Guardian dogs are pretty darn flexible when it comes to the lifestyles they can adapt to. They can be happy in the country, suburbs, and city. They can handle sharing life with a person who works long hours in an office or one who spends most of their time at home. Surprisingly, despite their larger size, they don’t need a whole lot of room and generally do well in an apartment or condo, given their relatively sedentary nature. In many ways, guardians are not high maintenance companions at all—as long as you keep their basic instincts in mind (and tools in hand) and don’t forget them.

HOME LIFE—Life at home with your guardian can feel too good to be true sometimes. He is attentive and affectionate without being hyperactive or overly demanding of your attention. He doesn’t ask that you throw the ball for hours on end. He doesn’t pace around the house in complete boredom just waiting for you to do something exciting. Rather than bouncing off the walls with endless energy that rivals your six-year-old nephew on a sugar high, he spends an inordinate amount of time sleeping on your love-seat-turned-dog-bed. He makes this dog-owning thing almost look easy.

That is, until there is an “intruder.” It might be the landlord, your cousin’s poodle, or the pizza guy. Suddenly your peaceful nest can feel like a suspenseful showdown scene from an old Western. Worse, it might turn into a scene from a gladiator movie. Your big couch potato can switch into Dirty Harry in an instant—if you forget to be prepared for these kinds of moments.

So tie a string to your finger if you need to, but take a few simple steps to keep everyone feeling comfy at home with your guardian dog. Keep the doors locked to prevent unannounced visitors from barging in. Don’t say, “Yes, the key is under the mat!” when your coworker asks if she can just let herself in when she comes over. Don’t offer to babysit for your friend’s dog when she goes out of town for the weekend and expect your dog to welcome him into your home (even if they are friends at the dog park). And, please, kick the massive puppy out of your bed and put him in his crate before you let your new lover under the covers. Or your new sweetheart might receive an unwelcome warning about joining you in bed and decide to go home early . . . and not come back.