Happy Paws

People call all the time asking us if we offer classes on how to teach your dog to protect the house.  I don't offer this service here at Happy Paws for a few reasons that I will typically relay to the caller.

It is true that many people get a dog in order to feel more comfortable knowing that if someone breaks in, Fido's going to intervene.
All dogs are territorial by nature and when that territory is threatened they will defend it, regardless of training.

In my opinion teaching a dog to attack on cue is a pretty horrible idea.  First of all, you don't want to teach a dog to aggress toward other people especially when this same dog is recognized as the family pet.  The chances of your dog biting and attacking one of your family members is much higher than to attack a criminal. A canine who's been taught protection training has a job, he's not a family pet.  Family and a dog who's been taught to attack, don't mix.
Think about it, dogs who are taught to attack and take down criminals typically work for the police or the military.  Those dogs are trained to be furry weapons.  The rules are different for a dog such as that.  They have a close working relationship with their master who has also been properly trained.  Their handlers are taught what signs of stress to look for in their dogs, how to properly take care of them, and they become a team.  This relationship is forged through years of daily work, constant practice, diligent handling, and a solid background of extensive training for the life of the canine. 
However, this dog will not live the life of a normal dog who can play fetch with the kids in the backyard.  If he attacks when he hasn't been asked to he is put down.
No second chances.  Remember, this isn't a pet, it's a weapon and they cannot run the risk of him acting out of turn a second time.

Would you put your dog down if he attacked someone after the very first time or try and rationalize it and continue allowing the dog to be a risk to your home and community.Would an owner do the same thing? Probably not, because we love them and that is the reason a family dog should remain a family dog.

The number one reason I don't teach protection training is because to pass the heavy weight of that training to the client in hopes they will be able to handle it is simply asking too much.  Turning over that control to an inexperienced handler would bring significant risk. What if a client doesn't  keep up with the training on a daily basis? The expectations for a dog with this extensive training are much higher and non negotiable the owner and dog must be fully committed one hundred percent of the time.
One thing is true of most American families, we're busy, very busy and because of this it's not always convenient to practice to keep Fido sharp.  For a normal dog this doesn't carry such a burden but for a dog with protection training? It can be the difference between life and death.

Our daily lives take precedence over our pet's schedules.  This is why K9 police officers take on the responsibility entailed with this training on as a full time job to avoid anyone getting hurt.

To this I often hear "Well my friend's dog is well trained and hasn't hurt anyone"....well allow me to point out the dog hasn't hurt anyone "yet" and that doesn't mean it won't.

But why do you want your dog to protect the house in the first place? If a burglar breaks into your home, your dog, by nature will protect it's territory not training needed...but let's say for a second you have done the protection training.  Burglar breaks in, dog attacks him, burglar flees the house.  Most of the time, the burglar gets away, and if he does, if he makes one finger outside your front door your dog can be put down.  It is rare that a dog attack renders an intruder unable to leave the premises, which you need to keep in mind because, suddenly, the least of your worries is euthanizing your dog.

A burglar can sue you for the attack and win.  Because of your dog's illustrious educational background he will be viewed by the court as a dangerous weapon and ordered to be put down. 
Not to mention the burglar probably won more money in court than he could have ever stolen from your house.

Contrary to what you might think, no matter how friendly your dog is, they will know the difference between a guest and an intruder.  They're not just going to show your unwanted guest where the television is and call it a night.  They will do what comes naturally and defend the house.  Without the specialized training your dog will be safer for your family and the community you live in.

Stay informed!

-Mallery Bosworth, owner/trainer