Are small breed dogs suitable guard dogs?
Some people love smaller breeds and just don’t have room for a large breed dog. They can live in an apartment or condo and some owners only allow dogs that are under a certain weight.
If you have limited space and want a smaller dog then you can look towards toy breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, West Highland Terrier, Morkie, Miniature Schnauzer and many similar breeds. These adorable little dogs have little to no fear and will alert you to any intruders. They are too small to be effective watchdogs, but they will certainly let you know if someone is out in the yard or lurking around in the dark. I once saw a tiny chihuahua chase two very large Dobermans out of our yard. I’m not sure if the Dobermans saw our little chihuahua, but they left and didn’t come back regardless.
When deciding the best breed for a guard dog, you need to consider the family they will live with and the conditions they will be kept in. You can’t buy a dog, tie it up, and then ignore it. All dogs need to be trained, exercised and cared for. A good diet is vital and if you need your dog to live outside, make sure he has adequate shelter and room to run. If you need to chain the dog at night, consider placing a cable on the ground to hold the chain so that the dog has some freedom of movement and can take shelter when the weather is not good.
