When it comes to keeping yourself, your home, and your family safe, you want to find the best protection dog for your lifestyle. This is a big investment, and you’ll find no shortage of protection dogs for sale. So how do you know which dog is right for you?

We’re often asked, “Can’t any dog be trained for protection?” or, “Why do you pick German Shepherds? Why not a _________ instead?” There are plenty of dogs that may be capable of protection training, and plenty of opinions on what the best breed of dog for protection is. Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Dobermans are all popular breeds of dogs with strong potential in bite work. At the end of the day, there is a higher number of German Shepherds that have been bred to possess the traits needed for true personal protection. That means that when we travel to Europe to purchase new dogs for protection training we are able to maximize our sample size. This is necessary because out of every 100 or so dog we thoroughly evaluate, only a few will be able to excel in every area: health, temperament, drive and appearance.

Our breeders in Europe are sometimes frustrated by our selectivity. Most of their customers are police and military operations that can purchase an intense dog without great social skills. These dogs won’t be living with families, so as long as they’re healthy and powerful they fit the bill. We need our dogs to perform even better in action and have the right makeup to be left with children and pets.

Keep this in mind when you’re trying to choose a personal protection dog: this is a personal choice and it’s about much more than just protection. Maybe you’d prefer a more agile dog like Kazou to a bigger dog like Aspen. Much like the old adage, “the best camera is the one you have with you,” the best protection dog is the one that’s at your side and keeping you safe when danger presents itself. If you’re not comfortable walking around with a 90+ pound dog, we’ll find and train a smaller dog that can still dominate in a protection scenario.

Which is best for protection: a male or female dog?

Again, this is a completely personal choice. Kazou, for instance, is one of the most impressive dogs we’ve worked with regardless of breed or sex. There is, however, more male dogs capable of protection available than females. If you’re interested in buying a female, contact us and we’ll help you select and train one.

Why buy an adult dog and not a puppy?

We offer puppy protection training and we’re always willing to help a client select and raise a puppy for protection, but we advise the majority of people to select a fully or partially trained adult dog. Buying a puppy for protection is a bit like having a baby because you need someone to fix your car. For one thing, it’s a huge gamble: there’s a very good chance that he or she will never have the inclination or ability to do the job. Now you’re back at square one. On top of that, a puppy won’t be ready to protect you yet and you’ll have to wait until adulthood to utilize your investment. With an adult dog, you know what his or her personality is like from day one, and you can clearly see whether or not the dog is up to the task of protection.

Many people worry that they will not bond the same way with an adult as they would with a puppy, but this is not true! All of our personal protection dogs are loving and have stellar personalities. They bond with their new families in a matter of days, and our clients tell us again and again that their dog is a “perfect match.”