Do you walk alone at night? Do you need a personal protection dog, the type of animal that will attack someone who threatens it?
An attack dog cannot befriend anyone other than its primary handler. An attack dog is fed by a single handler, exercised by a single handler, and is never touched or affectionate by another person Best dog training Houston.
Weigh your options carefully
Is this really the kind of dog you want? This behavior, and the type of training it requires, can be a real problem when it comes to companion dogs. Most dog owners don’t want a dog that just talks back to them. They want a dog that the whole family can enjoy. Even a person who is alone most of the time cannot guarantee that she will be home every day.
Do you want to have a good personal protection dog and also have a great pet? Do the objectives contradict each other? These training methods are not for everyone, nor are they suitable for all dogs. A dog selected for personal protection needs to be well socialized, confident but not aggressive, and interested in its owner’s every move.
5 tips for training your dog to protect you
If you are sure you want a personal protection dog, and not a pet, what should you do? Here are five tips for training a dog to protect you.
Teach your dog obedience commands
The first thing you need to do is teach your dog basic obedience: Your dog must respond to all basic obedience commands. He should sit up, lie down and come to you 100% of the time when you call him. Your dog should walk without a leash. Additionally, your dog must learn and respond to the “bark” and “leave it” commands.
Important note: If your dog does not follow these commands consistently, or if you cannot teach him new commands, you should stop trying to turn your pet into a personal protection dog.
Socialize your dog
You also need to socialize your dog so that he is not afraid of new and unusual situations. This is best done in the sensitive period of socialization (up to about 16 weeks) but of course this is not possible for all dogs.
Socialization can take place every time you take your dog for a walk. If you see a strange object, especially if the dog is nervous, bring it closer so he can investigate. Your dog also needs to recognize what a normal pedestrian looks like and doesn’t feel threatened, or feels like he needs to threaten, anyone else he encounters.
IMPORTANT Note: Not all dogs can tell who is safe, so of course not all dogs need to be trained for personal protection.
Teach Your Dog to Bark on Command
Encourage your dog to bark when any stranger approaches. (If you need more help with this, here are my tips for training your dog to bark on command.) A dog that barks at a stranger may be more effective than a dog that responds to an “attack” command but does not bark.
Some dogs are not good at learning this command, take note of what your dog does naturally and sometimes he will respond.
Barking comes naturally to many dogs, but you may need to teach your dog to stop barking when given a command. When he has barked once or twice, you can tell him to sit and then order him to stop. If he doesn’t stop, command the dog to “down.” It is very difficult for a dog to bark when he is on the ground.
IMPORTANT Note: If your dog does not bark on command and does not even bark at strangers, he is not a good choice for a protection dog.
Teach your dog to defend you
For the next step in the training process, you need to find someone the dog doesn’t know. The “stranger” approaches during the walk, approaches and challenges your dog. You may be wearing a dog attack suit, an oven mitt, or even a quilted blanket on your arm, but you may not even need it. When you give the command and your dog barks at him, he needs to act scared and run away. Your dog will be more confident.
Personally, I think this is a good place to stop. Your dog has already learned to bark and appear threatening to anyone who threatens you when you walk.
Think long and hard before training your dog to attack
If you decide to go further, keep in mind that a dog that has been trained to attack is not a good pet to have at home. There are many anecdotes about docile family attack dogs and there are also many anecdotes of attack dogs that have injured someone in their home (usually one of the children). There is also the possibility that your dog could bite someone who just came up to talk to you; He can be sued and lose everything he has because his dog is a trained attack animal.
The next time a different “stranger” approaches your dog and makes threatening gestures, he will probably start barking before you even give him a command; If he wishes to continue, he must loosen (but not let go) his dog’s leash.
A personal protection dog’s main objective is to protect you at all times
Do you walk alone at night? Do you need a bodyguard dog of the type of animal that will attack the person who threatens you?
An attacking dog cannot make friends with anyone other than its primary handler. Assault dogs are fed by their masters, practiced by their masters and never touched or bothered by others.
Carefully Consider Your Options
Is this really the type of dog you want? This behavior and the type of training they must go through can be a real problem when it comes to companion dogs. Most dog owners don’t want a dog that responds only to them. They want a dog that the whole family can enjoy. Even someone who is alone most of the time cannot guarantee that he will come home every day.
Do you want a good bodyguard dog and also a great pet? Do the objectives conflict with each other? These training methods are not for everyone, nor are they suitable for all dogs. A dog chosen for personal protection should be well socialized, confident but not aggressive, and attentive to its owner’s every movement.