If you are thinking about learning how to train a Labrador to be a guard dog, then this information will prove very useful. The Labrador puppy is a magnificent dog with an energy and enthusiasm that should be harnessed for the protection of his master and his fellow man. But, the training is only half the battle and you will need the undivided attention of your pet in order to make him into a fully-trained, protective dog.
Labrador puppy dog training is not unlike other types of dog training, there is teaching and there is reacting. Labradors have a natural instinct to guard, so training your dog to behave correctly and to attack intruders is the beginning of a well-behaved dog. Although, the training can become quite frustrating and time consuming, you must remember, every successful guard dog training session takes a lot of time, patience and persistence on your part. As stated before, your dog has an innate instinct to guard and if you don’t teach him how to protect himself then he won’t know what the purpose of guarding is and he may become quite confused when you tell him to ‘come’. He doesn’t understand the command, because he isn’t used to it.
During the initial training of how to train a Labrador to be a guard dog, the owner will need to gain control of the situation by placing his hands firmly around his dog’s neck. Now, the dog should be observing this position and should be showing no signs of attack or aggression. Therefore, the dog will learn to anticipate your command to ‘come’. When the dog shows no sign of fear or attack, then this is the time you will want to train him to attack.
During the actual dog training, you need to make sure that you control the dog’s movements with your body and your voice. This is because most dogs respond well to physical contact and you must learn how to control your dog’s movements with your voice and your body. It may take some practice but in the end, it will become quite natural to have a dog that protects you from any perceived threat.
In guard dog training, one of the most important things that you must have is the right type of guard dog coat. The coat must be made of strong and durable nylon with no decorative buttons or anything that could be taken off easily. If the dog has any decorative accessories like earrings, it would be better for you to remove these because these can be taken off by the dog. Also, the dog coat must be long enough so that the dog will be able to reach over fences and other objects that are taller than him. Having a dog that is short can cause him to trip over these objects.
One important thing that you should keep in mind in guard dog training is his ability to find water and hide behind bushes. Labrador Retrievers is very good in searching for water because they have the ability to locate hidden water puddles. It is very important that you spend time in practicing how to train a Labrador to be a guard dog because if he is not comfortable in finding the water puddle, it will be very difficult for him to locate any hidden threats. With that being said, you should also take steps on reinforcing his water hunting skills. You can do this by using treats and rewards as mentioned earlier.
The next part in guard dog training is to teach your dog how to attack. It is natural for your dog to want to guard his home and your family. You will have to train your dog to attack intruders. To be able to teach your dog how to attack, you should use a clicker and a positive reinforcement. The clicker will give your dog the necessary stimulation to make him ready to attack and the positive reinforcement will make him remember the sequence of actions needed to do when he does strike the intruder.
Lastly, guard dog training involves the use of visual and verbal cues. When a potential intruder enters your yard or gets close to your dog, you should use some visual clues such as flares or bells to get your dog’s attention and to prepare him for action. You can also use your voice to communicate to your dog when he becomes aggressive or shows other signs of aggression. It is important that you get these things correct because it will help you in the long run. Your dog will learn what signals to give out based on the way he has been trained by you.
