Ghostsword
Well-Known Member
Guardian breeds are a funny bunch. Out of a litter not all will engage an intruder, and it takes training to actually show the dog that is ok to bite.
I also think that anything under 12 months is not needed, just boost the dog confidence, that is all its needed. After 12-18 months put the dog to a test. If having a guard dog is important get the dog tested. The dog fails try to understand why it has failed.
Now this is when it gets tricky. If having a guardian breed is important, and the dog fails what are you to do? You can train the dog, show him what to do. If he really does not get it... Well, me, I will get rid of it, but guarding and protection is the reason for me to have a dog.
Boerboels are nice guard dogs, but they have been "tamed", a lit has been lost through selection, in the lookout for family dogs a lot of aggressive tendencies have been lost.
My wife is south african and I go often back home to Cape Town. Most people that want a guard dog will stick with a boerboel mix. They mix it with pits or africanis, and get a mean piece of dog that would tear apart a burglar, or die trying. But in south africa crime is insane. burglars if they get into your home they will kill you for a mobile phone.
So your 3 month pup is scared... It is a pup. Show her that all is ok, and get her used to as many sounds as possible, do not scare the pup or try hard techniques. Want to protect your wife and daughter? Get an adult dog, this one may take a while to grow up.
___________________________
Luis
@ghostsword
I also think that anything under 12 months is not needed, just boost the dog confidence, that is all its needed. After 12-18 months put the dog to a test. If having a guard dog is important get the dog tested. The dog fails try to understand why it has failed.
Now this is when it gets tricky. If having a guardian breed is important, and the dog fails what are you to do? You can train the dog, show him what to do. If he really does not get it... Well, me, I will get rid of it, but guarding and protection is the reason for me to have a dog.
Boerboels are nice guard dogs, but they have been "tamed", a lit has been lost through selection, in the lookout for family dogs a lot of aggressive tendencies have been lost.
My wife is south african and I go often back home to Cape Town. Most people that want a guard dog will stick with a boerboel mix. They mix it with pits or africanis, and get a mean piece of dog that would tear apart a burglar, or die trying. But in south africa crime is insane. burglars if they get into your home they will kill you for a mobile phone.
So your 3 month pup is scared... It is a pup. Show her that all is ok, and get her used to as many sounds as possible, do not scare the pup or try hard techniques. Want to protect your wife and daughter? Get an adult dog, this one may take a while to grow up.
___________________________
Luis
@ghostsword