How to teach a pup to be a watch dog

If you want your puppy to become a loyal adult watch dog, it is imperative that you start training early on. As a puppy, they might not be able to scare anyone, but they will be able to alert you when something is not right. Read on to learn how to teach a pup to be a watch dog.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Professional dog trainer
• Treats

1. Hire a professional dog trainer to determine your puppy’s temperament and whether or not the dog can handle being a watch dog.

2. Begin by having the puppy learn how to bark on command. Tell them to "Alert" and reward them with a treat when they bark.

3. Teach the puppy how to stop barking. After they have been barking, tell them "Enough." When they stop barking, praise them and give them a treat.

4. Keep people from petting your puppy. Close friends and family are fine. The puppy cannot be too friendly otherwise it will not know the difference between family and strangers. When company is over, keep the puppy in a separate room or in the backyard.

Tips & Warnings

• When the puppy matures, you can train it to know when it is OK for a stranger to pet them.
• Advise your neighbors that you will be training your dog so they can expect barking.
• These steps help train the dog to alert you, not attack an intruder. Professional training should be sought if you want the dog to protect you.

Resources

• Pups
• Watch Dogs