How to Select a Guard Dog

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    How to Select a Guard Dog

    by John Davis

    Introduction

    One of the many reasons people own a dog is for security purposes. A welltrained dog can protect you!

    your family and your property from uninvited guests. "he mere sight of a large dog sitting on your

    front step can deter a potential intruder. #ven the little guys! such as $oodles and %hihuahuas can do agood &ob of alerting you that someone is there. Just'a&an.com(s research group! teamed up with

    professional dog trainer! )r. *endell *aithe of +, %onfidence! to bring you this guide on -%hoosing A

    Guard Dog-. )r. *aithe has / years of e0perience training dogs in %anada! but is currently located in'arbados.

    'efore getting your dog trained or if you are about to purchase a pup! there are a few things you should

    consider first1

    'reed

    'reed is important when it comes to si2e! intelligence and ease of care. Any si2e dog actually can ma3e

    a good -watch- dog! but don(t e0pect small breeds to wrestle a large man to the ground. If you need

    manstopping power get a medium to large si2ed dog. However! if you are not physically able to handlethe large dog! small breeds ma3e e0cellent alert dogs! as they are sure to bar3 at anything that moves.

    Again! don(t e0pect their an3lebiting power to stop a thief.

    If you do not already own a dog! two important considerations are1

    Is this your first dog4

    Do you have small children4

    5irst time dog owners and those with children! should not buy dogs that are1

    Highly aggressive these are more li3ely to bite their owners if illtreated

    Dominant natured these dogs are stubborn and hard to control

    High prey drive harder to control and li3ely to attac3 livestoc3 6ery energetic these dogs are active and need lots of attention to 3eep them out of trouble. Older

    owners may not have the energy to 3eep up with them

    $eople with small children should generally stay away from large breeds because with their sheer si2eand mass! they can unintentionally in&ure a child in play. Some dogs simply do not li3e children!

    especially if the child gets more attention than them.

    'reed 7ecommendations

    Good dogs for first time owners or people with children1

    8abrador 7etriever

    Golden 7etriever

    Irish Setters

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    *heaten "errier

    Good dogs for e0perienced dog owners1

    A3ita

    7ottweiler

    $it 'ull Jac3 7ussell

    Good intermediate dogs1

    German Shepard Doberman $inscher

    'o0er

    7idgebac3

    9ote1 #very Dog is different and your e0perience with certain breeds may be different.

    %hoosing A $uppyIf you have the privilege of choosing a puppy from a litter! you must ma3e your selection carefully. "he

    cutest puppy may not be the best choice. "emperament is the most important characteristic! not loo3s.

    :ou do not want a dog that is shy and cowardly. A dog than runs away when you approach! with its tailbetween its legs cowering in fear! will also run away when a burglar approaches. 8oo3 for an

    in;uisitive dog! the one that approaches you investigating your presence. 8oo3 for a dog that is

    energetic and strong. Stay away from dogs that are too aggressive as they may have behavioural

    problems. Here are a few tests you can try before ma3ing a choice. If the puppies are fairly big! havethe owner do these tests to avoid being bitten1

    $op open an umbrella in front of the puppies. "he sudden noise and opening of the umbrella ma3es a

    good fear test. *atch for the puppies that run away and the ones that stay and investigate the noise.

    7e&ect the cowards and the ones that try to attac3 you or the umbrella.

    "hrow an ob&ect on the ground large enough to ma3e a noise. Once again! re&ect the pups that run

    away. $ups that go to investigate the noise are the preferable choice.

    As3 the owner to feed the pups. Strong puppies will get their food first! wea3 ones will not. %hoose

    the strong pup.

    As3 the owner to move the food when the pups are eating. Do not try this yourself. 7e&ect the dogs

    that try to bit the hand that feeds them. Do not ma3e the mista3e of believing the most aggressive

    puppy will ma3e the best guard dog. :ou are more li3ely to have problems 3eeping it under control.

    Age

    *hat is a good age to start training4 Generally! trainers prefer to start when the dog is si0 to twelvemonths old! but this may vary from trainer to trainer. If you already own a dog! don(t fear! old dogs can

    learn new tric3s! but if your dog is older than si0 years you are as3ing too much.

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    Se0

    Does the se0 of the dog really matter4 9o! the se0 of the dog is not critical at all! its &ust a matter of

    personal preference. Some people e0perience that female dogs bond better with male owners and vice

    versa. Some people prefer female dogs because some males tend to roam from home in search females.If you do not want pups you would obviously choose a male dog. "he choice is really up to you.

    :ou and :our 5amilyA dog is a pac3 animal and in a pac3 everyone has a ran3. "he dog sees you and your family as

    members of its( pac3. It is very important that your dog establishes its ran3 below you and your family.

    :ou don(t want your dog to believe he is the number one seed! as he may &ust decide to offer a lowerran3ing member a correction. A correction can be in the form of a snarl or bite. :our dog must

    understand that you and your family come first. "o achieve this everyone must ta3e care of the dog. As

    they say! -you don(t bite the hand you must be able to control your dog. If it attac3s

    someone or something you should be able to stop it. "he duration of the obedience training is usually ?to @ wee3s! with @ to classes a wee3. However! the owner should practice the dog at least twice

    every day. 5or pups! @ minutes of practice in the day and on evenings is recommended! since young

    dogs get bored easily. Older dogs can go for B/ minutes. Some things your dog will learn are1

    How to wal3 ne0t to you you may prefer the dog to wal3 on your left or right side.

    6erbal %ommands these include common commands such as sit! come! down etc.

    Hand Signals this is an alternative to verbal commands.

    Automatic %ommands dog will learn to react without being ordered to. 5or e0ample! sitting once

    you stop wal3ing.

    %ontrolled Aggression "raining

    *hat will happen when my friends come over4 A welltrained dog will not attac3 unless commanded

    to! but that does not always mean your friends are safe. $lay fighting with your buddies isn(t

    recommended when your dog is around. Any loyal dog would certainly attac3 if its( master is

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    threatened> don(t e0pect it to understand that you are playing. If your friends loo3 suspicious your dog

    might attac3 them automatically. In such an unfortunate event you must be able to control your dog. An

    obedient dog is by far a more reliable and safer dog.

    *hat does controlled aggression training entail4 "he duration of the controlled aggression training is B

    to C months. During this time your dog will learn how to defend on command and to defend

    automatically. *hat(s more! it will be taught where to bite and hold an intruder.

    Owner(s 7esponsibilities

    :our dog needs practice to instil what it has learnt in the training. $ractice training routines regularlyand remember to reward your dog when it does something right. "ry to ma3e the practice fun so your

    dog won(t get bored. A onceamonth refreshment course is also an option with your trainer. Shall the

    dog develop any behavioural problems ta3e it to see its trainer or vet. As always! 3eep you dog happy.Don(t e0pect a neglected dog to protect you.