Is Australian Shepherd a Good Guard Dog?

Last Updated on July 4, 2023

Guard dogs are some of the most sought-after dog breeds; this may stem from owners wanting to have a loyal yet strong dog who can look for potential intruders or even outright threatening entities.

Is Australian Shepherd a good guard dog? This may come to the minds of several pet owners who are thinking of getting an Australian shepherd, especially considering how intelligent Australian shepherds are herding dog breeds.

In simple terms, an Australian shepherd is not a Good Guard Dog, but certainly, they have the excellent qualities of a watchdog; let us take a look at some of the capabilities of an Australian shepherd below.

What Is a Good Guard Dog Mean?

Guard dogs are generally explicitly bred to protect territory, whether an owner’s residence or a herd of sheep/cattle. A good guard dog is a guard dog who can differentiate between an average person and an attacker, ensuring that the dog doesn’t attack an average person at random intervals.

On the other hand, a good guard dog should also be quick to get up on its feet and be willing to use its jaws to take on an intruder if the need comes; it shouldn’t matter whether the intruder is an animal or a human. Is Australian Shepherd a good guard dog? We will find out about that below.

Are Australian Shepherds Good Guard Dog?

Is Australian Shepherd a good guard dog? While they are intelligent and tend to bark at strangers, Australian shepherds aren’t good guard dogs in the strictest sense. They more or less gravitate towards being an excellent watchdogs, as these dogs are generally meant to watch over cattle and lead them.

But as a watchdog, Australian shepherds can alert you of the danger that you or your cattle might face; if worst comes to worst, an Australian shepherd will protect their owner. But be warned, as these dogs are of calm temperament, you shouldn’t expect them to guard you in the same way a dog like a German Shepherd or Kangal Shepherd will.

Is Australian Shepherd a good guard dog? They are excellent watchdogs but not guard dogs. If you are not turned off by this dog not being an excellent dog in technicality, then you will still be able to utilise your Australian Shepherd to alert you of potential threats in the likelihood of someone stepping upon your property.

Do Australian Shepherds Have Good Guarding Instincts?

Do Australian shepherds have an excellent guarding instinct? Owing to their upbringing as a herding dog meant for driving away a threat by barking or alerting the owner, you expect an Australian shepherd to have an excellent guarding instinct. However, Australian shepherds usually won’t jump to action as they are not meant to attack or bite.

The most likely scenario you can expect for an Australian shepherd is that they will bark aggressively at an intruder who is actively expressing their intent to harm an animal. Otherwise, don’t expect an Australian shepherd to spring into action like a German shepherd.

Australian shepherds are incredibly affectionate towards their family members and are usually good with children. They are also excellent watchdogs. The Australian Shepherd is a perfect choice if you want to get an intelligent and protective dog.

Is Australian Shepherd a good guard dog? As has been said before, Australian shepherds aren’t excellent as guard dogs. However, they are perfect as watchdogs, more or less.

Conclusion

Is Australian Shepherd a good guard dog? Australian shepherds generally have been bred in mind to be a passive yet alert dog breed; this means that they will keep a lookout for activities at your house, your farm, etc… But in terms of actual physical action like other guard dogs, you can expect your Australian Shepherd not to do that.

Australian shepherds are great at being watchdogs; you can expect them to keep barking until the threat is dealt with or they run away by themselves. These dogs are also susceptible to sound and will likely react to loud noises; this makes their role as watchdogs even better and very similar to that of a guard dog.

In simple terms, Australian shepherds can react differently according to how they are trained and by what kind of owner.