Top 10 Most Intelligent Guard Dog Breeds

Rottweiler originated from the Italian Mastiff. They were bred in the city of Rottweil in Wurttemberg, Germany, and first appeared in the 1800s. Its ancestors from ancient Rome served the army in wars, hunting in medieval times, or pulling carts to transport goods instead of horses or herding sheep... Today, Rottweilers are used for guarding, search and rescue, protection, and police and border patrol duties. By the 20th century, Rottweilers had been recognized by many kennel clubs worldwide. Currently, this breed is widely used in police and border patrol dog training. In 2013, they were ranked 9th among the most popular breeds in the United States by the AKC.

Rottweilers are healthy, intelligent, good fighters, and have the ability to withstand injuries. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are obedient and make excellent protectors. They are not very friendly with strangers but show affection to acquaintances. They are a fairly calm breed when well-trained. The price of a purebred Rottweiler is around: $7,000. The Rottweiler's head is large and heavy, with a round forehead, triangular ears, and a broad, developed jaw. Sharp teeth with 42 in total, scissors bite, upper jaw teeth overlap the lower jaw. The neck is of medium length, slightly arched, with no excess skin underneath. The purebred Rottweiler has a long body, a straight back, and strong shoulders. The chest is broad, deep, with developed muscles, and a slim belly. Four strong, sturdy legs. The Rottweiler's tail is actually quite long, but similar to the Doberman, their tails are often docked from a young age. Short, stiff, and thick fur with two basic colors: Black and Black mixed with brown. Some individuals also have light or black-gray fur. Rottweilers are intelligent, agile, strong, brave, and combative dogs. In battles, they always strive to win without fear, fleeing from any threat. However, they are very loyal, calm, easy to train, and devoted to their owner.

Due to the expanded breeding and raising environment, in Vietnam, Rottweilers cost about: 5 million VND. As a breed from cold climates, Rottweilers find it challenging to adapt to tropical and humid climates. To raise a healthy Rottweiler, you need a spacious, airy space, and a fairly complex healthcare regimen in the first year. When mature, they are quite easy to raise.

Poodle is a renowned duck-hunting breed known for its excellent swimming ability. They are highly agile, obedient, and later became known as an aristocratic dog breed due to their thick, non-shedding curly coat that is easy to style. Poodle is an energetic, intelligent, and elegant breed that is friendly and well-trained when close to humans. This dog line is a descendant of breeds such as the French Water Dog, Hungarian Water Hound, and Barbet. Today, they have been bred to become a breed with a curly coat and a small stature, suitable for companionship. They have an excellent swimming talent, and their German name, “Pudel,” means a diver or water dog.

Poodle is divided into three main types: Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Toy Poodle. This breed comes in various colors such as white, brown, red, and black due to extensive breeding. Tiny Poodles are incredibly small, as the name suggests, standing under 20cm and weighing less than 15kg. They appear tiny and were even more sought after than Toy Poodles, Standard Poodles, and Miniature Poodles at certain times. The most impressive feature of Tiny Poodles is their noble and extremely glamorous curly coat. Their coat can be trimmed in three styles: pet clip, English saddle, and continental. They are glamorous companion dogs with curly coats in colors like black, silver-blue, gray, cream, red, white, brown, or cafe au lait. Their tails are very straight and often held high. Despite their small and tall legs with webbed feet, they have a small and long head, a strong and slightly arched neck. The Poodle has long, drooping, flat, and wide ears pressed close to the head.

This breed has a thick coat that requires regular care, although the coat of this breed does not create an unpleasant odor. It is suitable for many families, even in small spaces. The price of each Poodle is around 5 million VND. Besides purebred Poodles, there are also Poodle mixed breeds such as Poodle Japanese mix, Poodle Phoc soc mix, Poodle Beijing mix, Toy Poodle Cocker Spaniel mix, etc. These mixed Poodles have outstanding appearances not inferior to purebred Poodles. Depending on financial conditions, personal preferences, and the need for a pet dog, each person will have a different view of purebred Poodles and mixed Poodles. However, in general, Poodle breeds are loved by dog enthusiasts.

The Golden Retriever breed was first bred on the islands of the United Kingdom. Their origin is likely a mix of golden-haired Retriever breeds, straight-haired Tweed Water Spaniels, other spaniel breeds, setters, and even Newfoundland and Bloodhound breeds. Golden Retrievers are also known as excellent companions for bird and waterfowl hunters. They have an excellent sense of smell and are often used not only for hunting or tracking but also equipped for military units and police to detect drugs. Another advantage of this breed is their constant desire to please their owners, their ability to learn, and their love for humans, making them dedicated assistants for the blind and other disabled individuals.

This is an incredibly intelligent dog breed, always behaving properly and very affectionate towards their owner. They are easy to train and always show patience and gentleness with small children. Loyalty, reliability, easy maintenance, and always seeking to please their owner are the characteristics of Golden Retrievers, a breed that loves outdoor activities. Due to their intelligence, they always excel in talent competitions. Golden Retrievers are always friendly to everyone, including other dogs. Therefore, they have very little protective instinct. However, they can be good house guardians, often barking loudly when strangers appear. This breed always needs the attention of people around them. If isolated or away from their owner for an extended period, they can become eccentric.

The main talents of this breed include hunting, tracking, retrieving, drug detection, competitions, and performances. In addition, they also enjoy swimming. As a long-haired bright-colored breed, Golden Retrievers also need a spacious, airy space. The price of these Golden Retrievers in Vietnam is around 5 million VND and higher, about 7 million VND when fully grown.

Border Collie: This is the world's smartest dog breed. In today's Dog Show competitions, Border Collies always have a significant advantage over other breeds. Mini Collie: or also known as Shetland Sheepdog or Sheltie, is a smaller breed than the Border, with a standard Mini Collie weighing only 12 kg. Mini Collie is the 6th smartest dog breed in the world, trained to herd sheep, and they are very obedient and vigilant. They wake up immediately at the slightest noise.

Rough Collie: a breed with a similar appearance to Mini Collie but twice as large. Although not as intelligent as the two mentioned earlier, they still rank 16th in the world in intelligence. They are large and beautiful, so they are very popular and often raised as guard dogs. The origin of Rough Collie. Ancestors of the Rough Collie branch worked as herding dogs in the Scottish highlands, driving livestock and sheep to markets with farmers. They may take their name from a black-faced sheep breed in Scotland, called Colley. There is not much information about their origin, as shepherd interest lies more in their working ability than maintaining a pedigree or textbooks about this breed. Collie is a herding dog breed, meaning they are intelligent, quick learners, and can adjust themselves well with humans. While they are not as powerful as Border Collies and Australian Shepherd herding dogs, Collies still need daily exercise as well as training and play to challenge their minds. Collies respond best to consistent training based on rewards such as dog treats and snacks, and they receive attention when performing. Whether performing tricks or competing in agility, obedience, or herding events, Collies can excel. They can also be excellent therapy dogs, tall enough to stand by the bed to comfort patients, with a calm and welcoming personality. On the other hand, Collies barking can be particularly annoying. Collies are family-oriented and should live indoors, not in the backyard. Because they need you to cuddle and pet them for hours every day.

Collie may still be a modest herding dog breed, not well known, but fate had a different plan. Queen Victoria, who frequently vacationed in Scotland at Balmoral Castle, fell in love with Collie at first sight in the 1860s. Royal patronage caused a demand for this breed. Rough Collie went from the help of humble shepherds to the cherished companions of the wealthy. Rough Collie was adorned with the most beautiful dog outfits and accessories. There are also many other types of Collies from different regions. Being an imported breed that is difficult to breed in Vietnam, the cost of these Collies is usually quite high, ranging from 8 to 12 million VND depending on their maturity.

German Shepherd originally known as Deutscher Schäferhund by Von Stephanitz, translating to 'German Shepherd Dog'. This breed was named for its initial purpose of creating a dog to assist in herding and protecting sheep. Over time, other herding breeds in Germany were also called by this name, then they are known as Altdeutsche Schäferhunde or Old German Shepherd Dogs. German Shepherds were first introduced to England in 1908, and the Kennel Club in the UK began recognizing this breed in 1919.

German Shepherds are considered the third most intelligent dog breed, following Border Collies and Poodles. They are highly active, described as self-assured, exceptionally eager to learn, and task-oriented. This breed is notably loyal and forms strong bonds with familiar individuals. While they can be protective of their family or territory, especially if not acclimated to people, their balanced nature makes them approachable yet cautious with strangers. German Shepherds have a large, muscular body with a high neck, long and slender legs for agile movement. They exhibit a deep chest, robust abdomen, and a rounded head with dark eyes.

The breed boasts a dense, long coat that covers its entire body, characterized by an outer layer that is long and sheds throughout the year, and a shorter, denser inner layer. German Shepherds come in various colors, with the most common being black and tan or black. Trained and employed as police dogs, German Shepherds serve as invaluable aids to law enforcement in tracking criminals. The price of a purebred German Shepherd in Vietnam ranges approximately from 3.5 million VND and up.

Pug, a small-sized, compact, and muscular dog, possesses a sleek coat and a well-proportioned body with graceful lines. Pugs come in various types and sizes due to crossbreeding, leading to a price range of approximately: 1 to 4 million VND. Selection criteria for Pugs also consider coat colors such as fawn, red-brown, black-red, and chocolate. Pugs are suitable for apartment living due to their short, smooth coat that minimizes odor.

Mini Pug: weighing only a few pounds up to over 1kg. Deer Pug: larger than mini by about 2kg. Minpin Pug: weighing over 3kg and having a slightly tapered face, less angular than mini and deer. Pugs are known for their obstinate and quirky nature. Additionally, they are courageous and tend to bark a lot. When strangers enter their home, they immediately bark loudly to alert their family. They are loyal to their owners, affectionate, and always vigilant to unfamiliar objects. Full of vitality and energy, Pugs are intelligent and brave despite their small size. Despite their modest size, their nature is protective. Deer Pugs dislike confinement and always seek opportunities to escape restraints. Without careful leash control, Minpin Pugs can disappear from sight at any time. They have a strong tendency to chew on objects and may chew on anything they can find. Therefore, Minpin Pugs are prone to eating things they shouldn't.

Some individuals may be very aggressive towards other dogs, but in general, Pugs are relatively friendly to other pets and small children. To facilitate integration, expose them to various types of dogs and animals from a young age. They can learn quickly and always crave new experiences. Pugs are very attached to their owners, quickly and long-lasting in memory, understanding their owner's emotions and acting based on a lot of speculation. If not trained properly, Pugs tend to dominate and often bully if raised with other pets, do not listen to their owner, and enjoy causing trouble with larger dogs (due to their rare courage). Therefore, training a Pug from a young age is essential to teach them proper communication and show them who the owner is, ensuring their safety around larger dogs.

This is the oldest dog breed in the Americas and the smallest dog breed in the world. Originating from Mexico, they gained global recognition, oddly enough, thanks to the efforts of the Chinese. They were only brought to Europe in the late 19th century. The breed's name comes from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where explorers discovered them.

The indigenous people of Red Indian times believed that this dog breed was related to sacred deities. The most precious Chihuahua dogs usually weigh less than 1.3 kg, fitting comfortably in an adult's hand. Long-haired Chihuahua is often rated separately, but fundamentally, it is the same as short-haired, except for coat criteria. The general description of their appearance is tiny and robust. They have a round head with a short muzzle, distinctive large, round eyes in dark and ruby colors. Their ears are always pricked up, as if they are eavesdropping. They also have a soft spot on the top of their head, and this dent will be covered by bone as they grow. Despite their small size, they are sturdy and agile. Their coat colors are diverse, ranging from sandy yellow, black-brown, silver, to brown hazel.

Chihuahua is a very popular companion dog because they are intelligent and have a small body suitable for every family. The price of each Chihuahua pup usually ranges from 3 to 6 million VND depending on the breeding level. Chihuahua dogs are commonly raised in Vietnam and come in two types: short-haired and long-haired. However, their physical appearance does not differ except for the short/long length of the coat.

Though quite fierce, the Dobermann is a breed loyal to its owner's family. The ears of a Dobermann need to be cropped to have an upright position around 7 to 9 weeks from birth, a timing that may extend up to 6 months or even a year. Many express dislike for the ear cropping process, believing it to be painful for the Dobermann. To date, there has been no direct comparison between cropped and natural ears of the Dobermann, but it is believed that cropped ears may reduce the risk of ear problems.

Bred for centuries to be a guard dog, the Dobermann possesses ideal qualities for this job: Sensitivity, enthusiasm, extraordinary strength, and endurance. Moreover, this is one of the most intelligent and easily trainable breeds. Decisive, fearless yet not wild, loyal, devoted, and affectionate to the owner's family, the Dobermann becomes almost an official member of the family. With moderately large, triangular-shaped ears slightly hanging and a quite long tail, this breed is often used as a working dog and may undergo ear and tail docking surgeries when young to prevent vulnerabilities for criminals to exploit. Hence, we often see images of Dobermann guard dogs looking very 'cool' with upright ears and a docked tail.

Due to their high intelligence, easy trainability, and strong protective instincts, Dobermanns are often trained to serve various purposes. The price of these Dobermanns can go up to millions of dong depending on their maturity and breeding. Adult Dobermanns have an average height of 60 – 72 cm and weigh about 27 – 45 kg. They have short, sleek, close-fitting coats with main colors being black, black and tan, red, red and tan, blue, etc. The neck, chest, and chest muscles are well-developed, the back is straight, long, the body tapers towards the tail, small abdomen, long legs, muscular thighs. The head is relatively small compared to the body, the muzzle is long, wide, slightly square, strong jaw, large and very bright nose, round, slightly small and very bright eyes.

9. Papillon - one of the most intelligent dog breeds for companionship

Papillon, also known as the Butterfly dog due to its ears resembling butterfly wings, is a beloved companion dog breed. Papillon's long tail with a plume of flowing hair arched over its back gives it the alternative name of Squirrel Spaniel. It is the descendant of the European Toy Spaniel, appearing in paintings of European royal courts since the early 16th century. Titian (Vecelli), one of the most famous court painters, depicted these small Spanish dogs in his paintings, adorned with eye-catching accessories, around 1500.

Papillon is an intelligent, affectionate breed that enjoys playful activities. Another variation of the Papillon breed with drop ears is called Phalene, meaning 'moth' in French. Known for friendliness, intelligence, and outdoor enthusiasm, they are patient and calm. They love to play and frolic but remain vigilant around strangers. Their long and silky coat, along with the plumed tail, waves elegantly. Unlike other long-haired breeds, Papillons don't have an undercoat or shed heavily, making grooming with tools more convenient. Their coats come in colors such as white with black, red, or orange patches.

Papillons can be trained to perform some simple tricks. Some lines may be prone to fear and tension and might require patience in house training. Despite being somewhat feisty, Papillons have a good relationship with children. They can be a bit combative, but they treat cats and other pets well if socialized early. Since this breed is less common in Vietnam, importing from overseas might be necessary if you are a fan. However, it is crucial to carefully consider the challenges of raising purebred dogs from cold climates, as they might struggle in our climate.

10. Australian Cattle Dog – Australian Herding Dog

Cattle Dog, an Australian breed, is ranked as one of the most intelligent dogs globally. They are quick-witted, excel in behavior control, possess abundant energy, and can perform tasks exceptionally well. Originating in Australia, they are also known as the Australian Heeler, Hall’s Heeler, Queensland Heeler, and Blue Heeler. Australian farmers, who migrated from Europe in the 19th century, brought these cattle herding dogs to Australia. They were bred for herding and protecting livestock on their farms. The ancestors of Australian Cattle Dogs were the long-haired Collie breed. Through generations of crossbreeding with the native Australian Dingo and other breeds like the Australian Kelpie and Bull Terrier, a new breed evolved – the Australian Cattle Dog. This breed combines the best qualities of its ancestors, being resilient, excellent at herding, adaptable to harsh Australian conditions, robust, intelligent, and highly trainable.

This native breed is hardy and suitable for herding in Queensland, Australia. Australian Cattle Dogs were developed by the early pioneers in the 19th century to herd livestock on vast plains. The first Australian Cattle Dogs were bred by crossing a blue-spotted Collie with imported smooth-coated breeds from Scotland, Australian wild Dingoes, Australian Kelpie herding dogs, spotted dogs, and Bull Terriers. The result was the creation of this herding dog breed. In terms of appearance, Australian Cattle Dogs fall into the medium-sized dog category. Males weigh between 17-24 kg and stand 45-50 cm tall, while females are slightly smaller. They inherit all the physical characteristics of their Collie ancestors, including a double-layered coat. The outer layer, longer and waterproof, protects against elements like snow, while the shorter inner layer insulates the body. Australian Cattle Dogs come in various colors due to their diverse breeding history, but the dominant colors are black and tan, and blue and tan.

This breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 1980. Also known by the name 'Heeler,' indicating its herding skills by nipping at the heels of livestock. These Cattle Dogs are used for herding purposes, and when widely bred, they make excellent guard dogs. They are affectionate creatures and usually don't like being alone. If the owner is too busy and can't spend much time with them, try taking them for a 10 to 15-minute walk daily. Avoid confining them in cramped spaces with nothing to do, as they may become bored and resort to destructive behavior, similar to their Husky relatives. The best approach is to engage them in activities like fetching a ball or playing with a frisbee to keep their minds stimulated.