Guard dog training is more myth than fact. If you want to train a dog for protection reasons, there are a few things that have to be considered.
Guard Dog Training: Myths
- Any dog can be trained to be a guard dog: Myth
In actuality, not every dog makes a good guard dog. Any dog can be trained to alert bark or bark to let you know of a stranger’s presence. Guard dogs are breeds that have a predisposition to guard what is ‘theirs.’
- Guard dogs are mean: Myth
Guard dogs should never be mean. The best guard dog is one that can identify real risks and has the courage to act upon real risks, not one that blindly barks, growls, or bites.
- Real guard dogs have to be trained to protect: Myth
Certain breeds of dogs have a high level of protection or guarding instinct in them by nature. Breeds like the German Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Belgian Malinois, and Doberman are breeds that were created to work and protect. It is instinctual, without any special training, to protect.
Guard Dog Training: Facts
- Dogs trained to guard can be a liability: Fact
A dog that has been specially trained for guarding work increases your liability risk. If this dog bites someone, you will automatically be at risk because having a dog trained for protection work is like having a loaded gun in the eyes of the law and insurance.
- Not everyone can handle a specially trained dog: Fact
This is why police dogs retire with their handlers and why the military rarely adopts out their military dogs at retirement. Dogs trained to protect and follow through with biting are hyper-sensitive and need an experienced and knowledgeable handler.
- Trained guard dogs make mistakes: Fact
They are trained to be sensitive to all movements of their handlers. A trained guard dog in a family setting with children may misinterpret the playful screams of a neighbor child for a risk that needs handled.
Understanding the Guard Dog and Training
Good guard dogs are born, not just created. There are a few components that are needed:
- The right breed
- Solid temperament and character: not anxious, fearful, insecure, or overly aggressive
- Appropriate socialization
- On-going training
Anyone can have an excellent dog that will eagerly protect, if called upon. Breeds such as the aforementioned German Shepherd Dog make excellent home and family protection dogs. But, breeds that have an instinctual protection drive need to have excellent socialization as a puppy and throughout its life to insure it understands what is and is not threatening. An under-socialized dog might not be able to accurately determine what is a risk.
On-going obedience training is always important so that your dog is given rules, boundaries, and instruction. Most protection breeds need clear leadership in the family, or they will have a tendency to become the leader themselves, which can lead to a range of problems from becoming overprotective to displays of aggression.
The best guard dogs are ones that have rock solid temperament, are not easily agitated, and are watchers. Watchers always have on an eye on the handler and situation, and they have the temperament and socialization to determine when the threat level is real. These dogs are trustworthy in a family setting or anywhere else, but can be counted on to protect if the situation arose. They will defend with their life, no ‘special’ training necessary.
