Learning how to train a guard dog will require special knowledge and skills that most dog owners do not typically possess. If you are like most dog owners, you probably think of your dog as a companion and a friend, and you assume that your dog would defend you if you were in a situation that required it. However, this is not usually what happens because most dogs are simply not good guard dogs or attack dogs. There are countless stories of people being robbed, beaten, or even killed while their dogs were standing right next to them and the dog did nothing.
The fact of the matter is that most dogs wouldn’t do much more than bark at a stranger who attacked their owner or broke into their home, and many wouldn’t even do that. They might make enough noise or sound threatening enough to succeed in frightening the intruder off, but in most cases they will not attack or bite them.
It’s not because they don’t love you as their owner or they are bad dogs. It’s just that most dogs have not been trained to be a guard dogs and most dog breeds are not cut out for guard or attack work in the first place. As a pet, your dog has been taught to have a healthy respect for human beings and not bite them. So if you want your dog to be a good guard dog, he has to be trained that way from an early age. You have to learn how to train him as a guard dog and you must be prepared to treat him as a guard dog first and a pet second.
Before you even think of guard dog training, you need to consider whether or not your dog has the right temperament for being a guard dog. There are certain dog breeds that are highly suitable for guard work and it is evident in their behavior. I used to have a Rottweiler that was very well trained and great with people, but he would gladly spring to my defense if any stranger came close to me or anyone came at me in a threatening manner. He would also guard the yard and house as if it was what he was born to do. His guarding instinct was superb and he needed very little training to bring it out.
Dog breeds that are bred for guarding, herding, hunting and retrieving are typically called “working breeds” and without a job to do, these breeds can become bored and find things to do which can sometimes be mischievous. If you can learn how to train a guard dog, you can give your dog a job to do. This will keep him happy and out of trouble while keeping you safer and more at ease when he is around. If you have a dog that is suitable for guard work, training him to guard your home can be a big boost to his confidence and happiness. But if you want a truly professional guard dog, you will probably need to consult a professional to either train him or teach you how to train him.
Learning how to train a guard dog and actually doing it requires a lot of work, a great deal of patience, and lots of devotion. It is not so much about teaching the dog to attack or to bark as it is teaching him the difference between “friends” and “enemies” and how to act towards each of them.
Take for example the typical dog’s hatred of the postman or delivery men. What is it about these nice guys that make them enemies in your dog’s eyes? Well, just think what they do. They come up to your house, apparently trying to get in. They may leave something on the porch and go away, or they may knock and have you open the door, but one thing is sure, you don’t ever actually let them in. So they can’t be friends, right? Therefore they must be enemies. This is how a dog’s mind works.
Therefore, if you want a guard dog, you need to train him to know the difference between friends and intruders. This means that you have to introduce the dog to people. Let him see you shake their hands and invite them in. Let him get a good sniff of their scent so that he will recognize them. But don’t have them give him treats. Don’t let your dog start thinking that anybody who feeds him is a friend, or he will be easy for a real enemy to bribe with treats. The dog must only obey commands and accept food from you, his owner and trainer.
Another key factor in learning how to train a guard dog is consistency. You must work with your dog on his training each and every day. Dogs respond well to routines and schedules. Even after he has mastered it you still need to refresh his training periodically. This not only reinforces the training, but keeps their minds working too. In fact, most dogs that are trained as guard dogs attend a training school where they receive intensive professional training and the owners or trainers continue to work with them on training for the rest of the dog’s life.
These are just some tips and information to get you started and help you decide if you really want a guard dog. If you do, and you want to train it yourself without professional help, you will need to investigate the best training systems and techniques so you can learn how to train a guard dog and have a very good understanding of what it takes to do it.