The 7 Top Dog Breeds for Preppers

Top Dog Breeds for Preppers

For thousands of years, humans and dogs have held an unlikely alliance. Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated, and for the past 15,000 or so odd years have consistently proven themselves to be man’s best friend.

So if the SHTF (shit hits the fan), having a dog by your side to offer companionship and security seems like a no-brainer. Of the thousands of different dog breeds roaming the Earth, some are better suited than others to meeting the requirements of preppers.

Read on for a breakdown of the best breeds you’ll want to have by your side should disaster strike.

German Shepherd

German Sheppard

German Shepherds are one of the most intelligent dog breeds and can be trained to excel at many different tasks. It’s not uncommon to see German Shepherds by the side of law enforcement or on active duty in the military, and this is due to their intelligence, strength, and many keen abilities.

As their name would imply, they were originally trained to herd sheep, but have since been adapted to make for great guard dogs.

Some key traits that make German Shepherds great dogs for preppers are their incredible stamina, high fear factor, extraordinary trainability, and most importantly, their  loyalty.



Rottweilers are well known for being great guard dogs. They’re one of the largest breeds and have a real foreboding presence. Although originally bred to pull carts and herd livestock, these days Rottweilers are most commonly regarded as superior guard dogs.

If protection is what you seek, you can’t go wrong with a Rottweiler. With the possible exception of responsibly bred pit bulls, there’s really no competition when it comes to personal safety, Rottweilers are the best. They’re intelligent, have a great sense of smell and can hear incredibly well. They’re dedicated and loyal to their family and will protect them at all costs.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain dog is a less common breed but certainly not due to a lack of ability or intelligence. They’re incredibly strong dogs and calmer and more good-natured than most breeds, making them the ideal breed for when the SHTF.

Bernese Mountain dogs were originally trained to work on farms. They’re great at herding, strong enough to pull carts that weigh many times more than they do, and very protective and loyal to their family.

Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan malamute

The Alaskan Malamute doesn’t look like it’s that far removed from it’s wolf ancestors. They’re a large, strong breed with ample amounts of endurance and energy, making them a great choice for any prepper.

Alaskan Malamute are a particularly smart breed, making for excellent hunters. Compared to other large dog breeds, they have a relatively long lifespans, between 12 and 15 years. If you want a dog by your side that you can rely on for many years to come, the Alaskan Malamute is a excellent choice.

Border Collie

Border collie

Border Collies are one of the most intelligent and energetic dog breeds in existence. Because of this, they make excellent work dogs and have been used as herding dogs for thousands of years.

Due to their incredible intelligence, they’re one of the easiest breeds to train. They’re always eager to please their owners and will do almost anything for you. They have incredible perception for a dog and it’s said they have the ability to know what you’re going to ask them before you’ve said anything.

Labrador Retriever


The Labrador Retriever, commonly known as a Lab, was traditionally a hunting dog. Originally they were trained to retrieve fishing nets because of their excellent swimming abilities, partially due to their webbed paws.

Labs are a great choice for preppers due to their intelligence, kind nature, and proficient hunting abilities. They’re very smart, easily trained, and have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, which makes them ideal guard dogs.

They’re also extremely resilient, although they have a higher susceptibility to aural hematomas than other breeds because of their large floppy, ears. These infections are relatively easy to treat, however — generally through a combination of antibiotics and Penrose drains.



The Akita is a large breed that originated in Japan. They’re great guard dogs, loyal to their friends and family and very loving to those it’s around most.

They’re a very alert breed, which is one reason why they’re such good guard dogs. Care needs to be taken when training them, however, because when not adequately socialized they can be hostile towards people they’re unfamiliar with.

If worse comes to worst and something major goes wrong in the world, you’ll be glad to have one of these dog breeds by your side. A strong, intelligent, and loyal companion is something no prepper should be without. Offering help with work, assistance with hunting, companionship, and protection; a good dog truly is man’s best friend.


  1. americuh


    Only 7? Oh boy, you might be getting a lot of suggestions for additions, as many breeds will fill the requirement of a good homestead dog. Along with an addition, I would suggest a couple of subtractions. I have never had any luck with a Malamute or Husky type dog being good around livestock or poultry. My neighbor’s Border Collies constantly harassed my livestock, and were overly friendly to anybody.
    There are dog breeds developed by settlers to protect the homestead, and hunt. One might want to look at these breeds like the Plott Hound or Black Mouth Cur that is also a good stock dog as well as a hunter of squirrels, hogs, bears, etc. oh, and mine is as protective as the Dobermans I used to have.

  2. Fifth_Disciple


    It always saddens me to see these articles neglect Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherds. Both are great livestock guardians, fiercely protective of their territories and extremely loyal to their masters.

  3. Max Stotto


    As it is with people so it is with dogs, it depends as much on the individual dog as it does upon the specific breed.

    • Off grid living


      1. German Shepard- better personal/property protection.
      2. Great Pyrenees- better livestock protection.
      3 I would keep my German Shepard as he is an all around best protection dog you can find and extremely loyal.

  4. David Wells


    “Stock dogs” are always of interest, but especially for emergency situations. When considering the dogs that livestock are more willing to work with, makes a special list. Again, my cows learned to get along with the Border Collies, and perhaps the Blue Heeler. The European Mt. dogs are good but need special handling around human guests. Other breeds were a case x case choice but never, the Catahoula! The cattle would “choose” the Greyhound, Russian Wolfhound, and the German Shepherd when it came to working WITH them! Dogs and cattle: God’s great gifts to humanity!

Let me know your thoughts on this topic!