Trained protection dogs can be a very useful to have around and are frequently more frightening to potential intruders or attackers than an armed man. However, if you have children, you may be wondering if protection dogs are actually a good idea. Are they dangerous for your little ones?
Dogs are like any animal in that they can be dangerous in the right conditions. As a parent, it's your job to select a dog that has been trained to handle children well, on top of protection duties. Not all canines are good with kids and you'll have to look for the right dog, which may take some time, but it is possible to find one that will work well with your kids.
Start Young
Choosing protection dogs from birth or even before can be very helpful in ensuring a bond between child and puppy. Since training doesn't start immediately, you may be able to take the puppy back home and bond with it. This process is good for any age, but it works particularly well for children.
Later, the dog will need to attend training sessions. By this point, he should already be calm around kids. If not, you'll need to consider a different dog.
Dogs that are going to be used in a family will need to receive special training so that they are not going to snap at a child. They should have the temperament already, however, since this isn't something that can be trained. Look for puppies that come from a line of family friendly dogs.
Choose the Right Breed
In general, there are certain breeds that do better with children in a family. Pitbulls, German Shepherd and Huskies are not generally that tolerant of more than one person and will do better with a single person. However, labs and retrievers are very good with kids and will fit into a family very well once they are trained.
You might want to ask your breeder what family friendly breeds they are raising. It's best to choose from a line that is more likely to turn out friendly, yet trainable dogs.
Select an Older Dog
As an alternative to choosing a puppy, you might want to go for a dog that has completed its training and is ready to go. These dogs have been tested and checked around kids and it will apparent whether or not they are right for working with a family. While no one can guarantee that a dog is 100% safe, this testing will give you a good indication as to just how secure your kids will be with the animals.
Look for Crowd Safe Canines
Kids tend to have a lot of activities and get out and about a lot. That means they need canine protection that will be able to handle crowds of people. Going to a soccer game shouldn't be a dangerous pursuit, but it's best to have trained protection dogs that can handle larger groups of people if you are going to be taking them with you to children's activities.
Well trained protection dogs will be calm and alert for threats. They should be ready to respond to a command at any moment and still be at ease with children and groups.
When it comes to selecting protection for your family, you'll have much better luck if you talk to the training center. They have a good feel for each of their dogs and will be able to tell you exactly what to expect. They can also recommend a specific dog for your needs if you can't decide and will be able to tell you which ones have been checked and are considered good for family work. Trained protection dogs that are good with children are in high demand, so you may have to reserve a puppy that is still in training.
Author Resource:
Does your family need protection dogs that are great with kids? Global K9 has a range of trained protection dogs for all situations. Check them out today.
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