Talks about the selection of a dog breed to use as a home guard dog. Covers getting a dog from a breeder and the basics of starting a guard dog, and some care specific to guard dogs.
Please note, there are lots of guard dogs for the purposes of guarding livestock, for this article I am referring to using dogs to guard house and home. Although most breeds of dogs will guard your home to some extent if you are looking for a serious guard dog for your home and property there are several factors you need to consider. The first being BREED. Obviously you should select a dog of a breed known to be used for guarding. Preferably from a breeder who raises and trains them for that purpose. This way you know you will have a dog with the right mental aptitude for the job. Some breeds are more recognized by would be intruders and this is a fact that should be considered. A Rottweiler or a Doberman will be treated with more respect simply because most people associate these breeds with being aggressive (even if your dog happens to be friendly). Other popular guard breeds include the German Shepherds, Mastiffs, Bulldogs, and Bull Terriers. There are many other dogs who will serve the purpose, but they may be harder to find, and harder to find one of guard dog breeding. There are some breeds I would not recommend, one being a Chow Chow. Although they can make wonderful pets they are known to be extremely unpredictable and will even turn on their owner.
When you purchase from a breeder they will help you select the right puppy, generally it is believed that females make better guard animals simply because of their nature to protect their home, and puppies. Although on that note, I do advise very strongly that unless you are also going to show the dog and use it for breeding it should be spayed. Less hormones, means fewer other problems. A breeder will also give you information to help you train the dog correctly for your needs. Bonding with your dog is very important. Obedience lessons are a must. Lessons help you to understand dog psychology and help your dog develop mentally, as well as being an excellent way of creating a bond.
A good guard dog knows right from wrong and has good manners. He or she will sit quietly beside you when you meet somebody new and not be fearful of people, or jump all over them. However he will react if you are being threatened. All too often people think they need to be mean to their dog to make it aggressive, however a good guard dog is not necessarily a mean dog. In fact a mean dog can be a liability. Keeping a guard dog underfed is also not a good idea, because an underfed dog is not going to be thinking correctly. A dog who barks too much when there is not a problem in your yard might be a liability if you have neighbours who complain about the noise. Also you may want to check your home insurance about guard dogs.
It is extremely important you have regular veterinary care for your guard dog, especially keeping its' rabies shots up to date. If your dog does happen to bite somebody and breaks the skin, having up to date shots will save you a lot of head ache. Make sure you post a "Beware of Dog" sign, and that your dog is secure on your property. A loose dog can be a liability to you. Never play dominance games with a dog whose job it is to guard you. These games include things like "tug of war". Any dog who is potentially stronger than you should never be given the opportunity to know it. If you ever experience any signs of negative aggression, get professional help immediately, either from the breeder or a qualified trainer.
