In these increasingly unsafe times, people want to feel safe and secure for both themselves and their families.Others feel a need to protect their businesses from burglars and intruders. A lot of people prefer a protection dog to a burglar alarm system. With some breeds, this kind of guarding and protecting is a natural instinct and dogs have been performing this job for centuries. You need to first decide if you need a guard dog or a protection dog. Is there any specific difference?

The fact is, yes, there is a big difference between a guard dog and protection dog. It’s critical that you understand this distinction when you are adopting or buying a puppy. Guard dogs have a specific job,but a protection dog is both a pet and a protector of you and your family.You want to make sure your protection dog is not a threat to you or your friends and family.

A guard dog is taught specifically to be a working dog, not a pet. Guard or K9 dogs are trained for the police or military and can’t just turn off their trained responses to intruders. Guard dogs are trained for three different and separate roles.

1) Alarm Dog- Usually this type is large and intimidating with a loud,deep bark. He’ll almost certainly sound the alarm any time somebody approaches, but will take no action. Most of the time, the alarm dogs bark is sufficient to deter unwanted visitors.

2) Sentry Dog- A guard dog utilized as a sentry is usually used to defend the exterior of a large property , like a warehouse or shipyard. The dog can patrol his territory freely without close supervision. Since they are trained to attack any trespasser,they’re perfect for this type of situation.

3) Attack Dog- An attack guard dog is trained to attack and perhaps kill if given the order by his handler. These dogs are used for pure guard-dog roles such as police K-9 or the military. Dogs that have had this type of training should not be taken as personal pets.

Protection dogs, on the other hand, are family dogs that will safeguard and defend their family in just about any situation they feel is threatening. The Most popular breeds include Rottweilers,Giant Schnauzers,Doberman Pinscherrs, and German Shepherds.

The Doberman is the exception: it can be bred as a guard dog but also doubles as a personal pet. These dogs are dependable and assimilate into your family. They can be socialized with children and other pets, along with other family members, friends and neighbors.

You should not train them to do what comes naturally. They should be bred with respect for their natural instincts to be protective. You need to  train these dogs properly and make sure they understand their role in the family. They tend to be dominant, so you need to assert your alpha role. It’s important to let these dogs exercise regularly to keep them behaved and well adjusted. These types of dogs require lots of activity due to the fact they are large, physical animals with a lot of energy.

The training is the key difference between a guard dog and a protection dog. You should always seek out a dog trainer when you’ve decided what you need from your dog.

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