Few decisions are more personal than selecting a family protection dog. The benefits are obvious-these dogs can detect intruders more readily than humans, and their ability to respond to commands in a protection-oriented environment can be invaluable.

But there’s a lot that goes into the decision, so let’s take a deeper dive into some of the things that need to be considered.

The Breed

There’s a reason that protection dogs tend come from a half-dozen or so well-established breeds. These breeds have been chosen for natural traits that go well with protection tasks, and they include obedience, responsiveness, agility, predictability, reliability and intelligence.

Size and tenacity are important, too, which is why the list of breeds usually consists of four or five large, dominant dogs, including Dobermans, German Shephers, Cane Corsos, Belgian Malinois and the American Bulldog.

Temperament

Once you’ve selected a breed, you need to consider the temperament. It varies from breed to breed, and the temperament needs to match up with you and your family.

The dog’s lineage is an important part of this as well. The best family protection dogs have a history of success that can be traced back through multiple generations, and in this case past success is usually a strong predictor of excellent future results.

The composition of your family plays a role in this as well. If you have small children, choosing a calm dog allows you to relax in any situation, regardless of what stressors might arise.

This is also true of a large family, where there’s often a large amount of action going on at a given time and the dog needs to be able to handle that easily.

Similarly, if you have older children or a smaller number of people who need to be protected, the dog’s temperament needs to reflect that as well.

The dog should be able to quickly recognize the demands of the situation, whether it’s relaxing quiet time or a more active occasion where different people are coming and going.

Find the Right Company

A lot of companies claim to be the best solution when it comes to providing you with a protection dog for your family, but it’s not always easy to select the best one, so here are some of the questions you need to ask.

How long have they been in business? Do they provide protection dogs for municipalities and organizations, or strictly for individuals? What training methods do they use when they train these dogs?

TotalK9 is one of the best companies around. They’re experienced and professional, with a lengthy track record of success and a level of knowledge and expertise that’s unsurpassed in the industry. Check out their website, https://www.totalk9.co.uk/, and find out why they’re the best choice for your protection dog needs.