To decide that you want to train a guard dog requires a lot of thought and you must realize this can be a very difficult and dangerous endeavor if you do not completely understand the risks involved. While most dog owners can teach the basics of sport dog education and obedience training, usually guard dog training is left for the professionals. Your backyard does not make the best place for training, and you should seek out a proper training facility which has the proper instructors for this type of training.

Since it is important for your dog to stay focused on training, it is best that you keep him bordered at a kennel during this time. Bringing your dog back home to a friendly relaxed atmosphere can be detrimental for his overall training. Just like athletes go off to training camp to avoid distractions, the same philosophy holds true in guard dog training.

Now, not all dogs are suitable for this type of work. You should take your dog to a professional to decide if he has the right stuff to become a guard dog. Just because you have a big, scary dog does not mean he has the right temperament to become a vigilant disciplined protector.

All new guard dogs go through obedience training no matter if they have already had this training. You might be happy if your dog sits when say to sit only a couple of times, but a guard dog must obey a command immediately. So no matter what previous training your dog has had, the new trainer will begin anew.

Another key component in guard dog training is that the dog must be trained to accept commands and treats from only the handler or the owner. This is especially important if the dog is to guard a family, because the dog can easily learn to break training and accept food from anyone who gives it to them. You don’t want a guard dog that can be bribed by a fresh steak to get into your house.

Your guard dog will not be trained to become an aggressive killing machine. That is not what this training is designed to do. It will teach your dog to not only protect your family and property, but to also show respect to other members of the family and household pets. With proper training, a guard dog can learn to interact peacefully with those around him, including other dogs and cats, while at the same time developing the skills necessary for guarding you.