Protection breeds were bred to either alert you to potential threats, to scare those threats away, or, in some cases, to attack when they perceive danger. But for many of these protective dogs, their bark is worse than their bite. Some, like the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois, make excellent police dogs, capable of being trained to attack on command while still being gentle family pets. Others were bred to watch over livestock and to ward off wolves, bears, lions, or any other predators. Some make excellent guard dogs purely from their ability to warn you of danger through barking, which is why some of the smaller dog breeds also fall into this category. Some of these breeds require a lot of exercise and training but can be some of the most rewarding friends you’ll ever find. Select from the popular breeds above to learn more, or use our Breed Explorer to find any guard dog breed you're looking for.