The Guarding Instinct: When Your German Shepherd Becomes the Ultimate Protector!
If you adopted your German Shepherd to be more than a pet you might be wondering at what age does a German Shepherd start guarding? German Shepherds are natural guard dogs. We’ll discuss what age they start showing this ability and how to train them to guard your home.
At what age does a German Shepherd start guarding?
German Shepherds are able to start guarding their home at six months old. However, it may take 18 to 24 months for a German Shepherd to fully guard a home.
Table of Contents
Are German Shepherds naturally protective?
Yes, German Shepherds are naturally protective. They can get aggressive towards intruders and strangers. They have a natural guarding instinct.
Will my German Shepherd protect me without training?
Yes, luckily, this breed is capable of protecting its owner and family even without training. Loyalty and possessiveness are in the blood of German Shepherds, and they can go to any extent to protect their owners.
However, your pup may attack guests without training, so it’s better to train it when to attack.
As a German Shepherd owner, you must know about the difference between an aggressive and a dangerous dog.
Is a male or female German Shepherd more protective?
Although both genders of this breed are protective and loyal, males are more dominant in this trait.
You will notice that both male and female German Shepherds are famous for barking at strangers to protect their homes.
Male German Shepherds are more aggressive as compared to female German Shepherds. In this way, male dogs increase their protectiveness for the family as well as for the home.
How to train a German Shepherd to be a guard dog?
If you adopt a German Shepherd with the intention to make them a guard dog, you need to start training them from puppyhood.
1. Socialize your German Shepherd
The very first step is to socialize your German Shepherd puppy. By doing this, your dog will understand the difference between regular and suspicious activity.
Socialized puppies are never afraid of strangers or intruders. To socialize your pup, take him along and allow him to meet different people for multiple experiences.
Make sure to have a firm grip over the leash of your German Shepherd to keep it safe from any bad experience.
2. Enrolling in an obedience class
Enrolling your German Shepherd in a dog obedience class is always a good approach. In this way, you can make a German Shepherd obedient and quick to respond to your commands.
If you are willing to put your dog under guard training, control will be imperative. Positive enforcement or encouragement is crucial when your dog is learning to attack or bark at intruders.
Make sure to provide treats to keep it motivated.
3. Bark on command
Teaching your dogs to bark on command is also a crucial step for guard training.
If your dog is not aware of this command, it may bark at every stranger. This way, you can order your German Shepherd to attack suspicious people.
4. Dog alertness at home
Install some sort of alarm in your home so that the pup will get to know when someone is trying to enter the home illegally.
Practice this situation by turning on the alarm. Wait for your dog to bark at the intruder. When your pup is doing it correctly, serve it with a treat.
In this way, your German Shepherd will learn the behavior to bark at intruders even without the presence of an alarm.
Make sure that your pup is not learning to chase while you are teaching it about guarding. Chasing is not a good practice because it may harm any stranger who is not suspicious.
Consider hiring a trainer to teach your dog how to be a guard dog.
5. Territorial boundaries
Walk your dog around the perimeter of your home. Your dog needs to learn to bark at strangers once they enter your property.
