If you are thinking about purchasing a protection dog or a protection dog prospect read this article first, it will save you thousands of dollars.

Okay so you have decided you want a dog for personal protection or you are seriously considering a personal protection dog. Congrats. Now the fun begins. Before I go any further this article deals with personal protection, that is, a dog that will bite on command, hold an intruder, and release on command for real. We are not talking about dogs trained for protection sports like Schutzhund or French Ring sport.

With that out of the way, let us continue ...

$20,000, $35,000, and $65,000. These are all prices I have seen for "fully trained executive level protection dogs." So is a fully trained protection worth the investment? Well, it all boils down to whether or not you (A) have the need for a protection dog and (B) have the money to invest in a protection dog.

I have seen fully trained protection dogs from all over the world and I can tell you without hestitation that $65,000 for any dog, is a complete rip off. Any body attempting to sell a protection dog for such prices ought to be ashamed of themselves. Honestly, it's ridiculous. So my first tip is, don't pay $65,000.

A few more things you should consider before making a decision are:

	See the dog work, in person. Before handing over your hard earned money it is important to see the dog work in real life scenerios. Sure, you can see video of the dog working in a training facility but can the dog do the work in a real life situation? Personally if I am going to invest in a protection dog I have to see that dog work, in person, with my own two eyes before I consider the dog or not.
	Hands On Training Help If you are getting a dog shipped to you, do they offer hands on training assistance to ensure a smooth transition for the dog? If they don't, I wouldn't buy or ask if they would provide that. It should not cost any extra.
	Know exactly what you are buying. Are you buying a "green dog" or a dog that is fully trained? Green dogs more times than not are dogs that have been worked in drive building but have had little to know attention paid to their obedience. In short, you're getting a dog that is a possible protection dog and not a dog that is fully trained. Prices are usually lower for green dogs but if you are a first time buyer I would suggest going the fully trained route. First, you know that the dog will do what he is trained to do. Second, if you do not have experience in training protection dogs well, you shouldn't be training protection dogs. Leave it up to the people who are experienced. Finally, you will know what a fully trained protection dog is like to live with, work with, and this will help you if you ever do want to pursue training on your own.
	What breed is best for personal protection work? There are many breeds suitable for protection. My personal favorites are the Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, Belgian Tervuren, and the American Bulldog. What breed you choose is obviously up to you. However, choose carefully. I am partial to the Dutchies these days and to be honest it is more because they are absolutely beautiful dogs. Though I will take a hard hitting Malinois over a Dutchie anyday but that is just me. As a rule of thumb choose a dog that will fit into your lifestyle. Protection dogs are not for lazy people. They need exercise and they need to work their skills to keep them sharp. If you plan on getting a PPD and really never working them or doing anything with them other than walking them, don't bother, save your money.
	How much is a reasonable dog? This all boils down to personal preference and how much money you have to invest. Personally, I would never pay more than $20,000 for a personal protection dog. You can slap all the cool names on them you want, elite, executive, level III, they are still not worth more than $20,000. Do not be fooled into believing the hype breeders and companies throw at you. You can find a personal protection dog for under $20,000. I have heard ever sales line in the book. They are imported, they are titled, they are trained by (insert famous trainer here), we sell dogs to (insert celebrity name here), we are endorsed by the State Police, etc ... Stop, think, ask questions. Recently a friend of mine in the Sherriff's department bought a dog that was supposedly fully trained in protection. He worked the dog, thought it was a good dog, and brought the dog home. Keep in mind, this dog came from a well known kennel, was imported, and did do the job. However, after living with my friend for a month or so the dog snapped at the wife and tried to bite his one year old daughter. Needless to say that dog was returned.

I wrote this article to share with you the pitfalls of buying a personal protection dog. Hopefully you leave with a few more ideas, a better understanding of what it takes to buy a protection dog, and a respect for these outstanding canines. Bottom line, do not fall for the hype. Do your homework, work the dog, and buy a dog that does their job. Just as with any product, there are some that are worth the investment, and others that are all hype and no bite.

Article by: Jason Mann ~ http://www.TopDogTrainingSolutions.com
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