breeder can work with you on. There’s always personal prefer-
ence, size, coat type, grooming needs, and other consider-
ations unique to each individual that play a part as well.
Each breed has genetic flaws that should be researched
and evaluated prior to purchasing a dog. Sit down, decide
what you want the dog to do, call the kennel or trainers, and
talk it out. Get a feel for whether or not they can provide what
you’re looking for. If you decide to get a puppy, ask to see the
parents of that dog to get an idea of what to expect. If mom
and dad are what you’re looking for, ask about their medical
background. It’s important to see proof that your potential dog
has a good skeletal system, good hips, clean spine, and good
elbows from credible entities, such as the Orthopedic Founda-
tion for Animals or PennHIP. Also ask for personal references.
Getting a deal is nothing compared to living with a dog for
10 to 15 years that may be fraught with health complications
because you skimped on research and cost up front.
All dog breeds have certain health issues; some have more
than others. Research a breed’s potential genetic issues so
you can approach a breeder well-informed on what to ask
about. You should have a guarantee from your breeder
that warranties a good skeletal system and against diseases
it’s prone to. Ideally, if your dog experiences these health
problems or skeletal issues in the first two years of its life, you
should be able get your money back or a replacement puppy.
Most of us love the idea of getting a dog from a shelter.Saving these dogs’ lives and giving them a forever home is
great. Sadly, in most cases the shelter/rescue dogs are not
genetically made, nor are they raised for, working environ-
ments. They unfortunately have a low success rate to be
trained as protection dogs. It can happen, but the percentage
is low. If you’re looking to save money, this isn’t the way to go.
However, the success rate goes up with appropriate expec-
tations. For example, if you only need a dog to be healthy,
happy, social, and just be an alert dog, the odds of finding one
in a shelter certainly increase.
The types of dog I avoid for personal protection, and in
general, are ones that are overly aggressive and protective,
nervous, prone to any fear aggression, impulsively edgy,
equipment-fixated (bite sleeves, etc.), shy, and/or defensive. I
also stay away from dogs with known health issues, especially
genetic ones.Training
To find a qualified trainer, word of mouth is best. You
can search online and look at social media, but just about
anything can be misrepresented there. I’d never buy a dog
of any kind sight unseen, unless I’ve personally worked with
someone for years and fully trust them for all things consid-
ered. I always recommend meeting the trainers in person,
checking out the facilities, and seeing the dogs in person.
Find a company that has years of full-time work in this field,Speak to your
breeder about
what health
guarantees they
offer.“Each breed
has genetic
flaws that should
be researched
and evaluated
prior to
purchasing
a dog.”042 OFFGRIDWEB.COM