Watchdog Training

Watchdogs are not guard dogs. The primary role of a watchdog is to bark and alert their owners to something or someone out of the ordinary. Watchdogs are all sizes and breeds and can live in many different environments from outside in the backyard to a high-rise apartment. Sometimes the smaller breeds that are easily excited make the best watchdogs because they bark incessantly, which is a deterrent to would be intruders.

  1. Choosing A Watchdog

    • If you are just looking for a dog that will alert you to anything strange, you have a wide array of choices. Enlisting the help of a professional trainer can make this choice easier. They can assess your situation and recommend a suitable match.

    Breeds

    • Instincts of herding breed dogs predispose them to notice any changes in their environment.

      Dogs in the terrier breed are hyper and tend to be excessive barkers. The herding breeds have instincts that predispose them to notice any change or strangers in their environment. Guardian herding breeds are large and can scare strangers by their size alone, but they do bark, and they are also likely to protect.

    Characteristics

    • There are a few general characteristics you should look for when choosing your watchdog. These characteristics can make training for guard dogs easier if you decide to go that route with your dog in the future. Look for good temperament, confidence, assertiveness, sociability, trainability and loyalty.

    Training

    • Go to your dog every time he barks. Praise and treat him for barking at things you want to be alerted to such as strangers on the lawn. On the other hand, if he barks at something you do not wish to be alerted to such as the mailman, reprimand him with a sharp "No!" By going to your dog every time he barks and rewarding or reprimanding him, he will soon learn right from wrong and will seldom bark. On the occasions that he does bark, you can be assured something is out of the ordinary.