Becoming a "Guard Dog"

[Cybil]

I'm very, very pleased with my "little" guy! He's only about 4 1/2 months and he's already stepped into his role as the home protector! He discovered his "guard" bark a couple of weeks ago, but only used it a handful of times on the local cows across the way. Now he's stepped it up to patrolling around the house at night and lying down at the front door so he can see anything "fishy" and alert us to it.
I'm sure everyone thinks I'm a bit daft for praising him when he's doing his tough bark, but hey, that's why I got him in the first place and I want to encourage him in his protectiveness!
He's curled up by my feet on the front patio at the moment and I feel perfectly safe knowing that my alert Pyr is watching over me.

[Amatrine]

Wtg! My guy just his first bark tonight. New neighbors moved in and were on their roof putting up the cable and he barked hard and loud! Such good boy. Only 10 weeks.

[jmanz6]

It's all good until they start guarding you from squirrels, birds, leaves, wind, etc. You need to make sure you re-enforce when the guarding is appropriate. For instance, they need to understand that the nieghbor can be out in their yard, but if they come too close to your house, then it's OK to warn. Just letting them bark because they have discovered their big boy bark is going to lead to you pulling your hair out when they are 2 years old and barking at EVERYTHING. Now is the time to shape them and make them understand exactly what their job is.