The 7 Top Reasons That Poodles Are the Perfect Guard Dog

1. They Are Highly Intelligent

Poodles are known to be one of the smartest dog breeds. They consistently rank right behind Border Collies for their level of intelligence.

What makes them so smart? Poodles are highly trainable and are known to be fast learners. They are particularly good at problem-solving. For better or worse, they can be independent thinkers who will judge how to best handle various scenarios, especially if left to make their own decisions.

2. They Are Extremely Alert

Poodles are a sensitive breed, often very in tune with what’s happening around them. They are especially good at assessing their surroundings and noticing if something is different. This helps make them great watchdogs.

3. Poodles Are Adaptable

The breed can happily live everywhere from farms to city apartment dwellings. Poodles seem to be able to change their behavior to fit various scenarios, such as being on show in the rink to retrieving ducks. With proper training and ownership, they can easily go into guard dog mode and then back to everybody’s best friend within minutes.

4. They Can Be Very Vocal

Poodles can be extremely talkative. Standard Poodles, especially, may have a loud, booming bark, thanks to possessing deep chests. This can sound way more threatening and intense than the Poodle intends it to be, which can serve them well as watchdogs. Though their bark may be high-pitched, smaller Poodles are also adept at alerting their owners to somebody approaching the home.

5. They Are Versatile

Poodles have such a variety of talents, It’s no wonder acting as a guard dog is on the list of their abilities. The breed’s waterfowl retrieving skills can rival many other breeds of retrievers. Besides the show ring, Poodles participate in sports such as dock diving, nose work, agility, and obedience. They even are known to make excellent service dogs. 

6. They Are Not Naturally Aggressive

Some Poodles may act cautious or even slightly standoffish when meeting new people. But they are not typically an aggressive breed. This is a good thing if you’re considering a Poodle for protection. A well-trained Poodle will be able to assess what is a true threat and what isn’t, making them a particularly good watchdog for families. Their nature is to please their owners. They can typically easily switch out of protective mode if their owner requests that they call the behavior off. 

7. Their Size Can Be an Advantage

Poodles aren’t just pocket-sized fluff balls. Standard Poodles can be fairly large. This biggest variety of Poodle can reach over 15 inches tall at the withers. They can weigh over 70 pounds. Poodles are extremely athletic, with long legs that sometimes make them look even taller than they are. 

Their impressive size and the deep bark that accompanies it may be enough of a deterrent for intruders, even if the Poodle is not trained for security.