How to Train a Guard Dog

Guard dogs (or house dogs) are trained to protect the property and the owner’s family. Contrary to what you might be thinking, most house dogs are not taught to attack. ^{[1] X Source of Research} Instead, they are taught non-confrontational skills, such as guarding and barking to alert their owners to strangers or danger to their owners’ possessions. Training a guard dog is time-consuming and requires patience, but the result will be a dog that not only protects you from threats, but is also calm and obedient in non-threatening situations. dangerous.

Table of Contents

Prepare to train your dog to be a guard dog

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Know the difference between a guard dog and an attack dog. Guard dogs are trained to alert homeowners to the presence of strangers or intruders by barking or growling. Usually, guard dogs are not taught to attack on command or to act aggressively in front of strangers, so guard dogs often cannot be good attack dogs. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Attack dogs are commonly used by police and law enforcement. They are trained to attack on command and respond strongly to threats or intruders. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Most attack dogs are well trained and will not react aggressively unless they are ordered by their owners. However, if not taught carefully, they can attack suddenly and are very dangerous to humans and other animals. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Normally, ordinary dog owners do not need an attack dog.

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Determine if your dog is a guard dog. Most dog breeds can be trained to be guard dogs, but some breeds are especially good at keeping houses. For example, small breeds such as Chow Chow, pug (bulldog), and Sa Bi, are famous for being good guard dogs. ^{[5] X Research Source} Larger breeds such as the Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd and Akita can also make excellent guard dogs. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Kennel Club Go to Source}

Certain breeds, such as German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers, can be trained to be both guard dogs as well as attack dogs. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
If your dog is a purebred non-guard dog or mixed breed, you can still train him to be a good guard dog. If your dog has the behavioral traits of a guard dog, and is properly trained and socialized, you can teach him to be your guard dog.

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Learn about the characteristics of an ideal guard dog. Contrary to popular belief, a good guard dog does not react out of fear or out of an aggressive nature. In general, a good guard dog must be territorial, ready to protect the owner and property but still obey the owner’s orders. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Good guard dogs must believe in themselves and their surroundings. A confident dog is curious when meeting new people and new environments, and is not shy around strangers. ^{[9] X Source of Research} While this trait may be genetic, the right exposure can also help boost your dog’s confidence.
Good guard dogs are also assertive. Assertiveness here doesn’t have to mean being overly aggressive or aggressive; It’s that your dog can unashamedly enter a position that allows him to get what he wants. This also means that the dog must be confident in new environments or strangers instead of moving away. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Sociability is also another important trait of guard dogs. A dog with good communication skills will be able to recognize and be alert to the presence of strangers in front of their owners, but will not be aggressive or overly aggressive towards them. ^{[11] X Research Source}
A good guard dog should also be easy to train. ^{[12] X Research Source} Chow chows can make good guard dogs because they are naturally suspicious of strangers, but tend to be too independent and not easy to teach. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Loyal dogs can make very good guard dogs. The more loyal to you, the more eager the dog will be to protect you. German Shepherds are known for being loyal dogs. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Communicate with the dog as soon as it is young. Proper communication is essential in guard dog training. With good communication, your dog will be comfortable in its normal environment. The dog will also be less fearful and more relaxed – an important characteristic of guard dogs – but will still maintain a moderate level of alertness to unfamiliar situations and potential hazards. ^{[15] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source The} best time to teach dogs to socialize is when puppies are 3-12 weeks old. ^{[16] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Beyond 12 weeks of age, puppies will begin to become more alert in new situations, so it will be more difficult to communicate. ^{[17] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
During communication, you need to train the puppy to be comfortable with strangers and to interact in new situations. This can be quite a task for your puppy, so the exercise will be easier if you break it down into small pieces and gradually expose your dog to situations at a level he is comfortable with. . ^{[18] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
Reward your dog with lots of positive reinforcement (pampers, treats, extra playtime) every time he does well. ^{[19] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
Puppy classes are a great place to practice socializing. Remember that puppies need up-to-date vaccinations and deworming to stay healthy and avoid infection while in training. ^{[20] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
If your dog is an adult and has been properly trained and socialized, it has the potential to be a good guard dog.

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Make sure your dog knows basic commands. Before starting training as a guard dog, your dog must be able to obey basic commands such as “stay,” “sit,” and “lay down.” The skill of following basic commands will help the dog begin to learn defensive skills such as barking alarms and guarding.

You can teach your dog these commands yourself or enroll your dog in command training.

Training dog to bark alarm

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Choose a word as a command. To teach your dog to sound the alarm when a stranger comes to your house, you should first find a signal word. You can use the word “bark,” but some people prefer to use other words (such as “speak”) to make it less obvious to those around them. ^{[21] X Research Sources}^{[22] X Credible Sources The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

When you choose the word “bark” as your signal, say it with the same enthusiasm every time you give a command.
Use the same cue each time you command your dog to bark.

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Practice with commands. Barking is a dog’s natural instinct, and you don’t have to give the command to bark when someone else approaches or makes a sudden noise. The key here is to teach the dog to bark on command. To get started, tie your dog to the base of the kitchen table or to the fence in the yard. Hold the treat out to the dog, and step back and then out of his sight. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

As soon as the dog makes a sound like hissing or barking, run up to it and say “good barking” or “good” [command].” Immediately reward the dog. After many repetitions, your dog will begin to associate your praise with a reward.
Once your dog is used to barking commands in one area, take him out to other places in the yard and in the house. You should test your dog’s response to commands before taking him for a walk or out in public.

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Be firm and clear when giving orders. Consistency and practice are key to reinforcing this command. If you want to test your dog’s reaction while walking, stop and look him in the eye. Then say the command “bark” in an enthusiastic voice. If the dog looks confused or hesitant at the command, offer the treat and repeat the command. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Ideally, the dog should bark every time you give the command. ^{[25] X Research Source} However, it will probably continue to bark once you give the command. Do not give your dog a reward if it continues to bark incessantly. Wait for it to be quiet and give the order again.

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Create a fantasy scenario. To test your dog’s understanding of the “bark” command, leave the dog in the house and walk out the door. Once you’re out, ring the doorbell and say the command “bark”. Reward your dog when it barks at your command. Next, knock on the door and give the command “bark”. Give the dog a reward if it responds correctly to the command. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

If possible, act out this scenario in the evening when there is no light outside. You’ll want your dog to sound the alarm when someone comes to your door at night, so it’s important for your dog to understand that it needs to respond to “barking” cues both during the day and at night. ^{[27] X Research Source}
Practice the “bark” command in short bursts. After three to four repetitions, give your dog a break and do something else for about 45 minutes. After the break, you can practice the “bark” command several more times. The goal here is to avoid overtraining so that the dog doesn’t get bored or cranky during exercise. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

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Ask a loved one to try out your dog’s barking skills. Once your dog seems used to the “bark” command, focus on teaching him to bark. Ask a family member to step outside and knock or ring the bell, while you stay indoors and give the dog barking commands. Reward the dog every time it barks. ^{[29] X Research Source} This reinforces the dog’s protective instincts by barking at an unfamiliar person (or something).

Continue to practice the “bark” command with the help of a family member, rewarding the dog each time it barks when it hears a bell or knock on the door. Eventually your dog will begin to associate a bell or knock on the door with barking every time it hears those sounds.
Over time, you’ll want to train your dog to bark at the sound of a bell or knock instead of barking at your command.

Teach your dog the “quiet” command.

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Command the dog to bark. Your dog has learned how to bark at cues, and now it’s time to teach him to stop barking. In fact, teaching your dog the “bark” command is the first step in teaching the “quiet” command. ^{[30] X Research Source} The ability to bark and stop barking will make your dog a good guard dog.

As always, reward your dog when it responds correctly to your “bark” command.

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Command the dog to stop barking. Rang the doorbell. When your dog barks at the sound of the bell, hold the treat in front of his nose. As soon as the dog stops barking to inhale the treat, say “thank you” or “hush.” Reward the dog immediately after giving a verbal command. ^{[31] X Research Source}

Do not yell or raise your voice when giving orders. Loud voices can make your dog more alert and bark more. ^{[32] X Research Source}
Do not use the words “shut up” or “no” to command your dog to be quiet, as these words have negative connotations.

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Practice alternating between “bark” and “silent” commands. Alternating training between the two commands will help you better control your dog’s barking behavior, and this is important in training your dog to be a good guard dog. You can make fun of it by varying the number of “bark” commands before giving the “quiet” command. Perhaps the dog will see this as a game, and that will make the training sessions much more enjoyable for both parties. ^{[33] X Research Sources}

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Encourage your dog to bark whenever a stranger arrives. Encourage your dog to bark every time the doorbell rings, even if you already know who’s at the door. The dog may not know who is on the other side of the door, so you need to encourage his protective instincts and alert you to something unfamiliar. As you approach the door, give the command “quiet” and reward the dog immediately when it stops barking. ^{[34] X Research Source}

Discourage your dog from barking when you meet a friendly stranger or casually taking your dog out for a walk. ^{[35] X Research Source}

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Repeat the “silent” command several times. As with all training activities, repetition is essential to teaching your dog the right response every time you give a command. Practice this command in short bursts and reward your dog each time he gets it right.

Advice

If you want to turn a guard dog into an attack dog, give it a professional training course. It’s best to let professionals teach your dog attack techniques; You probably don’t want to mis-train and have your dog become overly aggressive as a result. ^{[36] X Research Resources} You can find professional dog trainers online, or get a referral from your veterinarian.
Put a “beware of bad dogs” signs in your yard to keep out strangers or intruders. Make sure the warning signs are large enough for passersby to see them clearly.
A good way to train your dog to increase endurance and communication is to stuff dog food into plastic eggs to let your dog and other dogs run around to find and get the food inside.

Steps

Prepare to train your dog to be a guard dog

Training dog to bark alarm

Teach your dog the “quiet” command.

Advice

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