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How to Train a German Shepherd to Be a Guard Dog And Attack

German shepherd dog looking from a police car

When you need a helping hand in life, you’ll most likely find a German Shepherd’s paw. This breed of dog is well-known for its obedience, loyalty, warmth, strength, and intelligence, making it one of the most popular in the world. 

German Shepherds have a natural instinct to protect their pack, which makes them great guard dogs; thus, attack training should not be taken lightly, and you need to be willing to commit to the training process.

With the appropriate methods, you can train your German Shepherd to be a reliable guard dog. Continue reading to learn all about how to train your German shepherd to attack and become an excellent guard dog.

Are german shepherds good guard dogs?

 A German shepherd can function as an alert. They are excellent guard dogs because they are adaptable and renowned for their ability to discern people based on their appearance, which enables them to build affectionate associations with those wearing a particular uniform; as a result, they are able to recognize intruders, making them ideal to protect warehouses. 

Additionally, they make excellent police guard dogs because of their calm attitude, which allows them to operate in high-stress circumstances. It’s no wonder that they’ve been employed in police work for more than a century.

Considering their loyalty and ability to form close bonds with their owners, they also make excellent family companion dogs and will ensure their owners are well guarded and protected. 

If you want an excellent guard dog, a German Shepherd is the best choice. This dog will undoubtedly exceed your expectations with the right training.

How much does it cost to train a dog for protection?

Generally speaking, a German Shepherd’s protection training cost can vary depending on the specific needs of the dog and the trainer. However, the average cost of expert training is between $600 and $1,200.

At what age do German Shepherds start guarding?

German shepherd dog in a green garden

Most German Shepherds will start to show signs of guarding behavior around 6-8 months of age. This is when they will start to become more protective of their food, toys, and space. They may also start to bark at strangers or other animals that come too close to their territory.

Can I train my German shepherd to protect me?

You can train your German shepherd to protect you, but it will take time and patience. German shepherds are intelligent dogs and can learn quickly, but they need to be properly socialized in order to be protective. 

If you’re wondering how to train a German Shepherd to be a guard dog you can start by teaching it basic obedience commands, and then move on to more advanced training.

If you are consistent with your training and provide plenty of positive reinforcement, your German shepherd will eventually learn to protect you. We’ll go over all the specifics of how to properly train your GSD in the following part.

Training a german shepherd for protection: how to train a german shepherd to be a guard dog?

German Shepherds are recognized for paying close attention to any activity you are engaged in with them. They also have high energy levels and require a lot of mental stimulation to stay active and interested. All of these traits will help you train your German Shepherd to protect you against intruders and any potential danger. The steps below will show you how to train your german shepherd to become an excellent guard dog and how to attack. 

Step 1: Socialize your German Shepherd 

To train a German Shepherd to be a guard dog, the first step is to socialize the dog. This means exposing the dog to different people, places, and situations so that it becomes comfortable with a variety of people and environments. 

Your dog will grow more habituated to environments with lots of people and won’t act strangely out of fear or stress if you socialize them, take them places, and allow them to meet and interact with as many other people and animals as possible.

The video below demonstrates how to socialize your German Shepherd:

Step 2: Teach your GSD obedience commands 

After the dog is socialized, the next step is to teach him basic obedience commands. This will help the dog understand what you want him to do, and will also help him obey your commands in dangerous situations. 

Additionally, enrolling your dog in an obedience course is crucial because it will aid you in your quest to train your dog to be a trustworthy guard dog.

The following are videos to help you master the 5 Basic commands that your GSD needs to learn along with a demonstrative obedience video:

Step 3: Teach your GSD ” Speak” and ” Quiet” commands

Once the dog has mastered basic obedience commands, you can begin training it to be a guard dog. Developing the dog’s awareness of danger and ability to react appropriately will be necessary for this. To begin, teach the dog to sit, stay, and bark when a threat is sensed.

It is essential to teach your dog commands so that they can stop barking when it’s unnecessary and start barking when it is.

In order to get your dog to stop barking when it is unnecessary, you can start by teaching him the “Quiet” command. Make sure to reward your dog with a small treat when it complies. 

Additionally, you can teach him the command “Speak,” which will encourage it to bark when it’s essential. When it does so, be sure to reward your dog with treats. It’s crucial to train your dog in order to keep their barking under control.

The following video shows how to easily teach your dog to “Speak” and “Quiet,” and you can apply the same techniques to train your cherished German Shepherd:

Once the dog understands these commands, you can begin training it to guard you in specific situations. For instance, you may train the dog to defend your possessions while you’re away or to bark when someone approaches your property.

Step 4: Teach your GSD Alertness to build his Confidence

Having a stranger pretend to climb over the house’s fence or enter the house is another method you might employ to train your dog . This form of training aids in the development of your German Shepherd’s alertness and confidence in his guard dog duties.

When your German Shepherd begins to bark, you should praise him for alerting you to an intruder; but, it is necessary to teach the dog to quit barking as soon as the intruder leaves. By doing this, your dog will learn to bark without chasing the stranger.  

Training your dog to be alert can also come in handy if you ever feel like someone is following you while you’re out and about. You can then immediately give your dog the instruction to frighten the person away without attacking them. How to teach your dog to alert on command is demonstrated in the video below:

Step 5: Positive reinforcement 

To make sure your German Shepherd is responding correctly to your commands, you will need to provide plenty of positive reinforcement. This means rewarding the dog when it responds correctly, and disciplining him when he doesn’t. Be sure to use positive reinforcement rather than punishment, as this will help to encourage the dog to continue responding to your commands.

Step 6: Off-leash control 

Another key aspect of your dog’s training is to take him on a leash around your territory so he can become acquainted with it, and teach him not to bark at passers outside your land. Off-leash control is essential to discipline your German Shepherd.

Step 7: Protection training

You might be wondering “Should I protection-train my German Shepherd?”

The German Shepherd is a versatile breed that can be trained for a variety of purposes, including protection. When deciding whether or not to protection train your German Shepherd, there are a few things to consider. 

The most important factor is whether or not you feel comfortable with your dog being aggressive on command. If you are not comfortable with this, then protection dog training is not right for you and your dog.

Another thing to consider is whether or not you have the time and patience to commit to training. Protection training requires a lot of time and patience to teach your dog the necessary skills.

If you do not feel like you can commit to this, then it is best to not protection-train your German Shepherd. However, if you are willing to commit to training your GSD to attack, the step below will assist you in getting started.

Step 8: Attack training 

To train a German Shepherd to attack, you will need to start with basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. Once your dog has mastered these commands, you can begin to introduce the concept of attacking by having someone approach you while you are holding your dog on a leash.

The person should be wearing protective gear such as a bite sleeve or suit. Once the person is close enough, give the command to attack and allow your dog to bite the sleeve. Reward your dog with praise and treats after a successful attack. The following are effective training tips for teaching your GSD to attack on demand:

Step 9: Behavior reinforcement 

Finally, make sure to keep your Shepherd dog well-trained by regularly reinforcing its good behavior. This will help to ensure that it remains a reliable guard dog. Additionally, you should always make sure to take the lead so that your dog knows that you are his leader and follow your commands. This helps you to keep your dog under control. 

Training a German Shepherd to be a guard dog can take a lot of patience and effort, but it’s well worth it if you want to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Be sure to follow the steps, and be consistent with your training. With a little bit of effort, your German Shepherd will be able to protect you and your family from any danger.

Conclusion

German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. They are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and trainability. German Shepherds make great guard dogs and are often used in law enforcement and security work. If you’re looking for a loyal and protective companion, a German Shepherd may be the right dog for you.

If you’re interested in training your German Shepherd to be a guard dog, there are a few things you’ll need to do. First, you’ll need to socialize your dog so he or she is comfortable around people and other animals. You’ll also need to provide basic obedience training and teach your dog commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” 

Once your dog has mastered these basics, you can begin working on guard dog training. This will involve teaching your dog to bark on command and to respond to threats with aggression. With patience and consistent training, your German Shepherd can become a loyal and protective companion.

What do you think?

Written by Jack

Jack is the founder of Germanshepherdsfamily, a german shepherds specific website where you'll find everything you need to know if you are a true lover of the German Shepherd breed!

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