There are so many dog training tricks and techniques to protect your dog and level the playing field. This is important, since everyone has a different idea of what a level 4 dog is. The general population believes a registered dog to be of any level. However, a registered professional trainer knows that each dog is trained in its own specific and unique way.
In training for a level 4 protection dog, it’s important that he or she is taught not to snap at other dogs, not to bite, not to dig, not to jump, not to take human food and water, and not to beg. These behaviors are common amongst puppies that are improperly trained. If you have an untrained puppy, then you will want to make sure he or she is properly trained. If the puppy is properly trained, then you can enjoy the benefits of having a canine friend that will give years of enjoyment and protection.
Training your dog begins with obedience training. Obedience training starts the day you bring the puppy home and is continuing even after your puppy has reached its adult size. You must continue to train the dog to obey your commands. It’s also important that you teach your dog other obedience skills as well, such as: basic pulling, basic agility training, basic tracking and following commands, and basic obedience training.
One of the most important aspects of training is the owner-dog relationship. When the dog has established a pack leader (pack leader is his dog’s leader of the pack), then the dog will be less likely to develop bad behaviors like begging and snapping at other dogs. If your puppy didn’t learn this early on, then he or she will most likely develop bad behaviors during the dog training process, such as: aggression towards humans, toward other dogs, separation anxiety, separation, and fear of strangers. Many puppies and older dogs suffer from some or all of these bad behaviors.
Once you have your dog fully-trained, you can move on to the next level. Guard dog training begins the moment your puppy arrives at home. You’ll need to work quickly to establish dominance early on. Your goal is to be the Alpha dog. One way to do this is to immediately start barking, charging, and lunging when other dogs get close to your puppy. This early behavior is highly reinforced and can quickly turn into a real habit.
While guarding your territory, your dog will need to be on a leash, and he will need to be under your direct supervision. Early on, you should teach your dog basic leash obedience, including walking and coming to a stop on command. The next step in this direction should be learning how to bring him to safety. To do this, you should work on building a rapport with your dog. That means you should spend lots of playtime teaching him to stay put when other dogs or people are around and to come to your dog’s rescue when they’re threatened or cornered.
A typical training schedule for your Border Collie will include leash walks twice a day, and two to three protection sessions per week. Remember that your dog will naturally want to please you, so never scold him for being disobeying your commands. Instead, praise him profusely for staying calm and following your lead. When you first begin the exercise, it may take a few weeks for him to get the hang of it. Be patient and stay with him; he’ll get the idea after a couple of weeks.
The first level of protection dog training involves learning to guard your territory, teaching him basic leash obedience, and then working on building a rapport between you and your dog. This exercise is not meant to be a form of competition or dog training. Rather, you are doing it to show him that you are in charge and that he must follow your commands. It is important that your dog feel secure and protected when you are home, and this is one way you can accomplish that goal.
