How do we train our 3-year-old shar pei/shepherd dog mix to be a good guard dog?

Question

Our medium-sized blk-brown shepherd mix is so friendly and playful. If somebody breaks into our house and offers him food, she might even go with that thief. She knows our neighbors across the street - some with pet dogs, too.

Can't afford an alarm system...

She looks like Scrappy-Doo (but chinky-eyed) from Scooby Doo cartoon series. She's about 30 lbs.

Answer 1

I've been asked this question quite a few times over the years; believe me, there 's no easy answer to the question.

First of all, what kind of guard dog do you want? One who will bark and (hopefully) scare off an intruder, or do you want a dog that will attack anyone who enters? The first type is easy and pretty much comes naturally with a little help. Have someone knock on the door/ring the bell and encourage your dog to bark. If you hear a strange noise outside, ask him in a worried whisper, "What was that?" and encourage her to bark.

If you want an attack dog, then I ask you to carefully reconsider... you are opening yourself up to a lawsuit. Also, there are few (if any) property insurance companies that will insure you, having a dog that has been trained to attack. We all see police K9 dogs taking down the bad guy (yes!), but they undergo constant training and understand the command to terminate the attack. The key here is "terminate the attack". If you are not at home, who will tell your dog to back off?

You didn't mention how old your dog is... if she is young, then she is still exhibiting friendly, puppy behavior. The absolutely best thing that you can do is to bond with your dog by taking her to obedience classes, including her in family activities, and becoming her best friend.

Jonathan, my rough tri-Collie, and I have been SAR partners for 7 years. He literally lives with my family and is included in almost everything that we do. I always wondered what he would do if I was ever threatened. Last year, three subjects attempted to rob me at an interstate rest area. Jonathan went into "attack mode" clawing his way over the van seats to get to me. I noticed that the would-be-robbers were wide-eyed and started backing away... when I turned around, I saw a dog that would have made any wolf proud. All it took was one command, and he stopped, returning to my side... while we watched three very scared men run away (I really wanted to let him go after them and teach them a lesson). The point of my story is that dogs naturally defend their pack; by developing the "family pack", she will watch out for you.

For a good article on home protection dogs, see the link below...

Good luck!

Answer 2

This can be a dangerous thing if not done correctly. Don't even consider training beyond barking & warning you someone is at the door. This is usually sufficient to scare off a would-be intruder. If you insist on going down this road, you MUST first train basic obedience. You shouldn't be able to "sic" a dog without being able to control him/her afterwards. You will just jepordize your dog,s freedom & future happiness. Think long & hard before you choose this option.

Answer 3

I agree with Charlie. You are getting into a potentially dangerous situation here that could easily backfire. Training a dog to attack a human is best left to professionals. It's a long, complicated process and you, as an owner, must be fully informed about turning your dog into an attack dog. Imagine how horrific it would be for your dog to pay for your mistakes - with his life. Read the news - there are a lot of stories about dog attacks, and that means a tragic end for the dog.

Answer 4

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