How to Train a Doberman to Be a Guard Dog: 3 Tips & Tricks
By Kit Copson
Updated on
Dobermans are the ultimate double threat—they’re bighearted, loving, and playful with family but at the same time alert and protective, which makes them excellent guard dogs. Because of the Doberman’s naturally sweet nature, a little training may be required to give them a sense of territory. It’s best to start training Dobermans as young as possible and in conjunction with their regular obedience training.
Read on and we’ll share some tips and tricks for training your Doberman up as a guard dog. Before you get started, you’ll need a few simple bits and bobs to help you on your training journey.
- Your Doberman’s favorite treats
- A short leash
- A long leash
- A human assistant (or a few)
The 3 Tips for Training a Doberman to Be a Guard Dog
First of all, if you’re going to train your Doberman up, you’re going to need to be patient and consistent. Stick to a training routine with your Doberman and you’ll soon start to see results. It’s also crucial to remember that you are not training your Doberman to be aggressive and attack—you’re training them to alert you to danger and protect your home.
We say this because training any dog to attack is a risky business. If you encourage aggression, there’s no guarantee your dog won’t go for you, a member of your family, or an innocent passerby someday. For this reason, it’s something we want to avoid at all costs.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most common watchdog training methods. Don’t feel like you have to restrict yourself to just one method, either—it’s perfectly fine to work on them in conjunction with one another.
1. Socialization
- Other dogs
- People
To avoid inadvertently teaching your Doberman to fear people and other dogs and respond aggressively, it’s important to socialize with them. We highly recommend making sure your Doberman can follow basic obedience commands before starting guard dog training like “sit”, “stay”, or “leave it”. This gives you more control over the situation and makes the whole process easier.
They need lots of normal, positive interactions with people and other dogs as early as possible. This teaches them when it’s okay to let their guard down and shows that not everyone is a threat.
If you’re unsure of how to proceed with socialization and obedience training yourself, enrolling your Doberman in obedience classes is a great way for both of you to learn some tips and tricks.
2. Teaching “Territory”
- Treats
- A long leash
This method involves showing your Doberman what their territory is and is not. Follow these steps to help them understand which areas they’re going to protect:
- Place a long leash on your Doberman and either hold onto it or tether it securely.
- Let your Doberman roam the area you want them to protect, for example, your front yard. Be sure to supervise to make sure your Doberman is safe.
- If your Doberman barks at an approaching stranger, reward them with a treat and praise to show them that this is what they’re supposed to do.
- Repeat this process twice a day at the same time daily.
3. Use Commands
- A friend or neighbor your Doberman doesn’t know
- Treats
This method teaches your Doberman to respond to certain situations—like a stranger approaching—by barking to alert you and other members of your family to potential danger. If it doesn’t work the first time, you can always try again.
- Choose a command that your whole family can use with your Doberman. “Help!” is the kind of word you want to use.
- Observe your Doberman’s regular barking habits. Do they bark when they want to play? When it’s time to go for a walk?
- Anticipate when your Doberman is just about to bark and give the command word at that exact time. This helps them associate the command with barking.
- For this step, you’ll need a willing friend who doesn’t mind a bit of acting! After teaching them the command for a few days, arrange for this person to come and knock on the front door or window.
- Use your “bark” command. If your Doberman starts barking, the stranger should run away to show them what you’re trying to achieve.
- If your Doberman keeps on barking, tell them to “shhh” or whichever command you use to quieten them down.
- Reward your Doberman with a treat and praise every time they bark on command. Praise them every time they alert you to strangers even when you’re not training. Keep treats on hand when walking your Doberman or going about your daily activities.
Final Thoughts
With patience, consistency, good socialization, and of course, lots of treats, you can train your Doberman up as a guard dog in a matter of a few months. Remember, the key is to teach your Doberman to protect, not to attack. You don’t want to end up with an aggressive dog on your hands that could become a danger to you, your family, and others.