9. Common Mistakes in Guard Dog Training and How to Avoid Them
Good Intentions Aren’t Enough
When it comes to guard dog training, even the most vigilant and careful dog owners can make simple mistakes that will cause them a tremendous amount of trouble later on. The fact is, guard dogs are meant to be designed and tailored for their specific work requirements.
While they are to be treated as well-loved members of the family, they also require very intense sessions with professional trainers, as well as the proper amount of pre-training from their owners.
Generally, problems associated with guard dog training are related to abuse and neglect. However, a caring pet owner may unknowingly hinder his guard dog’s progress through unintentional lapses of training and attention. Some of the most common mistakes that even excellent dog owners make include:
- training guard dogs with companion dogs
- lack of obedience training
- failure to provide adequate socialization
Mistake #1: Training a Guard Dog With a Companion Animal
The training that a guard dog must undergo is strenuous and demanding. Not only are they required to learn aggressive maneuvers that they must undertake in the event of an intrusion, but they must also learn how to control those aggressive responses. Ideally, your guard dog will be able to correctly differentiate between a dangerous individual or animal and a safe individual or animal.
Also, in the event of a misidentification, your guard dog must be able to retreat and abandon his attack at your command. All of this is in addition to the basic commands, such as “sit” and “stay,” that he must learn as a pup.
Obviously, it is best to stick with only the recommended breeds for this type of training if at all possible (German Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc.) These breeds have already been identified not only for their tremendous strength and agility, but also for there high intelligence levels.
A common mistake that dog owners make is to have their non-working dogs present during the training of the protection animal. While it may seem like a great idea to go ahead and train all of your dogs along with your guard dog, this is generally not a safe idea.
Animals that have been raised for companion purposes, and that have not received the proper training as a puppy, may not respond well to this type of training.
Also, controlling more than one animal at a time, including one who has only been partially trained, may prove impossible during a hostile scenario. It is best to train companion animals only in the areas of basic commands, and leave the work to your guard dog.
Mistake #2: Lack of Obedience Training
Contrary to what many dog owners may believe, guard dog training does not begin after a pet has become an adult. In fact, training of some sort within the home should begin immediately. Any puppy who will one day fulfill protective roles in the home must be treated as a guard dog right from the start.
In order to be properly prepared for the training that a professional will instill later on, a puppy should already have mastered the following commands by the age of twelve months:
Rather than waiting for a professional to take over, one must prepare their pet for command comprehension at an early age, when a dog is most receptive to new information. This means demanding excellent behavior at all times, with no exceptions.
Do not assume that the professional trainer you hire when your dog is older will be able to perform miracles. Your pet must already be familiar with the training process in the basic form before he will be able to learn more the more specialized skills that effective guard dogs require.
Mistake #3:Lack of Socialization
Certain guard dog breeds, such as rottweilers, have a tendency to become overly aggressive. This aggression is natural, however it needs controlling before these types of dogs can become suitable for companionship. This is especially true for homes that include children or elderly inhabitants.
Therefore, guard dogs must be taught that certain people and situations are acceptable and do not pose a threat. This is not a skill that can be expected from your dog naturally. Once trained to defend, every visitor or stray animal that passes a dog’s home becomes an instant enemy to him.
This problem can be avoided through proper socialization. While still a puppy, your guard dog should be surrounded by as many “safe” humans and animals as possible. He should not only be around them, but he should also see his master conversing in a friendly manner with these visitors. Socializing your dog will help him gain the skills needed to differentiate between hostile intruders and friendly neighbors. Ways to properly socialize your dog may include:
- taking him to a public park each week
- ensuring that he has a good relationship with his vet
- bringing him on long trips with you (while taking the necessary safety precautions)
- enrolling him in canine day camp one or two days a week
- having all frequent household visitors interact with him often from the very beginning
When the Problem Isn’t You
The aforementioned problems are usually linked to mistakes on the part of the owner. They are usually very preventable, and may even be reversed with the help of a good dog trainer. However, sometimes dog owners take every necessary precautions and still have difficulties with their guardian animals. Problems like this may include uncontrollable rage and aggression, biting, killing of other animals, and severe intolerance for children.
If you have taken every step to ensure that your guard dog has been well prepared for his duties, there may be an underlying problem that you will be unable to correct on your own. The unfortunate truth is, some dogs are so aggressive that they must be put down.
his is extremely rare, and should be a last option after all others, including professional training intervention from at least two different trainers and veterinarian input, have been completely exhausted.
If a dog is more dangerous than helpful, you may be forced to turn him over to animal control, as least for restraining purposes. This is usually not a problem for pet owners who adopt their guard dog at an early age, but those who bring a dog into their home later on may be forced to deal with such a situation.
Keep in mind, however that overly aggressive behavior may be due to an unrelated but correctable condition, such as illness or fear. For this reason, it is best to seek professional help as soon as possible, both from a trainer and from your vet, should aggression become a real danger.
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