May 30, 2013
We want our dog to bark at cars and people coming to our yard. She barks at the night critters but never people or cars. Is there a way to make her more aggressive towards strange people and cars? Or is it too late? If we get a new puppy, how can we develop this trait?
Full Question:
Hi, I have a nearly 4 year old female spayed GS. She seems very high drive, as explained by the breeder. Bloodlines from Europe. She aims to please and is very good and trainable. We want her to bark at cars and people coming to yard. She barks at the night critters but never people or cars. I once saw her bark at my Dad that was unexpectedly in the trees one day. She is always loose on property, never runs away, and has a beaten trail around the house that she seems to be protecting. While younger she spent a lot of time with 'young guys (18-30) that were working for us. She now thinks those are the most playful people, although I would like her to be most aggressive toward these types of people. Did we wrongly socialize her?
How can I find out if she is truly the high drive needed to be more protective? Is there a way to make her more aggressive towards strange people and cars? Or is it too late? If we get a new puppy, how can we develop this trait? Thanks for all you help.
Ed's Answer:
What you are asking for is a terrible terrible idea. Take this from someone who has trained dogs to bite people since 1974. I was a K9 handler for 10 years on our local sheriff’s department.
Back in the 1980s I produced a training DVD on personal protection dogs. I no longer recommend people train dogs for personal protection. Especially if those people don’t want to get sued and lose their home and everything they have. Because if your dog bites someone your going to get sued and you will lose. I have seen it hundreds of times.
Expecting a dog to discriminate between who it gets aggressive to and who it should not be aggressive to this an unobtainable goal and anyone who tries to tell you differently lacks experience and doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Have a look at the photos people have sent me of dog bites.
In my opinion what your doing in allowing your dog to run loose is an invitation for a law duite or a dog fight. Its not a matter of IF, but WHEN.
Spend your time training your dog to be obedient. Get a dog kennel or keep the dog in a crate during the day or fence your yard.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
Back in the 1980s I produced a training DVD on personal protection dogs. I no longer recommend people train dogs for personal protection. Especially if those people don’t want to get sued and lose their home and everything they have. Because if your dog bites someone your going to get sued and you will lose. I have seen it hundreds of times.
Expecting a dog to discriminate between who it gets aggressive to and who it should not be aggressive to this an unobtainable goal and anyone who tries to tell you differently lacks experience and doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Have a look at the photos people have sent me of dog bites.
In my opinion what your doing in allowing your dog to run loose is an invitation for a law duite or a dog fight. Its not a matter of IF, but WHEN.
Spend your time training your dog to be obedient. Get a dog kennel or keep the dog in a crate during the day or fence your yard.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
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