5 Steps To Train Your German Shepherd To Be A Guard Dog

Sharing is caring!

The German shepherd is being bred to herd and guard. With some good training, they will become perfect guard dogs. Most guard dogs are trained to alert but not to attack. You can train your German shepherd dog in these 5 steps.

To make your German Shepherd Dog a Perfect Guard Dog you have to socialize him properly. Then you need to teach Him Obedience commands like ( Sit, Stay, come, bark, Stop Barking, etc). It is important to show your German Shepherd dog the border of the house so he can protect it. Your dog has to know the difference between a delivery man and a stranger who can be dangerous.

A guard German shepherd is very confident about himself and it is not shy about new things or new person and if he will notice something wrong he will alert you right away. Here I am going to teach you how can you train your German shepherd to be a good guard dog

The versatile, energetic and fearless German shepherd dog is highly intelligent and trainable, you can teach him anything because he will learn very fast.

The German shepherd is a big guard dog and its guardian should know that without proper training some disasters can happen. The GSD needs discipline, fair and firm guidance which teaches the dog some rules and boundaries that a dog should never cross.

German shepherd loves learning new things and they enjoy companionship and attention received in any type of training.

Take in mind that every training session should benefit the dog so they learn that after completing a task they will be rewarded. More devotion and patience you put in the training of the dog better results you will have.

It does not matter what you decide to teach your dog but keep in mind that you should not hit or punish your dog during the training.

So How Can You Train Your German Shepherd To Be A Perfect Guard Dog?

I will teach what you should do with your dog step by step so keep reading.

Step 1 : Teaching your dog to alert bark

First of all, choose a word to say to the dog to command him to bark. For example, choose simply “bark” and try also to do a body signal along with it. Body language is an important part of the training because when your dog will learn to bark on the command you can cut the word and try to order him to bark only with body language. This will be useful when your dog will become older and his listening power may decrease.

Once you have chosen the word ( for example simply say “bark”) that triggers German Shepherd’s bark, say it with the same emotion every time.

• To start just tie your dog with a leash in the garden and hide from him. And every time he barks or makes a sound while you say the word go to him and give him a treat. You can keep practicing several times.
• When the German shepherd will get comfortable with barking on command in the garden or at home, take him out and try to command him to bark when you are jogging or walking around in a park.
• The important is to be clear with the command. Let’s say if you went to the park to play with your German shepherd dog, After some time you have been playing just stop and command him to Bark. If the dog is looking you confusing just wait and command again. Usually, your dog should bark once or twice but if he keeps barking don’t give him the treat until he stops barking. Practicing is the key in the training your German shepherd to be a guard dog and there is no option like “giving up”. Just try and try again in different ways and different places and the results will surely come.
• To take your German shepherd dog guard training to the next level create a scenario. Try this in the evening if you can when outside is darker. Just put your dog inside the house and knock the door and command your dog to “BARK” to see if he barks. This is the way to teach your dog that he should warn you when someone comes to your door in the evening or morning. Try this every evening if you can and after doing it a few times in a single evening give a break to your dog for not get him bored or tired of barking on command. The important is being consistent with the exercise. Never forget to give the treat or rewarding your german shepherd dog when he completes a task.
• When you have trained your dog to bark your dog to you, try the same door knocking exercise with your friend. Ask a friend to knock or ring your door and call the pup to Bark. When your dog will learn to bark at strangers you are doing a great job to train the dog.
• This is the last step for bark on command. When your German shepherd dog can follow your commands easily try to make him bark only with knocking the door without giving him the command and give him the love and treat he wants when he does it. This step is crucial because when a German shepherd can alert you without your command that there is someone at the door he is becoming an excellent Guard dog.

Step 2 : Teach your German shepherd dog obedience

Obedience is essential if you want to teach your GSD To be a guard dog.

“Come” “sit” and “stay” will be the three most important words you should teach your Dog.

These three basic commands will take your dog safe in any circumstance. For example, if there is a danger approaching your dog you can call “come” so your dog can step back and come near to you.

When you will be able to teach your dog all three words your leadership will become more effective. If your puppy understands that you are the leader they will become your happy followers.

• Come command ( i think this is the first command you should teach them)
  This is the first and most important command you should teach him. This is a “RECALL” command.
  Begin with teaching this command inside your house. Go in a larger room like the living room. Put a leash to the German shepherd dog and just put yourself in front of him and step back and call “come”. If they do not move forward just pull the leash and let them understand that they have to move towards you. Remember that when your German shepherd accomplishes the task give him a treat that he loves.
  When your German shepherd has completed this step to be a guard dog you can take them in the park and repeat the exercise.
• Sit This command is simple and easy to teach.
  Try to teach this when your German shepherd is not very tired.
  To start simply ask your puppy to sit and if they do not understand just show them simply by squeezing their back to show them what to do. Try to repeat this exercise at least 10 times the first time then do it 2 to 5 times every day.
  When you say Sit also use your hand together. Once your german shepherd has learned the command “SIT” try only with a hand signal and see if he understand. Body signal is a natural way to communicate with your dog. When you go out for a walk in the park take your German shepherd with you and get in the habit to ask them to sit and follow your commands. For example, ask them to sit down and wait until you put on your jacket. Every time you stop to talk to a friend or a person ask your dog to sit. In this way, they will know that they have to wait for you and you are the leader. Every time you ask your puppy to sit in different circumstances they are learning new things. And when you get back home ask them to sit down and wait until you open the door.
  The Dog in sitting position is easy to control then one standing at the alert position ready to jump on someone.

These simple exercises will help him to become more obedient. Keep teaching your German shepherd where and when he should sit.

• Stay command is to teach at last

When your puppy can sit try with stay. Put your dog in an “SIT” position and step back slowly. If they try to follow them say calmly “no” and put them sit again and give them a treat.
After they have learned all the three steps just keep practicing and you will see that every day it will improve

Step 3: Teach your german shepherd dog to be quiet on command.

This command is sometimes more important than the barking one. If your dog continues to bark and don’t gets quite this can become a big problem.

After you have practiced a lot with the barking command you have to teach him to stop barking. Some German shepherds are natural barkers and it is difficult to stop them barking but if you train them from the beginning it will become very easy.

When your dog will be prepared to listen to your “bark” and “quiet” command that means you are doing well with the training.

Now we talk about the steps to follow for teach the dog to be quite

Repeat the same exercise of knocking the door and when your dog starts barking just command him to be “quite” ( choose a word you would like to say, you can simply say quite, stop, or something else you like but do not say something that looks aggressive to the dog).

• When you start to train the dog try to make the coaching look a fun game. You can try to say “bark” several times to your puppy and then say “quite” and when he starts following your command just give him a treat and reward him with his favorite food maybe. This can make the training much easier for both.
• Push him to bark to anyone who knocks or ring your door and then give him the “quiet” command. Your German shepherd will not know who is outside the door and this will help increase his awareness of strangers and alert you when someone comes at your door. Try to not make him bark to strangers when you are outside the house.
• Practicing and repeating will help you to achieve your objective. After your Dog will be able to follow your quiet and bark on command firmly then he is ready to be a Guard Dog.

Step 4 Show your German shepherd dog the borders of the house

It is important to take a walk every day around your property to show your German shepherd the areas he has to protect and also teach him to not bark to strangers or friends outside the property. For example, if someone is simply walking on the road in front of your garden or house, your dog should not Bark on him without any reason. This is difficult because it is difficult to teach dogs this thing but if you keep trying they will listen to you

Step 5:socializing your German shepherd is very important for your dog to become a true guardian.

• Socialize your dog ( after they have had all their vaccinations) is a very important aspect. Take your dog to Dog parks or in training classes with other pets. This is important because at the beginning your German Shepherd does not understand really what is good or what is bad. Socializing will help them clear their confusions and fears. For example, sometimes German shepherd runs away or bite for fear when they see something that is strange to them.
• For a german shepherd puppy or adult, it will be of great help socializing with the family members. In the family, they will learn what they can do and what they can’t and it will be useful to warn your German shepherd when they engage in some unwanted behavior. You can teach him some sounds or a simple yes or no so when they hear they can stop. It does not matter what kind of voice it is, so long it gets your dogs attention immediately. German shepherds will learn quickly to hear your voice and anytime you call them they will give you their attention immediately and stop doing something they should not. When your dog will get affection with your family he will protect them at all costs and believe me when I say all costs. Your family’s safety will become a priority for the German shepherd. The more loyal is your dog to you better guard dog it will become.
• German shepherds dogs sometimes can act out and do not want to socialize. They can hide under the table or do not want to go out. In this case, do not force them to do so. You can just ignore them and start to do something maybe your dog likes, for example, playing with his ball or playing with his toys or cook something that he likes. German shepherds are very socializing pets and when they get out, reward them with something.
• Do not leave your German shepherd alone for a long period of time. If you are going out take him with you so he can interact with new people, see new things and have new experiences. If you leave your German shepherd at home all times he may not understand how to react to new things. For example, if your dog is well socialized it will recognize the stranger but will not attack him in the presence of the owner.