Owning a pet dog can give you so much experience and fun, especially when the dog suits your character. Among the various dog breeds, German shepherd can be your best friend ever since it has high level of intelligence and loyalty. However, to train your German shepherd dog is not an easy task since you have to know certain things first. If you go to the pet shop, you can easily find the German shepherd dog training books that can help you with tips related to training method, grooming and bathing, health and other requirements.

Whether you know it or not, your dog evolved from wolf. This means, deep inside your German shepherd there is a natural basic instinct, which is why you need the training books to communicate properly. Related to training method, some German shepherd dog training books provide you some explanation about how to become a “pack leader”. The method teaches you the way to stimulate its instinct to follow you, instead of fighting you. One simple step you can do is by walking in front of him each time you are about to walk through the door.

There is also another method from these German shepherd dog training books you have to learn if you wish to communicate to dog. Make sure you use clear yet simple instruction or command followed by hand signal, so the message will be conveyed without any ambiguities. This way, your dog will learn quickly enough and understand the lesson you try to teach.

Besides dog, having a pet cat can also give you indescribable feeling. Just like dogs, you also have to know how to train your cat since the method is rather different such as when you wish to train it with the obedience skill. For this purpose, you can simply rely on the cat litter boxes and some training books from pet shop.

Tosa Inus are one of the most fascinating, and misunderstood of all dog breeds and make great guard dogs. Tosa Inu’s origins began on the smallest Japanese island Shikoku. They were raised in the old Tosa province of the island, hence their name, and the Tosa province was one of the most popular areas for dog fighting.

Known as the Japanese Mastiff, the origins of the Tosa started with the Japanese being impressed with the large Western Bull Mastiff and decided to breed it with Bulldogs, Great Danes, and St. Bernards to improve the size and strength of the native Shikoku ken.

Tosa Inus are one of the few dogs that are still used legally for dog fighting, but these matches are not held with the same notoriety of the illegal fights known all over the world. Dogfights with Tosa Inus are handled under strict rules and never end with the death of either participant.

Tosas are stately, massive dogs who are athletic and surprisingly agile. Their head is large with a broad skull and a moderately long, squared-off muzzle. The jaws are very powerful, the skin at the neck forms a dewlap, the ears are fairly small and pendant, falling along the cheeks and the eyes are small, dark and almond-shaped, with a dignified expression. The long tail is very thick at the root then tapers to a point, reaching the hocks and the short-haired coat is dense and harsh. The preferred color is solid red, though black, yellow, fawn, brindle and multi-colored is also permissible.

The height of the Tosa averages around 24 inches with a weight ranging between 80 and 200 pounds and lives about 12 years.

As for use as a guard dog, the temperament of a Tosa is that of a very brave fearless dog attuned to his master’s wishes. They are protective and loyal. The Tosa can be exceptionally quiet and were bred to be a quiet dog because of Japanese fighting rules. The Tosa can be affectionate toward family members, reserved with strangers, but will accept someone new if introduced. However, due to their size, they should not be left around children.

If you choose to own a Tosa as a guard dog, a large fenced yard is sufficient for its exercise demands. But, they like to go for walks or jogs to satisfy its own need to walk. You might get behavioral problems if Tosas are not taken on daily walks.

Finally, keep Tosas away from other dogs that like to fight because this dog will win. They have a high tolerance for pain due to its fighting origins. So if you decide to own a Tosa as a guard dog, let it know its place, keep it away from other aggressive dogs, or you might end up with a dangerous weapon that will not be easy to take down.

Guard Dog Breeds

Starting in March, I will now start to profile different breeds of dogs that I feel make good guard dogs.  There is a lot of misinformation out there on what qualifies as a guard dog and I think it comes down to what the individual dog trainer wants from their guard dog. Remember, some dog owners think that watch dog and guard dog are interchangeable terms, but they are not the same. A watch dog is a simple barker that lets you know that people are near or on your property, while guard dogs  are specifically trained to obey commands and to stop, “attack”, those who enter your property.

Almost any dog can be used as a watch dog, but to have a guard dog there needs to be specific qualities that work well with the owner’s need. When looking for a guard dog, you need to understand the temperament and intelligence of the dog breed before you select an animal for obedience training. For example, with an American Akita, you need to understand that this dog breed is highly intelligent and loyal but very independent and needs constant reassurance of its role or else the Akita will move away from its training. Since I have an American Akita, I figured I would start my monthly profile with this breed.

The American Akita

For those who are not familiar with Akitas, there are two types. The original Japanese Akita Inu, which were a breed of dog designed for fighting, and the American Akita, which is now a separate recognized breed from the Japanese Akita. Internationally, they are considered separate breeds, but in the United States and Canada, they recognize them as distinction of the same breed.

For those that want a family dog and a guardian, there is no better breed than the American Akita. This dog breed quickly asserts itself within the pack and will adjust its temperament and relationship based upon members of its pack. To males and master, it will rough house play to match whatever you throw at the dog while still be gentle and protective of women and children. The American Akita is very intelligent, bold, and fearless, and this can be a problem if not disciplined as a puppy. Without firm discipline or obedience training, without a clear understanding of who is their pack leader, an Akita can become very aggressive when it comes to other animals. It will assert dominance over these animals since it has no clear leader. While some might see this as a detriment, for those who wish to have an Akita as a guard dog, this is a blessing.

American Akitas as Guard Dogs

With Akitas, more than any other dog breed, they understand their role within a pack and quickly understand who is the pack leader among human/animal relationships. It knows that there are defining lines and will respond well to obedience training as long as there is a clear pack leader. If this is not clear to the dog, it will make itself the dominant member of its clan. Akita’s thrive on firm leadership and lots of exercise and stimulation. Without these key elements, this dog breed will become bored and very disrespectful. Akitas are very mindful of who they are. They are not pleasers. If they do decide to fetch or play, it is because the mood suits them not because they feel a need for your approval. This a clear distinction between Akitas and other breeds and must be clearly understood if you are wanting to train this breed to be a good guard dog. If wanting a watch dog, the sheer size of this dog is a great deterrent, and an Akita is not usually an excessive barker. But if they are raised around small yippy dogs who bark at the wind, they will display this annoying trait.