Training a dog to be a guard dog is a very difficult thing to do, as it requires certain qualities that one would not want a family dog to have, and, of course, there’s a right and a wrong way to teach a dog to guard property and/or people. The absolute wrong way to do this is to make the dog hostile to all humans, which some people do by chaining the dog up and teasing him, which is beyond cruel and it will instill a deep hatred for all humans, so the owner could never trust the animal.

Basic Obedience Training

Before you can train a dog to guard, it must first undergo basic obedience training, which is vital, as, unlike a family dog, you need him to respond to your commands quickly. Using hand signals is an effective way to teach the dog basic commands, such as:

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Heel
• Go

There are guard dogs for sale in Sydney by an established dog training centre, plus they provide a full range of dog training courses, as well as full boarding facilities for when you are on holiday.

Becoming the Master

When training a dog to guard, it is critical that the dog does not respond to commands from anyone other than you, while you also need to teach the dog not to accept treats from any other person than yourself, otherwise your security could be poisoned.

Barking at Strangers

Of course, you want the dog to alert you by barking when a person approaches, and you also have to instruct the dog to stop when you command. Of course, family members would automatically be recognised as pack members, yet they should never be allowed to form a relationship, as this could threaten your position as master. When he barks at night, always make a point of identifying the intrusion, then calm the dog and he will return to his position. You may need professional training, as it can be difficult to make the dog understand the line between barking and ignoring.

Animal Friendly

You don’t want your dog attacking all forms of wildlife that enter your living zone, and by rewarding positive behaviour, the dog will understand that animals are not considered a threat. Teach the dog in short 20-30 minute sessions and if you run into difficulties, book a course with your local dog trainer, who can help you to overcome the problem.