on Training Personal
Protection Dogs

1. I have a one year old German Shepherd. He is so friendly that he lets anyone come into my home. When will be start to protect my home?
   
   
2. I have 2 German Shepherd, a man recently came into our yard and was taking things. The dogs did nothing. What can I do to not have this happen again?
   
   
3. I have a pit bull that allowed a man to come into my backyard. He knocked on my back door when I was in the bathroom shower. I thought my pit bull would instinctively protect me. He did not do this. Where did I go wrong?
   
   
4. I have a 6 year old GSD – is this too old for personal protection training?
   
   
5. I just purchased a SchH 2 dog for our family. Can you recommend what videos I should get so that we can understand what this dog knows?
   
   
6. I have been training obedience for 13 years. I want to take my training to the next level and teach dogs to do some minor personal protection work. Bark at the door and put themselves in-between an intruder and the owner. What tapes do I need for this?
   
   
7. Can a dog be trained in both Schutzhund and police work and understand the difference?

Question:

Hi Ed,

I know you are a very busy person but I was wondering if you could take the time to answer a question I have. I have read plenty of books and I have a couple of your tapes also.

My dog is now just over a year old, very healthy 100lb male from stable background. I got him when he was 8 weeks old. I have spent a good deal of time training him and he is progressing well I think.

My question is about his "awareness" around the house. For example:- someone comes to the front door, rings the bell or knocks he just sort of mooches about as if to say "oh I wonder who that is".

To give you a little background I frequently have had people I trust and friends come to the house if I know I will be away for more than 4-5 hours or I will be home too late to feed him. Everyone comments on how sometimes they open the door and walk in and he will be lying on the floor looking up or he will sometimes stand up and greet them ALWAYS very friendly (obviously this is good with FRIENDS!!).

Is there a natural progression as he becomes more mature where he will let us know there is someone at the front door or in the driveway for example?? I guess I am hoping that as he matures more he will become more aware/protective of HIS/OUR territory. At the moment I fully believe should my house be burgled or should a stranger attempt to break in late at night that he would not have much problem.

I am not looking for a savage, snarling GSD when the UPS man comes just some acknowledgement from the dog that someone is outside either on business or snooping around.

Very occasionally he will show signs of been aware in the backyard i.e. hackles up, a deep growl and very infrequently a deep bark. This has always turned out to be something that spooked him (a bird) and a couple of times at night its been the neighbor on the other side of the fence. He immediately stops when I call him as I don't want to piss off the neighbors.

Any ideas? Perhaps setup a bad guy type scenario, banging on doors and windows?? ski mask and big jackets etc?? Or would you recommend that I wait a few more months until he has matured somewhat more?

Regards
Hayden

ANSWER:

It sounds like you have a very nice dog – good nerves.

You are un-realistic in your expectation. For one thing the dog is young. One year old is not even a mature dig. I compare this to you expecting your 8 or 9 year old son to protect your home. For a dog of one year to be barking at people would indicate a dog with weaker nerves. GSD’s do not mature until they are 18 to 30 months of age. It depends on the genetics of the dog.

When you have a dog with good nerves and you want a protection dog you need to train it. I have said this before – Michael Jordan’s sons cannot play in the NBA without training.

Here are some tapes to consider (as much for you to learn as for the dog) Get them in the order listed:

The First Steps of Bite Training explains the importance of bite development and the steps a dog as young as 6 months of age must go through before it can be ready for more serious defensive training. I would suggest that you read the description of this video on my web site. If you are not 100% sure of the drives that I refer to, I would direct you to the articles I have written on this subject on my web site.

The First Steps of Defense is the video that shows how to move a dog from bite development into the more serious work. All dogs that are going into more specialized training (Police Service Work, Schutzhund Work or Personal Protection Work) need to go through this phase of training before moving on.

Muzzle Fighting for Police Service Dogs This video will explain the work necessary to proof a dog that is nearing the end of it’s training. The information in this video is not only used for police work and personal protection work, many sport trainers muzzle train their dogs to raise the level of intensity in the dog.

Training Personal Protection Dog

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The First Steps of Bite Training $65.00+s&h

Question

I have two male GSD's ages 4 and 5, My dogs will bark at other dogs, but Will not bark at people. The other day a man came into my yard,and was taking. Thing out and my dogs never barked once. PLEASE HELP! I would like to know what to do before this person or someone else just walk back into my yard. I'm Nervous by this because I thought my dogs would alert me if someone was in the yard. They are in the yard for watch dogs.

Answer:

You just found out that not all dogs are protection dogs. Just because you have a German Shepherd does not mean that you have a protection dog. There are two things that make a good protection dog.

1- Proper genetics

2- Proper training

There is a very good chance that you have neither. Probably 90% of all the GSD’s do not have the proper genetics to be trained to do protection work.

Even if you dogs would have the genetic it would need to be trained. I compare this to Michael Jordan’s sons. Do you think they could play in the NBA if they were not trained to play professional basketball? I think not.

So you have some decisions to make.

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The First Steps of Defense $65.00+s&h

QUESTION:

I have a smart, athletic 6 y/o Pit mix (I think). I had him about two years before I knew he was even capable of barking. The other day something unsettling happened. I was in the bathroom and couldn't see the yard. But I saw my dog alert and look up at the bedroom window and then go to the back door. The intruder banged on my back door and proceeded to start a conversion with me which I briefly engaged to ask how he came to be inside my 6' fenced and locked yard. I never saw the person nor he me. I called the police afterward. He has at least once barked at a service person entering the yard in my absence. What can I do to get my dog to bark on his own without command?

Donna, CA

ANSWER:

Donna

It is not unusual for people to find themselves in your position. They feel that just because you have a dog of a certain breed it should protect you. Unfortunately it's a totally false assumption that occasionally gets people hurt.

I compare this to Michael Jordan - do you think that his boys will be able to just walk on an NBA basketball court and play NBA basketball when they are 20 years old? I think not. They need training. They have the genetics for the game but they need training.

This is the same for your dog. He has the genetics to fight but you have never trained him. He sounds like a very nice dog. I like dogs that are friendly - it is a reflection on their nerves. They have good nerves. Dogs with weak nerves are dangerous dogs - fear biters. Dogs with good nerves are trainable.

I don't know what you wish to do. If you want your dog to protect you I am sure he can do it but you will need to train him. I don't know if you have the skill or co-ordination to do this.

If you want to try I have training videos that teach you how to work your dog. The first two tapes involve work you do with your own dog at home. When he is done with this training you need to find a helper (agitator to take you to the next level) I can't help with that but if you study the tapes that follow these two you will know what the correct training is for your
dog. There are some real IDIOTS in this business. People who should never train a dog and who scam people with their stupid training. At least if you educate yourself you will know what is right for your dog. You owe it to our dog to make sure the training is correct.

Start with these:

Training DRIVE - FOCUS and GRIP with Bernard Flinks is one of my best training videos. It's the first is a series of tapes done with Bernard Flinks (one of the top Schutzhund instructors in the world) This tape is the foundation of Bernard training program It teaches you how to build a relationship of trust and understanding with the dog. Bernard is the only instructor I have ever seen that places so much emphasis on this.

The video teaches you to build drive in your dog. Every dog inherits a certain genetic level of drive. This training tape shows how to bring your dog up to its own genetic level of drive. The tape also teaches handlers how to train their dog to focus while in drive. A dog must learn to control it's drive if it is to become a competitive sport dog or for that matter a
working dog. We teach the dog that heeling, sit and down are drive commands and not compulsion commands.

Through this training we show how to build a calm solid grip in the dog. We also teach the dog to be comfortable in maintaining a calm grip in the presence of the handler. We teach the dog in the first steps of the OUT command.

The information in this training video is the best training program I have seen in 27 years of being around the sport of Schutzhund. If you think you would like to get involved in this sport you need this tape.

The follow up tape to Drive Focus and Grip will be released in a couple of weeks. It also involves work that the handler does - Preparing Your Dog for the Helper - THE FOUNDATION OF GRIP.

Then to learn more:

The First Steps of Bite Training explains the importance of bite development and the steps a dog as young as 6 months of age must go through before it can be ready for more serious defensive training. I would suggest that you read the description of this video on my web site. If you are not 100% sure of the drives that I refer to, I would direct you to the articles I have written on this subject on my web site.

The First Steps of Defense is the video that shows how to move a dog from bite development into the more serious work. All dogs that are going into more specialized training (Police Service Work, Schutzhund Work or Personal Protection Work) need to go through this phase of training before moving on.

Muzzle Fighting for Police Service Dogs This video will explain the work necessary to proof a dog that is nearing the end of it's training. The information in this video is not only used for police work and personal protection work, many sport trainers muzzle train their
dogs to raise the level of intensity in the dog.

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Building Drive & Focus $65.00+s&h

QUESTION:

Hi,

I am a police officer in Metropolis Illinois. I have a 6 year old German Shepherd. Is he to old to train as in family protection? Can you tell me one way or another.

Thanks!!

Greg Neihoff

ANSWER:

Protection training is not a factor of age but rather an issue of genetics and drive. If your dog has the correct drive and bloodlines, he can do it.

The foundation of all bite work is set by work with the handler at home. Once this foundation work is finished the dog then moves onto a helper where its taught specialty training (i.e. police service work, personal protection training, Schutzhund, etc., etc.).

Here are the 2 videos to teach you how to do the foundation training:

Training Drive, Focus and Grip with Bernhard Flinks is one of my best training videos. It’s the first is a series of tapes done with Bernard Flinks (one of the top Schutzhund instructors in the world). This tape is the foundation of Bernhard's training program. It teaches you how to build a relationship of trust and understanding with the dog. Bernhard is the only instructor I have ever seen that places so much emphasis on this.

The video teaches you to build drive in your dog. Every dog inherits a certain genetic level of drive. This training tape shows how to bring your dog up to its own genetic level of drive. The tape also teaches handlers how to train their dog to focus while in drive. A dog must learn to control it’s drive if it is to become a competitive sport dog or, for that matter, a working dog. We teach the dog that heeling, sit, and down are drive commands and not compulsion commands.

Through this training we show how to build a calm solid grip in the dog. We also teach the dog to be comfortable in maintaining a calm grip in the presence of the handler. We teach the dog in the first steps of the OUT command.

The information in this training video is the best training program I have seen in 27 years of being around the sport of Schutzhund. If you think you would like to get involved in this sport you need this tape.

The follow up tape to Building Drive, Focus, and Grip is a 4 hour DVD that was released in August of 2003. It is titled "Preparing Your Dog for the Helper – the Foundation of Grip Training." If your dog can do the work in these two videos it will be ready for bite work on a helper.

There will be a series of videos that will take you from this point on.

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Preparing Your Dog for the Helper $65.00+s&h

QUESTION:

Dear Mr. Frawley,

I have recently purchased an imported SchH 2 German Shepherd. I will receive him by the end of Feb 04. I have little experience with highly trained dogs. I purchased the dog as a family pet/protector. I have a wife and 7 yr. old son. The dog is trained but I'm not. Which of your videos do you recommend to prepare me as a handler? Also, we do have a local Schutzhund club, I have made contact and observed their routines. I am interested in the sport.

Best Regards,

Vic Donisi
Nashville,Tn.

ANSWER:

I would recommend a couple of videos. We sell a inexpensive video titled Schutzhund the Dog Sport – this will show you the routines.

When I buy a trained dog I never assume the dog will follow the commands it followed with the last owner. Most dogs will not do this. It takes time for the dog to bond. I takes at least 2 months to go through a bonding process. I assume the dog knows nothing and I start the training from scratch. I do it motivationally. Because the dog is already trained, this work goes quickly. Basically, I am teaching the dog to follow my commands. This is important because the commands are not going to sound like they did with the old owner.

Start with walks – I am always careful of forcing the DOWN command. This can bring out dominance issues. Read the article I wrote titled DEALING WITH THE DOMINANT DOG.

If you would like to learn more about the principles of obedience training a dog, read the description for my Basic Dog Obedience video. You will probably find that you have not had a clear understanding of the steps of training a dog must go through before it can be considered fully trained. You can also read why I am not a fan of taking an untrained dog to obedience classes. I think if you read the testimonials on that tape you will see that my customers feel the same way.

If you are interested in doing protection work with this dog I strongly recommend you educate yourself to the process. You need to learn how dogs are trained and the drives that are used in this training. When people ask me which tapes they need to learn from I start with this list:

Building Drive Focus and Grip

Preparing Your Dog for the Helper

The First Steps of Bite Training

The First Steps of Defense

Muzzle Fighting for Police Service Dogs

Training the Personal Protection Dog

Of course its up to you how far to go but get them in the order that I have listed them. If you would like a catalog send your name and address.

I don’t know about your local clubs. If you go to the links page on my web site and follow the links to Schutzhund USA and DVG you will find their web page – they list the clubs.

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Schutzhund the Dog Sport $30.00+s&h

QUESTION:

Mr. Frawley,

I have been teaching basic obedience for around 13 years and I want to take it to the next level. Protection trainng, however I do not want to have a dog to be a full biting dog. What I am looking for is a video that will help me and my business for personal/family protection. Have the dog bark on command, have a dog come between a family member and a predator. I have purchase a few of your videos, and they are most helpful. If you have one can you please suggest one. I have had several clients call me on protection training, but they don't want the dog to bite hard, just a scare tactic. If there is any thing out there can you suggest something to me. Thank you.

Pat Moore
K-9 consultants
Texas

ANSWER:

Pat,

I do not agree with what you are trying to do.

For one thing if you are going to offer advice you need to learn the work and the training. Then tailor the training to fit your needs. I will tell you that if you take your approach you will screw it up.

This does not mean that you need to actually train the dog to be a police service dog or a completed personal protection dog but it does mean you need to become a student of the discipline and know how to do things and why they are done that way.

What you are asking involves training a dog in defense – read my article on why its stupid to train a dog in defense before you train in prey. You can find this on the article page on my web site at http://leerburg.com/articles.htm.

The foundation of protection work is done by the handler at home – it makes no difference if the owners are training a police service dog, a Schutzhund dog or a PP dog. Their foundation is exactly the same. Once a dog gets to be 12 months old or once a dog is at the end of this foundation work (a minimum of 12 months of age or older) it can then be introduced to a helper for the specialized training that the owners require (police work~PP work~Schutzhund work). It's at this point the training changes.

Here are the two tapes that teach you how to do this:

Training Drive, Focus, and Grip

Preparing Your Dog for the Helper

Good luck

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Ed Frawley's Philosophy on Dog Training eBook

QUESTION:

Hi Ed,

I have been buying your tapes for years and love them. I have 3 GS working dogs. My two older dogs were trained here in NY by retired K9 officers who have a training school. I can't tell you how much I enjoy working my dogs. The older two are both well trained in obedience, personal protection, box searches, building searches, etc.

My newest puppy has more promise than I have ever seen. He is the grandson of Escobar van Adelrik who in the past has won the National Schutzhund trials and placed 2nd in the world. I have started him with your "Basic Obedience" dvd and "Training in Drive and Focus", both of which I just love. Given his potential I want to title him in Schutzhund, and based on your answer will find a good club.

The problem is that these K9 officers I have worked with in the past feel that SchH being a sport is not as effective as police training. They have a bit of a negative tone any time someone mentions Schutzhund. They are very much down on any kind of food training. My question is, can a dog be trained in both SchH and police work and would they understand the difference. I have a friend who trained her bulldog in both and she says he gets that SchH is a sport and the personal protection work is not.

Any advise that you could give would be greatly appreciated. I am particularly confused about how it would affect tracking since competition tracking is done with food and from what I have read from your articles police tracking is done strictly with prey. (My puppy has tremendous drive for both food and prey).

Thanks,

Cathy

ANSWER:

First let me explain that for a number of years that I worked a K9 on the sheriff’s department I was also head of the trianing committee for the WI police dog association. As such I will tell you that VERY VERY few police dog handlers are very good dog trainers. They are dog handlers not dog trainers – this is a very HUGE difference.

This does not make them bad guys, only guys with inflated opinions of their skills.

Anyone who makes the comment of not using food as a reward in dog training is an old school dog trainer. This is just redundently stupid.

There are only 4 ways to motivate a dog:

1- food rewards

2- prey rewards

3- handler prey

4- force training

I assure you these trainers would not understand this. Their issue is they don’t understand how to use food, and how to wean the dog off food. It also indicates they don’t understand corrections. Read the article I wrote titled THE THEORY OF CORRECTION IN DOG TRAINING.

I am not a fan of civilians having police trained dogs. That is a recipe for a law suit waiting to happen. In fact VERY VERY few need a personal protection dog. Only the best handlers should have them.

Dogs can function as an alarm. If an intruder comes through a barking dog the intruder needs to be shot in the head.

Do the drive focus work and then the work in PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR THE HELPER.

Train the obedience with markers. This is covered in my Basic Obdience DVD.

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Basic Dog Obedience $40.00+s&h