A watchdog is a dog that is highly alert and will raise the alarm by barking vigorously whenever someone approaches or enters your property. Watchdogs are different from Guard dogs. (The job of guard dogs is to protect you and prevent intruders coming on your property in the first place, whereas the job of watchdogs is to raise an alarm.) The purpose of a watchdog is to alert you of danger. This is a list of the best watchdogs. These are dogs that are very alert and will always bark up a storm when a stranger approaches your home or enters without you knowing. All of these breeds in this list are excellent watchdogs.
Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier, the "King of Terriers," is brimming with personality. He has the trademark terrier temperament: energetic, curious, feisty, and boisterous.
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Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier, also known as "The American Gentleman," is enthusiastic about life and is often excitable.
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Cairn Terrier
Everybody loves Toto, right? What a trooper that dog was, keeping up on the Yellow Brick Road! Like him, Cairn Terriers are independent little bundles of energy.
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Chihuahua
The Chihuahua has a terrier-like personality which means he's cocky, confident, feisty, quick-to-bark, relentless, and rash.
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Dachshund
The Dachshund is fearless, brave, rash, playful, determined and clever. He's quite independent and stubborn because he was bred to hunt alone.
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German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog is loyal, bold and courageous. He's self confident and utterly fearless. He won't back down if challenged!
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Great Pyrenees
This giant, gorgeous dog was bred to be a guard dog and has strong territorial instincts. And the Great Pyrenees defines his territory as "as far as his eye can see.
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Miniature Poodle
The Miniature Poodle is good-natured and eager-to-please. He's also cheerful, loyal, proud, dignified, and extremely smart.
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Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer has the typical terrier temperament: relentless, energetic, brave, alert, curious, scrappy, bossy, and feisty.
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Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is loyal, self-confident, calm, courageous, independent, wary, and protective.
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Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier is a lot of personality in a little body: brave, curious, feisty, and opinionated. He's the only breed to live in the White House three times.
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Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a dignified, lively, alert, happy, sweet and playful. He craves your companionship and just wants to be with you.
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Silky Terrier
The Silky Terrier wants to be your best buddy. He is a friendly, affectionate, scrappy little guy who does not like to be ignored.
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Smooth Fox Terrier
The Smooth Fox Terrier is a very active dog with lots of energy. He's always in motion doing something or getting into mischief.
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Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is good-natured and eager-to-please. He's also cheerful, loyal, proud, dignified, and extremely smart.
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Toy Fox Terrier
The Toy Fox Terrier has the brains and devotion of a toy breed but is also a true working terrier.
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Toy Poodle
The Toy Poodle is good-natured and eager-to-please. He's also cheerful, loyal, proud, dignified, and extremely smart.
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West Highland White Terrier
Often known as the "Westie," the West Highland White Terrier possesses the classic terrier temperament: active, spunky, energetic, and self-important!
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Wire Fox Terrier
The Wire Fox Terrier has the trademark terrier temperament: energetic, fearless, playful, inquisitive, feisty, bossy, and boisterous
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Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is feisty, alert, inquisitive, energetic, determined, brave, bossy, scrappy and boisterous.
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Australian Terrier
The Australian Terrier is tough, feisty, tenacious, energetic, intelligent, boisterous, adaptable, and agile.
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Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a happy, jovial breed who loves people and craves attention and physical contact.
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Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a unique little watchdog who likes to play by his own rules. While he will be devoted to you, loyal and loving, he won't necessarily want to please you.
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Schipperke
The Schipperke is alert, active, inquisitive, intelligent and hopelessly devoted to his master.
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Affenpinscher
Affenpinscher is German for Monkey Dog, and the Affenpinscher is every bit as active and playful as his name implies.
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Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The Miniature American Eskimo Dog is an intelligent, energetic, playful, and affectionate companion dog.
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Standard American Eskimo Dog
The Standard American Eskimo Dog is an intelligent, energetic, playful, and affectionate companion dog.
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Toy American Eskimo Dog
The Toy American Eskimo Dog is an intelligent, energetic, playful, and affectionate companion dog. They are excellent watchdogs, and take their watchdog duties very seriously.
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American Foxhound
The American Foxhound is bred to run. Foxhound owners need to make a commitment to ensure that their dogs get enough exercise.
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Canaan Dog
The Canaan Dog is very intelligent and a loyal and natural watchdog. Canaans are a primitive breed, a breed that has retained its natural qualities without generations of human interference.
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Chow Chow
One of the oldest breeds in the world, the Chow Chow is a fiercely loyal dog who is reserved with his affection.
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English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is a popular breed because they are fun, eager to please, obedient and affectionate.
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Finnish Spitz
The Finnish Spitz is a beloved family dog and skilled hunting dog. He is intelligent, independent, inquisitive, lively, good-natured, faithful, and brave.
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German Pinscher
The German Pinscher is both companion and guardian, small enough to curl up in your lap, and big enough to protect you.
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Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel has been bred to be a companion hunting dog. They are talented retrievers and good family dogs.
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Jack Russell Terrier
One word: feisty. These little guys are full of energy and character, and can be alarmingly assertive.
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Miniature Pinscher
The Miniature Pinscher has been nicknamed "The King of the Toys." Miniature Pinschers (or Min Pins) are very small dogs, but they do not know this.
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Papillon
The Papillon (pronounced pappy-yawn -- French for butterfly) is rapidly becoming the preferred companion pet.
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Pekingese
An ancient toy breed, the Pekingese is an excellent watchdog who thinks he is far larger and braver than he really is.
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Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
The Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen (nicknamed the "Happy Breed") is an extroverted, independent, confident, and alert dog.
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Samoyed
The Samoyed is an affectionate people-dog who will want to be the center of attention. He will crave your attention and will either behave or misbehave to get it,
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Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, affectionately called the "Sheltie," is one of the most trainable and loving breeds there is.
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Welsh Terrier
The Welsh Terrier is a fun, zippy, feisty fellow who is the calmest of the terrier breeds. Yet he is always on the lookout for action and entertainment.
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