subject: So You Need a Guard Dog, Eh? (Basic Dog Coaching) [print this page] So You Need a Guard Dog, Eh? (Basic Dog Coaching)
So You Need a Guard Dog, Eh? (Basic Dog Coaching)
True protection dogs are FRIENDLY to individuals when their owner has no reason to feel threatened. The instant anyone does one thing threatening the dog changes into a guard dog attitude. The dog can look ahead to the owner's command and steering - either to continue with the attitude, attack or quit. Dogs that are constantly suspicious of strangers or anyone except those he is familiar with are operating on fear. The dog that feels that everything is one thing to be scared of and aggressive to is NOT a good guard dog prospect! Most dogs who have a possible to be a smart guard dog are easy-going, non-reactive dogs. Dogs who are fearful will even bite the "sensible guy"! Dogs who are to be guard dogs need to be highly and absolutely socialized. They need to meet and greet MANY individuals and to NOT be encouraged to growl, but rather told to stop it. This should be done during the window of prime socialization between the ages of half dozen and sixteen weeks old. NEVER reinforce (pet, stroke, soothing talk, feed) a dog for inappropriate behavior, and never encourage the dog to be fearful ("It's OK" - NOT!). A fearful dog is basically a loaded gun; a dog who will bite out of concern (referred to as a "fear-biter"). Dogs want to be taught to be confident while not being fearful.Raising a dog to be a protection or guard dog is not in contrast to raising any canine member of your household. The precise same things would like to happen in an exceedingly potential guard dog's life that ought to happen in an exceedingly dog intended to be a family pet - significant, positive and frequent socialization. In fact, a dog who responds to a stranger at the door with barking does not need to be a trained guard dog. Most dogs can bark at the door. A dog must have a well-rounded view of life and be ready to recover behaviorally from every new expertise before he even moves into the finer points of guard dog training.I have never trained a dog to be a guard dog, but I am well familiar with the general temperament of a dog that will do well to form it as a guard dog. If I were to wish to coach a dog to be a guard dog, I would NOT do it alone! I would ask for out and train with individuals who have vast experience in training dogs during this capability (in another life, I'd have loved to try to to this!).I might encourage anyone looking to own a dog to be protecting to contact someone domestically to help you in the choice and training of a dog for this line of labor - I wouldn't undertake this alone. A guard dog is basically a loaded gun; if you don't have control of that gun, you WILL have problems.Here may be a very temporary list of things found during a smart guard dog:* Heavy play drive (tennis ball or tug-toy driven)* High energy - most working dogs will drive you crazy with their activity level and their want for both physical and mental exercise!* In a position to quit on command (after taught, of course!)* Significant work ethic; these dogs notice they do not work alone, and they're a team with their handler* Strong attention to their owner/handler* Ability to focus* Able to get over "insult"; (they do not collapse under pressure)* Stay up for the owner/handler to make the decision to act (they do not work on their own)* After a long time (years, perhaps!) and lots of experience and training, a sensible working dog will be in a position to make your mind up for himself if he's required* Able to adapt to new environments, surfaces, weather* Not reactive or impulsive* A sensible, sound working dog is able to pass the Temperament Test given through the Yankee Temperament Check Society.* A sensible, sound working dog should additionally be ready to pass the AKC Canine Sensible Citizenship Test.
