My German working line GSD, now five and a half months, has taken up what seems to be alert or protection barking in the last week or so. He carries on for knocks at the door, sounds near the house and so forth. On one outing at night, we ran into waterline repair work underway with generators, flashing lights and other men at work noises, pup was fine with the noise. When a workman approached me to see what I wanted standing there watching, Otis step toward him and started to bark. He quieted when I told him to.

I think this is all good stuff, if not yet directed or focused. The question is: does all this mean he is ready for bark training and beginning protection training on walks?

How to I get him to shut up once he starts the alert. He even starts to bark at a door knock on "Gray's Anatomy" but not other shows. Go figure.

Helen

My female started alert barking at a a little over 4 months old. She would bark at someone walking down the front sidewalk when we were way in the backyard or at a knock at the door or any noises in the house out of the ordinary etc. I would not call her a sharp dog but is an intelligent reactive dog. I would not have started any real 'protection' training on this dog at 4 months old. Not totally sure what you are think of as protection training. I play with a tug with my pups from babies but am careful during teething & then this eventually evolves to include playing with a bite pillow & then a sleeve. Your dog may be barking at things that are new like many pups do, or may be a bit sharp or may be a defensive pup. Hard to tell exactly which or it may be some of all of the above. I would find a 'reputable' trainer in your area to work with. That would be the best way to evaluate your pup & teach you what & when to train behaviors with your pup.

I teach a 'speak' command when they start barking for a treat or at noises. The best way to teach a dog to stop barking is to teach a bark/ speak command & then teach a NO bark/speak command.

Helen,
I'm with Ann.

Just what kind of protection work do you think you're going to do with a 22 week old pup?
Yeah, watch out for that one! His out is terrible!

Helen,
Now is the time to get the pup to a trainer that knows what they're doing. Now is the time to be imprinting some important things for the pup for when he becomes a dog.
Now is the time to decide what you want the dog to be.

Training protection is a longish process......starting now.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

 Quote: randy allen

Helen,
I'm with Ann.

Just what kind of protection work do you think you're going to do with a 22 week old pup?
Yeah, watch out for that one! His out is terrible!

...

Now is the time to decide what you want the dog to be.

Training protection is a longish process......starting now.

Randy

Well, I can't exactly brag about his "out" but I am working it a bit more now ;-) Completely undisciplined in the yard but it's ok in the house. Yes, I know, work him more in the yard. He's superb when we are out among people.

He was bought to be a protection dog, for me at least and maybe tracking and cadaver. I am not up SAR physically now and may never be.

We work tug a lot. The challenge now is get him calm enough, outside, not to attack the tug prematurely and not nip at me in the process. I think I just need to work that more often in different environments.

As for protection, he is nowhere old enough--and neither of us experienced enough--to do serious defensive work yet, but when you say "starting now" I gather there are things I can start on now.

No good trainer that I have heard about for nearly 100 miles. The law enforcement guys usually get their dogs from border patrol. If I ever get over this dragged out cold, I will be taking him to the club in Los Alamos, about 150 miles away, a couple of times a month.

Thanks
Helen

Leerburg has some basic videos on starting protection awareness and the pup is plenty smart and very very trainable, so I am wondering if I should wait a bit more or encourage the "alert" behavior. Otis is a bit too friendly, but I suspect he will out grow that.

"...The law enforcement guys usually get their dogs from border patrol. ..."

I hate to break this to you, but border patrol guys are law enforcement guys.