guard dog

[fatessuccesser]

does anyone have an opinion or advice, on training a rottie to be a guard dog, more or less?

[spoteet]

I never had to train any of my rotts to be a guard dog, it came naturally.

[Chiclid]

Im not a trainer, just a mom, but I wouldnt do it. It comes natural!!

[IRIE'S MAMA]

I think that it is natural for our breed to want to protect their home and family. I do hope that's not the reason that you chose your rottweiler. Beleive it or not, all rottweilers are not created equal. Some rotties don't even bark much. I get so bummed out because they are stereotyped (sp) as being mean dogs. Just think of all of the movies you have seen, the "ATTACK" dogs 9 times out of 10 is a rotti. Rottweilers can be trained to behave however you want them to. But Please don't contribute to the minds already made up about our truly wonderful breed.

[WorkinDogz]

You have to decide if you want a guard dog or an alert dog (first and foremost) and then have your dog evaluated by a trainer who specializes in this area of training.

It's additional responsibility added to ownership and does require extensive training in both obedience and guard-training scenerios.

Relying on "instincts" is nothing more than buying a lotto ticket and hoping against the odds that you'll win.

Not all Rottweilers will "defend" either their home or their humans.

[pride-and-joy]

By saying "guard dog"...do you really mean "alarm dog?" I hope so. Anything more requires a huge training commitment, the correct dog canidate, and will not just show up with precision or manageability.

Rottweilers can be naturally cautious of stangers and very in tune and watchful of their surroundings. That *can* be expected.

My male started to really surviel our property when he turned about 18 mos while perched on a lawn chair on the deck or looking out a living room window.

I allow him the liberty of one or two "Bow Wooo Wooos." Then I say, "ok, that's enough...thank you."

You don't want a Tazmanian devil routine that will just give the neighbors something to point the finger at. Remember Rottweilers have to live to a higher standard. Sadly.

Just a simple, "Someone is out there!" will suffice. I'll handle it from there.

(whoops, posted at the same time as WD, so there's some redundancy.)

[TrishB]

The best way to train any dog to become a guard dog is to take them to a reputable trainer with the credentials necessary to offer such a service. This type of training is intensive and expensive. If it's cheap, it's not the right type of training and you don't want it.

I would never assume to train my dog for any guard / attack duties. I've been around dogs for over 15 years but am very well aware that I am not qualified to do so. It would be silly, if not stupid for me to take the chance on doing it incorrectly.

Training of this type done incorrectly won't only damage your dogs temperament, but can also make them a danger not only to themselves, but to others around them. Including you.

Training is a responsibility. Specialty training is just that, a specialty and must be considered very carefully before choosing the correct trainer.

I would recommend that you start your search here: http://www.apdt.com/

Best of luck.

[fatessuccesser]

thanx everbody, for your imput. i didnt keep her for that reason. one of my friends was talkin to me about it and suggested it, and i just wanted to look into it, to see if it was something that was even worth lookin at. i dont think that i will travel down that road though. thanx again.

[AngelBunny]

atessuccesser:

"one of my friends was talkin to me about it and suggested it,..."

It's been my experience when friends, acquaintances & people on the street stop you to give you advice about your dog, your can almost always ignore what they tell you.

[AlphaDog]

PLEASE DON'T DO IT. The rottie will natually guard and protect you. Do something else with your dog and don't train the dog with these guarded techniques. Please say you're not considering this because a friend told you so.

[fatessuccesser]

i just wanted to look into it. that is our though, as i have recently discovered that my rottie that wandered up to my house was pregnant when she got here. now i have puppies to deal with and i dont even know what they are going to turn out like. wish me luck on that venture for sure.

[mijpa]

Originally posted by pride-and-joy
By saying "guard dog"...do you really mean "alarm dog?" I hope so. Anything more requires a huge training commitment, the correct dog canidate, and will not just show up with precision or manageability.

Rottweilers can be naturally cautious of stangers and very in tune and watchful of their surroundings. That *can* be expected.

My male started to really surviel our property when he turned about 18 mos while perched on a lawn chair on the deck or looking out a living room window.

I allow him the liberty of one or two "Bow Wooo Wooos." Then I say, "ok, that's enough...thank you."

You don't want a Tazmanian devil routine that will just give the neighbors something to point the finger at. Remember Rottweilers have to live to a higher standard. Sadly.

Just a simple, "Someone is out there!" will suffice. I'll handle it from there.

(whoops, posted at the same time as WD, so there's some redundancy.)

i'm just curious is your male intact?

[damp]

Originally posted by AlphaDog
PLEASE DON'T DO IT. The rottie will natually guard and protect you. Do something else with your dog and don't train the dog with these guarded techniques. Please say you're not considering this because a friend told you so.

Do you really believe ALL or let’s say MOST Rottweilers will naturally protect it’s owner if REALLY threaten?

Yes… may be the dog will bark and lunge, if a person approachs and reacts with threats , but what if the person doesn’t care and just comes forward? How do we know, if our dog will not flee, if it’s really threaten. (e.g. a jerk comes running, screaming toward the dog, ignores it's barking...just comes forward and even hit the dog with a baseball club)

No...no one can say, how the dog will react in such situations, if not tested and proven in similar situations.

Most Rottweilers will deter a “fairly normal criminal" and he will look for an other house to break in or and other person to rob or rape… but if we really meet a real crazy person (God forbid it), we will be very lucky, if we can run, half as fast as our untrained protection dog!!!

[moondog]

Originally posted by damp
Most Rottweilers will deter a “fairly normal criminal" and he will look for an other house to break in or and other person to rob or rape… but if we really meet a real crazy person (God forbid it), we will be very lucky, if we can run, half as fast as our untrained protection dog!!!

:D :D :D Isn't that the truth! I can see myself yelling, "HEY, wait for me!" as a Rottie fanny disappears in the distance! I'll stick with the areas where the worst likelihood is an encounter with one of the fairly normal creeps, and the presence of my dog is deterrent enough. ;)

[mijpa]

Originally posted by damp


Do you really believe ALL or let’s say MOST Rottweilers will naturally protect it’s owner if REALLY threaten?

Yes… may be the dog will bark and lunge, if a person approachs and reacts with threats , but what if the person doesn’t care and just comes forward? How do we know, if our dog will not flee, if it’s really threaten. (e.g. a jerk comes running, screaming toward the dog, ignores it's barking...just comes forward and even hit the dog with a baseball club)

No...no one can say, how the dog will react in such situations, if not tested and proven in similar situations.

Most Rottweilers will deter a “fairly normal criminal" and he will look for an other house to break in or and other person to rob or rape… but if we really meet a real crazy person (God forbid it), we will be very lucky, if we can run, half as fast as our untrained protection dog!!!

this is a very true statement! i met a guy who has a rottie {very big and mean looking} he heard a noise late at night, he went outside to see what's up and found 2 guys trying to break into his truck.the end result was the dog watched his owner get the *#@# beat out if him!