A well-trained German Shepherd can provide outstanding protection for your family or your business. But, that protection typically does not come at a low price.
In fact, training programs for individual German Shepherds can reach up to five or six figures.
This begs the question as to whether or not training a German Shepherd as a personal protection dog is worth the price.
The answer to the question is based on need, budget, and the dog you want to train. If you are looking for an elite security dog, you should set aside at least $40,000 for training.
Why trained German shepherd is a good option?
Well, there are a lot of reasons why a trained German shepherd is a good option as a protection dog. One is that they are very much intelligent.
When it comes to intelligence, they rank in no. 3 position. They can understand and execute commands easily.
Besides, it is known by everyone that they are very strong. Compared to most of the dog breeds, they have the strength to protect you.
They can run up to 30mph and have a bite power of 238 fps. Also, they are large and muscular where they have a thick protective inner that helps them adjust to different conditions.
And lastly but most importantly, they are loyal and protective to their owners.
They will give their lives for you. Unlike many other breeds, this one is obedient and do not trust strangers easily.
As a result, not everyone can make them fool and harm you anyway. They are always enthusiastic to learn new things that you rarely find in other breeds.
So overall, for protection, there are not many breeds that can even compete with the German shepherd breed. They are strong, they are loyal, and they are intelligent. What else can you expect, right?
Who Needs a Trained Protection Dog?
For elite athletes, CEOs, and celebrities, paying between $30,000 to $80,000 for a pedigreed German Shepherd security dog can be priceless.
Trainers select dogs for each client then, they will spend between six to 12 months training each dog to meet their clients’ needs.
By the time their training is over, German Shepherds have learned how to respond to commands given in hand signals and English. Some know more than one language.
Along with being ready to protect, they also know how to interact with the family. These protective dogs love their families and they treat them with patience and love.
They never snarl or bark aggressively at their families. But if a dangerous person comes by, the dogs will do everything in their power to protect their loved ones.
Recognize Their Instincts
For an average person who doesn’t have to worry about their millions, training a German Shepherd protection dog can be done at home or a less expensive obedience school.
German Shepherds can learn new commands after hearing them only a few times.
As working dogs, they are bred to follow commands, especially that relates to searching, rescuing, and guarding. Recognizing what your dog does on instinct makes it easier to understand how they learn.
Understand That They Reflect How You Feel
Your German Shepherd will be loyal to you, especially if you have raised and treat it well. They can sense emotions, and they will react to the way you feel.
So, if you are relaxed and calm, your dog will be, too. Remember that dogs are not people, but they understand people too.
Be the Alpha to Your Pet
Your dog will listen to you and follow your instructions if you show your dog that you are in charge.
But, remember that your dog knows you aren’t a German Shepherd or a dog, so keep your emotions under control and show your dog that you are smart. It will pay attention to you and try to meet your demands.
As you train your dog, keep the commands simple. Despite being the alpha, you will never be able to train your dog to understand complete sentences.
Use commands like sit, come, stay, or beg. Even your dog’s name should be short so it can learn how to respond when you say it.
Keep it simple so your dog can connect the commands with each skill. Your consistency is the key to success.
Maintain a Distraction-free Zone
Training a dog can be similar to training young children. Like children, dogs are easily distracted. So, you have to do the work in a quiet and distraction-free environment.
While you might want to take your dog outside for training, you shouldn’t. Your dog will want to chase squirrels, play with children, and fetch baseballs.
But once your dog shows that it understands commands, move to areas with distractions so your dog can practice the skills under pressure. Be sure to praise your dog and reward it at every step along the way.
Determining the Investment Value
Is it worth it to invest in a trained German Shepherd protection dog? Only you can answer that question. It all depends on how much time and money you are willing to invest in your protective dog.
The answer also depends on what you need to protect.
For people who have the most to lose, protection is vital. If you do not have the time to invest in training your dog then, paying someone is also worth it.
If you are looking for a guard dog for your business, you might want to hire someone to do the work for you. But consider where the dog will be living when the business is closed.
Talk to your accountant or tax professional to find out how the training expense could benefit your business.
If the training can be considered a tax write-off then, it might be worth the investment.
However, if your investment value is in training your puppy on your own then you won’t want to pay someone else to do the job.
When you do this, your dog will grow up socializing with you and your family, and that is an experience that cannot be replicated.
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