Successful guard dog training does not happen overnight. It requires a considerable amount of patience and time. Here’s how you can train your guard dog, the right way, with our guard dog training tips.
8 Basic Guard Dog Training Tips You Should Know
1.? Know the Difference Between a Guard Dog and an Attack Dog
Guard dogs are trained to be a protect families and their properties. They are taught to stand guard and bark or growl to signal their owners of the presence of a threat. To add, they are not trained to attack perpetrators? a task specifically intended for attack dogs.?Attack dogs, on the other hand, are taught to be overly aggressive towards potential threats. You’ll often see attack dogs accompanying the police.
2. Pick The Right Breed of Dog
Although you can train most dogs, there are certain breeds known to be excellent guard dogs. Top excellent guard dogs are the German shepherds and Doberman Pinschers because of their protective nature. It is important to note though that even gentler dogs can become excellent guard dogs when trained properly. Smaller breeds like Chow chows, pugs and Shar Pei’s, for example, can also become good guard dogs.
3. Socialization is a Prerequisite
Before training your pet to be a guard dog, make sure he can distinguish between his normal environment and threatening scenarios. You can achieve this by socializing your dog. Get him used to different levels of noise and make him recognize your family and friends. The best time to do this is when he’s a puppy between 3 and 12 weeks old.
4. Obedience Training is a Crucial Requirement
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Your guard dog training relies heavily on your dog’s knowledge of basic commands. He must be able to stay, sit, and lay down at your order. These basic skills will be crucial in teaching him defensive techniques like standing guard and alert barking.
5. Practice Positive Reinforcement
For an efficient training, always reward good behavior and completely ignore your dog when he is behaving badly. By doing so, your dog is more likely to repeat these behaviors he’s getting rewarded with.
6. Set Property Boundaries
Help your dog identify property boundaries during your training. Teach him or her to recognize your property as his territory. Remember to practice positive reinforcement for better results.
7. Train Your Dog to Bark and Stop At Command
You need to be able to control your dog’s barking. Applying positive reinforcement, teach your dog to bark when someone comes on to your property. Your dog should also learn to stop at your command.
8. Be Consistent
Be consistent with your commands to avoid confusing your dog. Consistency will help your dog understand you better and will improve your guard-dog training results.
For additional insights, watch this video from WatchMojo.com below:
Owning a guard dog gives the double benefit of having a loyal four-legged best friend and an obedient protector. Training a guard dog may not be easy but the results are for sure worth the time and effort.
Do you know other tips on guard dog training? Share them with us in the comments section below!
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