The Benefits of a Trained Protection Dog

When it comes to home security, you really can’t be too careful. An extra home security measure or two could, quite literally, be the difference between life and death. Many people prefer to keep a gun in the house in anticipation of a robbery or an attack. While many prefer to stick with a simple household alarm system. However, there’s a home security option that a lot of people fail to consider: the protection dog. A trained protection dog, from a certain point of view, is superior to both an alarm system and a gun. 

Of course, it’s also quite possible to have all three for the most comprehensive security plan. That being said, buying a trained protection dog is one of the most effective ways to keep yourself, your family, and your home safe. This is a crash course on protection dogs that’ll cover all of the most important information. Keep reading to learn everything that you want to know about protection dogs! 

The Benefits of Owning a Trained Protection Dog

What is a Trained Protection Dog?

Trained protection dogs are bred for the sake of being the perfect protector. These aren’t your typical household pets that can bark at strangers on your property like the mailman. With the correct genetics and effective training, a protection dog will be extremely beneficial to the safety of you and your family. 

These dogs can attack on-command if the situation demands it, but often, a command isn’t necessary. These dogs are trained to remain calm while evaluating potentially dangerous situations. 

If you’re in danger, your protection dog will act on its own and doesn’t hesitate to put its life on the line to protect its owner. 

What are the Benefits of Owning a Protection Dog?

Owning a trained protection dog can come with a variety of different benefits. Let’s talk about a few of the common benefits that you can expect upon purchasing a protection dog. 

First of all, owning a protection dog can greatly benefit your peace of mind. You can sleep more soundly, fully aware of the fact that you have a watchful protector nearby. 

After all:

These animals are specifically bred and trained to handle break-ins. Often the mere presence of a protection dog greatly discourages attempted break-ins in the first place. 

In the event of a break-in, a protection dog will disable the intruder and keep them at bay until the police arrive on the scene. However, if the intruder escapes, your protection dog will thoroughly search the house until it’s become evident that the situation is no longer dangerous. 

Last but certainly not least, guard dogs make great companions. These animals aren’t just weapons that you keep separate from your family. They’re living, breathing creatures that are extremely protective of their loved ones. Not only will you feel safer, but you’ll also have an extra family member. 

Is Owning a Protection Dog Safe?

Usually, owning a properly trained protection dog is safer than not owning one. A good protection dog won’t attack its owner or children, and it won’t become aggressive unless the situation actually demands it. 

With that in mind, yes, owning a protection dog is beyond safe. We know you’re worried about that. An investment in a protection dog could be considered an investment in your safety. 

What’s the Downside to Owning a Protection Dog??

There are very few downsides to owning a protection dog, but that doesn’t mean that owning a protection dog is a walk in the park. While the drawbacks are minimal, they’re still present. Generally, these drawbacks come down to time and money. 

A properly trained protection dog can be very expensive. You want to ensure you choose a protection dog from a reputable source and that has been trained properly. 

Furthermore, to keep your protection dog at peak efficiency, you’ll need to invest some of your own time into its training at some point. That is unless you’re willing to regularly pay a trainer, which can be an investment. 

What’s the Average Cost of a Protection Dog?

Generally, a well-trained protection dog will cost at least $23,000. However, some particularly exceptional protection dogs will sell for much more. 

For example:

This New York Times article covers the story of Julia, a protection dog that was purchased for $230,000. 

As you can see, the price of a protection dog can vary widely depending on several factors. Different guard dogs can vary widely in terms of their cost. 

If you’re still curious, you can learn more about how much a protection dog might cost you by referencing this article about protection dogs and the factors that can affect their prices. 

Is a Protection Dog the Same as an Attack Dog?

There’s a big difference between a protection dog and an attack dog. When you hear the words “attack dog,” you likely think of a highly aggressive dog that needs to be chained up for the safety of others. 

This isn’t the image that you should associate with a protection dog. Protection dogs shouldn’t be overly aggressive if they are trained properly. Rather, these animals are trained to remain calm and to assess potentially dangerous situations. 

Even when your protection dog has deemed a situation unsafe, it should be able to effectively resolve the situation without becoming too excited or aggressive. 

Trained protection dogs aren’t mean, aggressive, or easily spooked. They’re extremely disciplined dogs that are bred and trained to protect. It’s easy to understand why people sometimes confuse protection dogs with attack dogs, but the two are completely different. 

What are the Pros and Cons of Owning a Protection Dog?

While protection dogs can be extremely beneficial, they aren’t without their drawbacks. Specifically, a protection dog can be a real strain on a lot of people’s wallets. Whether or not this qualifies as a drawback depends on your disposable income. 

That being said:

Let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages that come with owning a trained protection dog. This way, you can determine whether or not the purchase is worth it for you. 

Pros

• Their presence discourages intruders.
• In the event of a home intrusion, a guard dog will keep the intruders at bay until law enforcement arrives.
• They make excellent companions.
• Guard dogs are safe to own for families. 
• They can go with you nearly anywhere.
• These dogs provide their owners with extra peace of mind.
• Guard dogs are trained to assess situations and will protect you without being told to.
• They can attack on command, and they can be called off on command.

Cons

• They can be time-consuming. Protection dogs require regular training to keep their protective skills up to par. 
• They can be very expensive, especially if you want professional training. Veterinarian visits and a proper diet will be regularly occurring expenses if you get a protection dog. 

Protection dogs are great to have around, and honestly, the only drawbacks are the money and time that they can consume. If a protection dog is within your budget and you have time to properly care for one, there’s no reason not to get one. 

However, if the cost of a guard dog is outside your budget or you simply don’t have the time to take care of one, you should probably look into other home security options. 

Protection Dogs: Costly, but Extremely Beneficial

Even protection dogs on the lower side of the price spectrum can be rather expensive. Once you factor in the cost of a veterinarian, food, and training, it becomes even more expensive. 

That being said, if a protection dog is within your price range and seems like a good investment, you shouldn’t hesitate to get one. These amazing animals can greatly improve your quality of life by providing you with some extra peace of mind. 

Not only can these animals improve your quality of life, but they can improve the lives of your family members as well. Not only do they provide protection to you and your entire family, but they quickly integrate and become an essential part of your family.