How to Train a Pit Bull to be a Guard Dog

Hello Sicelo, A good guard dog is actually extremely well socialized and motivated by positive reinforcement. Police dogs are rewarded for controlled holds, releases, bites, and alerting because they are motivated by their handlers and things that encourage their drive such as tugging and holding, not because they want to kill the person they are biting. True guard dogs are simply taught to alert to strangers appearing and are not protective in nature. For that role, you can simply teach a dog to bark or growl on cue, then pair that command with the appearance of new people, and practice it until your dog starts to bark or growl whenever a new person comes onto your property before you give the speak command. When your dog starts to bark on their own, you reward them for doing it automatically also and no longer give the Speak command, unless they seem stuck and need a hint - even if your dog is really a softy who just acts intimidating this can still be an effective deterrent without having to worry about a bite lawsuit. A truly aggressive dog is not a good guard dog because they are almost impossible to control by their handlers. A balanced dog makes a better protective dog. A truly soft dog might be easily scared by an intruder and cannot be training to do more than bark and growl though - opposed to dogs that are trained to grab and hold - that need more courage and tenacity for their job. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Jason, Many dogs are naturally protective and it does not need encouraging. I do not suggest encouraging it further or it may turn into full blown aggression. I do suggest working on obedience commands so that he is responsive and attentive to you. Working on obedience commands can automatically help to build focus, but there are certain commands that are especially good to teach: Place command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo Crate manners: https://thegooddog.net/training-videos/free-how-to-training-videos/learn-to-train-the-good-dog-way-the-crate/ Thresholds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Heel Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo All of the above commands build respect and trust without being too confrontational. Check out the article linked below on teaching Come. Work on teaching Come, then use a long, 30' training leash (once he is trained not to pull) and take your dog to an open area and walk around. Randomly tell your dog to Come and reward him. Whenever he comes or chooses to heel without being told, also give him a treat. By rewarding him for automatically checking in with you and choosing to be with you, you are increasing his desire to be near you. Teaching Come also helps him understand the concept of being close to you and is important as well. Rewarding him for being close to you and working on the commands linked above to build respect, focus, self-control, and calmness are a good combination. Be sure to teach a Leave It command, Drop It command, and Stay to prevent aggressive displays toward the wrong people. Come: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Thank you for the question. When Tyson is tied up outside, I would make sure that he has a comfortable spot in the shade and yes, in an area where he does not have other dogs barking at him and causing him stress. Give him plenty of water to drink and toys to keep him entertained. Make sure that you are always within hearing distance. Play outside with him often and be sure to include a few nice, long walks every day. Your furry companion needs exercise and mental stimulation to be a happy and well-rounded dog. Good luck and have fun with Tyson!