Some of you may have heard the term “attack dogs”
before, but this designation just applies to the aforemen-
tioned levels and the training received. Dogs need to have
the genetic predisposition and appropriate training for
the desired task. For example, rescue dogs, such as those
trained in search-and-rescue to locate people in different
scenarios, traditionally have no genetic predisposition for
bite work, and it wouldn’t make sense to train a dog that
performs these duties to do both.
Evaluating Your Lifestyle Objectively
Everyone’s lifestyle, needs, and objectives are differ-
ent. Rushing into getting a protection dog because of a
perceived or real threat is rarely the best scenario. First of
all, protection dogs traditionally come from working dog
breed lines. Working dogs were bred to perform tasks and
are genetically conditioned for activity. Lying to yourself
about legitimately having the proper amount of time for
a working dog will not only burden the owner, but it’ll also
diminish the training, overall effectiveness, health, and
happiness of the working dog. One must have the time as
well as the energy level to devote to keeping these dogs fit.
They’re not lap dogs.
Ensure that your home environments, vehicle, food,
daily care, training time, exercise, and veterinarian plan are
set prior to the dog’s arrival. Like all dogs, they get more
expensive as they grow older. Let’s say you get a protec-
tion dog — expect to spend at least $100 per month to
feed it, a few hundred per month to maintain training, and
a few thousand per year for quality vet care. One should
expect the initial costs to range from $8,000 for a fully
trained Alert K9 up to $25,000 to $30,000 or more for an
Elite Personal Protection K9, all of which should be fully
warrantied for health and workability. You’re looking at a
12- to 15-year commitment at best, and it’ll be like having
a 7-year-old child that cannot take care of itself in our hu-
man environment.
Do You Really Need One?
Some of the worst cases I’ve heard from potential
clients over the years involve statements such as, “I need a
protection dog right now.” This rush may be about a real or
perceived threat with little planning and no thorough consid-
eration of the dog’s needs. As if that weren’t bad enough, this
plan almost always comes with the buyer saying, “I can only
spend X, and Y is too much.”
On some occasions, I have families who really could ben-
efit from a protection dog and have the means to get a nice
one. However, after evaluating their lifestyle, for instance with
four kids, two jobs, travel, and other distractions, it leaves
little time in their schedule for any pet, much less a special-
ized animal. Dogs aren’t robots or a weapon that you pick
up, use, and store until the next time you need it.
Questions about protection dogs and children are com-
mon, so here are some key points to remember. A good dog
for just about anything is a healthy, happy, social creature. I’ve
never had issues with a well-balanced and trained dog with
well-balanced and trained children. That said, if your children
are wild and undisciplined (even though you might not like
to admit it to yourself), having them around a protection dog
invites problems, because it may provoke an unexpected
confrontation. These dogs protect and may not be able to
differentiate between the innocent intentions of child’s play
and genuine aggression. Just like firearms, you don’t leave
them unattended and out in the open around kids. It’s up to
you to provide training for your children and determine when
they’re mature enough to handle them. These dogs aren’t
aggressive for no reason, but accidents happen if you’re not
careful. You need to work with trainers to ensure your kids
know what these dogs are capable of and how to interact with
them properly.
Keep in mind that the protection dogs we use at my com-
pany, Cobra Canine, are genetically given the ability to pro-
tect — we’re just honing these skills. If they’re bred properly, it
doesn’t take much training. A smart dog can tell a difference
between a threat and a stranger. For example, an Alert K9
might be very good at protecting and alerting, but really has
no desire to attack, whereas an Elite Protection K9 is a skilled
personal protection dog that willingly attacks upon the need,
command, or recognition of threat without much stress.
Given the purpose of these dogs, expect to commit time
to understanding their unique needs and the commands,
presence, and focus you must have. These dogs aren’t turn-
key and, as the owner, you’ll be expected to earn the respect
of a protection dog — which isn’t guaranteed. Dogs can
easily recognize dishonesty and inconsistency. My companyDOGS FOR
DEFENSETrips to the
dog park might
be sufficient
exercise for the
average dog,
but protection
dogs are athletes.
Expect activities
to range from
throwing the
ball for sprints,
swimming, and
long runs with
a bike at least 45
minutes per day.OFFGRIDWEB.COM 039ISSUE 32