their “business” (potty breaks) there, but when not engaged
in activity they may become restless, destructive, and tear
up things they shouldn’t. And when they’re not laying
around, expect that they’ll beg to come inside and interact
with their “pack.”
Speaking of packs, dogs are very much pack animals.
That doesn’t mean they can’t be on their own at all;
however, they crave attention and involvement with their
human family. When clients describe a lifestyle where a dog
would be by itself most of the time, they need to convince
me they’re willing to change this or I encourage them not to
get a dog at all.
I’ve had a few occasions where clients didn’t check with
their homeowner’s insurance, homeowner’s association,
and/or city and county regulations on what breeds and size
of dogs are allowed. Some of them were able to work it out,
while others weren’t. It’s always better to know the rules and
regulations up front. On a rare occasion I’ve had custom-
ers who’ve had issues with their neighbors over their new
protection dog. Never, as long as all the other regulations
are met, has this prevented them from keeping the dog.
You’re in the best position to know if this might become an
issue that you should work out up front. Most importantly,
each person should investigate local and state laws before
obtaining a protection dog, as there are thousands that are
all different and change periodically.
As with firearms or cars, liability insurance is recommend-
ed to own dogs of this type. With more training for a specific
purpose comes more liability. If it’s trained to bite, you should
make sure people aren’t wrongfully bitten. This is your pet;
therefore, it’s your responsibility to have risk mitigations.
As we’ve already described, the physical workload and
responsibilities are robust — dogs of this kind aren’t cheap
to care for properly. It’s quite simply a supply and demand
issue. If there were naturally protective, healthy, social, envi-
ronmentally sound, gunfire-neutral, animal-neutral, healthy,
happy animals just sitting around then everyone would have
one. The fact is they’re very, very hard to raise or come by
at any cost. It’s sad, but when someone tells me they got a
great deal on a high-end protection dog, I politely cringe and
wish for the best. In over 28 years, I haven’t seen this often.Selecting Your Dog
Certain breeds are genetically predisposed to do the
protection and guard work we’re talking about. Breeds such
as the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, Boxer,
Doberman Pinscher, Giant Schnauzer, Bouvier, Mastiff, Beau-
ceron, and many more do a great job. There isn’t one breed
that’s the best per se, and within all the breeds we find great,
good, and bad examples. It goes back to selecting the correct
personality and drives for the particular job, which a trainer orteaches different scenarios, mostly for the handlers and of
course the all-important control work (the off switch).
Like anything, it takes time to master the fundamentals
and commands necessary to establish who’s boss. If you
think simply writing a check is enough for a protection dog
to leave a facility — either as a puppy or trained adult —
and understand that you as the new owner are the one in
charge, you’re dead wrong. Chain of command comes with
your dedication to carry out a prescribed training regimen.
That’s right, it’s recommended that you as the owner receive
training in how to care for this type of dog effectively and
how to issue commands.
Another common reason for getting a protection dog is,
“I want a dog to protect my wife when I’m gone.” Here’s the
problem with that — even if your wife wants a dog, what if
you’re not home to do all the work you’re giving her? You
should both learn about what’s involved before purchasing
a dog.What to Expect in Owning One
A good protection dog kennel will have a maintenance
program of training to perform in conjunction with a trainer
that’ll be contracted for the life of the dog. As people’s lives
change, they can review contractual parameters to see what
adjustments need to be made to the dog’s progress and
ongoing education.
As for travel accommodations, considerations about weath-
er and preventing injury should be made. Dogs don’t sweat
and can overheat easily if left in a car, and in some states it’s
illegal to leave them in a vehicle unattended. Speak with the
kennel about options for harnesses, screens, and other meth-
ods to keep them cool and protected while traveling.
These dogs are athletes. Sure, they may sleep most of
the day, but they want and need an effective training plan
that takes a good amount of time. How many folks actually
exercise their dogs? Unfortunately, not many. Hanging out in
the backyard or walking around the farm or neighborhood
isn’t an exercise program, especially for dogs of this caliber.
Expect activities to range from throwing the ball for sprints,
swimming, and long runs with a bike at least 45 minutes per
day. While a 1-mile run might be a lot for you, it’s really just a
warm-up for dogs like this. A combination of endurance ex-
ercises that’s part of your daily routine will keep these dogs
operating at their intended level of performance. If you’re a
couch potato, dogs like this aren’t for you.
Home and yard size are also common concerns. I don’t
believe either is that important. Although others may have
differing opinions, I’m fine with a working dog of any kind in
a small condo with no yard — it’s incumbent on the owner
to get the dog out and provide training and exercise. As
stated earlier, backyards aren’t for exercise. Most dogs doPeople with a
great deal of
discretionary
income, VIPs
who are easy
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celebrities who
have stalkers
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because they
require addi-
tional layers of
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