Myths about Protection-Trained Dogs and their Trainers

It has been a long time since I wanted to write something on this never-ending debate, but I am frustrated by the dishonesty of some disreputable dog “trainers” advertising dogs and training, especially on the Internet.  I’d like to offer a few common-sense tips for finding a good protection dog.
I have trained a large number of dogs for high-level sport as well as for professional protection work, both personal and professional law enforcement K-9 programs.  I regularly lecture around the world, giving seminars in my specialties: Schutzhund, Ring Sports, Police K9 units, Search and Rescue, and Advanced Obedience.  I train “sport” dogs and “service” dogs and their handlers to achieve their highest potential.
In my work, I have come across many disreputable trainers who advertise for large amounts of money dogs that are poorly trained or worse.
So if I’m in the market for a protection dog, how can I identify a reliable dog trainer?
If you’ve searched the web, you know how many titles can be put in front or behind a name. Some of these titles are valid and recognized worldwide, but others are only catchy words, giving no information about the skills of a trainer whatsoever.  Be aware that titles such the “President,” “CEO,” “Master trainer,” etc., of some company that has the words “xxx International, Inc.,” “K9,” or “Protection,” in the name, in and of themselves, mean nothing. Anyone can open a business with a catchy name, pay someone to build a state of the art web site, and target someone like yourself to buy a fully trained dog with many guarantees.  Especially if you are just beginning to look for a dog or trainer, it is very easy to be misled. Don’t be a victim of such scams!  Investing $10,000 to $35,000 in a dog is not a guarantee that the dog is worth this kind of money.  I will be the first to tell you that for sure a dog can be worth such amount, but the fact is that such highly valuable dogs are very rare. When you browse the web long enough, I am sure you will see many dogs in this price range. The fact is that they are probably worth $4,000 at the most, if that. There are simply not that many highly trained dogs out there, and for sure there are not that many trainers that are capable of training a dog of that caliber.  Think about it: would a world-class, $35,000 dog, desired by K9, Secret Service, and protection companies around the world, be likely to be advertised on the Internet to strangers?
No.
The best way to compare trainers/instructors is by examining their past achievements.  For this reason, if you cannot find any information about performance and training records on a given website, do not waste your time.
Here are some typical taglines to watch out for:
“30 years of combined experience.” If someone has 30 years of successful experience (or, in the case of “combined” experience, if several people together have worked for a sum total of 30 years), one would expect numerous valid accomplishments that can be verified easily.  The statement on its own means nothing.
“Master trainer” is one of the most misused titles in the dog training world. For example, it can mean that someone is in charge of the training of a big number of dogs and handlers in the army.  It can also mean that someone has his own business with one employee and he is in charge of the training. The second obviously has no merit.
You can be a “master trainer” too!
“Expert trainer.”   This must be someone who has expertise, right ? So ask who considers them as an expert and see for yourself it this is true. They should provide you with references and credentials of the people/companies who see them as experts.
“Graduate of xxxx school for dog trainers.”  Have you ever looked into what it takes to enroll and graduate from dog trainers’ school?  It is not even remotely enough to guarantee someone’s skills as a dog trainer. Yes, it does look good on a resume. But what it really takes is to have a few free months and enough money to spend on the tuition, and you can “graduate” from at least one of the many levels the school offers. I will say, in defense of dog training schools, that it is a very good place to begin learning or a career in the business, and I encourage people interested in dog training to look into some of them. But I can’t emphasize enough that it is just a start and on its own means not much.
“Training director” is normally associated with the person in charge of the training in Schutzhund, Ring or any other dog sport club. He is also normally also the helper or decoy who works the dogs in protection. There are many such dog clubs out there. Some, of course, are better than others. In some instances it takes 3 people to form a club, but not one of them may have sufficient knowledge of dog training.  As with all other credentials, research the club to determine if the training director is likely to be a qualified trainer.
 “Members of xxxx club.” Being a member of a club in most cases involves simply joining the organization and paying your yearly dues. It is in no way a measure of training skill or achievement.

What about video clips and photographs of trained dogs?
Seeing a video clip of a demo dog, is not enough to make a sound judgment!
First of all, a video does not prove that the dog on the clip is trained by the company in question.
In addition, with current technology, videos are very easy to edit. The dog may look strong only because it is in a familiar environment with familiar decoy and has repeated the scenario numerous times before the filming.  A clip of a dog does not serve as a proof of the quality and abilities of a dog or company.  Pictures obviously give even less information.
Finally, videos and pictures are very often stolen from someone else’s web site.

So what do I look for?
Look for achievements in relevant areas. Don’t be shy to ask for performance records. After all, you are a client who is willing to invest serious money in a dog. You deserve accurate representation of the trainer’s expertise. Schutzhund, Ring sports, Protection Sport Association (PSA), and others are competitive sports that exist to determine who the top trainers are. Some of the organizations have very small number of members and competition is not as strong, so make sure to learn about the competitive sport most appropriate for the dog you are trying to buy.
Most of the dog sports have club level competition, which leads to regional level, then national level, and finally world championships; similarly, many have categories, such as Levels 1, 2, 3, and so on. The top “Level 1” dog at a given show or competition will be weaker than the bottom “Level 2” dog at the same show. Dog sports have specific structure and rules to go by, so everyone who competes is judged equally.
Some people enter the dog sports arena so they can learn how to train dogs and have fun with it. Some do so to show the quality of their dogs and their breed, which in some cases is a proof of sound temperament and breed worthiness. No matter what other reasons there might be, a dog competition is the outlet for trainers to prove themselves. A top competition trainer will make sure the dog is controlled, understands commands, and is reliable.
That said, being a top competitor is not enough.  A trainer must also have proven himself in training strictly protection dogs and handlers as well.
Definitely do not buy a dog sight-unseen. Go and see at least three dogs that have been trained by the individual or company for protection.  Meet them, and ask to see them perform in a scenario you set up and not the company!

Intruders don’t sneak in your house wearing bite suits or bite sleeves. Any legit protection dog trainer can demonstrate this to you with the dog in question.
Don’t forget also to find out if they trained the dog, or if they bought it already trained. Granted there are few trainers who do not compete, but they have taught others to reach high levels in various sports. Even the police K9s have trials and certifications. Anyone on the Internet who claims to be a master trainer in their K9 International or global company and is telling you to buy their once-in-a-lifetime, $35,000 dog, should be able to prove their knowledge and expertise in dog training first. If the seller can’t provide you with this information or if you can’t find it anywhere on their web site, it is best to look elsewhere.

What do I look for in the actual dog?
It is quite common to describe the level of the protection dogs as Level 1, Level 2, executive protection, and so on. In many ways this is based on the structure of competitions.  But one company’s Level 2 dog might be very weak compared to another company’s Level 1.  There is no unified system for “grading” dogs on the market.
You can judge a company’s own standards by checking out the knowledge of the trainer, which will first be evident in their accomplishments. If all this looks good, then find out about their clients.  Where have they placed dogs?  Are the dogs working dogs, sport dogs, or pets?  Do those clients return for additional dogs?  Are they satisfied?  Check references.
One thorny issue is that of the sport dog versus the “real” dog. Contrary to the way you should judge the skills of a trainer (competition accomplishments), dogs that have done well in certain sports may actually not be suitable as protection dogs.
In nutshell, many dogs that do well in dog sports, including PSA, may be only “sport” dogs, meaning they will not protect you or your family if needed.  They will not bite an intruder or attacker without a sleeve or a bite suit.  You may see a very fancy video of a dog that works great on a bite suit, but he may not do so well if he had to bite in a real life situation. This is where a skilled and honest trainer is necessary to tell you about the dog in question. As an example, on occasion police K9 dogs with the highest performance records in trials will be purchased by a police force and find themselves, say chasing a suspect in a dark alley.  But when the dog finally catches up with the criminal, it becomes highly confused and stressed, because it wants to bite him, but it doesn’t see the familiar equipment. These cases are rare but they are evidence of how important is to select the right training source for your protection dog.

What breed should I look for?
Pretty much any dog of sound temperament can be used to some extent as a protection dog, or at least as an alert dog. The smaller breeds (up to 50lb) obviously would not be “man stoppers.” Any larger-size dog could be a protection dog. I have to say that most dogs must go through vigorous training in order to understand when they are needed and how to be of help. The dog has to have natural protective instincts, be pack-oriented, and/or territorial. Even an Afghan Hound could do it (a rare case, but I have seen it done). Generally speaking, and only generally speaking, some breeds make better guard dogs, (meaning they would do well protecting their territory), and others would make better owner-protection dogs (meaning they would do well protecting their owners).
Two of the universal protection dog breeds are the German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois. At present, these are the two breeds that stand out of the rest. Around the world it is not an accident that 99% percent of the police and army dog are Malinois or German Shepherds. Yes, a Doberman Pinscher or a Bouvier, among others, could do just as fine a job, but the temperament of these breeds has been compromised in recent years for their looks, and the prevalence of genetic illnesses such as hip dysplasia has risen dramatically. A dog from a mastiff breed can be very strong and a great deterrent, but their trainability level does not come close to that of a Malinois or a German Shepherd. Therefore, they are limited in what they can be used for in protection. Another plus for the Malinois and the German Shepherd is that they have double coat, meaning they can function in any climate, snow or desert. They have been bred and used for protection from the late 1800s, and through the decades and around the world they have been selected for their temperament, trainability, agility, strong bite and scent work, and their lack of fear. In recent years the Malinois has become the number one choice for protection work due to their work ethic, trainability, and natural protectiveness.
In any case, you can find a dog of almost any breed that can serve as a protection dog. You should take the following qualities into consideration:
Stable temperament. The dog should not be performing out of fear.
Good size.  A dog has to be big enough to to be effective.
Speed.  As with an athlete, the weight and speed of a dog have their advantages and disadvantages. A dog that has a bit of both is the most universal type, therefore the Malinois and the German Shepherd are the breed of choice without a doubt.
Health.  Note that the Malinois have fewer health problems than any other working breed.
I hope that this article will steer you in the right direction and help you ask the right questions so you can find the best protection or sport dog for your needs.

 Written by : Ivan Balabanov