"Guard" command?
41 - 60 of 72 Posts
Joined
·
6,862 Posts
I am not sure how to put this to make it make sense, but do you think that sometimes a dog can catch onto something or make it a learned behavior in regards to "guard" or "watch" or they just know something isn't right?
Molly is very good at catching onto things and notices changes in behavior or notices out of the ordinary almost instantly(never taught her that nor is she trained for any sort of protection). Tanner is good at this also. If the front door is open and Molly sees something suspicious she will just stand there with both ears alert and stare at whatever sets of her alarms. She doesn't bark, growl or make any noise unless the person gets within distance that makes her feel as if she is threatened, Tanner eventually notices or senses when this happens. Our screen door is hard to see through into the house when outside, so people can't see if there is a dog or not. So when Molly or Tanner bark is scares the heck out of the people(mostly those who don't know if there is a dog in the house.)
When I walk either Molly & Tanner and I see something or get a strange feeling, they(Molly or Tanner) will be walking a few ahead of me, but when they notice my behavior change they get closer, have their ears on "alert mode" and will turn them in each direction one after another and look around. Basically they go on alert. They also do this if they get a feeling of strangeness when out on walks. Once they feel its safe the get less tense but still on alert.
Never trained either dog to do that, nor have they been trained to do any sort of protection work. They just do it.
Molly is very good at catching onto things and notices changes in behavior or notices out of the ordinary almost instantly(never taught her that nor is she trained for any sort of protection). Tanner is good at this also. If the front door is open and Molly sees something suspicious she will just stand there with both ears alert and stare at whatever sets of her alarms. She doesn't bark, growl or make any noise unless the person gets within distance that makes her feel as if she is threatened, Tanner eventually notices or senses when this happens. Our screen door is hard to see through into the house when outside, so people can't see if there is a dog or not. So when Molly or Tanner bark is scares the heck out of the people(mostly those who don't know if there is a dog in the house.)
When I walk either Molly & Tanner and I see something or get a strange feeling, they(Molly or Tanner) will be walking a few ahead of me, but when they notice my behavior change they get closer, have their ears on "alert mode" and will turn them in each direction one after another and look around. Basically they go on alert. They also do this if they get a feeling of strangeness when out on walks. Once they feel its safe the get less tense but still on alert.
Never trained either dog to do that, nor have they been trained to do any sort of protection work. They just do it.
Joined
·
490 Posts
I would assume if your dog loves you, they know right from wrong if you took the time to socialize the pup.
Arlo is protective of my girl and will sit/stand by her until she acts upon the situation. I have no doubt in my mind if her voice changed, or she started to back away Arlo would do his thing without any training needed.
Arlo is protective of my girl and will sit/stand by her until she acts upon the situation. I have no doubt in my mind if her voice changed, or she started to back away Arlo would do his thing without any training needed.
Joined
·
3,350 Posts
I do believe I completely left out that I only 'point out' someone who is making me uncomfortable by giving him the watch command if HE hasn't seen it first.. which he usually does. He is very good about picking out people, he will keep an eye on them until they're long gone...
It was said several times here though, that obedience scares people the most... I think Stark was a perfect example of that, because they immediately think a dog who listens to you the first time is an attack dog or something.. My old bitch wouldn't hurt a fly, she's the one who had the 'watch' command down so well, she never bit a human in her life and never acted like she wanted to. She has a sweet temperament and a soft, feminine face.. But if I was out alone with her and someone was making me uncomfortable all I had to do was make her focus, heel, down, back up, and keep going and the person in question would usually back off.
Because my boy walks in a beautiful heel and immediately stops and/or sits when I stop, I get asked so often if he's a police dog, K9, or if he's a trained attack dog or if he is going to bite them ("Not if I don't tell him to
")... People's ignorance is your best tool.
While I openly admit I teach my dogs an alert/watch command, just about any GSD/large dog itself tends to deter people from trying something with you.. Heck, I was standing at a redbox the other night with my dummy, I had him sitting between me and the redbox machine holding his traffic lead by the loop near his collar.. A man came up to get in line, saw J and went and got in his car until I was done and left, then he got his movies.
The breed's reputation itself is usually enough..
And - well my version of the watch command anyway - the alert command is not to get an aggressive response. I know the difference.. While walking my pup earlier this morning there was a boat out in the water, I told him to watch it, he did until I said "Okay(which is his release command), good!"
He wasn't afraid of the boat, he wasn't reacting to the boat, he was keeping his eyes on it like I told him to.
I also will use his flirtpole to reinforce it, making him stay and 'watch it' while it moves about.
It was said several times here though, that obedience scares people the most... I think Stark was a perfect example of that, because they immediately think a dog who listens to you the first time is an attack dog or something.. My old bitch wouldn't hurt a fly, she's the one who had the 'watch' command down so well, she never bit a human in her life and never acted like she wanted to. She has a sweet temperament and a soft, feminine face.. But if I was out alone with her and someone was making me uncomfortable all I had to do was make her focus, heel, down, back up, and keep going and the person in question would usually back off.
Because my boy walks in a beautiful heel and immediately stops and/or sits when I stop, I get asked so often if he's a police dog, K9, or if he's a trained attack dog or if he is going to bite them ("Not if I don't tell him to
")... People's ignorance is your best tool. While I openly admit I teach my dogs an alert/watch command, just about any GSD/large dog itself tends to deter people from trying something with you.. Heck, I was standing at a redbox the other night with my dummy, I had him sitting between me and the redbox machine holding his traffic lead by the loop near his collar.. A man came up to get in line, saw J and went and got in his car until I was done and left, then he got his movies.
The breed's reputation itself is usually enough..
And - well my version of the watch command anyway - the alert command is not to get an aggressive response. I know the difference.. While walking my pup earlier this morning there was a boat out in the water, I told him to watch it, he did until I said "Okay(which is his release command), good!"
He wasn't afraid of the boat, he wasn't reacting to the boat, he was keeping his eyes on it like I told him to.
I also will use his flirtpole to reinforce it, making him stay and 'watch it' while it moves about.
Joined
·
273 Posts
I agree with others that just the visual of a GSD is a deterrant. When I walk Nash around the city most people cross the road (although if they don't I always move to the grass and put him in a sit at heel to let them pass), usually telling me I have a good looking dog, but keeping their distance. What is funny is that Nash is a huge baby, if I were assaulted with him there he would probably just bark from a distance, maybe even run away. Lloyd, my black floppy eared mutt, no one is ever scared of but he is the one that while overly friendly with people, if you mess with one of his moms you will be taken down. Not something we ever taught him, and we have only seen it twice. Usually he loves everyone, once when someone approached me from behind and grabbed a hold of my arm (not sure if they didn't see the dog or what) and another when some very drunk men were approaching us saying some not so nice things. He freezes still and lets out a very scary sounding growl, staring. But will stay in a sit or down. That scared the **** out of them and they left.
Joined
·
972 Posts
mine do this too. Ill say who is it? and their ears get perky and stare at the door and if i say watch em' they starts to grumble and growl. i never did training they just over time reacted to when and they way i say it, if i say it low and quiet then they know something is going on.
my lovely gsd is 4 and a half a failed police dog. he didnt make the grade. We took him in with no idea what we were taking on as the farmer who took him from the police didnt want him anymore. just to say he's a wooze. the biggest scardy cat under the sun. hates rain loves his bed scared of hoodies tall men umberallas bikes you get the idea? At home he's loving and well behaved sleeps with one of my cats his only claim to guarding is if someone knocks on the door once i answer it he runs away. Well this scardy boy proved that when needed he can guard. I walked him in our park one night and was approached by two youths they didnt see the dog but he saw them. The boys didnt mean any harm just wanted directions but my scared nervous silly boy appeared at my side like a dark shadow sat at heel and grew in front of me!!! alert calm confident and totally in control. His ears were percked his chest out and he eyeballed those two boys. I have never seen him act like that it was amazing to watch. i had to tell the boys not to approach any nearer as i was not sure if my Diesel would attack or not. one of the boys took a step forward and so did my dog never taking his eyes from him i told him to sit and he did without looking at me. The boys moved away after asking for directions and complimenting me on a well behaved dog he waited till they were away then turned into mr floppy scardy dog again. so now i know he can guard when he really needs to and he listens to my commands so he can be mr scaredy cat as much as he likes cause i know he will be there for me if i need him.
...had to tell the boys not to approach any nearer as i was not sure if my Diesel would attack or not....
I think, in the future Diesel should never be placed in a situation where he has to make a decision, not until you know him well enough to be sure if he attacks or not. Fear aggressive dogs are not a piece of cake to manage; they are a challenge and they are a huge liability, but they are not 'guarding' dogs.
I think, in the future Diesel should never be placed in a situation where he has to make a decision, not until you know him well enough to be sure if he attacks or not. Fear aggressive dogs are not a piece of cake to manage; they are a challenge and they are a huge liability, but they are not 'guarding' dogs.
Joined
·
4,033 Posts
No, he didn't.
What he was doing was not "guarding" - it was fear behavior. A lot of fearful dogs will growl, bark, lunge, hackle, and generally appear "threatening" when they are the ones that feel threatened. If the boys had approached you, I believe he would have bitten them - that's the last defense for a frightened dog who cannot get away (especially true when leashed).
Joined
·
12,395 Posts
I can be in my house and say "Come In!" and all the dogs start barking. I suppose they think they missed the part where someone knocked on the door.
Joined
·
12,395 Posts
I so much agree with that! A dog who is in perfect control is scarier then a dog who is goofing around and you are chasing it down the road.Because my boy walks in a beautiful heel and immediately stops and/or sits when I stop, I get asked so often if he's a police dog, K9, or if he's a trained attack dog or if he is going to bite them ("Not if I don't tell him to
We had contractors at the house (before Hondo) and I had only a Golden Retriever in the back yard. I put up 'Beware of Dog' signs all around the yard as well as on the sliding door going outside. I don't think he'd ever bite a fly, but they didn't know that and figured that there must be a reason for my warnings. Truly, it was because I didn't want them letting him out and you just never can trust any dog.....
Joined
·
49 Posts
I agree with the above, a dog who is calm and observant is a dog id be more likely to stay away from, my previous dog would often place himself between me and a person he thought was hinky, he was a PP dog and at the dumb advice of a friend i agreed at training him to "switch on" by giving him the command "Calm down" so id be standing there telling the dog to calm down and it would look like the dog was not listening. Thankfully i never had to use the command in a serious situation
I think back now at how dumb i was and shake my head but you learn from your dumb mistakes. Ruby now has great control, all i have to say is "Watch em" and she turns on and if there is no threat i just say "Leave em, Friends" and she just goes on like no one is there.
I think back now at how dumb i was and shake my head but you learn from your dumb mistakes. Ruby now has great control, all i have to say is "Watch em" and she turns on and if there is no threat i just say "Leave em, Friends" and she just goes on like no one is there.
Joined
·
625 Posts
I do Schutzhund as well as PP style training with Judge 2-3x a week depending. He will speak on command and his bark and holds are AWESOME! I've never had him alert on an average person, no reason too. He watches people that look suspicious without me encouraging him. I do as others and use his OB to wow people away. They think that if a dog can listen like that, then there must be more to them, especially a GSD. I like that Judge is a silent watcher when it comes to people. Small prey animals are another story. lol
I don't feel that a family pet needs that command IMHO. Especially in this area with the type of people that are here. The look of a GSD is enough to keep them away in my experience. I regularly take Judge to the park after dark cause of work hours. I've never had a problem.
I don't feel that a family pet needs that command IMHO. Especially in this area with the type of people that are here. The look of a GSD is enough to keep them away in my experience. I regularly take Judge to the park after dark cause of work hours. I've never had a problem.
Yeah, from what I've seen it's not uncommon to link the 'speak' command to the 'guard' command so that you can look like you've got a trained protection dog.
So long as you don't actually link it to -aggression-, you should be OK. That is, the dog is barking for you on command, not barking at someone else for you on command. This works better from inside a house or something, 'cause the dog may not look particularly intimidating, no matter how it sounds.
Joined
·
682 Posts
Jees, I guess you learn something new everyday? I liked what Chris Wild had to say and it makes sense to me. What about other behaviors like "make a mean face", I taught my last Boxer to do this and he would bring his upper lip up, no growl just showing teeth, I'm thinking this may have been a bad idea? I do know this dog (God rest his soul) would never bite anyone and was the happiest go lucky guy you have ever seen.
Joined
·
535 Posts
Been a little busy over here with pregnant wife and rambunctious daughter and Karma.
I haven't actually developed on the "guard" command with Karma even though she now sounds like a Mack Truck when she barks. I have a much better command called "stand". When I walk Karma at night on the riverfront I get approached by the same scamming beggars regularly. One is this annoying Ameri-Laotian returnee who comes out with a different line every time he approaches me. Yesterday he starts walking towards me and so I put Karma in a "stand" which is basically a very alert / ears up full stand position and she tends to pull at the leash enough to put her in that forward stance. I then shorten my grip on the leash to about a foot above her head and hold the slack across my body in the right hand. I take a bit of a strong stance myself and i think the overall impression is enough to make people think twice. Anyways, I bent down and said to Mr Annoying
" Mate I am sick of you approaching me....you keep coming and I will let my dog go........". He turned quick smart and took off .........
I haven't actually developed on the "guard" command with Karma even though she now sounds like a Mack Truck when she barks. I have a much better command called "stand". When I walk Karma at night on the riverfront I get approached by the same scamming beggars regularly. One is this annoying Ameri-Laotian returnee who comes out with a different line every time he approaches me. Yesterday he starts walking towards me and so I put Karma in a "stand" which is basically a very alert / ears up full stand position and she tends to pull at the leash enough to put her in that forward stance. I then shorten my grip on the leash to about a foot above her head and hold the slack across my body in the right hand. I take a bit of a strong stance myself and i think the overall impression is enough to make people think twice. Anyways, I bent down and said to Mr Annoying
" Mate I am sick of you approaching me....you keep coming and I will let my dog go........". He turned quick smart and took off .........
Joined
·
535 Posts
..................oh and I should mention that over here in Cambodia we have 0/nada/zilch rules about dogs biting people etc. If you are a thief and jump over a fence here and get mauled by a dog here then you will also get beaten ( or worse ) by the homeowner and then carted away and beaten again by the cops for attempting a robbery. Ah......the perfume of sweet justice .
Joined
·
3 Posts
What I find crazy about this whole conversation is:
#1. A GSD just by its very nature is a scary looking dog to most people, especially perps. Therefore, even without snarling or barking, the GSD will look menacing to someone with violent intentions. (I am not saying a GSD IS a scary dog, but due to WWII and their use as police dogs, it has that connotation to people who do not know the breed.)
#2. If someone DID actually attack you, wouldn't your GSD likely respond accordingly, even if your dog is nothing but a "pet"? I think that response would happen regardless of whether you taught him a "guard" command.
#1. A GSD just by its very nature is a scary looking dog to most people, especially perps. Therefore, even without snarling or barking, the GSD will look menacing to someone with violent intentions. (I am not saying a GSD IS a scary dog, but due to WWII and their use as police dogs, it has that connotation to people who do not know the breed.)
#2. If someone DID actually attack you, wouldn't your GSD likely respond accordingly, even if your dog is nothing but a "pet"? I think that response would happen regardless of whether you taught him a "guard" command.
Joined
·
49 Posts
No not entirely. The most common response for a dog that is not trained in any sort of protection or aggression work would be to run.
41 - 60 of 72 Posts
