FAQs

A number of breeds are commonly used for protection work including the Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Dobermann, Giant Schnauzer, and Cane Corso. We have also trained Great Danes, Boxers, and American Bulldogs, but these breeds tend to be somewhat harder to develop for protection work.

A number of breeds have been used for personal protection work. In our experience, we have found the following to be best:

• German Shepherd Dog
• Malinois Belgian Shepherd
• Dobermann
• Cane Corso
• Giant Schnauzer
• Rottweiler

Other breeds may be used for personal protection work, but will less often meet the standard we require than those listed above. These include Boxers, Great Danes, Cane Corsos, and Boerboels. Temperament is more important than breed though, with a dog’s individual personality being the greatest determiner of how much potential it has for personal protection work.

Guard dogs are left unattended and work without a handler’s direction. A protection dog is closely aligned to an individual handler and generally works through their commands rather than proactively. Protection dogs will also be trained to a higher level than guard dogs.

This will very much depend on your personal circumstances, but protection dogs offer higher capabilities and levels of assurance than a guard dog. As they are untrained, it is hard to predict whether or not a guard dog will actually protect as and when required whereas protection dogs’ capabilities have been tested and proven during their training.

Guard dogs work independently and without the supervision of a handler. They are typically used remotely, and left alone while they work. Much of a guard dog’s value lies in their ability to deter rather than actually defend. Guard dogs also tend not to have been specifically trained for the work they undertake. In contrast to this, a personal protection dog will have been trained and primarily work through a handler’s direction. Control is key, and this is often absent in many guard dogs.

Breed is secondary to individual attributes when considering what the best personal protection dogs are. We need dogs who are brave, intelligent, and of stable temperament. Anxious or reactive dogs may be unreliable, and in security or operational settings this can have serious safety implications. In our experience, the best personal protection dogs are those who can be relied on to behave as they have been trained, even in stressful situations.

Advanced obedience is the baseline all protection training follows from. A dog which is not obedient cannot be trusted to progress to more dynamic and potentially dangerous protection training and work. Protection-specific training includes bitework, searching areas, stand-offs, and more. Protection capabilities can be tailored to a specific customer’s needs, and we are always happy to discuss what these may be in our early consultations.

If properly trained, then yes. While personal protection dog owners need to be more mindful than if they owned a more conventional family pet, a responsible mindset goes a long way. Usual precautions should ways apply, and it is important to ensure that children are always supervised in the presence of a protection dog.

This is very dependent on your lifestyle and personal circumstances. For example, if you are allergic to dogs that shed, a Cane Corso will likely be a better option for you than a German Shepherd Dog. If you are looking for a highly energetic dog, than a Malinois may be appropriate. If deterrence is a consideration, then a Dobermann or Rottweiler could be a good option. We always discuss clients’ individual needs prior to any purchase, and ensure that they are provided with a full range of appropriate options.

Families seeking a guard dog should give their needs careful consideration. Any dog which barks when people approach its home could theoretically act as a deterrent against potential burglaries and intrusions, irrespective of breed. If they are interested in a trained defensive capability which they can properly control, then a protection dog would be more appropriate.

Although the Federal Government of the United States has not enacted any breed specific legislation, individual states and cities have. Pitbull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Presa Canarios, and Rottweilers are all breeds which have been targeted by relevant local legislation, though. If in doubt, we would always recommend seeking advice from your local police department or municipality.

We work with our clients and dogs as they are, not how we would like them to be. We take a realistic approach to training and do not cut corners.

Protection dogs need to work through a handler. This requires intelligence, obedience, and restraint. A protection dog leaves little to chance.

This is dependent on you and your family’s particular needs. Lifestyle, allergies, and aesthetic preferences are all factors to consider which we would be happy to discuss with you.

Any dog should be treated with a degree of caution, but we invest significant amounts of work and effort into ensuring that our protection dogs are safe around families. This includes children.

Yes. Our handover always includes thorough guidance on how to train and handle your new family protection dog.

Protection dogs must be able to defend, but should not be inherently aggressive. They must be able to determine whether or not someone is a threat and respond accordingly.

Yes. We run bespoke residential protection dog training courses throughout the year.

Yes. Protection dogs are only able to fulfil their specific roles because of how highly trainable they are.

First of all, we encourage all potential clients to engage in an initial obligation-free consultation with us. This will help us establish your needs, then find the ideal dog for you. Both parties need to decide if it will be a good match.

No more so than any other well-trained dog. We invest months into all of our dogs to ensure that they are ready for home environments.

There is no way to guarantee this, but we advise that getting a family protection dog is not a decision you rush into.

Yes. Dogs have extremely strong powers of recollect and it is unlikely that they will forget their owner after a short period of separation for training.

This is not a problem. We are able to transport our dogs to your home and conduct a full-handover there as well.

We have extraordinarily high client satisfaction rates. Generally, clients feel that their family protection dog was a worthwhile investment to guarantee their security.

A family protection dog is specifically trained to act as a pet, but also step up and guard – on command and through a handler – as and when necessary.

The first line of protection a security dog offers is deterrence. If it is known that you have a protection dog, your home is less likely to be targeted by would-be intruders. Failing that, a security dog can protect by apprehending and restraining intruders with targeted bites, usually to the arm until they are commanded to withdraw.

Much like any other dog, the best initial way to train a Dobermann is with positive reinforcement and repetition. We will always advise on this during any handover process.

K9 is simply an informal term which usually refers to any working dog. It is not a term we use.