Many people mistake a sport dog for a protection dog, thinking that competing in Schutzhund, IPO, French Ring, or Mondio automatically qualifies a dog to protect its owner against any potential threats. However, this is a misconception that can be dangerous in real life scenarios. It’s crucial for dog owners to understand the difference between sport dogs and protection dogs to ensure the safety of their families.
Here are some important insights regarding the differences between sport dogs and protection dogs:
Sport Dogs are Trained Athletes
Sports dogs are specifically trained to compete in dog sports such as Schutzhund, IPO, French Ring, or Mondio. These are dogs that are taught to perform tasks such as bite work, obedience, and tracking. They are athletes in nature, and their training is akin to preparing for a competition. At their core, these are dogs that have a natural instinct to bite and are taught to develop that instinct for sport. However, their training to bite on command should not be confused with their ability to protect their owner during a real-life threatening situation.
Protection Dogs are Specifically Trained to Protect
Protection dogs are specially trained to protect their owners and families. Their training includes not only bite work and obedience, but also defensive tactics like making a barrier and working on real-life scenarios. These dogs are taught to attack only when there is an actual threat and they recognize the attacker as a threat.
Sport Dogs Can Serve as Good Candidates for Protection Dogs
While sport dogs are not the same as protection dogs, they can be good candidates with their natural instincts for biting. However, additional training is necessary as a sport dog requires extensive training in different real-life scenarios that a protection dog would encounter.
Why is Training Important?
Owning a protection dog requires dedication and extensive training. With a protection dog, the owner is responsible for the dog’s behavior in public as well as its behavior in specific situations. It takes patience and proper socialization to create a well-adjusted dog that can perform its job without hesitation. Thus, making sure the owner and the dog undergo training is important to avoid accidents or misunderstandings.
If you are considering a protection dog, consider Command Dogs. We would love to connect you with one of our specifically and expertly trained protection dogs. Contact us today for more information.