Personal Protection Dog Breeds

Personal Protection Dog Drives

When considering a personal protection dog the rule of thumb is that it is not necessarily the particular breed that should dictate your choice but the character or drives of the individual dog. There exists a wide variety of drives and personality characteristics that shape how the dog will behave under various situations. A few examples of drives include, prey drive, defensive drive, fight drive and avoidance. Too much of one particular drive or not enough of another results in an imbalanced dog that may not be suited for personal protection work.

As a rule of thumb genes dictate what drives and temperament the dog inherits. That being said it is recommended to use breeds that have been bred for generations for the sole purpose of protection work whether that work may have been in law enforcement, military or the civilian arena. These purpose bred dogs increase the odds that you will find a suitable candidate. Of course there are always exceptions to this rule as there are to all rules.

That being said I have narrowed this list to three particular dogs which are widely used in the various protection and security work venues around the world.

Top Personal Protection Dog Breeds

  • The German Shepherd Dog.

    The German Shepherd Dog is the old hand and most commonly known to the public. Sometimes known by the acronym GSD or simply German Shepherd, it is a breed of dog originally bred for herding sheep. They can also be found working as guide dogs for the blind, police work, guarding, search and rescue, therapy and in the military. Despite their suitability for such work, German Shepherds can also make loyal and loving pets inside the home. They enjoy being around people and other animals, although socialization is critical for young puppies in order to prevent aggressive and dangerous behavior as an adult.

    German Shepherds are highly intelligent and agile dogs, with a strong work drive. They are often deployed in various roles such as police, guarding, , security, search and rescue, therapy, service-dog, and in military applications.

    The breed has a personality marked by direct, fearless willingness to protect what it considers its territory. It is poised, but when the occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in its capacity as a companion, watchdog, guide dog for people who are blind, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand.

    Proper socialization as a puppy is one of the two key factors which determines what a dog’s temperament will be as an adult. Genetics is the other. They go hand-in-hand; a dog with certain genetics cannot be trained to be stable and friendly, and by the same token the genetics most fit for training are meaningless if the dog is not well-socialized as a puppy. The “ideal” German Shepherd should be alert and fearless in defense of its den and pack, but loving and non-aggressive within the home environment.

  • The Belgian Malinois

    In the United States, Belgium, Germany and other European countries, the Malinois is bred primarily as a working dog for personal protection, detection, police work, search and rescue, and protection sport work. The United States Secret Service exclusively uses the breed.

    The dog is also used extensively by Unit Oketz of the Israel Defense Forces. Oketz favors the more slight build of the Malinois to the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, which were employed formerly.

    The Malinois, fortunately has been bred in much smaller numbers by people that concentrate on working dogs and have for the most part placed a higher priority on its working abilities than its visual qualities.

  • The Dutch Shepherd.

    The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a much rarer breed of dog in the United States. At this point in time it cannot be registered through the AKC. The breed is an old land-breed, of Dutch origins. In times gone by, shepherds and farmers needed a versatile dog. A jack-of-all-trades, with few demands and adapted to the harsh and sparse existence of the time.

    The short-haired Dutch Shepherd is used extensively throughout Europe and the United States as a working dog, primarily in police service, although they are also used in search and rescue as well. One reason Dutch Shepherds are increasingly popular with police agencies is because they are smaller than German Shepherds, and therefore easier for handlers to pick up and carry, when duty necessitates doing so. The courage of Dutch Shepherds is quickly becoming legendary among police K9 handlers. Another reason for this increase in popularity is that the Dutch Shepherd breed has not been subject to extensive breeding for the show type.