Training a Guard Dog

May/June 2006
Barbara Pleasant 
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Of the 68 million pet dogs in the United States, most are expected to perform some kind of guard duty. Dogs have performed in this capacity for thousands of years ? and they don't have to be large, imposing breeds to be good watchdogs.

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Guard dogs look, listen and bark to sound the alert that something unusual is happening in their territory. In return for regular feeding, periodic veterinary care and grooming, they can be taught to bark loudly when any strange vehicle enters your driveway, chase opossums from your deck and rabbits from your garden and many other useful tasks. With a little training, you can make your pet a safe and loyal guardian.

Teach your dog to bark and then to go to a family member when something unusual happens. To do this, after it barks, call it to you and reward it with a treat or chew toy. You want to develop a reflex so that when a dog senses something unusual, it barks and then goes to a family member.

A variation of this technique is called 'clicker training.' As the dog carries out a request, you sound a small clicking device (found at most pet stores) to alert the dog it has performed the correct behavior, then give it a treat. As a result, the dog learns to associate the sound of the clicker with the treat. Once the association is made, gradually replace the clicker and treat with a verbal command.

Some dogs may get carried away with barking, so it may be necessary to also teach them a 'quiet' command. Sometimes it's helpful to use an 'interrupter,' such as shaking a can with pennies in it, or giving the quiet command and squirting the dog in the mouth with water. The dog will stop barking to lick the water; follow that by giving it a treat. Eventually, the dog should respond to the quiet command alone, making the noise or water unnecessary.

Security dogs take watchdogging a step further by aggressively defending their territory. Because they can be dangerous, security dogs require special training; owning one is a serious responsibility.

Some home security companies suggest putting up a 'Beware of Dog' sign to deter would-be intruders, which may be smart. But good guard dogs don't have to be scary, just smart barkers.
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13 Comments

  • Anonymous 4/23/2009 6:44:30 PM

    After being the victim of a violent crime in my home, I purchased a guard dog/personal protection dog. It has really helped me heal and I can finally sleep at night. Here's the link for the company that I purchased my guard dog from:

    http://www.cck9.com/

  • kshelley 1/25/2009 10:05:58 PM

    Very informative article! You can also see other useful and practical advices on http://www.dogobedienceadvice.com/dog_aggression_training_methods.php

  • eric mcintosh 12/30/2008 7:59:04 PM

    Im planning on getting an APBT(AMERICAN PITTBULL TERRIER)AND IVE HEARD ALOT ABOUT THEY MAKE HORRIBLE GUARD DOGS BUT ACOORDING TO THIS WEBSITE CAN I CAN MAKE IT INTO A GUARD DOG IF TRAINED AT A EARLY AGE? CAN I? OR ARE THEY JUST BRED TO FIGHT

  • nate 9/1/2008 11:17:36 AM

    well im goin to try and keep this short but ive trained my dog to alert dme to strange occurances around my house such as cars arriving or people sneaking around etc. i do live in a dangerous neighborhood and im approached by several strange people on a daily basis. is there anyway i can train my dog to detect weapons of a sort on other people and alert me to this pressence?

  • LEO & SHARON STAGE 11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM

    Matt, Sounds like you need to realize with dog laws now days
    that you are setting it up for your dog to be taken from you and
    put to sleep. It is a great responsibility for a person to have a
    trained dog that protects on command. What you are proposing will
    also land you in jail with an assault charge and maybe more against
    you. A guard dog is a great responsibility again I tell you and
    also should only be owned and handled by a trained person for this.
    Please take my advice and find a different, safer way for your
    revenge. I do think by this post you and your girlfriend should
    move out. Re-read your post, the answer is there. Good luck and be
    a good caregiver to your puppy and don't get it in trouble or the
    death sentence.

  • Matt Anarchy 11/8/2007 12:00:00 AM

    I dont want this to sound the wrong way, but I am interested in
    training my new puppy to attack on command. At the moment I live
    with a guy who has 3 staffies and his actions are just SO wrong, he
    calls all his dogs "sluts". My girlfriend and I are about to move
    out this week (we've had the dog for less than a week (Ridgeback X
    Cattle Dog) so I assume that my pup wont be too used to him). I
    have heard that you can train a dog to attack on command, but I
    dont want the command to be "attack", I want the command to be
    "slut", that way if he comes to my new house, not only will he get
    a nasty surprise if he calls her that, but I will also know that he
    has mistreated my dog. Also, it would be absolutely hilarious, if I
    have to give the command, that I point to an intruder and yell
    "slut". Any help would be appreciated, if you dont feel comfortable
    replying here, get me on my email, mattanarchy@hotmail.comThank
    you...Matt...

  • hector casas 5/24/2007 12:00:00 AM

    Hello, I have an american bulldog and am very intrested in
    traing him to be a guard dog. I had him since he was a pup and is
    very obedient to my commands and my voice. If you could please give
    me some advice or help I would very much appreciate it thank
    you.

  • Simon Ntare 4/5/2007 12:00:00 AM

    Is it advisable to lock a guard dog in it's den during the day
    and release it only at night so that it can start "being on duty"?
    I was told that only this way can make it aggressive to external
    intrusin

  • LEO & SHARON STAGE 9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I was told by our lawyer years ago not to put a beware of dog
    sign up. We have trained Dobermann. This makes you liabel because
    you are admitting your dog is dangerous. The best thing to do is
    get signs that tell that this property belongs to (your breed of
    dog), that he lives here and it is his yard, do not enter. There
    are other cheerful signs like we have that shows our Dobermann on
    it and it says "they can make it to the fence in 3 seconds, can
    you?" I had a friend give me a sign for my window that says "never
    mind the dog, Beware of owner" . As for if your dog has had
    protective training, I doubt that. When you are outside you have a
    leash on it and may hold it tighter as you and the dog approach
    people and that will tell the dog that you are fearful and to be
    alarmed. As when you are in the house the dog is loose and you are
    more relaxed with those entering. Dogs are exceptional at body
    languague. After all they have learned our language and words and
    we have not learned their words. You may want to check out
    Schutzhund clubs in your area as they are usually GSD and other
    breeds and could evaluate the dog for you to see if it has had any
    professional or protection training. If the dog has, you need to
    learn the commands and what to do with the training. Also remember,
    if the training and evaluation does not feel right in your gut and
    you are uncomfortable with the person, people, try another club. If
    you are not comfortable with it, your dog is not either. You are
    there for your dog and you. Be comfortable with any training method
    so you and your dog can and should enjoy it. I have trained our
    Dobermann in working, AKC obedience. The main thing is that I have
    beautiful memmorries of trianing, working and playing with them.
    They are here all too short of a time on earth with us. Good Luck
    and God bless,Sharon

  • john alvey 8/23/2006 12:00:00 AM

    Your dog may or may not have had protective training . It could
    be just showing it's natural herding instinct. When in your house
    it may think of you as being in your pen and therfore has no need
    to worry. It may have some training and if so you need to know how
    to control it as it may see some forms of contact as a threat.
    Contact the shelter you got it from as they may have records of the
    last owner. Your vet or the local police K9 handlers may be able to
    help you tell the difference between training and instinct, ( most
    K9 handlers are very proud of the work that they do and with a few
    complements can be very helpfull).

  • SUSAN McIntosh 8/13/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I have a German Shepherd mix that I adopted from a rescue
    organization last year. It appears that he had some training as a
    guard dog because he is "on duty" when outside with me and does not
    allow anyone to approach closer than 8-10 feet. When he is inside
    he is "off duty" and is curious and friendly with people who enter
    the house. I know little or nothing about guard dogs and was
    wondering what tips you could give me about making him "stand down"
    or relax when we are outside walking. I would like to work with him
    on this issue.

  • PAM Jackson 5/26/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I've been informed of the same information regarding Beware of
    Dog signs. So, creatively, I bought the stick on lettering and on
    the back side of the sign I spelled out Dogs Live Here. It works
    great.Pam

  • JODY Oaks 5/23/2006 12:00:00 AM

    We have a German Shepherd and a Doberman, which are loud and
    large. Their appearance alone are a deterrant, however, one is a
    big bear and the other a fraidy cat. They do their job well and
    bark at strangers and are great pets. I have heard from others
    though that placing a Beware of Dog sign on your property can make
    you doubly liable if someone is hurt by your dog because is shows
    you know you have an aggressive dog. Is this true?

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