Guard Dogs training step by step!

How to Train A Dog to be a Guard Dog
There are many steps you need to follow when training a dog to be a guard dog. Starting from basic training skills to advance protection skills. Below is a step-by-step list of training tips to follow. If you’re interested in more detailed information on this, we’d recommend to check out SpiritDog Training. It’s a great resource for all kinds of online dog training courses and they even have a free dog training video library.

Step 1: Basic obedience.
All dogs should have basic obedience skills. Skills like sit, stay, drop it, and bark on command are all basic obedience skills your dog should know before training to be a guard dog and in general.

Step 2: Impulse control.
After your dog has basic obedience skills down, you should begin training your dog impulse control. Dogs should control themselves around welcomed strangers. Dogs should sit, stay, and lie down all on command when in the company of strangers.

Step 3: Teach property boundaries.
Teaching your dog the boundaries of his territory is important for his training. After every obedience training session, you should rerun your property with your dog, so they learn what they are supposed to be protecting.

Step 4: Alone training.
When you have confidence in your dog's behavior to leave them alone, allow them to be left alone on the property they should be protecting.

Step 5: Test your dog.
Have someone your dog is not familiar with test your dog's training. Allow the dog to be alone on the property within the fence boundary or in the house alone when the stranger approaches. The stranger should knock on the fence, front door, and approach wherever your dog is.

If the dog's training has been effective, he should bark and make their presence known. The stranger should act afraid and run off to signal to your dog; they are doing their job. Have whoever approached your dog tell you about the dog's behavior when the test is over.

Step 6: Daily practice.
Continue testing your dog's training. When the dog appropriately barks at approaching threats, reward them with a special treat or praise your dog's behavior.

Step 7: Increase the distractions.
Have the stranger become more of a nuisance to the dog. Making noise and bribing the dog with treats are good distractions the stranger can try to use on your dog. Any distractions used on your dog should already be tested in training on your dog to ensure they will not abandon guarding your property.

Step 8: Confidence in your dog.
When your dog has successfully passed all of the tests given to them allow your dog to be left alone. Have confidence in your dog's ability to guard your home and watch their behavior to see if there are any areas of training that need correction.