Guard dogs are trained to protect your property and family. Contrary to what you may think, almost all of these animals have not been taught to attack. Rather, they are taught non-violent techniques, such as standing guard and barking to warn you of the arrival of a stranger or potential danger to your property. Training your four-legged friend to become a guard dog takes time and patience, but the result will be an animal that will protect you from threats and will also be comfortable and behave politely in normal social situations.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare for Dog Training
Step 1. Learn the difference between a guard dog and an attack dog
The former were trained to alert the owner of the presence of a stranger or intruder with barking or growling. These animals are typically not used to attacking on command or behaving very aggressively towards strangers. As such, guard dogs are not usually good attack dogs.
- Attack dogs are often used by police and law enforcement. They are trained to attack on command and react aggressively to potential threats or intruders.
- Most attack dogs are well trained and will not behave aggressively except for an explicit order from their owner. However, those who have not received adequate training can attack without warning and put humans and other animals at serious risk.
- Rarely will an ordinary person need an attack dog.
Step 2. Determine if your dog is predisposed to be a guard dog
Most races can be trained to guard, but some are better suited than others to fill that role. Some small dogs, such as Chow Chows, Pugs, and Shar Pei make good watchdogs. Some larger breeds, such as Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Akitas can also make excellent watchdogs.
- Some breeds, such as German Shepherds and Dobermans, are predisposed to become both guard and attack dogs.
- If you have a purebred dog that is not of a breed suitable for guarding, or if you have a mutt, you can still train them to be a great guardian. If your pet has the behavioral characteristics of a guard dog and is well trained and accustomed to social interactions, you could teach him how to protect yourself.
Step 3. Learn to recognize the characteristics of an ideal guard dog
Contrary to popular belief, the best guard dogs do not act out of anger or aggression. In general, they should be territorial animals and be protective of their owner and property, without disobeying orders.
- A good guard dog must be confident in himself and his environment. Dogs who are not afraid are curious about new people and new places and are not shy when they meet a stranger. Your pet may already have these traits by nature, but alternatively, with good social training, you can make your pet more confident.
- A good watchdog is assertive. This does not mean that he is too aggressive or pushy, but rather that he has no problem making you understand what he wants. He will also have the confidence to get close to people or situations he doesn't know and he won't back down.
- Sociability is another important trait for guard dogs. These animals, if well trained, are able to recognize a stranger in the presence of the master, but they do not attack him and are not too aggressive towards him.
- The best guard dogs need to be easy to train. Chow chows can make excellent guardians because they are naturally wary of strangers, but they are often very independent and not easy to train.
- Loyal dogs make excellent watchdogs. The more an animal is faithful to you, the more it will be encouraged to defend and protect you. German Shepherds are known for their great loyalty.
Step 4. Socialize with your dog from an early age
Accustoming the animal to social relations is essential to make it a good guard dog. When he has learned to socialize he will feel comfortable in his environment. He will feel less fearful and more relaxed - important characteristics for a good guardian - but will still retain a good deal of suspicion about people he doesn't recognize and situations of potential danger. The best time to get a puppy used to social interactions is between 3 and 12 weeks of age.
- Beyond 12 weeks of age, puppies are increasingly cautious when facing new situations, as a result they will get used to social interactions more slowly.
- During the socialization period you should get your puppy accustomed to meeting new people and interacting in other environments. This type of training can be challenging, so it may be helpful to break it down into small parts and expose your dog to situations over time, depending on its nature.
- Reward the puppy with lots of positive reinforcement (e.g. petting, food rewards, more time to play) every time he socializes right.
- Courses for puppies are excellent for accustoming the dog to social contacts. Remember that the dog will need to be up to date with vaccinations and deworming to stay healthy and avoid contracting diseases for the duration of the training program.
- If the animal is an adult, has already been trained and has already learned to socialize, it is well on its way to becoming a good guard dog.
Step 5. Make sure your dog can carry out simple commands
Before starting the training, the pet should already be able to obey the simplest commands, such as "Stop", "Sit" and "Down". Basic obedience training will ensure that the dog can learn defensive techniques such as guarding and barking to alert the owner.
You can teach your dog these commands. Alternatively, you can enroll the pet in a basic obedience class
Method 2 of 3: Train the Dog to Bark to Warn you of a Danger
Step 1. Choose a password
To train your dog to notify you when a foreigner shows up at the door or enters your property, you will first need to establish a password as a command. You can use "Bark", for example. Some owners prefer to use another word, such as "Speak", so that the order is not evident to everyone present.
- Once you have chosen the word, say it with the same level of enthusiasm each time you give the command to the dog.
- Always use the same word when you want to make the dog bark.
Step 2. Test the command
Most dogs naturally bark and do not need to be ordered to do so at the sound of a person approaching or in reaction to a sudden noise. Your goal, however, will be to get the animal to bark on command. To get started, tie it with the leash to the kitchen table or to a spot on the garden fence. Show him a food reward, back away, then get out of his line of sight.
- As soon as you hear the dog emit a sound, such as a moan or a bark, run to him and praise him by saying "Bravo, bark" or "Bravo, [chosen word]". Give him the prize right away. After repeating this training several times, the animal should learn to associate the reward with its call.
- Once your dog has learned the command to bark in one place, move it to different parts of the house and garden. You should also test his reaction to the order when you take him for a walk or when you play together in a public place.
Step 3. Be firm and clear when giving the command
Consistency and repetition are the most important aspects in training a dog. If you want to test his response on a walk, stop walking and look the animal directly in the eye. Then, say "Bark" enthusiastically. If he seems confused or hesitates at the command, show him the food reward and repeat the order.
In theory, the dog should only bark once when you ask him to. But when you have encouraged him, he may want to continue. Don't reward him until he stops. Wait for him to calm down before repeating the command
Step 4. Create a test scenario
To test your dog's training, keep it indoors and go out the front door. Once outside, ring the bell and give him the command "Bark". Reward him with a treat when he executes the command. Then, knock on the door and give the order. Reward him again if he answers correctly.
- If possible, try the scenery in the evening, when it gets dark outside. In most cases, you would prefer the dog to warn you if someone comes at the door at night, so it is important for him to understand that he should respond to the command "Bark" even after dark.
- Try the "Bark" command in short intervals. After 3-4 repetitions, give the dog a break of about 45 minutes. At the end of the pause, repeat the command several times. Avoid over-training your pet so you don't get bored and frustrated.
Step 5. Ask a family member to test dog training
When the animal responds well to the order "Bark" you will have to get it used to barking at people other than you. Ask a family member to leave the house and knock or ring the bell. Stay inside and give the dog the command. Reward him every time he answers correctly. This will reinforce his instinct to bark at someone (or something) unfamiliar.
- Continue practicing this command with a family member, rewarding the dog every time he barks at the bell or when there is a knock on the door. Eventually he should get to associate the doorbell or knock on the door with the prize and let out a single bark when he hears those sounds.
- Over time, you will need to try to train the dog to bark at the sound of the bell and not just at your command.
Method 3 of 3: Teach the Dog the "Shut Up" Command
Step 1. Order the dog to bark
Now that the animal has learned how to bark on command, the next step will be to make it stop. In fact, teaching him the command "Bark" is considered the first step in being able to teach him the command "Shut up". This training will help him become a good watchdog.
As before, reward the dog when it responds correctly to the command "Bark"
Step 2. Order the dog to stop barking
Ring the bell. When the animal starts to make noise, place a treat in food in front of its nose. As soon as he stops and smells the reward, say "Thank you" or "Shut up". Immediately after the verbal command, give him the reward.
- Do not scream or raise your voice when giving the verbal command. An aggressive tone of voice may cause the dog to worry and cause him to bark even more.
- Do not use "Mute" or "No" as verbal commands to stop the dog from barking, as they can have negative connotations.
Step 3. Toggle between the commands "Bark" and "Shut up"
Using both commands will allow you to better control the dog's cries, which is very important for training him to become a good guardian. You can have fun with this exercise by giving the order "Bark" a different number of times before asking the dog to be quiet. The pet will understand that this is a game and the training session will be more fun.
Step 4. Encourage the dog to bark when a stranger arrives
Do the same when he hears the doorbell, even if you ring it. They may not know who is on the other side, so you should encourage their protective instincts to bark and alert you to something unfamiliar. When you open the door, immediately issue the command "Shut up" and reward the dog with a treat when he stops barking.
Don't encourage him to bark when you meet a friendly or neutral stranger on walks
Step 5. Practice the "Shut up" command repeatedly
As with all types of training, repetition is necessary to teach the dog to react properly to the order each time it is received. Try the command in short intervals and reward the dog with a treat every time he responds correctly.
Advice
- Place a Beware of the Dog sign on your property. This should discourage thieves and also protect you in the event of a lawsuit if the dog bites or attacks a person entering your property.
- If you want to turn your watchdog into an attack dog, sign him up for a professional training course. It is always best to let a professional teach your dog attack techniques, as improper training can make your pet too aggressive. Search the internet for a professional trainer or ask your vet for advice.
