When purchasing a fully trained dog knowing what you are buying is extremely important. For instance “Executive Protection Dog”, the most common term used within our field, has no meaning in and of itself. It is just a term used to describe whatever meaning a trainer or training center chooses to assign it. The same is true of terms used to describe exercises such as the “Secure” and the “Protective Escape”. They are just labels that we use to represent our training.
In our experience many companies are using our terms but applying them to European sport exercises. You can not compare apples to apples based on terms. You can only compare dogs, training programs or companies based on what the terms actually represents.
Knowing what each program consists of and making sure the exercises are provided in writing within a contract is obviously important. Your being able to have your dog perform those exercises for you on delivery is essential. If your dog doesn’t do it for you on the delivery there’s no reason to expect it to magically happen afterward.
An educated buyer is our best client.
Overview of Protective Benefits
The following is a basic overview of the protective benefits within the 3 training programs:
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Turn-on aggressively to an aggressive or
passive threat
Protection from multiple violent attackers
Advanced Handler Protection exercises
Advanced fighting skills useful in a home invasion or against a violent attacker
Foundation Training in Protection
The following are foundation skills taught prior to our basic and advanced handler protection skills:
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Bite Development
Full and hard bite
Drive Development
Defense imprinting, development of active prey,
active aggression
Advanced Biting Skills
Bite comfortably front and back of legs, abdomen, outside and inside of upper arm/ shoulder
Basic Fighting Skills
Includes countering physical assaults through strategically
transferring bite, strategic targeting, etc.
Advanced Fighting Skills
Skills to overcome an adversary who fights through evasion, the use of static and dynamic obstacles, static and dynamic use of weapons, environmental stresses, etc.
Muzzle Attacks
Muzzle attack technique is taught in order to do
protection training without the use of bite suits,
bite sleeves including undercover sleeves.
Integrating Skills
Integrating skills includes the types of threats, locations and circumstances; emphasis is placed on integrating advanced fighting skills including the use of sparring within muzzle attacks; also enables protection scenarios to be set up in everyday types of situations without equipment alerting the dog in advance to it being a training session
Basic Handler Protection Skills
Once foundational training (imprinting and development of drives; biting skills, etc.) within the protection program has been completed handler protection skills are taught. These handler protection skills determine how the dog protects you.
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Aggressive Alert
Go from 0 to 10 instantly with intense aggression;
remain at level 10 until told otherwise against an
aggressive or obvious threat
Aggressive Alert
Go from 0 to 10 instantly with intense aggression;
remain at level 10 until told otherwise regardless of
the threat (passive threats and passive threats who
the dog has a relationship with such as a neighbor
is the most difficult)
Turn Off
Turn completely off instantly with a single command
Secure Home and Property
There are two options:
On-command or Automatically. Which option usually
depends on both lifestyle and personal preference. In
either case once in the “Secure” mode no one is allowed to enter until instructed otherwise.
Release Bite
Release bite even in the midst of a fight
Advanced Handler Protection Skills
Advanced Handler Protection Skills are taught in our Executive Protection program as well as in our Elite programs. These advanced skills provide a variety of useful options as to “how” the dog protects you. Naturally, if faced with a serious threat the more options available to you the better.
As the advanced skills provide a more resourceful and secure way of responding to a threat, they are the preferred choice in such situations. In situations where someone only suspects a potential threat, advanced exercises like the Covert Secure are extremely useful.
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Directed Alert
The ability to specify who specifically to direct aggression towards; also re-direct the dog’s aggression as needed.
Directed Attack
The ability to specify who specifically to attack. Also re-direct the dog to attack another threat. (This is done without the need for your dog to return to your side or receive a command to release their bite.)
Aggressive Secure
Your dog will immediately come to your side; cling to it; position them self between you and anyone approaching regardless from which direction; do so while showing aggression; automatically attack if you are assaulted otherwise will wait for a command. The dog will actually walk backwards while beside you, if necessary, in order to position themselves between you and someone approaching from behind!
Covert Secure
The same as the Aggressive Secure but in covert or stealth mode (no outward sign of aggression).
Rest Assured
On-command the dog goes to a specific place that strategically provides the greatest view of bedrooms and/ or entrances. The dog will then remain there until someone tries to approach. Should someone begin approaching the dog alerts you by barking. If the person proceeds to cross into the secured area the dog will automatically stop them by attacking.
Protective Escape
Similar to the Aggressive Alert but without tension on
the leash or collar; also taught how to walk backwards
while showing aggression (enabling you to backwards
out of a situation)
The following formal and informal commands are given one time, said in a normal tone. Your dog will obey instantly, regardless of the situation, and completely off-leash.
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Break
(Release from any command)
Naspo
(Remain within 2 foot radius when off leash)
Easy
(Walk with slack leash when not heeling)
Bedtime
(Go to specific place and lay down on command)
Jump
(Used for getting into vehicles, etc.)
Wait
(Stay behind natural boundary such as doorway when leaving house, remain in car, etc)
Automatic Wait
(Automatically not cross specific boundaries without a command like property lines, end of driveway, doorways open to the outside; customized as desired)
Manners
We ask that every client fill out a comprehensive questionnaire in order to understand their specific needs. Among these are whether or not children are present in the home. As most of our clients do have children the exercises below are designed to protect their hands from accidentally being hurt when playing with the dog (ie the dog taking a toy out of their hand, etc.). There are numerous ways in which we customize each dog’s training based on each clients specific lifestyle and personal preferences.
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Retrieve toys or objects only on command
Release object on command
Dropping toy or object on floor or ground
If no command is given release toy or object as soon as hand touches it.
Pricing
The following are the price ranges for each level. The prices are based on a combination of level of ability, level of training, structure, working titles and show titles.
The ability of a dog to protect is directly related to their level of ability combined with their level of skill (through training). The greater the investment in ability and training the higher the level of protection.
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS
ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS
Purchase of a Fully Trained Dog
(dog and program, obedience program is training only)
