Notes on Protection Dogs, Training, and Ownership
Straight answers to the questions we get asked most, from families deciding whether a protection dog belongs in their home to owners getting the most out of the dog they already have.
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Deterrence: The Part of the Job You Never See
Deterrence is the part of a protection dog’s job that almost never gets discussed, because nothing happens. It is also the part that does the most work.
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Signs Your Household Might Benefit From a Protection Dog
Most people who end up with a protection dog did not start out looking for one. They started with a specific unease, worked through the usual options, and…
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How Long Does It Really Take to Train a Protection Dog?
Around two years for a dog completing our full program, plus roughly eight more weeks of customization after purchase. Here is why the timeline is what it is.
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Common Myths About Protection Dogs, Debunked
Almost everything the public believes about protection dogs comes from film, and film needs drama. The reality is considerably more boring, which is what you want living in…
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Guard Dog vs. Protection Dog: What’s the Real Difference?
These terms get used interchangeably in advertising, which is unfortunate, because they describe three genuinely different things. Knowing which one you are buying matters.
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German Shepherd vs. Belgian Malinois vs. Dutch Shepherd: Which Is Right for You?
All three of these breeds produce outstanding protection dogs, which is exactly why the question is hard. The real question is not which breed is best, but which…
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Is a Protection Dog Worth the Investment? A Realistic Look
It depends almost entirely on what you are asking the dog to do. Here is how we think about it, including the parts of the calculation that usually…