If these are basically the scenarieos that you are experiencing that you feel that you need a PPD for...then all you need is a GSD with you by your side. The reputation that GSDs have for protection work with the general public will be enough to discourage someone from bothering you. Train you dog to bark on command & stop when told to & that should suffice. John Q Public doesn't need to have a GSD snarl at then to think twice about messing with you, barking is enough, in cases other than the ones that Will mentioned, a GSD barking directly at someone will be enough to have them go bother someone else that doesn't have a dog. If that isn't sufficient for your needs than get a liscence to carry a concealed firearm, because it will take more than just a barking, snarling dog to deter the individule that is botherine you, & very likely more than a dog that is willing to go in for a bite. You will need the kind of dog that Will is talking about, with alot of 'fight' & that kind of dog is a bit of a loaded gun & requires THE RIGHT DOG, expert training, constant maintenace training & a change in lifestyle from the way that you live, I am sure. They are not usually the dogs that are happy to 'play' with all your kids friends & happily accept strangers comming into the house to visit for the evening. They also require constant vigilance on your part 100 % of the time. This type of lifestyle can be very stressful in & of itself. So I think that a barking on command dog would suit your needs well for the most part. I know that if I give my female an alert command (& she is only 60lbs) she goes 'nuts' & I tell you that no one will approach me with her in THAT state.( & they don't even know that with the alert she is looking for somone to bite- just seeing her in that state is enough of a deterent in it self) No matter how badly they may want my handbag or anything else that I have. When I walk my male, people just cross the street when they see us comming or move away off the walkway & give him a wide berth. He is 80lbs & has a very serious look to his face & is very aloof to strangers which make him apear even more menacing to them. He also will allert if told & acts just as 'nuts' as my female. Again, enough of a deterent. If it isn't enough than it is going to take more than a dog to deter that kind of person. So like I said, start to carry a gun.

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I disagree that moving is cowardly; moving is the intelligent thing to do if you have genuine, warranted fear for your life.

Just to clarify; I wasn't talking about for stalking victims moving is cowardly, but people in an area where degenerates were allowed to take over because of complacency.

People that are stalked can either anonymously call bio-hazard clean up companies and get estimates, then wait patiently with their loaded weapon and sleep with one eye open until their stalker allows the victim to lawfully eliminate them. Or they can move and try to avoid the whole situation. I would recommend moving in those situations because the stalker, unlike the neighborhood thug, is entirely focused on their victim, whereas the thug is more opportunistic in nature and scattered in mindset when compared to the stalker.

Jenni, I know exactly where you're coming from, and I too have seen the scorn like attitude most people have for people who have a real need for PPD's. My initial feeling for Mike's post was offense, but then I realized he really doesn't know any better, nor do most of the people with that attitude. Good for them I guess. Connie's right, Mike's post allowed for some enlightenment <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Connie, you always look for the good, I love that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As someone who has only ever had ppds and doesn't understand the attraction to sport dogs, I have to say, I think we need to cut Mike some slack here. As I read it, he meant no disrespect to those in tough situtaions and was simply making joke. Had those scenarios been presented prior, I doubt he would have made the same comment. The world would be a humorless place if we thought of every single person that might be offended before we made a joke, no matter how obscure.

Also I think everyone should be required to carry a gun, the world would be a much more polite and safe place.

Do I have to scream it? I KNOW MIKE WAS MAKING A JOKE AND DIDN'T MEAN IT SERIOUSLY. There. My point was that it made a good intro to bring up the misconception MANY people have about owning PPDs. Hope that helps. Sheesh, no one is more humorously offensive than I.

OK everyone, I just came back from a 4th (and probably final) helper interview. Leave it to a woman to do the job right!! She told me (as does everyone) his temperment is phenomenal. She said his prey drive and bark were very good and for what I need, my dog is more than enough.

She told me I can easily teach the on and off switch and don't need to waste my money using helpers to get that. She was not after my money - what a relief.

She told me to forget trying to teach him to go for a bite, due to both my low level needs and the laws in the state of New Jersey. It's apparently illegal for me to send my dog for a bite even if he had that ability it's quite a liability for my way of life and current needs.

He currently knows pass auf as the command to bark aggressively but I haven't taught an off command yet. I will work on these with little trouble I'm sure. After that I'll use her for reinforcing the confidence building - she has access to helpers who help her and we'll use them to run from Gunnar when he is barking. I told her I wanted to use a guy for this as they are usually the trouble makers anyway <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> ! I always let kids and their mothers pet my dog. Never let men. Sorry to all you guys who might get offended but the odds of a woman breaking into my house or following me in a parking lot are really slim!

So thanks again all. I have finally found what I'm looking for. Jeez, this was NOT easy. I'm exhausted <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> !

Judy

Might I make a suggestion?

Anyone considering the use or ownership of a ppd should check their State laws *THEMSELVES*, not take the word of someone else, even your trainer.
To do otherwise would be irresponsible in my book.

I didn't put too much thought into it due to the fact that I won't being going down the bite route. However, your point is well taken.

Jenni my post was not directed at you specifically.

As far as this idea about a dog that is defensively agressive with an "on/off switch" yet has no understanding of bite work, or defensive helper work, let's just say I have my reservations. I've seen a lot of professional trainers that say "you only need a level 1 dog, because of your threat level." And when you actually pressure these untrained dogs with an unfamiliar helper they head to the hills. I always think of that scene in that movie "Fear" where they stuck the head of the dog through the doggy door. Also a dog can't be a proactive deterant if they don't know it's there, which happens a lot.

Good luck Judy, I hope your dog works out to be exactly what you want and need, and you enjoy the training and bonding. That's worth all the effort. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Luke, I didn't think it was <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Mine was not directed at you specifically, either. It just so happened that your name was last, so it's the one that got clicked on when I replied. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I agree with your reservations, incidentally. It would seem kind of like stopping a golf club mid-swing to just stop at a certain point in bitework. Lots of dogs will only make it to a certain level, but you don't know until you try, so why not take it as far as you can?

Sorry for the hijacking...back to Judy...

Yea Jenni, back to Judy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, ARRGGHH! Luke you're killin' me! I thought I had it all under control until I read your post this morning. Why can't I have a dog with an extremely calm temperment be taught to bark when told and stop when told? Am I simplifying something I shouldn't? Again, no guns, drugs, stalkers in my life (at least not yet, there's always tomorrow <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />. Therefore, can't I teach my dog this thing w/o teaching the bite? I discussed what would be done in the helper area and it was all confidence building discussion. Guy runs away when my dog barks, period. No staring him down, etc. As his confidence is built up and the training on the bark is perfected, I then have my visual deterrent. Am I wrong to think this is possible <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />