Your cart is currently empty!
A03 Skills Track Guarding and Patrolling
Definition of Guarding & Patrolling
Guarding and patrolling are natural instincts for many giant breed dogs. These dogs are not only loyal but also protective of their families and territories. Guarding involves watching over a specific area, while patrolling extends that responsibility, often covering larger spaces or monitoring different zones. When these dogs feel a strong bond with their owners, they naturally become protectors, looking out for the safety of their pack. Guarding and patrolling are built on trust, loyalty, and emotional bonds, and when correctly nurtured, these dogs can become reliable, alert protectors.
Guarding isn’t about unnecessary aggression; it’s about ensuring safety and giving their family a sense of security. Understanding your dog’s personality and the natural instincts that come with their breed is key to fostering a balanced guardian.
The “First Five” Basics & Social Codes
Before you dive into specialized guard training, it’s essential to build a foundation of basic obedience skills. The “First Five” (sit, stay, come, heel, down) should be second nature for your dog. These commands will help you maintain control during guarding exercises and ensure your dog is calm and focused when needed. Social codes are equally important—these are the non-verbal ways dogs communicate with each other and with us. They understand body language, gestures, and other subtle cues, which are crucial when you’re trying to build a calm, disciplined guardian.
When introducing guarding behaviors, it’s important to establish clear boundaries. The goal is not to create a dog that reacts impulsively, but one that knows when to be alert and when to stay calm. Through consistent training, you will teach your dog when to guard and when to relax, ensuring that they aren’t unnecessarily stressed or overreactive.
Loyalty, Love, and the Natural Guardian Instinct
The instinct to protect is rooted in a dog’s love for their pack. Giant breed dogs, in particular, form deep bonds with their families and homes. Once they trust and love their owners, the instinct to guard becomes automatic. This loyalty doesn’t just extend to the human family members, but also to any pets or other people the dog perceives as part of the pack. It’s essential to understand that while some dogs may naturally protect their family, others may also view extended family, like neighbors, as part of their pack.
Understanding the emotional connection your dog has to you and your home is key to fostering a safe and effective guardian. With trust, love, and consistent training, your dog will become a reliable protector, always on the lookout for any threat to their pack.
Guard Training & Its Many Styles
There are many styles of guard training, and the style you choose depends on what you want your dog to do. Some people want a dog that provides a visible deterrent, while others may want a more active guard that intervenes when needed. It’s important to think about what kind of guard dog you want before starting training. Will you want a dog that barks loudly to alert you? Or one that remains quiet but protective? Will your dog be an active protector, or more of a silent guardian who remains calm and vigilant?
Remember, the training should always be based on trust between you and your dog. Guarding training is not about teaching your dog to be aggressive; it’s about developing their natural instincts in a controlled, safe environment.
Myths About Giant Breed Guardians
There are several myths surrounding guard dogs, especially giant breeds. One common misconception is that these dogs cannot be trusted around children. In reality, a Dogo Argentino or a Cane Corso, when raised correctly, will see the children in the home as part of their pack and will protect them fiercely. The key is raising these dogs in a way that promotes trust, not fear.
Another myth is that all guarding dogs are aggressive. A well-trained guard dog is calm, controlled, and focused, not aggressive or unpredictable. The goal is to create a dog that responds appropriately to threats, not one that attacks without reason.
Special Considerations & Challenges
While guarding behavior can be an asset, it does come with challenges. One of the most common issues is over-barking or a dog misjudging situation. Early socialization is crucial to help your dog differentiate between a real threat and a harmless situation. Guarding behaviors can also lead to territorialism, where your dog may react aggressively to strangers or other animals in what they consider their territory.
As a giant breed owner, patience and consistency are key. Understanding the unique challenges your dog faces will allow you to manage their guarding instincts effectively. Regular training and clear boundaries will help mitigate these challenges, ensuring that your dog is a well-behaved and reliable guardian.
Patrolling: The Mindset of a Dog
Patrolling, in the canine world, refers to the act of moving around a defined area, monitoring it for any potential threats or changes. It’s different from guarding, which is more stationary and focused on protecting a specific area or group. Some dogs, like the Great Pyrenees, are natural patrollers. They are alert, roam their territory, and keep an eye on anything that might be out of place, especially at night when their instincts are most active. Their role is to protect, not just what’s within their immediate reach but also the area surrounding them, including their human family.
On the other hand, some giant breeds, like the Great Dane, are more pack-oriented. They stay close to their people, preferring to guard rather than patrol. This pack mentality means that the dog will protect their human family by staying with them and ensuring no harm comes to them. Their focus is on the safety of their immediate environment rather than roaming around. Though still protective, they don’t typically roam as part of their duty.
Understanding the difference between a territorial mindset and a pack-oriented mindset is key to understanding your dog’s patrolling behavior. Territorial dogs, like the Great Pyrenees, feel the need to patrol and establish boundaries around their living space. Their natural instincts drive them to roam and guard that space from threats. In contrast, pack dogs like the Great Dane will focus on the immediate family or pack, and they won’t feel the need to patrol larger areas, focusing instead on safeguarding their pack.
A beautiful example of this dynamic can be found in a story of a woman living in a Yurt in the desert with her two dogs— a Great Dane and a Great Pyrenees. The Dane stayed close to her, always by her side, protecting her as a part of his pack. Meanwhile, the Pyrenees would roam at night, patrolling the area, alerting his family of anything amiss. This cooperation between the two breeds exemplified how the balance of a territorial dog and a pack-oriented dog can work together, creating a dynamic safety system where both types of protection thrive.
Recommended Tools & Training Aids
Training a guard dog requires the right tools and aids to ensure their success. Here are some essential items:
- Sturdy harnesses and long leads for control during training
- Training collars (only with professional guidance)
- Bite pillows or sleeves for practice
- Interactive toys for engagement
- Training books or online courses for step-by-step guides
These tools will help you guide your dog through their training, ensuring they remain focused and responsive to commands.
Best Giant Breeds for Guarding & Patrolling
Some giant breeds are naturally more suited to guarding and patrolling due to their instincts and physical capabilities. The following breeds excel in guarding roles:
Excellent Fit: Anatolian Shepherd,
- Cane Corso,
- Great Pyrenees,
- Dogo Argentino,
- Boerboel,
- Central Asian Shepherd
Good Fit (with Training):
Not Ideal:
While every dog is an individual, certain breeds have traits that make them more predisposed to guarding and patrolling.
Training Goals & Milestones
Guarding training should be broken down into manageable milestones:
- Beginner: Teach your dog to stay alert and react to stimuli
- Intermediate: Practice calm, controlled responses to common triggers
- Advanced: Teach your dog to guard while remaining calm and obedient
By setting clear goals, you can monitor your dog’s progress and ensure that the training is moving in the right direction.
Common Mistakes & Misfits
Common mistakes in guard dog training include:
- Rushing the training process without a foundation of basic obedience (First Five)
- Reinforcing aggressive behavior by rewarding the wrong actions
- Not providing enough socialization, leading to fear-based aggression (Social Code )
Avoiding these mistakes will help you raise a well-behaved, trustworthy guard dog.
Lifestyle Fit for the Human
Training a guard dog is a commitment that requires time, energy, and patience. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s involved:
- Time Commitment: 2–3 formal sessions per week, with ongoing practice and situational exercises
- Space/Tools: A safe training environment with boundaries, patrol zones, and training equipment
- Physical Demand: Moderate to high, depending on the training and exercises involved
- Temperament Fit: Ideal for people who value structure and calm leadership
The time and effort you put into training will result in a dog that is both a reliable protector and a well-behaved companion.
Getting Started
To start training your guard dog, you’ll need the right gear and a solid plan. Begin with:
- Basic Gear: A high-visibility harness and long lead
- First Session: Practice alertness exercises in a quiet, controlled environment
- Evaluate: Look for signs of focus or overstimulation
- Seek Help: If your dog shows signs of stress or aggression, consult a professional trainer
By setting a clear foundation, you’ll be able to progress through more advanced training and develop a reliable guard dog.
