Protection Dog Training - Vicious Animal or Family Pet?

I was recently in a social setting where I was asked about my dog, Rocco. Rocco is my Rottweiler who has undergone extensive protection dog training. We were engrossed in a discussion about his training and capabilities when we were overheard by another person.

"Oh, you shouldn't train your dog to do that stuff. That makes them vicious," was her statement injected into our conversation. I was initially a bit taken-aback and annoyed; not only was her comment unsolicited but it was based on a lack of knowledge. As I thought about it more, however, I came to realize that this is a common style of thinking. There are many misconceptions about protection dogs and protection dog training. Let me dispel some of the myths of protection dogs and talk about protection dog training at its root to combat some of the more prevalent misinformation.

First, let me do a bit of defining. There are many terms thrown around that are often interchanged incorrectly.

Attack Dog- A poorly trained, typically anti-social, and fearful creature. Ineffective except for looking tough.

Guard Dog- A dog that is trained to guard an area. Guard dogs are often used on estates, warehouses, or open areas that need guarding. Guard dogs may or may not be good with people and may or may not have obedience training.

Police Patrol Dog- A dog that is trained to work chasing down criminals. They are trained to be used on the offensive.

Protection Dog- A dog that is trained to be used first and foremost as a defensive deterrent. A protection dog is trained to show aggression on command and turn off on command. A protection dog is trained to attack on command or if the aggressor is not deterred by the show of aggression. A protection dog has high levels of obedience training.

So now let me return to the original statement. Does training a protection dog make him vicious? I understand why many people would assume this. After all, you are training a dog to show aggression, bite a person, and do what is necessary to combat a human. Protection dog training does not, however, make a dog vicious.

There are several styles and methods for protection dog training. At its root, however, there are two instincts, or drives, that protection dog trainers harness time and time again to achieve results. Let's examine them.

Prey Drive

Prey drive is a drive that most dogs possess, not just protection dogs. A Labrador retriever chases a tennis ball because of prey drive. The local mongrel chases a car because of prey drive. Essentially, prey drive is a dog's desire to chase and capture a fast moving object. Nothing vicious about it. A good protection dog trainer will harness this drive to teach a puppy to chase a rag. As the puppy grows older he graduates from a rag to a tug. From a tug the trainer teaches the dog to bite a sleeve or a dog training bite suit. All the while the training is approached as a game. As a fun way to use energy and satisfy drive. Basically, the decoy, or guy wearing the bite suit or sleeve, is not viewed as a 'bad guy' but as a partner in a fun game. As training progresses, a good trainer will train the dog to discount the presence of equipment and view the person as the prey object. All of this training is done on command only. As training progresses the dog is taught to only respond when he hears the dog training command from his owner. This ensures for safety and control.

Defense Drive

All creatures have some sort of defense mechanism. Dogs have three ways of dealing with an aggressor: fight, flight, or avoidance. In protection dog training a good trainer will utilize a dog's defense drive to build on what he has learned with prey drive. The trainer will show the dog that in certain situations a person is a threat and can be dealt with using the skills taught in prey drive. In this way, prey drive and defense drive work together. In essence, a dog is taught that when given a command that the aggressor is a real threat and he should use his skills to fight the threat. As with prey drive these skills are taught only under command and with high levels of control and safety.

There are not many dogs capable of this level of training. A dog that can accomplish this is a strong and very confident dog. This level of confidence is what often makes protection dogs safe and good with people. They are so confident that they don't view people as threats unless told to under command by their owner. Protection dog training often bolsters this confidence as these dogs learn the power that they have and their innate abilities.

So are these dogs vicious? Absolutely not. Their natural drives have merely been harnessed to teach them new skills. I like to compare a well trained protection dog with a well trained soldier. Is a soldier more of a danger because of his training? Many would argue that he or she isn't. The advanced levels of training turn a soldier into a person who is extremely confident. A soldier is capable of being a loving and caring family member in one setting and tool of battle in another. Just because a soldier is capable of using weapons under one setting does not make that person 'vicious'.

Confidence is the opposite of fear. Fear is what causes many problems both in dog and human alike. When you combine the confidence and high levels of control in a well trained protection dog, I contend that you have a dog that is safe to be around and definitely not vicious.

Selecting the Right Dog Breed for Your Family and Lifestyle

It's important to do your research before deciding to adopt a dog. Different breeds have different temperaments and qualities. Here we have outlined some common dog breeds to help you select the right dog.

Old English Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog, nicknames Bobtail, is a British breed that belongs to the herding group of dogs. They are a large breed that stands between 22 and 24 inches tall and they usually weigh around 66 pounds, giver or take 5 pounds. They have a long fluffy coat that includes shades of white, gray, blue, and grizzle. This is a playful and smart dog that has a natural instinct to protect its family. Because of these traits they make a great family dog, and they even get along with other pets.

Samoyed

The Samoyed, also called the Samayedskaya, is a Russian working breed. These dogs were originally used as herding dogs and guard dogs for reindeer herds. Today they still a very active working dog taking on responsibilities for herding, pulling sleds, guarding homes, and caring for their human families.

The Samoyed is a medium sized dog that stands between 18 and 22 inches tall and weighs between 50 and 60 pounds. They have a medium to long overcoat that is harsh and straight and a soft downy undercoat. This dog is mainly found in shades of white and cream.

Foxhound (English)

The English Foxhound is a British hunting dog that can be traced back to at least the 16th century. They were originally bred to hunt in packs. This breed was the result of mixing several hounds including the greyhound, with a bulldog and a fox terrier. Today these dogs are still used for fox hunting, however they also are used for family pets.

The English Foxhound stands between 23 and 27 inches tall and they weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. Their hair is short and hard, like the American Foxhound, and their coat comes in black, white, tan, bicolor and tricolor coats. In order to train this dog you need to be firm and consistent. They are a smart dog, however, they get distracted easily by fresh scents.

Tibetan Spaniel

The Tibetan Spaniel, also called the Prayer Dog, is a an ancient non-sporting dog that originated in Tibet. It was originally developed as a companion and watch dog. They are a cute little dog that stands about 10 inches tall and weighs between 9 and 15 pounds. They have a medium to long silky coat that comes in a variety of spaniel colors. The Tibetan Spaniel is an intelligent breed that is good with kids, cats, and other dogs. However, they have a tendency to display female to female dog aggression.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, also called the Korthals Griffon, the Pointing Wirehaired Griffon and the Griffon D'Arret a Poil Dur, is a hunting dog that originated in France. This breed was created by crossing a Griffon of Barbet with Small Munsterlanders, Setters, Pointers and the Braque Francais.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon stands between 22 and 24 inches tall and they usually weigh between 50 and 60 pounds. Their coat is coarse, hard, and variegated. Some of the color combinations that are typically associated with this breed include white and chestnut, gray and chestnut, and pure white.

Briard

The Briard, also referred to as the Berger de Brie, is a French breed that was originally bred over 1,000 years ago as shepherd. They are a good sized dog that usually stands between 23 and 27 inches tall, and they usually weigh about 75 pounds. They have a long and wavy top coat that protects their dense undercoat. This breed can be found in shades of black and fawn.

To care for this breed you will need to brush its coat semi-daily. This will help to keep their hair free of tangles and matting, and it will help to distribute their natural oils which will protect their skin and hair from drying out. They do not need a lot of exercise, however, a gentle walk after dinner is always appreciated. This breed has a couple of health problems including hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, is a Canadian breed that belongs to the gundog class. They stand between 17 and 21 inches tall and usually weigh between 37 and 51 pounds. They have a medium to long length coat that is thick and wavy. Their coats are red fox with markings on their faces, feet, chests, and on the tips of their tails. This is a great family dog as they are patient and playful.

Weimaraner

The Weimaraner, also called the Weimaraner Vorstehhund, is a German breed that developed at least 125 years ago. They are a large dog breed that stands between 22 and 27 inches tall and that weigh between 70 and 86 pounds. They have a short sleek coat that comes in shades of silvers and grays. They are good with kids and other pets, however, they will need to be socialized and trained to make living together peaceful.

Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is an Irish breed that was created to be a waterfowl retriever. Today they are used as a hunting dog and as a family dog. They have a very friendly and playful temperament and they get along with kids as long as the play doesn't get too rough. This breed does have a tendency to be dog aggressive so they will need to be either an only pet or they will need to be properly socialized and trained to accept a housemate.

The Irish Water Spaniel stands between 20 and 23 inches tall and they weigh between 45 and 65 pounds. Its coat is designed to help protect the Irish Water Spaniel from the water is works in. It is made up of a dense layer of tight liver colored curls.

Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is a German breed that has existed since at least the 18th century. It is suspected that they developed from a Spitz-like founding breed. This toy breed stands between 8 and 11 inches tall and weighs between 3 and 7 pounds. They have a long and fluffy coat that can come in just about any color. They are a very active and friendly dog, however, they usually don't get along well with young children. They do make a great companion dog for the elderly as they don't need a lot of exercise beyond what they get running around inside.

Miniature Pinscher

The Miniature Pinscher, also called the Reh Pinscher, the Zwergpinscher, and the Mini Pin, is a German breed. They belong to the toy group and it is suspected that they descended from a crossing of the German Pinscher, the Dachshund, and the Italian Greyhound. This breed was developed as a ratter and as a watchdog. Today this little dog is used mostly as a family pet.

The Miniature Pinscher stands between 10 and 12 inches tall and weighs between 8 and 10 pounds. Their coat is short, hard and smooth. They come in three basic coat colors, black, chocolate, and blue. This dog is best suited for families with older kids, as they don't like to be pestered and rough housed with. They also get along well with other pets. Some of the health concerns that this breed has include eye problems and patella luxation.