Dogs make the most ideal guardians and protectors because they naturally understand social hierarchies in their environment. This means they can be completely loyal to their “master”, and aggressive and intimidating on command towards those who you perceive as a threat. As much as some love to subscribe to the “socialisation hypothesis”, that any dog can be trained to be a protection dog no matter what, this is patently false. Breed and innate genetics matter. Else, there wouldn’t have existed breeders for thousands of years to create specific dog personalities that lend themselves more or less to certain types of dog. There is a reason why German-Shepherds are one of the most sought-after breeds for specific functions – for example, in the military where they are excellent for tracking, sensitivity to threats and much more.
Here at protection dog sales we understand this, which is why specific breeds need to be trained with the dog’s personality in mind, to achieve the desired characteristics. We train dogs from a young age for exactly what it says on the tin, to be a protection dog, watch dog or a guard dog. There is never a catch all solution for the type of dog you or your family might need, as the type of dog varies largely with breed, personality and exactly how it has been trained. The nuance is important to understand, because you have to be specific about exactly what you want as to how you get the best match.
How often have you seen a “beware of the dog” sign, and hesitated when walking up to a house? It’s amazing how powerful a deterrent a dog can be for potential burglars, for example. Maybe a watch dog is all that is needed to provide a deterrent and that little bit extra security. In this case its less about having a dog who will actually attack but can act aggressive and intimidating to the perceived threat and immediately scare off a potential crook.
Which type of dog is ideal for my family?
Watch dogs
As with any well-trained dog, a watch dog will always be loyal and docile except when sensitive to the very specific triggers it has been trained to react to. Watch dogs are not trained to attack, but to react to threats and alert their owners. They will intimidate, growl and act aggressive, but never inflict physical harm. Because of this, they are great with families with young children, while doubling as that added element of security for the home.
Guard dogs
Let’s be clear, guard dogs are not pets. They are very specifically trained as working dogs for roles that require the utmost specificity to achieve the desired outcome. They cannot “switch off” their trained characteristics and suddenly be friendly and docile. Guard dogs are typically utilised, then, by the police and military. They can be trained simply to react to threats with barking and aggression, react on command to attack a threat, or act as sentries and simply to attack anyone unfamiliar that trespasses on its territory. A guard dog will protect your property but is not a typical pet by any means.
Protection dogs
Protection dogs are our bread and butter, and outside of being commanded to protect, they are extremely loyal, loving and docile. With the right training and established boundaries, they become true pets in the home, while being able to attack, intimidate and defend you on command. This is only achieved with the right breed and proper professional training, in order to achieve this perfect combination of traits.
Ultimately, a well-trained protection dog is an ideal way to take care of a family or you as an individual, at a time where people are getting more and more concerned about security, especially in high risk areas. They are effectively “legal weapons” that double as a loyal and docile family pet. As with anything as technical as buying a protection dog, you need to make sure you understand exactly what it is you’re trying to achieve, and you’ve been advised by a professional trainer with a proven track record. We’ll speak to you in detail, so you know exactly what you’re looking for, and whether we have a dog exactly for your needs that is ready to go!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us and we’ll do our best to answer.
