If you have a protective dog, check with your insurance agent, or other expert, on the local ordinances about posting No Trespassing or Beware of Dog signs. The laws vary according to location.
I didn’t read all the other posts, so forgive me if I repeat what others have said.
I train personal protection dogs and police dogs.
They are expensive as all get out!! The cheapest one we have right now is at $25k.
Aside from the price, they are difficult to deal with. They must be in constant work or they start becoming destructive or violent to their handlers. Every day you must make them work.
You must be knowledgeable and responsible. I’m young have trained my own dogs to attack. Mostly just because I could, but that means I have young friends. They know what my dogs are capable of and every time they come over and start drinking, they always ask me to show them. I will never do that! There is a reason that they are trained in a differently language, and I whole heartedly believe it’s so that outsiders can’t tell the dog to do something they shouldn’t do! Just like accidents involving guns, accidents involving PPD happen and are deadly.
Not saying you’re irresponsible, but just making sure it’s noted.
Most times, PPD don’t get along with other dogs. Or cats. Or horses. Or anything! Many have to live as only dogs. I have no idea why, it’s just what I’ve seen. But we also have families whose PPD hangs out with their Yorkie.
I think my last point comes to, be prepared for your PPD to die in the line of duty. If the time comes that your dog must do its job and it’s facing someone with a gun, they will kill your dog. That being said, it will give you enough time to get to safety or to a gun yourself. PPD are not pets. They are not family. You can’t look at them that way.
With all that being said, go rescue and rehab a dog. I have a German Shepard husky mix that I rescued from a terrible situation. He was going to be euthanized, but I was able to pull some strings and got him out of the shelter. He was… Terrible. Many times I thought I’d made a mistake and was in over my head. Until someone broke into my home with me there. Despite what I had though, my Zeus knew I had saved him and was hell bent on saving me. He was able to tear this armed person apart and have him in the fetal position until the police arrived. At that time, Zeus could barely walk on a leash. He had no PPD training, but was willing to risk his life to save me. He now has much more training and even walked around Rolex two years ago and didn’t bat an eye at anyone. I trained him to be a PPD just because I could, but honestly, there was no need for me to. He knew I was his person. His person who saved him and he would save me.
Very long post and I’m sorry, but all this comes down to, rescue dogs are the best. Find a rescue dog in your area who has had a rough life, give it all your love. If you aren’t well versed in dog training, seek a trainer ( not pets mart!!!) and you will have a dog who will protect you when and if the time comes!
I too am a girl who lives alone. I have 6 revues dogs and I don’t bother locking my doors. I’m afraid of nothing with them around.
[QUOTE=JanM;8540571]
If you have a protective dog, check with your insurance agent, or other expert, on the local ordinances about posting No Trespassing or Beware of Dog signs. The laws vary according to location.[/QUOTE]
Theses should be posted not matter what kind of dog you have. If they aren’t, you are liable in most states for anything and everything your dog does
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8540635]
Theses should be posted not matter what kind of dog you have. If they aren’t, you are liable in most states for anything and everything your dog does[/QUOTE]
From what I gather, posting ‘Beware of dog’ signs puts you in hot water.
My cousin bought a German Shepherd for 15k that had protection training. She will search the perimeter, search the house before you go in, and all sort of interesting things. She came with her handler and was very sharp to commands in the beginning. I don’t think she was ever as response to my cousin and now she is basically a glorified pet, but they are still happy with her. You definitely need to keep up the commands and training though, all least in her experience! But she has been a good dog and great with kids… no problems with being aggressive.
I was lucky enough to have two naturally protective bitches, not trained, just were.
The first, a Bouvier Bitch, let out a roar, up on her back legs when we encountered two punks on the Bruce Trail, one with a knife. As they cleared out one was overheard to say he didn’t like the look of that dog. Bouv was leashed–coated breed around burrs. I went everywhere with her.
The second, a 22-pound Tibetan Terrier, behaved the same way, let out a roar, for her, up on her back legs, slightly in front of me, on a leash when a trespassing hunter stepped out in front of. He, intrepid hunter that he was, levelled his shotgun at her.
Dogs like those are worth their weight in gold and I don’t think an insurance liability either. Both were show dogs, accustomed to being handled by strangers, and both were Canadian and US champions.
now if that trait could be bred into every dog …
