Protection Dog Training - Vicious Animal or Family Pet

"Protection Dog Training - Vicious Animal or Family Pet?","  Rocco is my Rottweiler who has undergone extensive protection dog training.


""Oh, you shouldn't train your dog to do that stuff.
  I was initially a bit taken-aback and annoyed; not only was her comment unsolicited but it was based on a lack of knowledge.
  There are many misconceptions about protection dogs and protection dog training.


First, let me do a bit of defining.


Attack Dog- A poorly trained, typically anti-social, and fearful creature.


Guard Dog- A dog that is trained to guard an
area.
  Guard dogs may or may not be good with people and may or may not have obedience training.
  They are trained to be used on the offensive.
  A protection dog is trained to show aggression on command and turn off on command.
  A protection dog has high levels of obedience training.
  Does training a protection dog make him vicious?  I understand why many people would assume this.
  Protection dog training does not, however, make a dog vicious.
  At its root, however, there are two instincts, or drives, that protection dog trainers harness time and time again to achieve results.


Prey Drive

Prey drive is a drive that most dogs possess, not just protection dogs.
  The local mongrel chases a car because of prey drive.
  Nothing vicious about it.
  As the puppy grows older he graduates from a rag to a tug.
  All the while the training is approached as a game.
  Basically, the decoy, or guy wearing the bite suit or sleeve, is not viewed as a 'bad guy' but as a partner in a fun game.
  All of this training is done on command only.
  This ensures for safety and control.
  Dogs have three ways of dealing with an aggressor: fight, flight, or avoidance.
  The trainer will show the dog that in certain situations a person is a threat and can be dealt with using the skills taught in prey drive.
  In essence, a dog is taught that when given a command that the aggressor is a real threat and he should use his skills to fight the threat.


There are not many dogs capable of this level of training.
  This level of confidence is what often makes protection dogs safe and good with people.
  Protection dog training often bolsters this confidence as these dogs learn the power that they have and their innate abilities.
  Their natural drives have merely been harnessed to teach them new skills.
  Is a soldier more of a danger because of his training?  Many would argue that he or she isn't.
  A soldier is capable of being a loving and caring family member in one setting and tool of battle in another.


Confidence is the opposite of fear.
  When you combine the confidence and high levels of control in a well trained protection dog, I contend that you have a dog that is safe to be around and definitely not vicious.


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