10 Badass Dog Breeds You Must Know

Man’s most loyal companion has many different breeds. Every breed has unique features like shape, color, other physical characteristics, behavior, etc. This article deals with some of the most badass dog breeds. It will be helpful for you if you are looking to include a badass dog in your family. There are several dog breeds which are characterized as badass or tough.

For many years, many dog owners thought the Pitbull dog was the most badass breed. However, this is not true, the badass dogs which we will discuss in this article rank way higher than pitbulls in terms of toughness.

What Are the 10 Most Badass Dog Breeds?

Here is a list of some of the most badass dog breeds that you will find: Caucasian Shepherd

1. Caucasian Shepherd 

It is the ideal dog when it comes to guarding your house or property. His big size and intimidating looks will threaten predators and burglars. Caucasian Shepherd is one of the most popular tough-looking dogs around.

One of the biggest advantages of having a Caucasian Shepherd is that they are quite rustic and easily adaptable to any climate. His big size does not mean that he is lazy or slouchy. In fact, the Caucasian Shepherd is one of the most active and protective dogs around. This dog breed is highly suspicious in nature. Therefore, he is perfect for guarding.

• Group: Shepherd Group
• Height: 23-30 inches
• Weight: 100 - 170 pounds 
• Energy Level: Calm
• Color: Chocolate, Red, White, Brown, White, and Fawn
• Shedding: Seasonal 
• Lifespan: 12 years   

2. Doberman 

 They occupy second place on our list of the biggest and strongest dog breeds. Because of their toughness, you can find Dobermans very commonly in police and law enforcement departments. They are quite intelligent and also very courageous. They would go to any length to catch hold of any intruder or suspicious living being. Dobermans always remain very alert and cautious. 

Their temperament can be a bit questionable but in general, a Doberman will only attack if he feels that a person is suspicious. The Doberman dog breed fought bravely alongside the US Marines in the Battle of Guam, 1944. Around 25 Dobermans were killed in the battle and in their honor the US Marines built a memorial in Guam.

• Group: Working Group
• Height: 26-28 inches 
• Weight: 60-100 pounds 
• Energy Level: High 
• Color: Black, Brown, Red, and Fawn
• Shedding: Moderate 
• Lifespan: 12 years 

3. Rottweiler 

They are popular as the best guard dogs. The Rottweiler can be a joyful and loving companion. However, being a loving companion does not mean that they will shake their tails and greet strangers. In fact, they have very destructive and aggressive behavior towards strangers. You must give them proper training and counseling to reduce their overaggressive behavior.

The Rotts have a scary appearance and this intimidating appearance helps them to become a very effective guard dog. If you are looking to bring a Rottweiler home, you must remember that they can become very aggressive and ill-mannered if not provided proper socialization. 

• Group: Working Group
• Height: 25-27 inches 
• Weight: 90-130 pounds 
• Energy Level: High
• Color: Black, Mahogany, Tan, and Rust
• Shedding: High as Rottweilers shed throughout the year
• Lifespan: 10 years

4. Bullmastiff 

These dogs have their origins in Britain. They have a large muscular size and strong build with a short muzzle which makes them one of the most badass looking dog breeds. They have an intimidating look and you may feel that they are going to attack and tear apart your limbs. But don’t worry you are safe. They have a calm head and get along well with strangers and other animals. 

However, you must not take their calmness as a weakness. Although they are friendly with strangers, if they are suspicious of some entity they will confront them.

• Group: Working Group 
• Height: 22-27 inches 
• Weight: 80-130 pounds 
• Energy Level: High 
• Color: Brindle, Fawn, and Red 
• Shedding: Low to moderate 
• Lifespan: 10 years 

5. Wolfdog 

  The wolfdog also makes it to our list of badass dog breeds. You will find Wolfdogs with different colors and patterns and it all depends on their shepherd heritage. As the name suggests, they have several physical characteristics which resemble wolves. Because of wild lineage, it can be difficult to train and control wolfdogs. They have a very heavy diet and can become unruly on some occasions. 

However, when it comes to guarding your house and premises there is no other better alternative than them. Though known for their aggressive behavior, they can also be shy towards humans.

• Group: Shepherd Group 
• Height: 24-26 inches 
• Weight: 50-100 pounds 
• Energy Level: Moderate 
• Color: Silver, Yellow, and Gray 
• Shedding: Twice a year 
• Lifespan: 14 years 

6. Cane Corso  

 These dog breeds originated in the southern area of Italy. You may have watched the Cane Corso in several Hollywood movies in which they serve as bodyguards to mafias. Their frightening appearance and strong build make them an ideal candidate for the job.

The Cane Corso are baddie dogs with a calm and stable temperament and it helps them effectively differentiate between intruders and good strangers. These dog breeds are rustic and easily adaptable to every environment. 

• Group: Miscellaneous Class 
• Height: 23-27 inches 
• Weight: 80- 130 pounds 
• Energy Level: High 
• Color: Fawn, Brindle, Black, and Gray 
• Shedding: Moderate 
• Lifespan: 12 years

7. Boerboel 

Native to South Africa, the Boerboel dogs are courageous, large, and muscular. In South Africa, these were used as dependable companions during hunting excursions. These are some of the most friendly and reliable guardian dogs.

Boerboels are quite intelligent and have great watchful skills. This dog can be aggressive towards strangers and hence you should start their training from an early age so that he is well-mannered in front of families and friends. 

• Group: Working Group 
• Height: 22 to 28 inches 
• Weight: 120- 200 pounds 
• Energy Level: High 
• Color: Cream, Brindle, Red, and Fawn 
• Shedding: Moderate 
• Lifespan: 12 years 

8. Dogo Argentino 

 As the name suggests, these dogs are native to the South American nation of Argentina. Completely white in color, these dogs are muscular and have a strong suspicious nature towards strangers. The Dogo Argentino badass dog breeds are quite commonly found with police and law enforcement agencies and military activities. They are quite helpful and are the best guide dogs for blind people. 

Though they are aggressive, you can manage their aggressiveness by proper training and counseling during the earlier years. 

• Group: Working Group 
• Height: 24- 27 inches 
• Weight: 80- 120 pounds 
• Energy Level: High 
• Color: White 
• Shedding: High  
• Lifespan: 13-15 years 

9. Pyrenean Mountain Dog 

 The second last on our list of badass dog breeds is the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. They are native to the Pyrenees mountain ranges of France. These are not one of those scary looking dogs. In fact, if you look at them they would appear very jovial and friendly.

However, they have great intuitive skills and are composed, which helps them to remain on guard and tackle the threats.

• Group: Working Group 
• Height: 25-29 inches 
• Weight: 85-120 pounds 
• Energy Level: High 
• Color: White 
• Shedding: High all year round 
• Lifespan: 12 years  

10. Great Dane 

  If you want to pet a scary-looking dog, then the Great Dane dog breed is the answer for you. You can also refer to them as gentle giants.

Even though they have frightening looks, they are not very aggressive towards strangers and other animals. You can develop them into ideal family pets with proper socialization techniques and training. 

• Group: Shepherd Group 
• Height: 28-32 inches 
• Weight: 110-170 pounds 
• Energy Level: Moderate 
• Color: Black, Blue, Fawn, and Brindle
• Shedding: Heavy 
• Lifespan: 10 years     

Summing Up 

There are several dogs which have an intimidating appearance and it makes them a perfect candidate for securing or guarding homes and yards. In this article, we discussed some of the major badass dog breeds, and it will be quite useful if you are planning to pet a tough-looking and strong dog to protect your home and family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What characteristics make a dog breed badass?

There are no well-defined characteristics which ensure that a particular dog is badass and one is not. It is subjective and varies from person to person. However, overall a dog which has a strong muscular build, brave enough to confront challenges, and has an intimidating look can be considered badass.

Can badass dogs be good guards?

Yes, badass dogs can be a perfect choice for guarding your property and home. Their suspicious nature, courageous willpower, and threatening look make them a perfect choice for a guarding job. 

What are the health concerns of badass dog breeds?

 Just like every other dog breed, badass dogs are also vulnerable to some health issues. This includes joint problems, arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc. 

Is there any special training requirement for these dogs?

Yes, these dogs are quite aggressive in their nature. Therefore, in order to curb this aggressiveness towards friendly strangers and other animals, you need to educate them about proper socialization skills. An ill-mannered dog can be quite an embarrassment.