Dog Health Questions: Guard dog training advice needed?

I want a dog that is a good family dog but can also be protective of my family/house. Ive looked into some of the more common guard dog breeds but then a new thought occured to me. We already have a 2 year old male chocolate lab who shows some signs of being protective. He sometimes barks when people knock at the door or enter the house and he barks and growls when people are in the/his yard. My question is what are ways that i can encourage these protective type behaviors? I certainly dont' want to create a dangerous dog. But are there safe ways of teaching him some of this stuff without paying a fortune sending him to some protection dog school? thanks for the help

Dog Training Commands - How to Successfully Train Your Dog to Do Certain Commands

Recommended Answer:
There's a world of difference between a watch dog and a guard dog. The average family dog is a watch dog - meaning they alert you when there's people at the door or in the yard. And that's all you want them to do.

A guard dog is not a dog anyone would want for a family pet and they need to be professionally trained to be safe.

If you think you need protection, you need to get an alarm system - a lab is not a guard dog. And by the way, he should not be allowed to growl at people - ever. This is something that needs to be corrected before it escalates, it's not something you want to try and encourage!

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

• well why dont you install security alarms.


• I think you should get an alarm system and leave the family dog alone. He is already alerting you when someone comes over. The best way to keep him doing that is to not correct him when he barks at strangers. BUT At the same time you need him to stop on command. An alarm system will be your best bet and will also alert police which is something your dog can't do. Having a dog who will potentially bite someone is not good. He could be taken away from you or you could be sued. The money it would cost you to get professional training will more then pay for an awesome alarm system.


• Protection training is not something that should be done except by a professional or under the direction of one. If done wrong, you can easily train your loving family pet to be an overly protective, dangerous animal.
  If he is already growling at people in the yard, you need to work on his training to assure you have enough control over him to call him off if he felt the need to defend you.
  While a certain amount of protective behavior can be fostered in any breed of dog, Labs are generally very friendly dogs and while they might make a good watch dog, they are not considered great "protection" dogs.


• Your dog sounds as if he's just right for your family right now. I wouldnt take him any further. You wouldn't want to lose your pet that you love over some nosey neighbor tresspassing. There is a difference also in a dog that bites or attacks on command and a protective dog. A dog that can judge the difference in a person that is actually meaning to cause you harm and a dog that just bites because someone is somewhere they shouldnt be. The one that protects you from harm and can judge that is a dog that loves you and would give his life for you no training needed.