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Archive for April, 2009
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
 On a recent trip to Italy, I had the opportunity to visit the town of Pompeii. As you probably remember, this Roman town was buried in a volcanic eruption during the first century AD. The lava has been cleared away and the remaining town is remarkably intact. Many of the houses still remain, most with floor and wall mosaics depicting scenes or patterns. In the entrance of the first house I entered was an intact floor mosaic depicting a large black dog on a chain. The Latin inscription read “Beware of the Dog”. Several other homes had the same mosaic depicting a guard dog in their front entrance. Obviously, dogs played an important role as protector in the Roman culture. Most unfortunate, there was also a cast of a dog that had lost its life in the eruption.
 Dogs have been an integral part of human history since they were first domesticated during the Paleolithic age. The earliest evidence of a dog helping a human was found in a cave in France. Prints and other evidence dated 26,000 years ago indicate that a child, holding a torch and accompanied by a dog, navigated the corridors of the cave. This is the earliest evidence known of what could be described as a guide dog.
Dogs have received the most esteem for the roles they have played in war, both in history and more recently. The Egyptians, Greeks and Persians built entire battalions of dogs suitable for combat. The mural depicting the Battle of Marathon celebrates a protection dog at the side of his or her master, engaging the invading Persians without hesitation. The Romans apparently never left home without their canine warriors; each legion was assigned its own company entirely made up of dogs. Napoleon, centuries later, sent his dogs into battle first.
Dogs’ loyalty to their handlers has been capitalized on throughout history. A discreet method of exchanging communications before phones became available, a dog with loyalty to two handlers would be sent from one to the other carrying messages. In addition to conveying information, loyal dogs have been trusted with dragging fallen soldiers to safety and transporting loads across great distances.
In the past, dogs were sent into battle wearing chainmail and a spiked collar. Warfare has changed, but even today they serve the same heroic function- only dressed in Kevlar. Dogs serving a variety of functions are not absent from current engagements in the Middle East. Mostly used for explosive detection and patrol, German Shepherds are utilized though Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds are increasingly becoming more popular.
Canines have helped humans, and vice versa, for many thousands of years. As companions, protectors, and heroes their importance cannot only be seen in the past but will, for a long time, be valued in the future.
Tags: Battle of Marathon, CCK9, Collar, Family Safety, German Shepherd, Guard Dogs, history, history of dogs, Home Security, kevlar, Personal Protection Dogs, Pompeii
Posted in CCK9, Command Control Canine Ltd, German Shepherd, Guard Dogs, history of dogs, Home Security, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
Recently, we were interviewed for an article in the April edition of Best Life Magazine. In the article, the author weighed the pros and cons of a variety of different security measures including protection dogs and guard dogs. Obviously, you know my opinion regarding the superior form of home and personal security.
Other sorts of security included employing a human bodyguard, guns, and installing an alarm system. Confidentiality helps one maintain an edge with all security initiatives. The same is true with protection dogs. Though personal protection dogs, and especially guard dogs, are a strong visual deterrent to crime it is still important to maintain the upper hand by not casually disclosing his or her abilities.
Command Control Canine Ltd takes our clients’ privacy very seriously. Fortunately, so do our clients. We recently delivered four Level III personal protection dogs to the home of a well-known rock star living in New York. The dogs will begin touring with the musician shortly. During the delivery, he asked us to sign a series of confidentiality agreements instructing us not to disclose his name or image. We were happy to sign the forms but disappointed that it wasn’t assumed we would be discreet. Given his position, requesting written assurance is understandable and a matter of course in much of what he does.
All of our clients, famous or not, receive the same treatment. Our policy is simple. Under no circumstances do we reveal the names and/or specific, identifying occupations of our clients. We never market our dogs using a celebrity’s name; our dogs stand on their own merit. It’s a celebrity obsessed world, but your personal safety is more valuable than any advantage that name recognition may give us.
We train and supply personal protection dogs to increase your safety. Trust us when we say we’ll do nothing to jeopardize it.
Tags: Best Life Magazine, CCK9, CCK9 Policy, Personal Protection Dogs
Posted in Announcement, CCK9 Policy, Family Safety, Home Security, Privacy | No Comments »
Monday, April 27th, 2009
I’m as proud of our new litter of Belgian Malinois puppies as if I had fathered them myself.
 Our most recent litter was the result of breeding two extraordinary Level III Belgian Malinois, Cindy and Ducko. The offspring turned out to be everything we expected and more.
We start our pups in training at 5 weeks of age. It is at this point that they are introduced to wearing a collar and lead. To make sure they are well socialized, we take them everywhere- crowded streets, to the store, parks- so they are exposed to as many people and different surfaces as possible. The pups are also exposed to children and other animals. This sets a great foundation for the future since we have zero tolerance for child or animal aggression.
 Today ushered in their first experience on the agility course! Their performance could not have been better. They enjoyed it and we enjoyed it knowing that, just like their parents, these pups will be well suited for high-end personal protection, military or law enforcement work.
Contact us if you have any questions or are interested in obtaining a Belgian Malinois for your home or business.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Belgian Malinois Puppies, CCK9, dog training, Personal Protection Dogs, Protection Dogs
Posted in Announcement, Belgian Malinois, Canine Health, CCK9, Prey Dogs, Protection Dogs, St. Georges University, Training | No Comments »
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Look for CCK9 on twitter: https://twitter.com/CCK9
Great for dog lovers, professionals in the industry and anyone interested in personal protection dogs and guard dogs. We provide tips, info, photos and links, updated regularly.
Tags: CCK9, Guard Dogs, Personal Protection Dogs, Protection Dogs, twitter
Posted in Announcement, CCK9, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
I have had many clients who have purchased a protection dog from me after having been the victim of a violent crime. These are some of the best deliveries because I know that their chances of having anything else happen will now be minimal. Plus, the victim will often say that getting a protection dog has made them feel safe again. It’s great to know that our dogs are helping some of our clients in ways that go beyond just providing security.
While training, we often reenact situations and scenarios that are most likely to occur in reality. In fact, I listen closely to our clients who have been in violent situations and tailor the training around the crime with the addition, of course, of a protection dog. As you can image, adding the dog makes the outcome completely different!
Sometimes I hear other trainers say that they never allow their dogs to “interpret a situation” and that their dogs will only become defensive on command, when you tell them to. I understand the motive behind this and agree to a point. It’s true, it is very important that the handler has complete control over a highly trained and possibly lethal protection dog. However, I have found through the years and from my clients that, when put in extreme circumstances, sometimes it is okay to allow the dog to come to your defense without receiving a verbal command. The key is to train the dog to understand not only verbal direction but physical cues as well. It can be done.
One of my female clients who had been the victim of a vicious assault by a stranger spoke in detail about how the crime was committed against her. In training I keep what she said in mind. In her circumstances, a stranger struck her from behind, in the back of the head, in an effort to incapacitate her. Lying on the ground but still conscious, she described the state of shock she went into. She explained that she was not able to speak immediately after being hit. Fortunately, she escaped but even as she dialed 911 her speech was extremely slurred and she was confused as a result of the head trauma.
This is a perfect example of when a protection dog needs to understand that his or her handler needs them to come to their defense. Although the victim would not have been able to give a verbal command, our dogs are trained to take physical cues from their handler. In this situation, the protection dog would have jumped into defensive mode and targeted the wrist of the hand holding the weapon. The dog would have continued to bite until the person left. This crime would most likely be prevented all together if the protection dog had been present since the dog is a visual deterrent alone.
Another situation would involve someone breaking into your home as you sleep. The dog must protect you even as you are awakening and not able to fully comprehend the danger you are in. Given the dog’s superior sense of smell, an unknown person shouldn’t even make it a few feet past the front door.
I know that this treads a fine line since, obviously, you don’t want your protection dog to defend you when, say, someone bumps your shoulder. So we at CCK9 focus on the difference and train our dogs to come to your defense when your body language demonstrates exceptional fear. Also, without a doubt, your protection dog will always respond to verbal commands indicating that you are not in danger.
So it really is to your advantage to have a protection dog that is able to interpret if their handler has or will be assaulted. With a properly trained dog, this ability doesn’t mean a loss in control or that you aren’t in charge. It just means that your dog is prepared to come to your defense when you need them most.
Tags: CCK9, dog training, Family Safety, Guard Dogs, Home Security, Personal Protection Dogs, Protection Dogs
Posted in CCK9, Command Control Canine Ltd, Family Safety, Guard Dogs, Home Security, Protection Dogs, Training | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the advantages of owning a personal protection or guard dog over purchasing a gun. My own recent experience at a shooting range proved first hand many of the reasons why, when it comes to personal safety and home security, trained dogs have the edge. Don’t misunderstand. As a security professional, I’m all for anything that makes a family safer; guns have their place in the matrix. But when it comes down to it trained dogs trump firearms.
 At the range I had the opportunity to shoot both a 45 GLOCK and 44 Smith & Wesson. Much like the training course each client receives when we deliver a protection dog, it’s important to be properly educated before firing a gun. What struck me most is the awkwardness of handling a firearm. Under stress, in a situation when someone is being attacked, a gun user would need to be very well practiced to accurately disable his or her aggressor. It’s not impossible since there are many gun enthusiasts that practice frequently. However, most people don’t have the time or desire to get to this level. With a protection dog, the situation is different. At delivery, our trainers teach you everything you need to know. After we leave, you are free to call us 24/7 with any questions. The first few days after we leave may feel awkward but shortly thereafter you will feel completely comfortable. In a way, by daily walks, feeding and obedience, you are “practicing” with your dog- everyday. So if a situation should occur, giving your dog commands will feel as natural as shooting a target 20 feet away feels to some people.
Another great advantage of owning a protection dog revolves around family safety. Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of keeping a loaded gun in their home (especially with children) for obvious reasons. Leaving the gun in a secure place, unloaded, is a frequent solution. You may feel more secure with the unloaded gun but from a practical standpoint you will most likely not be able to find, load and discharge the gun if someone breaks into your home or assaults you. Guns offer peace of mind; this doesn’t necessarily equate to increased safety.
Laws in the US may increase gun ownership control, making it even more difficult to possess a gun. Concealed weapons permits are controversial and many states will only issue these under extreme circumstances. Therefore, while it is possible to bring your dog with you in public it is increasingly more difficult to carry a firearm. Also, a protection dog is significantly more discreet.
Unlike a gun, protection dogs serve the dual purpose of having all of the attributes of a family pet. We never sell dogs that aren’t fond of children or other animals. So the upside is that in addition to having true personal security, you’ll also have an affectionate and fun companion. A companion with a natural instinct to guard, the training to back it up, who will not hesitate to protect- or even take a bullet for you. None of this can be said for a gun. Importantly, your protection dog can never be turned against his or her handler. Sadly, there are some who have had their own firearm turned against them while trying to protect themselves.
I once read a study where they asked individuals that if given the choice would they rather be shot, stabbed or bitten by a dog. Overwhelmingly, most chose to be shot or stabbed. The concept of being bitten by an animal was chosen as the most frightening. The first two choices were seen as less painful and less likely to inflict the most harm even though all three can be lethal. I’m not surprised and I completely agree. It is an instinct to have extreme fear of animals that are poised to bite- wild animals or those trained in defense of their handler.
All in all, you make the decision for what is best for your family. But from my perspective, a gun may make you feel safer but a protection or guard dog will undoubtedly make you safer.
Tags: Family Safety, Firearm, Gun, Home Security, Protection Dogs
Posted in CCK9, Command Control Canine Ltd, Family Safety, Home Security, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
It takes very special equipment to train our elite personal protection and guard dogs. Much like a carpenter must possess the proper tools to create great work, so must the dog trainer start with the best equipment available.
Command Control K9 Ltd is very specific about the collars and leads used in both the learning and finished stages of dog training. All of the tools that we utilize are hand made exclusively for us by a master leathercrafter and to our custom guidelines.
Our training method requires multiple types of collars and leads. One collar, however, that we never use is called an “e-collar” or shock collar. Not only are they a cruel method of training but also they are completely unnecessary to trainers who know how to properly train a dog. Often, videos online will show a trainer working with a dog. The level of obedience is impressive until you notice the small device that they are holding which looks like a cell phone. It’s actually a remote control for the shock collar. It is unfortunate evidence that the dog was not given the proper training foundation early on and now the trainer must rely on the e-collar to get results.
All of our finished dogs are off leash obedience trained; they respond to commands off leash just as well as if they are on a leash. As you can image, dogs must start their training on a leash before off leash obedience can be taught. Unique to CCK9 is the long 7-foot lead, with brass double snaps and a floating ring, used when we walk our dogs with structure. The leads commonly found in pet stores are only 4-6 feet long, too short to have the best control over a protection dog. It seems counterintuitive but a handler has far greater control when they hold the leash in a loose, u-shape. Protection dogs take their cues from the handler and when the handler is holding the leash too tight it indicates stress and tension. The dog will respond to this negative message by being overly defensive. Since all of our dogs are off leash obedient, there is no loss of control when using a longer lead. The dog will always heal on your left with or without a lead. Therefore, longer leads allow the handler to communicate easily with their protection dog.
Another piece of equipment especially useful when training dogs for the police or military is our 3-foot police lead with a handle. Police dogs require a tighter lead since the dogs are often put in tense, acute situations. The handle, held in the officer’s left hand, allows full use of their right hand to discharge a firearm.
One of the best pieces of equipment for at home use is the small pull tab (in the middle of the photo). The ultra-light pull tab acts like a small lead and allows the trainer to easily correct a dog since it is impractical to attach a full size lead to a dog while it is being trained in a home environment. All of our protection dogs are trained in home environments and therefore you can imagine how useful this bit of equipment is.
Lastly, our clients often remark on how great our 1 3/8 inch leather flat collar is. Sturdy, strong, and highly crafted, it makes a statement about your elite personal protection dog.
All of the equipment is included when your protection dog is personally delivered to your home or office. We do not sell these items to the general public.
The attention to detail, down to the collar we use, is what makes CCK9 a leader in the personal protection dog industry.
Tags: Collar, dog training, Leads, Protection Dogs
Posted in CCK9, Training | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Command Control Canine LTD is proud to offer our clients some of the best elite personal protection dogs in the world. 
Zamp, a black and tan German shepherd, is no exception. A level III elite personal protection dog, Zamp is the perfect match for executives and their families who seek the ultimate in personal security.
Zamp has excellent pigmentation and is highly V rated in show. Devastating in conformation with a bite to match. His excellent nerves, very strong guard drive, and high degree of intelligence are matched by his social skills, gentleness with other animals, loyalty and special fondness for children.
Zamp is very expressive. He is fully committed to protecting his handler and engages in defense without hesitation. A serious dog, Zamp is one of the top ten greats we have imported from West Germany.
For more information or photos please visit our Featured Dog page.
Tags: CCK9, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs, Zamp
Posted in Announcement, CCK9, Feature Dog, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
One of the biggest misconceptions about guard dogs is that they are trained in the same way and have the same responsibilities as personal protection dogs. In actuality, they vary greatly in duties, genetics, training and in an array of other ways. While guard dogs do serve an important function, they are not comparable to protection dogs in several ways.
Guard dogs are most useful in the role of being a watchful gatekeeper to an estate, compound, or business. Highly territorial, they are more than willing to defend their defined ‘turf’. This is especially useful for businesses that lock up at night yet have valuable inventory that needs to be protected, such as a body shop or car dealership. They respect their handlers but are not sociable and lack the many years of training that personal protection dogs have. Protection dogs, due to their genetics and training, play a dual role in that they are highly sociable and great with children, pets and other people. Their ‘territory’ isn’t a defined area, it is their handler. Their job is to defend a physical person or person(s). The level of control is obviously greater. Protection dogs can be cross-trained to serve as guard dogs. We get this request a lot and it is easy to fulfill.
I cannot stress the importance of genetics enough. The makings of a phenomenal protection dog begin in the genes of its parents and grandparents. The secret to our success in having litters suited to CCK9’s high standards for personal protection dogs is due to our carefulness in selecting our parent dogs. In fact, all of our parent dogs have proven themselves by completing at least our Level II program. Dogs more suited to guard dog work are often the result of poor genetic planning on the part of the breeder. It is an unfortunate but common circumstance since only 1% of dogs possess the genetics to qualify as true protection dogs. This isn’t to say that there aren’t some fantastic guard dogs. It’s just that personal protection dogs have to be nearly perfect in every category just to train to perform their elite role.
Temperament and aptitude are also a product of genetics and play a key role in training. Without the proper attitude and high degree of intelligence it is impossible to train a dog for personal protection. One thing that both types of dogs have in common is that both must have a strong ‘guard’ drive. Quality guard dogs must have the nerve not to back down in the face of an intruder. How effective is a dog that backs away from a fence that a burglar is attempting to breach? Loud barking and a frantic temperament are the advantages of owning a guard dog.
Command Control K9 LTD will, on occasion, sell guard dogs. While we specialize in elite personal protection dogs we often have repeat clients ask us to find and evaluate guard/watch dogs for their estates and businesses. We take the request very seriously and always supply dogs with balance. Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding available personal protection or guard dogs.
Tags: CCK9, CCK9 Facility, Guard Dogs, Home Security, Protection Dogs
Posted in CCK9, Command Control Canine Ltd, Family Safety, Guard Dogs, Home Security, Protection Dogs, Training | No Comments »
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