protection dogs Archives - Page 2 of 2

We’re Back from Buying Dogs for Protection Training

Protection Dogs Plus on February 18, 2013

We’re fresh off a trip to Europe, but this was no vacation. In six days, we drove over 1,300 miles to 6 countries to test over 100 dogs. Of those dogs, we decided to take only a small handful into our protection dog training program. That’s a lower acceptance rate than Columbia and Harvard! It’s not that there’s any shortage of nice German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois in Europe, it’s just that the best personal protection dogs need to be well-rounded in everything- health, temperament and protection. We don’t train police dogs or military dogs, so it’s not enough for a dog to bite a sleeve or turn on aggressively. They need to be friendly and obedient, and they need to accept even a five year old as their master. Finding a dog with one or two exceptional qualities is easy, but finding one with all of them takes legwork.

We want to raise the best dogs for personal protection possible, so we’re highly selective about which dogs to bring back. At the same time, we realize that any dog we pick will be given months of our intensive training before going to a home. Great dogs aren’t born, they’re made, and we know how to make them great. To do this though, we need to start with a certain amount of raw talent. What are some of the things we’re looking for? We check for things like making sure they won’t back down from an aggressor, that they have tenacity, and that they are accepting of children and other dogs. Because our program is very physically demanding, we make sure that all of our dogs are healthy and in prime physical condition.

In Europe, we also seek and select dogs that fit client requests. If you’re interested in a different dog than our current protection dogs for sale, we can keep you in mind for our next trip. Contact us today to let us know what your needs are.

Military Working Dogs Still Classified as “Equipment”

Protection Dogs Plus on February 1, 2013

By Dan Moore

Whether you own a protection dog, other working dog or just a pet dog, you can probably get behind the three tenets of the Canine Members of the Armed Service Act (H.R. 4103). The first part of the act would authorize the secretary of the appropriate military department to transport retiring military working dogs to the 341st Training Squadron or place them for adoption. Historically, military working dogs have been abandoned, given away or euthanized. The second part of the act would task the Secretary of Defense with providing a veterinary care system for retired military working dogs once the dogs are adopted. The final provision holds that military working dogs would be classified as members of the armed forces instead of “equipment,” and decorated/recognized for being killed in action or performing extraordinary acts in service of the country.

The act passed the House of Representatives and Senate, but it was appended to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, which was signed into law at the end of 2012. Unfortunately, the entire resolution wasn’t left intact. The good news is that military working dogs will not be abandoned or given away overseas. Instead they will be transported back to the United States once their service is over, and veterinary care will be provided. The bad news is that these canine heroes will still not be classified as members of the armed forces, and instead will be considered “equipment” or “surplus equipment.”

Protection dog owners can tell you that their companions are more than guard dogs or security systems- they’re a member of the family. Handlers in the military will take comfort in knowing that their comrades will be cared for and not left behind after duty, but it seems wrong to ask so much of these dogs without considering them a part of the armed forces. There is a growing movement to remedy this issue, and we’ll be on the lookout for any developments with military working dogs, since we consider them close cousins to the dogs we train for family security.

Age, Breed and Sex: What Makes for the Best Personal Protection Dog?

Protection Dogs Plus on November 22, 2012

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.”

Have Questions?

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

Why buy an adult dog and not a puppy?