Dog Breeds For Single Women Living Alone: Best Guard Dogs (2023)

Although a golden retriever or a standard poodle would make for great pets for single women who are living alone – would they be able to protect you from would be harm? Having a cute little lap dog may seem like an ideal pet – but would that be the best choice for a female looking for some protection?

If you are looking to adopt a dog for companionship and for protection, there are several types of dog breeds that are best suited for both. But matching the type of dog with your lifestyle will still be a key component in choosing the best type of dog for yourself.

Life for a single woman can be challenging, and things can get lonely and frightening at times. Not having someone around to talk to could make life a bit unbearable every now and then. And let’s face it – having someone else in the house just feels safer – am I right?

That’s why many single women who live alone have adopted dogs to act as companions and keep them as pets. The main challenge many single women face is knowing which type of dog to pick, since golden retrievers and poodles are not the only dog breeds that are suitable to a single person living alone.

Read on to find out about the what the best dog breeds would be for you!

Adopting A Dog As A Single Person

Have you decided to adopt a dog? Good for you.

Many single people (especially single women) choose to adopt a dog not only for companionship, but for protection as well. So, before you walk into that shelter or visit a breeder and choose a dog based solely on emotion – let’s go over what you should be looking for and what’s involved in inviting a dog into your life.

Review the following breeds to get an idea of what type of dog best fits you and your lifestyle.

The Best Dog Breed For A Single Person

As a single person, you want to adopt a dog that can be a great companion but can also help to protect you as well. After all, that French Bulldog may be a super cute dog but he will more than likely be very happy to see an intruder than to protect you from him!

With so many wonderful loyal dogs looking for homes, it can be difficult to pick the right one. From hundreds of breeds and thousands of mixes, there’s a dog perfect for any lifestyle!

One important note I want to make before we get to the list of dog breeds – is that mixed breeds (aka Mutts) can make wonderful companions and guard dogs too! And a side note – they are often healthier than a purebred dog.

Here’s an interesting little bit of history about “purebred” dogs:

As someone who has been a had a best friend in purebred dogs and mutts, I can tell you that the best solution is to search for a mutt that has some percentage of any of the dogs that are listed below.

For example: If you decide that a German Shepherd is the type of dog you want – then I can truly tell you that you will find many mixed breeds in the shelter that have some German Shepherd in them.

Okay, so let’s get to the list of the popular breeds that can make wonderful guard dogs – which is a great way for single women who are living alone to be protected.

German Shepherds

Boxer

If you own or plan to own other pets like cats, adopting a Boxer is the best option as they easily accommodate another furry friend. They’re stocky and can weigh a maximum of 60 pounds.

“Many organizations and websites list the Boxer as one of the ten most dangerous dog breeds in the United States. Whether or not the Boxer deserves to be on that list, it is a powerful dog that can be dangerous without proper training and socialization.” – oharaattorney.com

English Bulldog

(Video) 9 Best Dog Breeds for Single Women

Another dog that looks similar to a boxer is the English Bulldog. They make wonderful guard dogs for a number of reasons. They are very loyal dogs, they are quite territorial so they are built to protect and they are very strong.

Golden Retriever

The golden retriever has built a reputation of being a family-friendly dog that gets along with everyone. It’s attentive, playful, and very intelligent. They are often larger dogs but can vary in height from 21 inches to 24 inches.

The fact that they’re easy to get along with makes them perfect for anyone who needs a loyal companion.

“These dogs were originally trained to retrieve waterfowl for hunters. So, we know that they’re capable of learning. However, their overall friendly disposition is not going to help you in an emergency.” – dailydogstuff.com

Australian Shepherd

It’s a very well known fact that Australian Shepherds are wonderful watchdogs – they are very protective of their owners thus making them an excellent dog for single women.

The Siberian Husky

From their appearance, this breed can be intimidating, partly because they resemble wolves. However, they’re great friends, with a caring and attentive side.

Great Danes

These are often described as “a gentle giant”! They are most definitely a large dog and they are very good companions. They get along with both humans and other animals.

Border Collie

In case you didn’t know – Border Collies have been bred to be herding dogs (usually known as sheepdogs). They can be extremely protective and although they are not great guard dogs (meaning they do not have a natural tendency to attack) they make excellent watchdogs.

What Is The Application Process Of Adopting A Dog?

After you have identified the best dog for you and your lifestyle, it’s time to start the adoption process and become part of the 900 million dog owners throughout the world.

You’ll be required to have a valid ID card with proof of address. The necessary steps involved in adopting a dog from the animal shelter or rescue home are as follows:

Filling Out the Adoption Questionnaire

In this step, you will be taken through the basic questions such as:

• The number of people living with you and their age
• Your lifestyle and availability since some animals require special attention and care
• How you’re prepared to take care of the animal, such as providing adequate housing, diet, veterinary care, training, and socialization

An Interview with a Rescue or a Shelter Representative

This step is crucial as you get more details regarding the animal you’re about to adopt. You will learn:

• How to provide care and basic training to the animal
• Their behavior and how they will impact your life
• Their specialized needs such as medication and diet

The representative will also use this opportunity to learn more about you and determine if the animal is the right fit for you. If you have any other pets, it’s time to present them.

Attend the Meet and Greet

In this step, you meet the dog and learn more about it in person. Such interactions are crucial as you get to see the dog’s behavior in person and whether it will warm up to you.

If you reside far from the shelter, virtual meet and greets are often preferred.They have also been a great way to adopt a pet during the pandemic.

Finalize the Adoption

After the representative is convinced you have fulfilled all the requirements, the adoption process is finalized. You will sign documents that will show you’re the new owner, and every responsibility will fall on you.

What Is The Budget Of Adopting A Dog?

The initial adoption fee charged by the shelter can range from $50 to $250. The cost depends on dog type, as shelters tend to charge more for puppies, purebreds, and small breeds.

The entire adoption budget differs with the needs of the dog, and it’s broken down as follows:

After the initial adoption costs, you still need to factor in recurring expenses of taking care of your dog, which include:

From the information above, you’ll need a total of $2320 for the first year and $1400 recurring the next year.

Living Alone With A Dog

A busy schedule can keep you away from home for long hours. This means your dog will be spending much of this time alone. It could pose the following challenges to both of you:

• Feeding schedule: It’s easy to leave food in a bowl for your dog to help itself whenever they need it. But, what happens if they knock over their bowl accidentally?
• Need for daily walks: Dogs need to get out and relieve themselves more often than most people let them. (the rule is 3 to 5 times a day minimum). But they also need to get exercise not only for physical health, but mental health as well. So long daily walks or a trip to a local dog park are absolutely necessary.
• Loneliness: Being home alone could affect their moods since they have no one to engage with the entire time. This is often true with the Basset Hound breed of dogs – they can be destructive if left alone for too long.
• Lack of bonding: Spending as much time with your dog could help to strengthen the bond.
• Constant interruption: Dogs are energetic and spontaneous, which means they could interrupt your working sessions any time without warning.
• Need for space: If you live in a small apartment – adopting a Great Dane would probably not be the best fit for you or for that dog. Take into consideration the space of your home and your outdoor space as well.

However, if your schedule leaves more time on your hands, or you work from home, you could face the following concerns:

• Constant interruption: Dogs are energetic and spontaneous, which means they could interrupt your working sessions any time without warning.
• Lack of enough space in your home: If you live in a tiny apartment, you should be prepared to deal with your dog getting in your way more often.

What Are The Most Well Behaved Dogs?

A dog’s behavior will determine how well the two of you will get along. The most well behaved dogs are:

• Golden retriever: Perfect with kids, have optimal energy and makes a great companion.
• Irish Setter: Plays well with children, fun to have around, and very energetic.
• Border Collies: Easily trainable, gentle, good with kids, and predictable.
• Standard poodle: They don’t get irritated, they’re smart, and they love to play with kids.
• Labrador retriever: They’re playful, patient, get along with kids, and are protective.
• Bernese mountain dog: They can live with a cat, are easily trainable, and don’t bother their owners.

What Is The Best Low Maintenance Dog?

It’s hard juggling between your daily schedules and paying constant attention to your dog. This way, it’s always better to get a low maintenance dog that doesn’t seek much of your time.

The best dogs for those of us who are always on the go include:

• Greyhound: Don’t let their size and speed fool you. Greyhounds are such a couch potato that you won’t notice they’re around. They often keep to themselves and will always be out of your way.
• Mastiff: Their low energies and lower endurance make these dogs very low maintenance. They spend much of their time on the couch while still showing affection to their companions.
• Chihuahua: These little guys are easy to get along with as they require five-minute grooming at least once a week. They need a 30-minute walk for exercise around the neighborhood at least once a week.
• Brussels Griffon: With moderate grooming needs such as brushing their fur and half an hour of training, the Brussels Griffon is very easy to maintain. It’s also well-mannered.

Best Dog For A Single Older Lady

If you are a single older lady, you probably want a dog that you can keep up with, is easy to maintain, offers protection, and makes a perfect companion.

To that end, we have compiled a list of dogs that would fit your needs and have categorized them into small-sized dogs, medium, and large-sized dogs:

While small breeds could be fun to have around, having a medium or large-sized dog could offer more security other than companionship.

Conclusion

It can get lonely living a single life. Having a dog around could help ease up this burden.

Choosing a dog that will fit your schedule can improve your moods and make your life as a pet owner easy. Before adopting a dog, however, it would be best to consider the dog’s needs, the budget of having one, and their general health.