Just a remark, a survey showed that the dog responsible for the most Bite’s – not attacks- on humans were in fact –“Poodles”, so be careful who’s advice you follow, but never the less the giant Poodle is also the most aggressive by nature just for the record, but this has nothing to do with the original poster is on / yes I do not believe in sending a dog away to a pro or any dog trainer for protection work, and then returning this animal back in to a home, with out proper training. The success rate is just to low.

But to train a guard dog, is better – and needs no obedience, contrary to believe.

But when it comes to a protection dog training it need’s skill and a good dog to start off with, a lot of foundation and obedience is required here.

Dee-Dee = Be-care-full,- Yes a good warning to all interested in taking a short cut to have a dog trained and then returned to it’s owner after completion – So be careful what you ask for and want, a very stern warning from my grand father, because when you get it, it might just be more than what you can handle.

You can not have a dog turned protection, and then have him around with out a trained “MASTER” that knows how to handle his new Tasmanian devil, I do not like dogs or owners with theses type’s of dogs. It’s like having a lizard, and then sending it away, just to get it back a alligator, you are sure to pick up “S” – 100% guaranteed.

You have drawn aspects to the surface with this quick fix training, it takes about 6 months to train a dog and handler, some of theses “pro=trainers do this in as little as two to three weeks, where do you think table training and tie-out’s came from etc.

And this also proves that sending and having your dog with a Pro trainer does not guarantee the results that would be expected either, so I am confidant that one can train your own dog in your own time at home, and have a stunning dog with all the bell’s and whistles, literature on the training and development of dogs are in abundance, and in the favour of any man on pension is time, a essential ingredient for training..

And yes granted – you do have a social responsibility to put a safety catch on a loaded gun, like wise train a safety catch into a dog’s brain, you can not have the one without the other. No matter what you train.
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My personal thanks to all of you for your input. I think there were some real substance in some of the opinions. I took some replies personally, and for that I apologize. I will train my dog in obedience, intense pray drive, bite work, the out, etc. When the dog is three years old or perhaps a little younger I will retain an experienced helper to test the dog in fight drive. If the dog has the right genetics, the dog will bite on command, out on command, relax on command etc, this is of course assuming that I know what I am doing. This is a preliminary plan, I will adjust accordingly as I read and learn the nuances of protection training. I will be flexible, but never NEGATIVE, like Reinier said, this is not Nuclear Fission. Common sense and dedication combined with reading and asking knowledgable people the right questions should accomlish the task at hand. Thanks Again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Denver,

One thing to keep in mind is that all training can be done by you. The dog doesn't have to be sent out to do this training. Just find a trainer to help you get it done right. It is much easier to do it when the dog is young. They are smaller and easier to handle, they learn quicker, and you don't have to break any bad habits. I doubt I would ever send a dog out for training, it is just too much fun to do the work. You also learn a tremendous amount about the dog during the training. This will also give you a better idea about how to handle the dog once the training is completed.

Denver it seems to me a very valid question.
i would like to think that when my dog gets old enough (she is only 5 months old )she would be protective enough to perceive a threat.
And quite frankly if it means saving my wife or my children from harm. i dont care if they dont let go.

other dogs i have had have not been vicious dogs like what has been mentioned here but have got agresive on occasion.
Treat your dog as part of your family and it will be there for you.

I agree with Richard 100%. Solid advice and well meaning advice.


Leerburg has some videos and books that I think would help you get a good idea on protection dog training. Follow these links. . .

book on family protection dogs


Videos


The book I linked to is a good getting started one. For videos I'd e-mail Ed Frawley and tell him what your goals are and ask for a list of video titles that can help.

I suggest The First Steps of Bite Training, and the First Steps of Defense to give you a good idea of what is involved. Training Personal Protection Dogs is also a good one.

For pups Ed will tell you where to start.


Good luck


A tangent. . .

Reinier Geel, this is going to sound like I'm picking a fight again, but it is just a legitimate question I promise.

Is the Poodle one of the most vicious dogs in South Africa or the United States? Because I used to check up on the ASPCA and Humane Society (and others) compilations of bite incidents here in the US and not once did I ever see the Poodle even in the top 20 breeds.

What about old Danny the poodle drug dog at Lackland AFB <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> , ya think he is vicious ? Mr. Geel, where in fact did you get the information that poddles are the top biters? Just curious like VC. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Asher, BTW if cost is an issue, the book I linked to is very inexpensive.

Mr. van Camp: Thank you for the info, I already bought a pup, it comes next week, conceived in Germany. Has a bunch of letters next to the parents name, not sure what all that means. Such as both are pure DDR, both SchH3, both kkl1, both V rated, both proven producers. Must mean something? Inbred to some BSP winner!!??? whatever that means.

Mr. Van Camp: Sorry, I misspoke, not inbred, line bred, I know the difference there, since I breed Thoroughbred race horses. Sorry for the error.

Drew you are right that a dog that doesn't have the right nerves and trained as a guard dog or protection dog could be a fear bitter or just be crazy and nobody in some cases no even family can go in the back yard. This is something that you don't want, you want a family member that is under command control. You don't want a dog making decisions base on no trainng or his own preceived idea (see Dee Dee's warning).

Dave Mack - The family dog may try to growl and bark, and he may try to protect, some dogs can preceive the threat and try to stop and or engauge the assailant. But few if any will try to engauge after being kicked or hit with a stick.

A protection trained dog like most street fighters enjoys a rough fight, and this will only make them madder. So thinking that the family pet will protection is like wondering if you got a loaded gun in a shoot out. You won't know until you pull the trigger, then its too late, if you are wrong.