Added an 8 wk old Australian Shepherd to my furry family yesterday. I want him to be VERY protective of the yard when people come to gate.. but it is so hard to put him outside (garage has doggy door) so young but risk spoiling him... Advice? Thanks!
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Snooch
ANSWERS: 2
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Dogs are naturally protective over it's owners, and property. The older the pup gets the more the instinct will be seen. SHe is to young to understand any threats at this age. At around 6+ months you will see the protective instinct more so. The best advise I can give you is when you do start to see the protective instinct in your yard, encourage it. For example, when you are in the yard with him/her and she sees something and barks at it, praise her. Good girl/good dog. You then can also say, in a serious tone as you wisper, what's that? When she barks praise her. When there is no threat at all, and the pup barks, say no, its ok while patting her. She will then start to learn what you feel is a threat, and will begin to make that connection. It is also important to teach your dog to quiet on command. So they dont just bark at everything, and become a yapper.
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I never taught my aussie to be protective, but she is a natural guard dog. She is SO noisy when people walk past the house, no one could get past her! But she wasn't like that until she was about 10 months old.
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