SECURITY AT YOUR SIDE

by Joan Ronalder

In this time of National insecurity how secure do you feel?  There is not only the threat to our nation by outsiders, but with the worsening economic situation crime is likely to increase.  How long would it take for a policeman to get to your side?  In the case of domestic abuse how close is your closest shelter or sheriff?  If you get carjacked who will be there to help you?

Now how safe would you feel?  This is a working type German Shepherd.  Small enough to fit easily in your car, large enough to take down the biggest bully.  A dog like this , sitting in your car, scares off the worst criminal element.  Why pick on you when the next car on the street or in the parking lot contains an unprotected person. 

In picking a protector not just any dog will do.  Many of the renowned guard dog breeds have been corrupted by breeding for looks rather than brains and character.  Research your protector, get references as it were.  Make sure this dog will really protect you, not run if the attacker comes after you.  Even the smallest dog is a good alarm.  A small terrier who is watchful and will bark his or her head off if someone approaches his car or his person will draw attention, something no criminal wants. 

In this time of abductions from a child’s bedroom it would seem to me to make sense to have an alert dog sleeping in the bedroom with your child.  No kidnapper can get the child away or do harm, while your dog is sleeping in the same room. 

Make no mistake, a protection dog is not a mean dog.  They must have good, sound temperaments.  They must be safe around trusted friends, must be safe around your family, and must be able to build the bond that makes them willing to lay down their very lives for their family.  This is what the sport of Schutzhund was developed to test.  In Germany, where many of these “guard dogs” were developed they must have a Schutzhund title to gain a show title.  It is important that they be able to pass not only the bite phase but also the obedience and temperament test.  The temperament test includes basic obedience, no dog aggression, no crowd sensitivity, being able to be patted by a neutral stranger, startle tests.  The dog must be able to pass ALL of these tests before he can even enter a trial to also test his tracking ability and protection skills.