Guard dogs are dogs that are raised and trained to carry out the task of maintaining security and protection for their owner or the environment in which they live, or in the police and military fields. These dogs are selected based on their innate qualities such as; Strength, courage, attention, loyalty, and intelligence, and among the most famous types of guard dogs: Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, police dogs, German Shepherds, Boxers, and German Shepherds. It is worth noting the necessity of training guard dogs well, by professional trainers, so that they are able to perform their tasks effectively and without error.
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How to train guard dogs
Training guard dogs requires special skills and a strong focus on positive training. Here are some steps that can be followed to train guard dogs:
- Obedience training: The dog must be trained to obey initially by obeying basic commands such as; “Sit,” “lie down,” and “come” before starting guard training.
- Scent training: It is important for the guard dog to be able to recognize the smell of the house and garden and the objects and people it contains, in order to enhance its reaction while in the presence of a stranger.
- Attack training: The dog must learn to attack by executing certain commands, to protect against people who approach the house unwantedly.
- Training for imaginary assault: The dog must identify suspicious people and alert the homeowner by barking when there is anyone trying to approach the house in an unknown way, by forming an imaginary scenario in the presence of strangers several times, to ensure the dog’s reaction.
- Sound recognition training: The dog must recognize the sounds of alarm clocks, bells, and other sounds that could indicate the presence of any danger.
It is important to train the dog to guard continuously, but without harming or exhausting the dog. It is also preferable to seek the help of a special trainer in some cases.
The most important tips for training guard dogs
First, it is important to ensure that the dog is a breed of dog suitable for guarding and that it is qualified for this task. It is also recommended to follow the following to ensure the success of training the dog for guarding:
- You must decide exactly what you want your guard dog to do, do you want him to keep house, guard, or guard people?
- You should start training the dog at an early age, as this helps to form a strong relationship between the dog and its owner, and provides the opportunity to train it in the correct behaviors. It is also important to enhance the dog’s social personality by allowing it to integrate with strange people.
- It is important to train the dog on basic commands from a young age, as they help control the dog’s behavior and train it.
- The dog must be trained to respond to voice commands. When it hears a specific command, the dog must know what to do.
- Incentives such as rewards and pets can be used to encourage the dog to perform the desired behavior and ensure his continued desire to train.
- The dog must be trained to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people.
