Are Labradoodles Good Guard Dogs? What Are They For?

There are many reasons why someone would want a guard dog. Whether they live in a dangerous area or simply want a bit more protection in their day-to-day life, a guard dog can make a person feel safer in their life. However, not every kind of dog out there makes for a good guard dog. 

Are Labradoodles Good Guard Dogs?

Labradoodles don’t make good guard dogs because they are too nice of creatures. There may be the occasional Labradoodle that does a good job at guarding its owner, but as a breed, they are not too suitable to guard against threats. 

Can Labradoodles Be Watchdogs?

While Labradoodles don’t make good guard dogs because they are too friendly and personable, they can still make good watchdogs.

The difference between a guard dog and a watch dog is the action. A watch dog’s only task is to alert its owner of any threat such as a person coming up to the house. They will only watch their surroundings to see if anything unusual is happening. 

A guard dog will also watch out for any threats, but they will also act upon those threats. If an intruder were to come to your house or apartment, a guard dog will be trained to both alert you and fend off the threat. 

A Labradoodle can successfully be trained to alert you of any threats that may be occurring. 

With them being social creatures, they can also be very vocal when they sense someone new around them. Even without training, you may find your Labradoodle barking at the door when a stranger (friend or foe) is approaching. 

What Makes a Good Guard Dog?

While there are no set rules for what breeds can be guard dogs and what traits a guard dog must have, there are some traits that are sought after. 

First, the bigger the better. You won’t see many small dogs tasked with the role of being a guard dog. Usually, guard dogs are medium to large-sized dogs that are big enough to scare off potential threats. 

Breeds like German Shepherds and Great Danes tend to be preferred when looking for a guard dog because they are bigger breeds.

Guard dogs also need to be intelligent. They need to be able to tell the difference between who is friend and foe and also intelligent enough to easily be trained. 

There is a lot of training that goes into being a guard dog, so intelligent dogs are needed to be able to pick up on all the information quickly. 

Other traits that are valued in guard dogs are loyalty, determination, protectiveness, and obedience. You want your dog to be able to put you first and not be afraid of a possible threat. A protective nature helps a dog instinctually know that they should put their human first. 

While the ability to get aggressive is helpful if a guard dog needs to go into action, guard dogs can still be friendly creatures. A guard dog doesn’t need to be mean all the time and in fact, will most likely be very affectionate towards its owner. Being a guard dog is a job which means that there is a time to be both “on the job” and “off the job.”

What Traits Do Labradoodles Lack?

Now that we have discussed what makes a good guard dog, what traits is the Labradoodle missing from that list? 

The first noticeable trait that the Labradoodle lacks is its size. Even the largest kind of Labradoodle, the medium Labradoodle, doesn’t get very big.

These Labradoodles are still the size of a lapdog. When you want a guard dog that can intimidate any threat, the smaller size of a Labradoodle just doesn’t do the job. 

Labradoodles also don’t have as much of an ability to get aggressive when need be. These dogs are too friendly to effectively fight off a threat. In the mind of a Labradoodle, the most important thing is to chill out and have fun with its owner. With that, they don’t have the proper priorities to be able to be a guard dog.

While a Labradoodle is intelligent, high-energy, and a loyal breed, they simply don’t have the “toughness” to be an effective guard dog. 

What is the Personality of a Labradoodle?

Labradoodles are friendly and social creatures. They don’t fare well being left alone and would prefer to always be with a person or a friendly animal.

If you are in a household with children, then a Labradoodle would become a great friend and playing partner for your kids. Labradoodles love kids and the energy of children and will become their best friends.

The social Labradoodle might also bark a lot when faced with new people. Their bark can be loud but they are doing it both to protect you and to communicate with the new person. 

Labradoodles are also intelligent and loyal. This makes it easier for them to learn tricks and other forms of training.

They are also eager to please which makes the training process even easier. You don’t have to worry about your Labradoodle being stubborn when all they want to do is to make you happy. 

These dogs do need a lot of exercise because they have a lot of energy and will get bored easily. On average, Labradoodles need around an hour of exercise per day which can be done by going on walks or by playing.

Labradoodles also need to be mentally stimulated and are prone to getting very bored. A bored Labradoodle can be destructive, so it is important that your Labradoodle has plenty of playtime or toys to get by in the day. 

With how social Labradoodles are, they are highly prone to separation anxiety. This is another big reason why they shouldn’t be left alone for too long as it can take a toll on their mental wellbeing.

These dogs don’t like it when you have to leave, even if it’s for something necessary like work. Having a dog sitter can help for the times when you must leave your Labradoodle home alone. 

Labradoodles are the extrovert of the dog world and so they should be treated like the social butterflies that they are. Taking them to the dog park is an amazing way for them to make friends and get exercise in at the same time.

What Breeds of Dogs Are Good Guard Dogs?

If you are trying to find the perfect guard dog breed for your household, you should know that there are many to choose from. 

Many larger dogs end up doing well at being guard dogs, especially when they have the right training. 

Good Guard Dog Breeds Include:

• German Shepherds
• Great Danes
• Australian Shepherds
• Akitas
• Bullmastiffs
• Boxers
• Dobermans
• Rottweilers
• And many more

With there being so many different kinds of guard dogs out there, you should be able to find a breed that works well with your household. 

Again, many of these breeds also make great family pets as they are loving and affectionate. Don’t judge a breed on their main skills. For example, even though German Shepherds are known for being the tough guard dogs in the media, they are still energetic and extremely loving. 

Do research into each of the listed breeds to learn what their needs and special skills are. Some dogs may be more suited for protecting against larger threats like dangerous individuals while other dogs are better for being bodyguards while out and about. 

Also, when looking into getting a guard dog, you also have to look into getting a quality trainer. A dog is simply a normal dog without the proper training. 

The kinds of training a guard dog will go through includes obedience training, leadership training, socialization, agility and endurance training, plus training that teaches them how to identify possible threats. 

Final Thoughts 

Many dog breeds out there in the world make for great guard dogs. However, the Labradoodle is not one of them. These kind-hearted dogs don’t have the vicious energy or the intimidating looks to be an effective guard dog. 

Maybe if Labradoodles grew up to be larger then they could be guard dogs, but this breed is currently not considered to be a proper guard dog. 

With their ability to pay attention to their surroundings and alert you of any visitors, a Labradoodle can still be a good watchdog. A watchdog looks out for you and will alert you of any possible threats.

However, a watchdog will not intervene. 

With the Labradoodle’s main problems relating to their inability to successfully intervene in a threat, they still have the rest of the traits that can make them a good watchdog. 

Labradoodles are kind, loving, and social creatures. They love being the center of attention and like having plenty of friends whether they are human or animal. 

A Labradoodle will love to go to a dog park and socialize with all the other animals and people there. 

Even though Labradoodles don’t make good guard dogs, they still make amazing family companions.