German Shepherds are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and protective instincts. These traits make them excellent family dogs and capable protectors. While most owners focus on basic obedience, some want to tap into their dog’s natural guarding abilities to provide an extra layer of security. Teaching a German Shepherd to attack on command can be a responsible way to channel their protective instincts, but it requires careful training, understanding, and a commitment to safety.
Is Attack Training Right for Your German Shepherd?
Before diving into attack training, it’s crucial to consider whether it’s the right choice for you and your dog. Attack training is not for every dog or owner. It requires a stable temperament, solid obedience foundation, and responsible ownership.
Here are some factors to consider:
- Temperament: Your German Shepherd should have a stable and confident temperament. They should not be naturally aggressive or fearful. Attack training can exacerbate these issues.
- Obedience: A solid foundation in obedience is essential. Your dog must reliably respond to commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and “leave it”. This ensures you have control over their actions, even in high-stress situations.
- Experience: Attack training is best left to experienced dog owners or trainers. It involves advanced techniques and requires a deep understanding of dog behavior.
- Commitment: Attack training is a significant time and financial commitment. It requires consistent training sessions and may involve hiring a professional trainer.
If you’re unsure whether attack training is right for your German Shepherd, consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can assess your dog’s temperament and help you make an informed decision.
Laying the Foundation: Obedience and Socialization
Before you even think about attack training, your German Shepherd needs a strong foundation in obedience and socialization. These are the building blocks for responsible protection work.
Obedience Training
Obedience training teaches your dog to respond to your commands reliably. This is crucial for controlling their behavior and preventing them from acting aggressively in inappropriate situations.
Focus on these essential commands:
- Sit: Teaches your dog to sit on command.
- Stay: Teaches your dog to remain in a specific position until released.
- Down: Teaches your dog to lie down on command.
- Come: Teaches your dog to return to you when called.
- Leave it: Teaches your dog to ignore or drop an object on command.
Use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and toys to motivate your dog. Keep training sessions short, fun, and consistent.
Socialization
Socialization exposes your German Shepherd to a variety of people, places, and situations. This helps them develop into a well-adjusted and confident dog.
Expose your dog to:
- Different people: Men, women, children, and people of different ethnicities.
- Various environments: Parks, streets, stores, and other public places.
- Different sounds: Traffic, construction, and other loud noises.
- Other animals: Dogs, cats, and other animals.
Ensure these experiences are positive and controlled. Never force your dog into a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened.
Attack Training Methods
Once your German Shepherd has a solid foundation in obedience and socialization, you can start introducing attack training techniques. There are a few different methods you can use:
The Develop Defense Skills Method
- Develop socialization and obedience: Develop a strong personal bond with your dog by taking them places, exercising and playing together, and training them to have a strong response to obedience commands.
- Pair verbal ‘attack’ command: Put on thick dog attack gloves, tap your German Shepherd on the face until he grabs the mitt, and provide the attack command such as “attack” or another word used for that purpose. You can teach your dog to “attack” by saying the word in another language. Reward your dog for responding to the command.
- Pair verbal command to stop: Teach your German Shepherd to break off the attack by providing a word to ‘release’ or ‘stop’. These words can be in another language. Reinforce your German Shepherd for ceasing attack on command. Practice with a mitt and then a large padded doll or object.
- Have a protected assistant approach: Have an assistant with safety gear and a padded dog attack suit approach you and your dog in a controlled environment. Your assistant should be an experienced dog handler that knows how to use safety equipment and keep himself and the dog safe from injury. Have the assistant enter and act aggressively.
- Provide ‘attack’ and ‘stop’ commands: Provide the ‘attack’ command and allow the dog to grab an arm or padded area. After a few moments, provide the ‘release’ command. Practice repeatedly in different scenarios always ensuring that the dog learns to obey the command to break off the attack.
The Develop Guarding Method
- Socialize: Introduce a young German Shepherd to lots of people and various situations by taking them on trips and exposing your dog to other dogs and people.
- Teach obedience: Teach your young dog firm obedience commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘down’, leave it’, and ‘come’.
- Direct barking: Teach your dog to bark on command, and to stop barking, by pairing a ‘quiet’ command with ‘down’; it is difficult for a dog to bark when in the ‘down’ position.
- Set up “intruders”: Teach your dog to bark at strangers, and to stop barking on command. When a stranger approaches you on walks, or approaches your property, encourage your dog to bark, and reinforce barking. Ask your dog to cease barking and enforce “be quiet” to give you control over the behavior. Have assistants play the role of intruders trying to trespass on your property and have them run away when your dog barks to reinforce the behavior.
- Establish property boundaries: Teach your dog the boundaries of his property and contain him behind a fence. Avoid tying up a guard dog, as they can injure their necks when they get excited and lunge towards strangers, and the tension created can escalate uncontrolled behaviors.
The Combine Skills Method
- Vary settings: Practice scenarios for guarding property and people in varied settings, such as on wooded trails, in back alleys, in parks and on roadways.
- Vary attackers: Introduce scenarios where there are multiple attackers with a variety of weapons.
- Introduce unexpected situations: Incorporate strange noises and behaviors and guide your German Shepherd to respond appropriately.
- Vary conditions: Practice during daylight and nighttime, during different weather and lighting conditions.
- Add noises and distractions: Introduce loud frightening noises like gunshots and explosions and distractions. Practice guarding, defending and protecting behaviors with distractions present.
Important Considerations
- Use a command: Choose a specific command for attack, such as “attack” or “get him”. Use this command consistently during training.
- Start slow: Begin with simple scenarios and gradually increase the difficulty.
- Use a decoy: Use a trained decoy to simulate an attacker. The decoy should wear protective gear and follow your instructions carefully.
- Keep it controlled: Always maintain control over the training session. If your dog becomes too aggressive or agitated, stop the session immediately.
- End on a positive note: Finish each training session with a command your dog knows well, such as “sit” or “stay.” This helps them end on a positive note and reinforces their obedience.
- Proof the Training: Vary scenarios, locations, and distractions to ensure reliability in different contexts.
The Importance of a “Stop” Command
Just as important as teaching your German Shepherd to attack is teaching them to stop on command. This is crucial for preventing accidental bites and ensuring you can control their behavior in any situation.
Choose a specific command for “stop,” such as “leave it,” “back off,” or “enough”. Use this command consistently during training.
Practice the “stop” command frequently, even when you’re not doing attack training. Reward your dog for immediately stopping their behavior when you give the command.
Seek Professional Guidance
Attack training is a complex and potentially dangerous endeavor. It’s always best to seek guidance from a qualified and experienced dog trainer or behaviorist.
A professional can:
- Assess your dog’s temperament and suitability for attack training.
- Develop a customized training plan based on your dog’s individual needs.
- Teach you proper techniques for attack training.
- Provide guidance and support throughout the training process.
Alternatives to Attack Training
If you’re not comfortable with attack training, there are other ways to channel your German Shepherd’s protective instincts.
- Guard dog training: This involves teaching your dog to bark and alert you to potential threats.
- Personal protection training: This involves teaching your dog to protect you in specific situations, such as when you’re walking alone at night.
- Agility training: This provides a physical and mental outlet for your dog’s energy and can help them develop confidence and focus.
- Scent work: This taps into your dog’s natural tracking abilities and can be a fun and rewarding activity.
A Word of Caution
Attack training is not without risks. It can increase the risk of aggression and accidental bites if not done properly. It’s essential to be aware of these risks and take steps to mitigate them.
- Liability: You may be held liable if your dog bites someone, even if they were provoked.
- Insurance: Your homeowner’s insurance may not cover dog bites, or they may increase your premiums.
- Breed-specific legislation: Some cities or states have breed-specific legislation that restricts or bans certain breeds, including German Shepherds.
Before starting attack training, check your local laws and regulations. Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage and are prepared to take responsibility for your dog’s actions.
Final Thoughts
Teaching a German Shepherd to attack on command can be a responsible way to channel their protective instincts, but it requires careful training, understanding, and a commitment to safety. Before you start, consider whether attack training is right for you and your dog. Lay a solid foundation in obedience and socialization, and always seek guidance from a qualified professional. With the right approach, you can unleash the protector within your German Shepherd and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a loyal and capable companion by your side.