If you are not dedicated to owning a PPD, this means accepting the liabilities and exercising the neccesary vigilence and precautions to avoid liabilities, then you shouldn't own one.

A PPD should bite if the handler is assaulted -- as David said, it is as simple as someone putting their hands on the handler.

*I agree with this. No point having the dog if he will not protect you when attacked.

The reality is, what most people perceive to be a PPD, is not really a PPD. The type of dog that would make a great PPD is the type of dog most people cannot handle, don't want to handle, or feel is too much of a liaility for their suburban family lifestyle to support. The trend with PPD's is to have a fluffy family dog that can tollerate all the crap kids can dish out without eating the child alive, then be expected to be a nasty monster in the event that a situation were to arise where the dog should protect. The types of dogs that make the best PPD's are dogs that aren't really that great as family dogs, but there is little doubt left in your mind as to whether the dog will actually bite.

*This is interesting because I know that most people looking for a PPD look for a very intense/high drive dog. However, I have been told by many trainers that a good PPD should be social w/everyone, be good around family and friends but have the ability to engage ANY individual when commanded to do so. It appears there really are a lot of differing opinions on this note.

Just because a dog looks good on the suit, or runs into people wearing a muzzle, does not mean the dog will bite a person, or bite them properly, the first time they are subjected to a real life scenario. Even many police dogs have trouble with their first street bite. A law enforcement officer has somewhat of a luxury to go back in training and address the issue. A civilian will likely never use their dog to bite someone, if it happens, it'll be a one time deal. You want the dog to DO IT, not uhm and err about it. For this, you need a strong, natural dog. Often this means owning a dog that won't tollerate stupid crap like strangers coming up behind you and petting the dog, or people being physical with you when they are having a conversation, tapping your arm etc. These are the types of dogs where the training is more focused on control, rather than teaching the dog to bite, because the dogs genetics already make the dog want to bite everyone.

*This is why I chose not to involve myself w/Schutzhund. When I first started this I had no idea that Schutzhund wasnt protection training, w/o some good advice and people in my corner and the desire to approach things correctly I might have gone that route instead of PPD training. All it took was for someone to tell me that a dog with Sch training might not take the bite w/o the sleeve and I was looking outside the box.

What most people really want is a big dog that barks aggressively and puts on a good enough show to instill a false sense of security that the dog will actually save their life no matter what. Kinda like gated communities -- the guard is there to deter, but if someone hops over the wall, the guard will sit in his guard house and dial 911 for you.

*Not acceptable, I don't believe that we live in a world where there is room for any error. If a dog is told to bite there should be no doubt in my mind that he will engage.

The "right" PPD could still live in the house as a family dog, but the dog is a different type of dog to what most people would consider a "suitable family pet" that will let all the kids friends play with him and lets everyone walk into the house without a peep.

*I have commented several times on the fact that Levi rarely barks or shows concern when people come into our home. I have been told that this is a sign of good nerves. Is this to say that if my 12 month old gsd isn't creating havoc when strangers come into the house that he is already showing signs of not being able to do this work? I respect your opinions.

*I have commented several times on the fact that Levi rarely barks or shows concern when people come into our home. I have been told that this is a sign of good nerves. Is this to say that if my 12 month old gsd isn't creating havoc when strangers come into the house that he is already showing signs of not being able to do this work? I respect your opinions.

*This is interesting because I know that most people looking for a PPD look for a very intense/high drive dog. However, I have been told by many trainers that a good PPD should be social w/everyone, be good around family and friends but have the ability to engage ANY individual when commanded to do so. It appears there really are a lot of differing opinions on this note.

I don't quite understand what Norman meant when he said "I want a dog who will engage on a passive individual." ? What type scenario might that be - I think I'm missing something.

Lots of people also like to justify what makes a great dog based on what their dog is like, rather than accepting their dogs shortcomings. Being aware of and accepting a dogs shortcomings can be the difference between having a great dog, and having everyone believe you have a great dog.

Robbin, if you can have people in the house and the dog is good around the kids it sounds like a good dog for your lifestyle. The kind of dog Mike is describing is a pain in the butt to own and is another whole learning process and the dog has to managed ALL of the time, definitely not for everyone.
AL