5 Best Small Watchdog Breeds
These are the top 5 small watchdog breeds that will stay alert and keep your home safe!
What Are the Best Small Guard Dog Breeds?
Larger than a tiny dog breed, smaller than the type of dog you would keep outside, for many families, the small dog is a perfect pet. A small dog might sit on your lap, hang around at your feet, or even go off and sit in a corner.
But can a lap dog be a watchdog? Sure they can. A famous thief once told a kidnap victim, “It does not matter what size dog you have, as long as it barks. As soon as we hear a dog barking, we know the master of the house is going to be alerted.”
What are the five best small watchdog breeds?
Top 5 Small Guard Dogs
- Lhasa Apso
- Boston Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- West Highland White Terrier
- Pug
1. Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is number one on the list for a reason. It is not because they are great with kids—they aren't. It is not because they are great in obedience—they aren't. What does this small dog have going for him? The Lhasa is a really good dog, happy to sit on your lap, alert you in case he hears any strangers, and guard you like a Rottweiler if the situation calls for it!
The Buddhist monks of Tibet would have been proud. This dog does his job.
Despite his fierce personality, the dog is small, only about 6 kilos (13–15 pounds). He is not tiny, though, and knows it—not some animal that can be pushed around. The Lhasa is a little wolf! “A wolf? Sure don't look like no wolf.”
No, actually, the Lhasa looks more like a little wooly goat, but according to some sources, they are bred from a species of wolf found in Malaysia about 4000 years ago. They have been purebred in Tibet for thousands of years and are one of the few purebred dog breeds that haven't been crossed with others in the name of “improvement.”
A Few Health Issues
Lhasa Apsos don’t have a lot of health problems. They are prone to sebaceous adenitis, a skin disease, as well as eye problems like retinal atrophy (PRA), dry eye (KCS), and cherry eye.
They are one of the longest-living breeds, often living 15 years or more. Even if you decide to buy a Tibetan Mastiff to guard your door, an alert Lhasa Apso is the dog you want sleeping at the foot of your bed.
2. Boston Terrier
This small dog has several recommendations as a watchdog, but the most important is that he normally does not bark a lot. A Yorkie or Maltese will bark a lot, maybe so much that the owner doesn’t even pay that much attention anymore.
A Boston Terrier, however, will bark when he needs to, and everyone will be aware that there is something to attend to. They are usually happy and friendly, but they are also known to be protective, and barking at strangers is part of their job.
Some Health Issues
If you decide on a Boston, there are some health issues to be aware of. Heatstroke can be caused by the short face, which is also seen in Lhasas, Pugs, and some other small and large dog breeds. Bostons are also prone to heart murmurs, cancer (mast cell tumors), luxating patellas (a trick knee), and eye problems like cataracts.
They live for about 12 years—but don't be surprised if your Boston Terrier is watching your doorstep for many more years than that.
3. Miniature Schnauzer
After rating at the top amongst the dog breeds that don't shed much, the Miniature Schnauzer found he had a lot to live up to. He managed to make the list of dog breeds that like kids, scored again on the article about impressive miniatures, and now here he is again on the small watchdog list.
That's a lot of pressure!
But the Miniature Schnauzer can handle it. He really is a good watchdog and is more likely to bark than bite.
Although not a terrier, Miniature Schnauzers like to bark. They are not big (usually less than 7 kilos, or about 15 pounds), but they are almost never timid. Miniature Schnauzers are usually easy to train and will back off when told to.
Some Health Issues
They do have some health problems that need to be watched for. Some dogs have hyperlipidemia or high-fat levels in the blood, and this makes them prone to pancreatitis. They can also have bladder stones, diabetes, and skin and eye problems. The other problems are usually less common.
Most Miniature Schnauzers live around 12 years, but if they are healthy, they can live quite a bit longer. Of course, they will be good with kids, not shed a lot, and make a good watchdog during that time.
4. West Highland White Terrier
Westies are good for a lot of things, and barking and patrolling the house is just normal for him. He is not as fierce as the Lhasa, who has served as a watchdog for thousands of years. The Westie is not even as good as the Boston, who is likely to stay quiet except when needed.
So why would you even want to get a West Highland White Terrier watchdog?
Well, they are just so cute! This little Scotch dog is good with kids who treat him decently, super for an apartment that does not allow big dogs, and since the breed does not shed much, good for people that do not want to find dog hair in their food.
Some Health Issues
Westies do have some health problems. The most common are allergies to pollens in the air, but they can also have a skin disease (hyperplastic dermatosis) that is often confused with an allergy. Other dogs may develop a “Westie jaw,” where the face becomes thickened. Sometimes it is so bad that the dogs are no longer able to eat. There are several other less common diseases too.
They live about 14 or 15 years if healthy. They can be a good watchdog during those 14 or 15 years and keep you entertained too!
5. Pug
Have you seen the fu dogs in China? They are the statues that sit outside the temples. The carving style is different than we are used to in the West, and the records were destroyed about 215 BC, but it is not hard to imagine that the statues represent the Pug watchdogs.
But are they good watchdogs? It really depends on the owner. If the family cares about it and is interested in what the dog is barking at, they will develop into watchdogs. If the dog is yelled at every time she barks, she is going to learn and stop trying to defend the household.
Many Health Issues
Pugs have a lot of health problems. I asked one of my clients, a pediatric surgeon, why he chose to have Pugs. “They are the perfect dog,” he explained. “Every genetic abnormality that I might see in a child is here, in just one dog … Besides that,” he admitted, “she is a really great dog, and we all love her.”
They have short snouts that lead to overheating and breathing problems, elongated palates that close off their airways when they get excited, shallow eye sockets that make their eyes pop out easily, and abnormal hip sockets that make them more likely to have hip dysplasia. Pugs can also have abnormal vertebrae in the back, leading to paralysis and all sorts of other problems.
If they are healthy, they usually live to be 11 or 12. Healthy Pugs that stay around the house a lot are prone to obesity.
Fat dogs are less likely to run across the house to bark at strangers, so keep your Pug in shape if you want a good watchdog.
How to Find a Small Watchdog for Your Home
If you want a dog that is easy to care for but will alert you in times of need, one of these breeds is a great fit. Some of them may be available at your local animal shelter, so be sure to check on the dogs available and look into a purebred rescue before choosing your small dog. Petfinder.com may have the pup you are looking for in your area.