Protecting your home and family comes with learning how to train a dog to protect you. This type of dog is not the same as a hunting dog, or a Rottweiler. He does not hunt, and if he does, it’s usually to catch his prey instead of protecting his master. Training him, however, can prepare him to be an asset in any situation where protection is needed. This is where dog training tips come in.
One thing to know for certain is: a protection dog isn’t just the family pet he used to be. These dogs have been bred to do much more than simply guard the home. They are excellent in search and rescue operations, bomb and drug detection, security and close protection, and a whole array of other jobs. So, how to train a dog to protect you? There are several different types of dog training.
One of the most common techniques is the clicker training method. Clicker training is a great way to teach a dog the “clicker” sound when his owner makes a verbal command. The dog responds by making a specific action, such as stepping forward to ward off danger, or running as fast as he can to catch up with the handler. You can teach this to your dog in just a few short days, and then the dog will be responding to spoken commands long before he has to do it in real life. Clicker training also teaches a dog to remember a target.
Basic obedience training is the foundation for any dog training program. Without it, you are basically teaching your dog to do nothing. Obedience training can begin with simple commands such as “sit” or “stay.” As your dog gets better at learning basic obedience, you can start asking more difficult questions and teach him even more complicated tricks such as the “heel” command that can be quite useful for guard dog training.
Guard dog training can be achieved in a variety of ways. Some people use treats and praise to teach their dogs basic commands. This works well if the dog is a young puppy or a dog with no past history. Other techniques are used to teach the dog to heel and stay while on guard. With proper obedience training, your dog can be taught how to protect himself while on guard.
Before starting the guard training process, you should first get your dog used to his guard duties. This can be accomplished through playing with him, walking him around in his yard or providing various treats and praise. Once your dog gets used to your presence, you can start training him how to behave around other people and animals. Basic commands like sit and stay will be taught first. After these are mastered, you can move onto commands that require more reaction time, such as the “heel” command.
Guard dog training involves being alert to the presence of a stranger and responding quickly when it is your dog’s duty to protect you. If left alone in a room by itself, a dog would simply try to protect you from getting harmed, but a guard dog is trained to stand still or leave you while your house is searched by a stranger. If a dog finds an unfamiliar individual to be in danger, he will immediately back away and show his teeth in an intimidating display. You may consider getting a dog that has been trained specifically to respond to situations where he is required to guard. Some breeds have been known to be more aggressive towards strangers than others, so you will need to research the breed you want to own to ensure it will be suited for guarding your home.
To train a dog to guard effectively, it is essential that you are able to communicate clearly with it. Using mixed messages can confuse the dog and often times make him less likely to obey you. To train your dog effectively in mixed messages, always use the same commands for the same actions, and always direct your dog to do the action if you are ordering him to do something. This is not only consistent, but makes it easier on you since the dog will understand that what you want him to do is part of his duty to protect you, rather than a request. It may take more training sessions, but sooner or later, your dog will begin to realize what is expected of him.
