Table of Contents
Explaining why guard dog training is so amazing.
You probably have seen them in movies or have heard about them in the news: Heroic dogs that have saved numerous people from intruders or police dogs bravely taking down a robber. That is right, thanks to guard dog training, all these dogs have accomplished amazing things and are regularly to thank for hundreds of saved lives.
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What is the difference between an attack dog and a guard dog?
It is pretty much given in the name: an attack dog is usually a dog that is trained to be aggressively responding to threats and are used to actively attack another person. They are often used in the police force.
Guard dogs, on the other hand, are more of the defence of a place. Many people choose to hold guard dogs thanks to their often terrifying bark and appearance. They are known to scare criminals off simply by their presence.
It is important to know the difference between an attack dog and a guard dog when determining which breed you will get for guard dog training, as the results will truly depend on who they are and what they are raised as.
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What breeds make the best guard dogs?
Like always: every dog is unique so even though they may belong to one of the following breeds, it does not guarantee that they will be good guard dogs. However, there is a certain likelihood that guard dog training will be more effective with the following breeds listed:
- 1.German Shepherds
- 2.Giant Schnauzer
- 3.Dobermann Pinsher
- 4. Boxer
The reason those dog breeds are a good choice for guard dog training is due to their massive size as well as adaptability. But don’t be mistaken.
Smaller breeds are known to be some of the most protective and best guard dogs out there such as Chow Chows, pugs, and Shar Pei’s.
Even in the case of getting a mutt or a mixed-breed you are good to go as long as they receive the proper guard dog training, care, love and socialization.
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What are the characteristics of an ideal guard dog?
In contrast to popular belief, a good guard dog should not react out of fear or pure aggression. In General, a good guard dog should be territorial and protective of his owner and his owner’s property, yet remain obedient when given a command.
Remember to be patient when training your dog to become the protector of your home and your loved ones.
- Confidence
A good guard dog has to be confident in themselves and in their environment. They cannot be shy or timid around new people but instead, need to have the curiosity to go out and discover new places and people.
If your dog is lacking in confidence it is your job as their owner and friend to make them feel good about themselves. Start by socializing them with other dogs as this is an important trait to have as a guard dog.
- Assertive
Don’t misunderstand that your dog has to be aggressive. It only means that they know what they are worth and don’t shy away from getting what they want. Only in the most positive sense obviously.
During guard dog training it is important that your dog feels confident enough to approach a new or foreign situation, rather than backing away.
- Socialization
Being sociable is an important feature in every dog, but especially for guard dogs this is very needed. If during guard dog training a dog is properly socialised, they will be wary of a stranger when encountered, yet will not attack unless you give the command.
Even if you view your dog as more of an asset than a family member, make sure to do all these fun dog activities too. They will be super happy about it and protect you so much better because of it.
- Loyalty
One loyal dog is worth a thousand ones that are not. Well, I suppose that saying is true to a certain extent. Your dog needs to trust you and to obey your commands when needed. The more loyal your dog is to you and your loved ones the more they will guard and protect you.
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Training
During guard dog training, you and your dog may run into one hurdle or the other. But it is important to never give up on yourself or on each other. Persistence is key.
The best way to start training is by choosing a few keywords taht you want to train your dog to respond to.
Choose a responsive word. In order to train your dog to alert you when a stranger is on your property, you first need to establish a command word. One of the most common ones used is “bark”.
However, another great word to use is “speak”. This comes in useful if you want to avoid being obvious in front of others. On that note, if you are bilingual, you can also choose the command in a different language.
Repeat the command. If your guard dog-in-the-making follows through make sure to reward their positive behaviour. If they are a slow learner make sure to keep encouraging them. Don’t worry you both will get there.
Create a mock scenario. Have one of your loved ones come knock at the door or creep around your property a little. when given the command your dog should react accordingly. You may also want to think of a contra-command in order to get your dog to stop barking.
A good word would be “Hush” as it is not as common as “stop” or “quiet”.
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Thoughts
This was my take on guard dog training, including some of the most common guard dog breeds and a simple step-by-step method to teach your dog to guard you and your loved ones. Make sure that people that come over often are familiar with your dog, that goes especially for children.
If you have a guard dog yourself, show me a picture of them in the comments. Also, does your dog get muddy easily? Here is an article I wrote about bathing your dog without soaking yourself(and your home). Read you next time!
