I have considered the idea of personal protection training with my dog for those reasons.( I want her to be under my comlpete control 1st from an obedience standpoint, and I'm still working on that!She is just 2 now))I feel that a dog should be trained to know how to respond to certain situations with confidence.

HOWEVER!!!! Everyone that I speak to has scared me into not pursuing that because of liability.

I've been told that I could lose my house if God forbid anyone was ever bitten by the dog(even if she was protecting me or my family).That is if it was known that she was TRAINED to bite.

I was even told that you should not put up a beware of dog sign because that proves that you are aware your animal is dangerous and presents a threat to society.

I'm not sure the exact legality of all of this, but it seems plausible to me that this may be a real concern for PP/SCH dogs and their owners.

I would love to get into PP or SCH but I couldn't take a risk, not w/ 4 kids to think about.

Am I paranoid or what? Anyone know the truth about actual liability?

Also, in answer to your question, police dogs are not so much personal protection dogs as they are Public Protection dogs!!Just my 2 cents

Jeanette,

So much depends on the circumstances of the bite. If you shoot some one will you be liable, or criminaly prosucuted? It depends on the circumstances. If the dog makes a clean bite in defending you in an attack, you will probably be ok, if the dog just bites the neighbor that isn't doing anything you will probably have a problem. Are you going to be of more value to your kids being sued or dead from an attack? I would much rather work out the details of the law suit than be in the hospital, or worse, having had the dog made the bite that saves my butt.

There is another issue here. The likelyhood of the dog making an uncalled for bite is much less with a trained dog. A big portion of the training for PP is to teach the dog control and what constitutes a real threat. I feel much safer with trained dogs around than with untrained dogs. The level of confidence in the dog is much different. The dog is sure that it can win in a situation is going to be less likely to bite from fear. With a trained dog you have a good idea of what will cause the dog to bite, with an untrained dog you aren't sure. A trained dog can be outed, an untrained dog may have to be choked off.

In most communities a serious dog bite is big news. A trained dog making an uncalled for bite is really big news. How many do you hear about? I will bet it isn't many.

As for signs, I don't really put them up. I do have some funny ones in the window (We can make to the Fence....) but no beware of dog signs. Different people recomend different things. My trainer is of the opinion a trained dog is like having a gun. You learn how to use it, you make sure you can control it, you don't advertise it, you plan on never putting your self in a position that you need it. For the most part if you are near the fence at our house there is no question we have big dogs, and they aren't happy about seeing you. If you come to my front door there is no question they are there. That is enough to deter most criminals. A barking dog and a light at access points are 2 things that will deter more burglars than anything else. In reality it is all most people really need.

Most protection dogs will function to protect hearth and home, if they get out in most cases they don't have anything to protect any more so they are usually friendly (properly socialized and trained). My dogs are the biggest pests in the world once you have been allowed in to the house. If I have to put them up it is because they won't leave the guests alone. They want to be petted all the time.

Thanks Richard,
I was wondering about this subject myself!

If the dog's 1 year old, then I wouldn't think it would matter. I may be wrong . . .

Your probably going to have to spend a LONG time getting to know these people. There's extreme paranoia with some people in this field in my opinion, especially when they don't know you. Some have reasons, MANY don't. You may not be able to achieve what you'd like with this dog. This may be a better learning period because of circumstances. (That's no fair to you though)

I think there's always a factor of power trips in things, and if these people don't need you they may not necessarily want you. (for whatever reason)

As far as legal reasons, there's SO many variables in that. It matters where it is, whose involved (jury-judge-victim-defendant-money, etc. etc.) I've never heard of a case when someone was criminally charged that wasn't involved in very abnormal behavior, or it was SEVERE irresponsible dog ownership. Many times attacks come from dogs just out roaming the neighborhood.

I'm from Texas, but I know 99.9% of the time if a criminal came into court wanting to file suit against someone they commited a crime against about their dog, they'd get laughed out of court. Other places (CA) aren't always the same.

In relations to kids, I would be VERY concerned. It's hard to watch your own. It's impossible to watch their friends. The two times I was attacked as a child by a dog was at someone's home w/ friends whose parents didn't know the risk. They had these dogs and just treated them like beagles. (Even if that dog isn't trained, your asking for trouble-Natural instincts) The dog was only doing what it naturally does.

Thanks Richard!!!

I agree with you and your feedback has helped me to decide to give PP another try. I'm going to call a local man who trains and meet with him to evaluate my dog and her potential..... thanks again

Hi -

I am really enjoying this thread. I posted another message in the Schutzhund area about my concerns - and here are the same things being discussed! I guess I am very fortunate that the Sch club in my area is open minded and welcomed me. The Tr. Dir. there is a working k9 police officer, and there are ALOT of very experiences trainers there from whom I hope to learn alot.

But I've already figgered out that maybe I dont want to trial my dogs. Or if I do, it will be after alot of forethought. And I'm certainly not about to voice my opinions openly with these kind folks who are willing to teach me for almost nothing.

My interest in Schutzhund has 2 fold, one educate me - and two, work one or more of my dogs to a title thereby increasing the value of there puppies. *I* know they are good dogs, but people buying them want to see "alphabets".

Is there another "Dog Validation" aside from Schutzhund? I dont mean simple obedience titling, as I raise my GSD's for protection and WORKING purposes, a dog that can be off lead and reliable in any situation, be it quiet gathering or a fireworks display or at home on the floor.

Any helpful input would be gratefully recieved
Thanks
Bobbie

SlowRide:

I deleted your post and started a thread in the section Dogs That Are Too Aggressive To People. This thread has been answered and is closed.