9 September 2024
One of the questions we are most asked is what the difference between a sports and protection dog is, and whether sports dogs can be used for family protection work. Sports dogs are trained and bred to perform to predictable standards in a ring, whereas protection dogs must be ready to defend in the real world against any number of potential threats. Effective performance in the sports ring is certainly an achievement, but very different from the demands and rigours of real-life security work.
The experience of owning a sports or protection dog can be very different, and this alone is worth giving serious consideration to. A sports dog will be naturally predisposed towards having high energy and demanding significant attention and activity levels. Failure to meet these needs will almost certainly result in unwanted and destructive behaviours which become hard to manage and live with. While not impossible, it can be difficult for a sports dog to assimilate to normal family life and settings outside of the ring.
In contrast, a protection dog will have been selected and trained to live with and protect its family, not simply perform to a given sport’s competition standards. A protection dog doubles as a guardian and a companion, and is unique in its ability to defend and be a pet too. At Protection Dogs Worldwide, we emphasize preparing our dogs for everyday life, and ensuring they are fully conditioned to all the stimuli they can expect to be exposed to with their families.
While canine sports demand high performance and a certain calibre of dog, they seldom meet the requirements for a family protector and companion. Instead, it is better to choose a specialised breeder and trainer whose dogs have been proven to meet the standard for family protection work. For information on how we can help you, please email [email protected].