enhances their looks.
Thai Ridgebacks are active, alert, and extremely intelligent dogs and make a good low-maintenance guard dog whether you have a small home or farm.
Breed Overview GROUP: Foundation stock service HEIGHT: 20 to 24 inches WEIGHT: 35 to 75 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 – 13 years COAT AND COLOR: Short, hard, and straight coat; color includes black, blue, red, and yellow.
Perro de Presa Canario
Perro de Presa Canario is the breed that is actually known for its high self-confidence.
They are willing to take any risk with their lives to protect their master. They are pretty suspicious and aggressive toward everyone except their owner, so early training is a must.
Perro de Presa Canario or you can say, “Presa Canario” was used as a cattle herding dog that needs too much energy. And they still have that high energy level which requires a good amount of playtime or long outdoor walks.
Breed Overview GROUP: Foundation stock service HEIGHT: 22 to 26 inches WEIGHT: 84 to 110 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 9 – 11 years COAT AND COLOR: Short, flat, single coat; color includes brown, fawn, gold, orange, silver, and tiger.
Great-Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees are strong, calm, patient, smart, and great guard dogs. They don’t require any training to be a good guard dog – they have all the guardian traits in them naturally.
Because like Tibetan Mastiffs, they are also bred as a livestock guardian. So that they can spend a day or two alone with their flock of sheep in valleys while protecting them from predators on their own.
Now they are amazing family guardians and do well with kids and other dogs. Plus, they are not too high-maintenance dogs either.
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 25 to 32 inches WEIGHT: 85 to 100 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 12 years COAT AND COLOR: Double coat, long outer, and soft undercoat; color white.
Rottweiler
Rotties are loyal, loving, and confident guardians. But people usually misunderstood them as aggressive dogs. They have very loving personalities if raised properly.
Rotties are intelligent and loyal to their family members and can show aggression to strangers.
So it’s quite better to socialize them early in age because they learn things quickly, even at a young age. They don’t require much grooming; occasional baths and brushing are enough!
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 22 to 27 inches WEIGHT: 80 to 135 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 9 – 10 years COAT AND COLOR: Straight, coarse, medium-length coat; color includes black & mahogany, black & rust, and black & tan.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is also known as AmStaffs. This breed has low grooming needs and makes good guard dogs, especially for a family with kids.
AmStaffs are smart, confident, good-natured, and easy-going dogs with stocky, muscular looks.
They are highly trainable and love physical and mental stimulation. So if you want a low-maintenance guard dog with whom you can go jogging, hiking, or even cycling, then this is the breed for you.
Breed Overview GROUP: Terrier HEIGHT: 17 to 19 inches WEIGHT: 40 to 70 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 – 16 years COAT AND COLOR: Short, stiff coat; color includes black, blue fawn, blue, blue brindle, brown, and more.
Beauceron
This breed kinda looks like a Doberman Pinscher with medium hair. Beaucerons are remarkably smart protectors whether you use them as farm guardians or family.
They are faithful, gentle, and obedient large-sized dogs that can grow up to 27.5 inches.
If you train them properly, they do well with children and other dogs. Beauceron does shed only during shedding season, but they don’t require a lot of grooming.
As they are French dogs, so in French, they are also known as “Bas-Rouge,” which means (red stockings).
Breed Overview GROUP: Herding HEIGHT: 24 to 27.5 inches WEIGHT: 70 to 110 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 12 years COAT AND COLOR: Short, dense double coat; color includes black & rust, black & tan, harlequin, and gray-black & tan.
Black Russian Terrier
Black Russian Terrier is a powerful, intelligent, and calm dog and is typically known as the Russian army dog as they were first bred as an army dog. Now they are good family companions and guard dogs.
They are a relatively low shedding breed but require maintenance, which means brushing at least once to twice a week. As well as Black Russian Terrier is aloof with strangers.
This courageous, confident, and intelligent dog is actually a very healthy breed. That can grow about 30-inch in height at the shoulder.
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 26 to 30 inches WEIGHT: 80 to 130 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 12 years COAT AND COLOR: Dense, coarse coat; color includes black, black & tan, blue, sable, and salt & pepper.
Boerboel
Boerboel is an intelligent and confident dog that is completely devoted to his family members. They are fearless dogs and aren’t scared of anything when it comes to their human family protection.
They are very trainable, eager, and love to spend time with their owner.
Their broad-looking head and muscular body are enough to keep intruders away. But like Thai Ridgeback, they are also not suitable for beginners because they are pretty large for them to handle.
Boerboel is one of the most active mastiffs (among all mastiff breeds) to keep as a guard dog.
Breed Overview GROUP: Working HEIGHT: 22 to 27 inches WEIGHT: 150 to 200 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 9 – 11 years COAT AND COLOR: Short, dense coat; color includes brindle, brown, cream, red, reddish brown, and tawny.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dog got his name because of the unique coat pattern that they have.
These dogs mature very early in age and become independent, so early training is a must. They make good watchdogs, guard dogs, and multi-purpose working dogs.
And the most important thing is that they are loyal, gentle, affectionate, and very protective of their family members. Plus, they are low-maintenance as far as grooming.
They are not only good guard dogs, but they are also great dogs for farms or ranches. That’s why they are typically known as “King of the Stock Dogs.”
Breed Overview GROUP: Foundation stock service HEIGHT: 22 to 24 inches WEIGHT: 50 to 95 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 14 years COAT AND COLOR: Single smooth short or coarse mediumcoat; color includes black, blue, blue merle, brindle, chocolate, and more.
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
The Central Asian Shepherd dogs are one of the oldest canines that are still around as guard dogs. They are extremely protective of their family.
This breed is known to be pretty intelligent, fearless, and self-assured. They have enough strength to stand in front of large predators (even triple their own size).
But don’t let their scary face fool you, they are very loyal and make an outstanding bond with their human family.
Plus, they play and do great with well-behaved kids, even with small ones. Their grooming needs are also low, and they mostly stay quiet when in the home.
Breed Overview GROUP: Foundation stock service HEIGHT: 25.5 to 27.5 inches WEIGHT: 88 to 110 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 – 15 years COAT AND COLOR: Medium sized thick double-coated; color includes black, brindle, white, fawn, bicolor, tricolor, gray, and more.
Spanish Water Dog
SWDs are active dogs that were not bred as water dogs which most people think they are. They were actually bred as herding dogs to protect livestock, but Yes,’ they can do work in water as well.
They make an excellent watchdog. But with a little bit of training, they can also work as an excellent guard dog easily.
They are deeply faithful and loyal to their owners and are very territorial of their place, which makes them excellent guard dogs. They have a low-maintenance coat, but monthly clipping is required to keep their coat the same length all over.
Breed Overview GROUP: Herding HEIGHT: 15.75 to 19.75 inches WEIGHT: 31 to 49 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 – 14 years COAT AND COLOR: Single curly or wavy coat; color includes black, black & white, brown, brown & white, white & black, and more.
Hovawart
This breed has something for all, as they are great guard dogs, watchdogs, and can work as rescue dogs (because of their excellent nose) and tracking dogs. Hovawarts are the companion for all, as they are intelligent and very devoted to their family members.
They are fun-loving creatures who require their owner’s attention. But if you are not so active or don’t have enough time to play with them, “don’t worry” because sometimes they find their own entertainment. However, they still require attention from their owners.
These dogs don’t actually have an undercoat, which means they don’t need too much grooming either.
Breed Overview GROUP: Foundation stock service HEIGHT: 23 to 28 inches WEIGHT: 65 to 90 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 – 14 years COAT AND COLOR: Long, dense slightly wavy coat; color includes black, and blonde.
Final Thought
It’s quite hard for most people to find the perfect low-maintenance guard dog, as there are so many to choose from! Well, it’s totally up to you because every person has their own needs.
But make sure whenever you think of a dog for your family, do try to adopt them from shelters. There are so many well-trained retired army and police dogs or guard dogs in the dog shelters that you can keep!!
