• Free shipping on all orders
  • Free two years warranty extension
  • Free and easy returns

Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Train a Pitbull to Be a Guard Dog: 8 Tips & Tricks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

black pitbull with chain collar

Vet approved

Dr. Paola Cuevas Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

Pitbulls are notorious for their aggressive manner and reputation as inherently dangerous dogs. This has largely been disproven and shown to be more the fault of their owner—in truth, Pitbull dogs are not inherently aggressive. This breed is actually rather friendly and seeks human companionship and love just as any other dog would.

However, if you are looking for a Pitbull to add to your family as both a new member and to act as an added layer of protection, then continue reading to learn tips and tricks to do this correctly and in the best way for your dog.

For this article, we will use the term “guard dog” interchangeably with “protection dog” because non-professional dog owners commonly use that term. However, please note that a certified guard dog is considered a working dog and needs to go through specialized training.

hepper-dog-paw-divider 5

Before You Start

There are a few items you’ll want to make sure you have on hand when you’re training your Pitbull to be a guard dog. This includes basic things like their favorite treats and any other materials that might be required to give them full and proper training. It’s also a good idea to do research, and read books or articles regarding things not to do when training that could make this a negative experience for both you and your dog.

There are a few tips listed below that you can try on your own, and if these don’t seem to be working out, you can try those that involve outside sources like training schools.

hepper-dog-paw-divider 5

The 8 Tips and Tricks to Train a Pitbull to Be a Guard Dog

1. Start Early

Like other types of training, you will want to start guard dog training as early as you can. If you can start teaching them certain things like boundaries and behavior training when they are puppies, you might have a better chance of getting them to follow along. Waiting too long can result in a lot of pushback. Obedience training should be the basis of your training.

american pitbull terrier puppy
Image Credit: dezy, Shutterstock

2. Observe Your Pitbull’s Behavior

A great start to training your Pitbull to have a certain behavior is observing how they naturally react to different situations. Try to monitor if there are specific things that trigger barking or undesirable behaviors. These will be situations where you’ll want to avert them from repeating this pattern.


3. Give Them Treats and Reward Good Behavior

When you notice your Pitbull is behaving well or responding to specific situations the way you’d like them to, be sure to reward them with positive reinforcement. This means giving them treats regularly or lots of love. They will eventually associate the behavior with getting treats and learn that this is a good thing to continue.

blue nose pitbull waiting to play fetch
Image Credit: J.A. Dunbar, Shutterstock

4. Teach the Difference Between Intruders and Friends

When teaching a Pitbull guarding behavior, it’s important to let them know who a danger is and who is a friend. You don’t want your dog barking or attacking friends and family, because this can lead to being forced to muzzle your dog or worse. Slowly introduce them to people whom they should not be protective of.


5. Practice and Patience

As with any training, this will take practice and patience on behalf of the pet owner. Do not get frustrated or angry with your dog if they don’t seem to be getting it right away. This is new to them, so they won’t immediately understand what you want them to do. Try not to punish your dog with aggressive language.

American Pit Bull Terrier
Image Credit By: bully_pitbulls_ireland, instagram

6. Boundary Training Around Your Neighborhood

A great way to get your Pitbull to understand the parameters of where they need to be protective of, you can take them for regular walks at different times of the day. Walk them around the same few streets every day and get them to learn where they live. They will begin to feel comfortable with their surroundings and recognize this as home.


7. Give them Secure Outdoor Areas

Another great way to get your dog to be comfortable with the areas you want them to guard, like a front yard, is to confine your dog to a specific area they can freely move around in. Your dog will begin to see this area as their safe space and home, so they begin to see this as an area to protect as well.

Red Nose Pitbull
Image Credit: annel69, Pixabay

8. Try Behavior Classes

If you notice that whatever methods you are using don’t work, you might just not be doing it properly. You could try getting an expert in your home to help you learn how to learn it by yourself or send your pup to a class. These classes are usually held one-on-one or in groups with other dogs, so they get to socialize while learning a great skill.

When it comes to teaching proper guarding behavior, having other dogs around could even be beneficial.

hepper-dog-paw-divider 3

Summary

Training a dog takes a ton of patience and dedication, especially when training them to be a guard dog. Pitbulls are intelligent, and eager to please animals, though, and with time and the right methods, they can be trained to be great guard dogs fairly easily.

See Also:


Featured Image Credit: Romero Joel, Pixabay

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!