The 411 on Training Personal Protection Dogs: 5 Insider Tips & Tricks

Owning a personal protection dog is an investment, one that will safeguard your family from lurking intruders and grant your anxious loved ones much-needed peace of mind. Personal protection dog ownership is ideal for individuals who feel uneasy where they live or who live alone. Vulnerable populations (i.e., senior citizens and women) can enormously benefit from a dog trained to stand guard and keep a watchful eye on the property. 

While many homeowners choose to stow away handguns to ward off home invaders seeking targets, dogs trained to protect you are an incredible alternative to owning a gun. Dogs can alert homeowners of nearby predators and shield your family from trauma-inducing burglaries without the fear and unknown dangers of owning a weapon like a gun. 

If you’re still teetering on the fence and generally unsure about personal protection dog ownership, there’s a long list of misconceptions surrounding these guard dogs you’ll want to debunk. For starters, many believe these trained animals serve exclusively as attack dogs—which is simply not true. That said, don’t envision snarling teeth or vicious behaviors when you encounter the term personal protection dog. Instead, imagine a loyal companion who will unconditionally keep your best interests at heart. 

Breeds Hardwired to Be Guard Dogs

Choosing a watchdog-friendly dog breed to adopt and train as your personal protection dog is a vital step in becoming a responsible owner. Note that certain types of dogs have the temperament, personality, and discipline needed to thrive as a guard dog. 

Although many breeds are stereotyped as guard dogs, including German Shepards, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers, a dog breed that excels in the position that might surprise you is the Labrador Retriever. Dogs such as these are loyal beyond all compare. Labs will do anything they can to protect you, keep you happy, and safeguard you from looming threats. 

Teach Your Dog to Be Obedient

A task that comes along with owning a dog is basic obedience training. That training becomes all the more important if your end goal is to own a personal protection pet. Having those basic commands committed to memory will help them familiarize themselves with the learning process. For optimal success, gradually introduce your personal protection pet to new commands. That way, they can process and retain increasing loads of information. 

Socialize Your Dog as a Puppy

Introducing your new pet to other dogs is a necessary step in developing your personal protection dog’s social skills. Remember, the way you interact with them at home will impact how they communicate and connect with other dogs. That said, ensure your animal is comfortable in a wide variety of surroundings with varying levels of stimulation. Once you’ve confirmed that they’re up to the challenge of greeting unfamiliar dogs and humans alike, you can rest assured that you’ve adequately prepared them for their future duties. 

Have Your Dog Bark on Command

Barking dogs can sometimes be irritating and loud, but training your dog to bark when you tell them to will be a useful skill for them to possess. Barking is intimidating and will ward off dangers that may be a threat to you. Barking is also a non-violent form of protection, which is always preferred.

Teach Them How to Protect You Effectively

Dogs are often very in tune with their owners and often possess a deep understanding of how their owner is feeling. Working on training them to pick up on your anxious feelings ensures that your personal protection pet will kick into hyper gear when you’re visibly in distress. 

Before committing to personal protection dog ownership, you must set parameters and define the level of protection you want to enforce. Whether that is just scaring someone away or physically protecting you, that difference needs to be made clear. 

Ultimately, when training a personal protection dog, or any dog for that matter, practice makes perfect. Work closely with your dog so that there is trust between you. After all, being on the same page will help keep both of you safe from potential intruders.

Wrap Up

If you’re debating whether to train your pup to be a personal protection pet, the answer is yes. Proper training will ensure that you have a useful guard dog ready to defend you in high-risk situations. Working as your protector will give your dog a sense of purpose and make them feel even more connected to you.