Tips on Training Your Dog to Protect You

Training your dog to protect you can be beneficial but it also can cause problems if it is not done correctly. The dog could end up being dangerous to everyone, not just to criminals and intruders. That's why it's crucial that a professional trainer be contacted.

There's a fine line between a protective dog that looks after you and your home, and a socially aggressive dog that chases off every living being that comes near. If trained incorrectly, your dog could end up biting someone or worse. In the end, you could lose your dog to the authorities.

It is possible to train your dog to protect you but he might just develop the skill on his own. Some dogs naturally learn to protect their owners while remaining friendly to others when protection is not required.

You can do a few things to steer your dog in the right direction.

1. Gain his trust and respect

When your dog learns to trust and respect you, he will naturally want to protect you from danger. You gain this respect through your training and attitude. If you tend to use different commands and become agitated when your dog does not obey, you can cause confusion for the dog. He will not understand just what you expect from him.

Dogs need consistency. They need to know what to expect from their environment and from their owners. When they do not, they become stressed and anxious. They feel unsafe and, in some cases, threatened.

Maintain a calm and steady attitude and use the same commands for various orders. Keep your home life as stable as possible. Stick to routines that your dog has come to know.
,br>

2. Do not allow everyone to pet your dog

Dogs are social creatures, but if they learn to accept everyone who comes to the door, training your dog to protect you will be difficult. It's up to you as pack leader to decide who can pet your dog and who can't. When unexpected strangers arrive at your door, do not allow your dog to go to them.

It's a good idea to keep a collar on your dog when greeting strangers. Use it to hold your dog back when you open the door. He will be able to see and smell the person, but will not receive that much-desired friendly greeting.

Remember that when you are training your dog, you probably praise him by petting him. When strangers pet him, he will learn that he has just done something right.

It's far more difficult to cure a friendly dog after he grows up and the trait is well established. Young dogs that are fussed over by strangers will learn to accept everyone who comes along. If you want to train your dog to protect you, it's necessary to start as early as possible.

Teach him who he can trust and who he can't. Introduce him to new people carefully and slowly so that he learns to be cautious, just like the pack leader.

For specific training, contact a professional who can training your dog to protect you without becoming a danger to the neighborhood.