Are Rottweilers or Bullmastiffs good first guard dogs for families?

For purposes of looking after children, the first breed to come to mind is Great Pyrenees. They are flock guardian dogs, are known to be loyal and protective, and are large and robust enough to live outdoors if given proper shelter. As a thick-coated breed, they do require regular brushing and grooming to keep from getting matted. German Shepherd/Alsatians are also excellent family dogs, very loyal and protective and highly intelligent. Bernese Mountain Dogs are loyal, confident and intelligent. Rottweilers are also a good breed as they are very loyal and protective. Some people are put off by their reputation but they are a product of their environment, as is any dog. As long as the children are taught to respect and properly treat a dog, there is no need to worry.

Great question! This is a bit of a tough question in that a number of breeds of dogs who are good guard dogs are also difficult. For example, a German Shepherd. Good guard dogs, but require a lot of training and are not for a first time dog owner. If you don't know how to handle them, they can be aggressive to humans and small animals. They are also high energy dogs. Personally, I would recommend a Golden Retriever. They are absolutely lovely dogs, extremely loyal, very easy to train, excellent with humans and small animals, and if need be, could defend the owner. I had a Golden for 12 years, and she was honestly the best dog I have ever owned. So sweet and caring, but I knew that if I was ever in trouble, she would defend me. Goldens are a large breed dog, and large breed dogs can be intimidating to strangers. My Minnie would bark if someone came to the door and knocked, but otherwise didn't bark much. Sometimes a bark is enough to scare someone off. I would look into getting a Golden Retriever for the reasons I listed above. I hope this helps!

Rottweilers are problematic dogs, especially for people who do not have experience with those type of dogs, they can be aggressive and could be deadly if it attacks you or your children. i would not recommend it.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your potential dog. I recommend a labrador retriever. They are wonderful family dogs, highly trainable and very loyal. They have a high energy level so will require a considerable amount of exercise. They are happy go lucky dogs, but can be protective of their families. I hope this information helps!

This is a Rottweiler, a breed that needs an experienced owner as it is a very powerful dog. You should familiarise yourself with this dog before you agree to take it, as in order to be safe he needs to be well trained and have a nice disposition. This is not a dog for a beginner dog owner.

Hello. The Great Pyrenees are wonderful, loyal & protective dogs without being overly aggressive. They are no more stubborn than many other breeds. I would put them on par with Labradors. If you are looking for a very large breed ( males can get to be about 130 pounds ), with lots of beautiful long white hair, then these are great dogs & make amazing family companions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My favorite breed is a Golden Retriever. They are truly the best family dogs ever, great with kids. They do need exercise daily, but don't tend to have chewing tendencies. I had a Golden Retriever for 12 years, best dog ever, and she was protective as needed.