Training a Guard Dog

Barbara Pleasant

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.

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.