How to Train Your Dog to Protect a Child
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Introduction
Most dogs will instinctively act in a protective manner towards their master and the rest of the family. In some instances, they will even act in a protective manner towards close family friends or others who are frequent visitors to your home. But, at the same time, you can also train your dog to protect your children from harm. Bear in mind that training your dog to protect your child is not quite the same as training him to behave like the traditional guard dog all the time, they can also take on other roles.
While it is best to start training your pup at an early age, you can train also train an adult dog to protect your children. It's just a little harder and may take more time. Bear in mind, you instill a sense of loyalty by the way you treat your pup. The more loyalty he feels towards you and your family, the more naturally protective he will be and the easier it will be for you to train him.
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Defining Tasks
Your dog is already a valuable member of your family, but when you train him to protect your children, he becomes literally indispensable. He will work hard and do his best to protect the rest of his pack (aka your family, especially the kids, who he sees as cubs in the pack). Training your dog to guard your children can take a few weeks of hard work or longer. To a certain degree, it depends on the breed as some like German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, and Rottweilers are more suited to being guard dogs.
However, this doesn't mean you can't teach many other breeds to protect your kids. The big thing you need to know is that there is a big difference between guard dogs and attack dogs. In this article, we are talking about guarding, not attacking. Just remember: training your dog to guard or protect your kids is going to take some time and patience.
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Getting Started
Before you can train your dog to protect, he must first have mastered the basic commands, 'come', 'sit', 'stay', and 'down'. If possible, you may want to work on training him to 'speak' or bark--and be quiet--on command. Your dog should also be well socialized with other people and dogs. This will go a long way towards helping your dog learn to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys. Supplies needed for this training include:
- Treats: As a reward for the right behavior.
- Leash: For training and keeping your dog under control.
- Places to train: You will need to train your dog in several areas where there are other people and dogs.
- Time to train: Training your dog to be protective is going to take some time.
- Patience: As with any type of training, you need to be patient, your pup will get it figured out soon enough.
The big thing about training your dog to protect your kids is that you are, in reality, teaching him to do something that already comes to him naturally. Remember: the goal is to train him to protect your kids, not to be an aggressive attack dog.
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The Leash Pull Method
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Most Recommended
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Dog on leash
Time to put your pup on his leash and take him out for a walk.
On your way
As you go walking try to introduce your dog gently to "safe" people by allowing him to get close enough to them that they can pet him. This will help him learn to recognize people who he can allow to get near you.
Teach him who to look out for
Now as you walk along, each time you see someone you feel is unsafe and your dog starts to walk towards him, give him a gentle tug on his leash. This will let him know that the person may represent a threat and it is his job to protect you from this type of person.
Keep practicing
You need to keep practicing this step over and over with different people until your dog will automatically move to protect you when he deems it necessary.
Now it's time for the child
Now it's time to go for a walk with your child, this time let your kid hold the leash, if appropriate. Have him or her repeat the same training steps as you were using. Your dog should instinctively move to protect your child. This training will also teach your dog to protect the kids when they are playing out in the yard.
The Bark Method
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Effective
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Social training first
Before you try to teach your dog to protect a child, you need to take the time to make sure he is fully obedience trained and well-socialized. This means taking the time to take your dog out in a wide range of environments where he will encounter lots of people, objects, other animals, sounds, and sights. You need to know that no matter what distractions you are around, your dog will obey your commands. He needs to know you are in charge.
Coach his barking
In most cases, dogs will naturally bark when someone they don't know is approaching. You can put this to good use by teaching him when to bark and when to stop. Each time your dog barks at a stranger, let him bark 2 or 3 times and then tug on his leash and give the command "Quiet". When he does, be sure to give him a treat and praise him. This lets him know no when he should bark and when he shouldn't.
Leash work
With your dog on a leash, have a friend come to the door and ring the doorbell. Encourage your dog to bark (if he isn't already doing so). After three barks, give him the 'quiet' command and a treat when he does so.
Bring on the child star
Now repeat this same process with your child holding the leash while the friend rings the bell. Teach your child to use the 'quiet' command. When your dog obeys, have your child give him a treat.
Move out to the yard
Move the training out to the yard with your child holding the leash and have a friend or two who your dog does not know dress and act in a threatening manner towards your child. When the dog barks at the "stranger" have your child give the 'quiet' command and give him a treat when he does. Keep repeating this training until you feel your dog is ready to stand and protect your child.
The Alert Word Method
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Least Recommended
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Pick an alert word
Start by choosing your "alert" or "panic" word. Be sure to choose one your child will easily remember and that is simple enough for your dog to understand its meaning.
Be enthusiastic
Each time you give the command word, be as enthusiastic as possible. Also, be sure to use the same word every time.
Practice giving the alert word
In most cases, the average dog will bark any time a stranger approaches. Have a person your dog doesn't know come to the door with you and your child standing behind it. When your dog starts to bark, give him the command.
Repeat the step
You will need to repeat this step over the course of several days until he associates stranger and barking. Use treats as rewards each time he barks.
Going out
You are now ready to take your child and dog outside for a little extra training session. Have someone your dog doesn't know approach your child. Your dog should start barking and when he does, give him a 'quiet' command and reward him when he does. The rest is all about practice until he will protect your child any time a stranger gets near him.
Written by PB Getz
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/16/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
King
American Bulldog
4 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Having trouble with commands and still haven’t accidents
June 26, 2022
King's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Netasha, Which commands are you having trouble with, and what is pup doing? Are the commands related to teaching pup to alert for protecting, or general obedience commands. If the commands are general obedience commands, check out these training videos: Puppy Class videos: Week 1, pt 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnhJGU2NO5k Week 1, pt 2: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-1-part-2-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 2, pt 1 https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-2-part-1-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 2, pt 2: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-2-part-2-home-jasper-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 3, pt 1: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-3-part-1-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 3, pt 2: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-3-part-2-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 4, pt 1: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-4-part-1-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 4, pt 2: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-4-part-2-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 5, pt 1: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-5-part-1-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 5, pt 2: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-5-part-2-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 6, pt 1: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-6-part-1-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1 Week 6, pt 2: https://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/week-6-part-2-sirius-berkeley-puppy-1-0 For the potty training issues, I would use a stricter potty training method to stop all accidents from happening through managing pup's schedule and freedom, so pup can develop a habit of keeping things clean- which helps facilitate pup wanting to keep things clean after a couple of months of things staying clean. Crate Training method or a combination of Crate Training method and Tethering method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 27, 2022
Bear
Sheepdog poodle mix
5 Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
We have a 7 year old non verbal boy diagnosed with moderate to severe autism and he elopes quite a bit. We are looking to train Bear to help watch him (follow him on command) and alert us if he reaches for a door to exit (barks). Bear is trained well and helps us by the pool now, but we could use an extra set of eyes in a typical situation.
Jan. 27, 2022
Bear's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello John, First, I would teach pup to bark on command. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-speak Next, I would practice having your son touch a doorknob, command pup to speak, then reward. Practice until pup barks in anticipation of being told speak as soon as your son touches the door knob, before you have told pup to, and reward that. At that point, practice having your son just touch the doorknob, rewarding pup is pup barks without saying Speak, and telling pup Speak as a hint if pup doesn't bark within seven seconds. Practice this until pup is consistent, then practice this from the beginning with each doorknob that leads outside individually, then practice with you standing further and further away while this is repeated. You can also purchase door alarms that are magnetic so that if a door is opened without deactivating it, it will sound. These are often used for homes with toddlers and pools. You may want that as a backup system. As far as following your son, I would practice a combination of pup being rewarded for following him on his own whenever you catch him doing that, teaching pup heel with your son in an open area, and tethering pup to him with a hands free leash once pup can be trusted to never pull on the leash. If you can get your son interested in rewarding pup, you can have your son reward pup occasionally - which your son may not know why you are doing that but it still helps pup associate being with him with the rewards and make him want to stay closer. If your son can't do that, you can still reward pup yourself whenever they follow or go to your son. Something like a lick stick can be used too, if you can just get your son to hold it down and carry it around so pup will just lick it as they follow your son. A koolaid spoon makes a good lick stick too. If your son is cooperative, you can put all of pup's meal kibble into a treat bag clipped to your son. You son can give him treats from that bag throughout the day while home, so pup is earning meals from being with your son. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 28, 2022