This is a video that we shot recently at a local nearby park.

Please note: This is the first time the protection dogs met these particular children. This goes to show you how good our CCK9 German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois Protection Dogs are with children….

Meet ICE! ICE is the exception, he is not only a German Shepherd import with very strong nerves, but he is very large, with a nice big head, lots of bone density, with great pigmentation. ICE is strikingly beautiful to look at, he is definitely a head turner when walking him down the street. ICE’s pedigree is very interesting, with his direct Father, who placed very high in 2010 BSZS in Nurenberg Germany.

In his Protection he come in fast and hard, with a nice firm grip, nothing will stop this dog in his track when working him during protection. ICE is also a very social dog, and you would not have problem taking him anywhere. Whether it be to the airport, shopping mall, or park, ICE can handle any environment. ICE lived in a house with five small children, and loves to go on bike rides.

This is a one in a million opportunity. ICE was definitely a phenomenal find.

Nick has extremely strong nerves, and environmentally nothing phases, which is a rare commodity in a lot of German Shepherds today. He is absolutely devastating in his protection, he comes in fast and hard with a good solid grip. When it comes to Nick’s personality and social ability he is fantastic and loves children. It is not much of a stretch to say that Nick definitely was a phenomenal find.

SOLD- PRIVATE SALE

Erika is a solid black, 1 year old German shepherd. Highly obedient and easily controlled, she is both on and off leash trained. Her genetics are excellent; her father is a German imported Level III elite executive protection dog (see photo below). Erika is a working line dog. One of five dogs, she was the pick of the litter.

Erika is very social, affectionate and especially fond of children. She has a high degree of guard drive but has not been trained to do bite work. She currently weighs 75 pounds (will be 85-90 lbs) and has a dense bone structure and a robust build. Her appearance and personality are very masculine for a female; she is remarkably similar to her father.

Erika would be suitable as a family companion/property protection dog.

Please call 1.866.865.2259 if you have any questions.

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.

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.

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.

I’ll deliver a personal protection dog to a new family and we’ll conduct the multiple day training course. The deeper we get into the training the more excited the family gets regarding all of the special abilities their protection trained German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois or Dutch Shepherd possesses.

I understand the excitement since I have the pleasure of working with these very special canines everyday. Even after all these years I still get a rush from demonstrating our dog’s defensive abilities and unique skills.

Commonly, the enthusiasm over their new protection dog spills over and they want to tell everyone- and I mean everyone- about their security dog/alarm system/newest family member. The neighbors will hear about him, coworkers will learn about him, acquaintances may be treated to an impromptu demo.

Trust me, I get it. Protection dogs are like a human bodyguard in a dog suit, so amazing that you want to tell everyone about it. So at the end of the training course I generally address this issue to the family. True, there are a few people – those with regular contact such as trusted household staff or extended family members-that need to understand the seriousness of your security dog. However, I strongly advise against telling anyone outside of your immediate circle about the extensive education in defense your dog has received. It’s a complicated world and no one purchases a protection dog if they don’t have concerns over their personal safety. Just like you wouldn’t tell everyone that you have installed a new alarm system in your home or advertise that you carry pepper spray in your pocket during your morning jog, you lose a certain edge by not being discreet about your dog’s capabilities. While it’s true that a security dog is an effective deterrent in itself many violent crimes are committed by a person that the victim is acquainted with. Knowledge of your canine’s protectiveness will give them the advantage in strategizing their crime.

CCK9 takes privacy very seriously. It is for this reason that CCK9 employees never disclose the names or any other identifying information (including occupation) about our clients. We do provide references- as many as you like- but only with express permission from the client and only by giving a first name and cell phone number.

So, it is up to the owner how open they want to be about their canine companion’s unique training. But trust me when I say that we will maintain your confidentiality at all times.