German Shepherds were originally bred to herd sheep. However, it is a dog naturally predisposed to take care of anything. Even so, proper training is necessary to obtain the best results. In fact, a certified guard dog needs specialized training since it is considered a working dog. Many confuse guard dogs with protection Dog trainers Houston tx. A German Shepherd that receives poor training could be aggressive when the situation does not warrant it, which is a fairly common problem.
Fortunately, training your dog to protect your home is possible. In any case, a lot of preparation is needed while the dog is a puppy. For this reason, it is best to get a new puppy for this purpose. Do not try to train an older dog (in practice it is possible to a certain extent).
Below we provide you with a list of all the steps necessary to train your German Shepherd, starting from when he is a puppy.
The 5 tips and tricks to turn a German Shepherd into a guard dog
- Provide plenty of socialization
It is essential to provide a lot of socialization to your dog when he is a puppy. German Shepherds have an innate protective instinct. For this reason, your goal really is not to encourage this instinct, but to redirect it where it needs to go. Without socialization, your dog’s protective instinct could manifest itself first and foremost, such as visitors or dogs he doesn’t know.
The goal is for your dog to protect you from real threats, not your guests. This is why socialization is vital, especially when the dog is a puppy.
A great way to provide this socialization is through group obedience classes. It is a safe context for your dog to interact with strangers and other dogs. However, it is also important to ensure that the dog is exposed to other visual and auditory stimuli such as playgrounds, noisy appliances, and umbrellas. All of these elements must be introduced when the dog is a puppy.
- Find a basic obedience class
Before your German Shepherd can become a guard dog, you will need to teach him basic obedience. As we said above, puppy classes are a great option to start with. However, you may need to resort to private lessons if your dog needs help in specific areas.
Make sure the class you choose is based on positive reinforcement. Instead of exercising “dominance” over your dog, it is better to build a relationship based on trust. In fact, harsher training techniques can make your dog more reactive, which is exactly the opposite of what you want.
Be sure to always ask the trainer what method they use. There are many old-fashioned techniques that we now know are not good for dogs, but are still popular in some circles. Some techniques that work for German Shepherds and have scientific support are clicker training, positive reinforcement, and reward-based training.
Forget scruffing and alpha roles. In addition to being ineffective, these techniques can be dangerous.
- Teach him an “attack” command
While you can do this yourself, we recommend working with a professional who specializes in protection dogs. There is always room for accidents, and German Shepherds can be seriously injured. A professional can minimize the risks and help you get the most out of it.
Professionals typically recommend using the word “attack” in another language, as you are less likely to accidentally say it. It is common to resort to Russian, German or Japanese. That being said, the language you use makes no difference. Dogs do not respond to one language better than another.
When teaching this command it is necessary to use protective equipment to prevent your German Shepherd from biting you or an assistant. To start, you should encourage your dog to bite the coated sleeve as if you were playing. When he does, reward him and say the word you chose for the command.
- Teach him a command to “drop”
Once your dog has learned to attack when you ask him to, it’s time to teach him to release. It is usually best to teach him the command when he is actually attacking. When using the attack command, wait for the dog to release your grip and then say the “release” command and offer a reward. After a couple of tries, you can start using the command.
As you can imagine, this command is as important as the attack command. You can’t have full control of your dog without it.
- Practice, practice and more practice
Next, you will need an assistant dressed in a protective suit. Have your assistant enter the house or a neutral location and act aggressively. He speaks the attack command and lets your dog “neutralize” the threat. He then speaks the command to let go and ask him to come back to you. Teaching him a command for this specific action is very helpful in this context.
If your dog hasn’t mastered this more advanced command, it would be a good time to work on it. It will make it much easier for you to control your dog after using the attack command.
Do this a couple of times in various situations. It is necessary to practice many times to ensure that your dog understands the commands in multiple situations. However, you should continue practicing regularly even after your dog has mastered the command to ensure an optimal response.
Most likely, you won’t have to use this command in your daily life. Therefore, you will have to create practice situations so that your dog does not forget the commands.