Top 10 Animals That Surprisingly Make Good Guards

We have depended on dogs to protect us for millennia. But judging from recent developments, it seems like they are not the only animals capable of protecting us.

Other animals have proven to be better than or on a par with dogs in providing security. Sometimes, these critters are trained to become guards, and at other times, especially in the instances of wild animals, they just happen to be natural deterrents.

1   Geese

Geese are very good guard animals. They have better eyesight—both near and far—than we do. This allows them to pick out strange movements, no matter how small. They are also territorial and will make loud noises to frighten off intruders that venture into their space.

Unlike dogs, geese are difficult to bribe. Give them a treat, and geese will make very loud noises in excitement. While it could be their little way of showing appreciation, it is enough to alert their owners to the presence of an intruder.

Farmers use geese to guard their free-range chickens. Some remote police stations in China are also abandoning their guard dogs for geese. In one notable incident, a man was caught sneaking into a police station to retrieve a motorbike seized by the cops. The geese made loud noises, notifying the cops of his presence. The man was promptly arrested.[1]

9    Donkeys

The donkey is often considered to be a slow, gentle, and dull animal. This could create a false impression for an intruder who does not realize that donkeys can be very aggressive and territorial. They are naturally hostile toward dogs, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats—which makes donkeys excellent guards for livestock.

When threatened, a donkey will bray loudly and launch aggressive attacks with its teeth and hooves toward every part of the enemy’s body. A charging guard donkey is very dangerous, even to its owners. Farmers using guard donkeys are advised not to approach the animal while it’s charging or immediately afterward. It needs to calm before an approach can be initiated.

Single castrated donkeys or female donkeys with foals make the best guards. The foal could even grow up to become a guard donkey itself. However, not all donkeys are good guards. Some will ignore wild animals, while others will strike back only when they are attacked.

The most cowardly of donkeys will flee the moment they detect a threat. Sometimes, they even become a threat to the same animals that they are supposed to protect. Some donkeys will refuse to guard livestock, preferring to mind their own business.[2]

8  Alligators

Drug dealers are known to use aggressive animals to protect their stash from criminals. Pit bulls used to be the animals of choice, but several drug dealers seem to be switching to alligators. Police departments across the US have been finding alligators guarding the homes of these criminals.

Drug dealers also keep alligators as status symbols or to just intimidate others. Obviously, no one will want to mess with the dude with an alligator. In Maryland, police recovered a 0.9-meter-long (3 ft) guard alligator from the home of drug dealer Michael Golden during a marijuana bust.

Golden did not have anything positive to say about the alligators, except that they had not been stealing his stash of marijuana. He said that the animals were crazy, unwise, and unable to be trained. The only time the creature listened to him was when he had some food in his hand. Obviously, the alligators are also threats to the drug dealers themselves.[3]


7  Llamas


Llamas are excellent livestock guards. They are very effective against...
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