When you’re considering bringing a protection dog into your home, there are a number of reasons why there is a clear and diligent process involved. First, the safety of the dog needs to be impeccably verified. Secondly, how does the dog consistently handle high-stress situations? There is also the legitimacy and credibility of the trainer, transparency of protection dog training records, full support and integration by the company, and, of course, the dog’s discriminating temperament. Each of these elements must be vetted to guarantee proper assimilation into a family environment.
Step 1: Initial Inquiry & Consultation
Meeting with Scott’s K9 will involve the client providing details about their security needs, living situation, level of activity, family members, etc. The client should come prepared with answers to questions like; do you want a protection dog that is great with kids? Are you looking for a dog that has advanced protection abilities or mainly obedience and deterrence? Also, are you interested in a dog for personal protection?
Answers to these questions will help Scott’s K9 understand precisely what your expectations and needs are, before recommending any particular dog. Our approach is one that is personalized, tailored to our client’s needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach. When you’re buying a protection dog, this is exactly what you want.
Step 2: Learning about the Training Levels
Protection dog training exists on a variety of levels. Not every dog is trained the same way, because individuals and families have different needs. Clients learn the difference between:
- A family protection dog that is trained to be obedient, basic home protection, and proper home behavior.
- A trained protection dog that possesses additional response skills and more advanced cues, such as releasing on command.
- Dogs that are trained for escalated, stressful protection scenarios such as armed threats, pursuit and apprehension.
Step 3: Selecting the Right Dog
Understanding your needs is an important part of the process to allow Scott’s K9 to match you with the right dog. Matching is never random; it is always an intentional process with the client’s goals in mind. Dogs are matched with clients based on:
- The dog’s temperament
- The dog’s drive, which is different for different dogs. Prey drive, defense drive, and fight drive are all taken into account when Scott’s K9 matches a dog with its new home
- Confidence level
- Sociability
- Best fit for client’s lifestyle
- Protection level that is desired
Buying a protection dog for a busy household would likely involve a dog known for its stability and calmness. Travelers will want a confident personal protection dog that thrives in new environments.
Step 4: Meeting Your Future Protection Dog
Once a match is identified, clients are able to meet their dog before making a commitment. During this meeting, the client can get a sense of:
- How the dog behaves
- How responsive the dog is to commands
- The dog’s personality and demeanor
- Their ability to protect at their current level of training
This is the time to ask more questions, get to know the chosen dog, and help you feel aligned and confident before making a purchasing decision.
Step 5: Finalizing the Purchase
Congratulations! You’re making a future-focused step by buying a protection dog. Scott’s K9 provides you with a written contract which outlines all of the details of the purchase. Transparency is essential; you’ll be made aware of health guarantees, training expectations, financial terms, and delivery details. Once you approve the contract, a 50% deposit is required, with the balance due on delivery.
It’s at this point where you aren’t just thinking about buying a protection dog, now you are officially preparing to welcome one into your home.
Step 6: Handler Training for the Buyer
When your dog is delivered, we provide a two-day, hands-on orientation for you and your family. Even the very best trained protection dog needs an educated handler. This training covers:
- Commands the dog knows
- How to reinforce obedience
- How to activate and deactivate protection behaviors
- How to work with the dog in your daily life
- Proper techniques to praise and correct
- All safety protocols
Step 7: Delivery and Home Integration
Whether you are in the United States or Europe, we personally hand-deliver every dog to provide our clients with a bespoke protection dog purchase experience. During delivery, the trainer works directly with you and your family in your home, to help you, existing pets, and the protection dog settle into your new routine, and become comfortable with one another.
Step 8: Ongoing Support after Purchase
Scott’s K9 has built a strong reputation and one of the reasons for this is due to the ongoing support that is provided even after delivery. Questions will arise, and we are here to provide guidance and follow-up communication, long after the dog arrives in your home. Having access to trained professionals to help integrate your protection dog into your life makes a huge difference.
What Makes a Trusted Provider Different
There are many aspects to training protection dogs that makes a trusted provider different. With Scott’s K9, you receive:
- Top-tier dogs only. By top tier, we mean that these dogs outperform even police and military K9’s. Quality is never compromised here.
- We have exclusive partnerships with European breeders, we train exceptional dogs, we do not breed them.
- We focus on 1-3 dogs at a time, so we can be sure they will meet client expectations at the time of purchase.
- Dogs are personally delivered to clients, with hands-on training, so they can be effectively integrated into the home environment.
Conclusion: A Protection Dog is an Investment in Safety and Peace of Mind
Regardless of whether you desire a family protection dog, a personal protection dog or a highly-trained protection dog, safety and peace of mind is always the goal. Buying a protection dog means investing in more than simply security, you’re also investing in a partnership, a bond of trust, and exceptional, long-term peace of mind. At Scott’s K9, we have designed our process to be personal, transparent, and top-tier from start to finish.