Personal Protection dog

heldengebroed

Bronze
Mar 9, 2005
560
7
0
For those who have one or want one

What are you're desires

Breed
Training
Sociability
maintenance
Time needed with the dog
etc

The reason i ask is:

As some of you know i'm planning to come live in the dr and dogtraining is my hobby. I would like to continue this in the dr and make a "part time" living from this.

Trouble is i've a distorted vision of what is needed from a dog.
My current dog is, in my eyes, a "weak" one and an easy going dog. for others he is extremely nervous (don't know why they say this) and extremely hard to handle. His training level is such that 99.9% of the police and army dogs aren't at his level. I can imagine that the common dogowner has other demands than i have and i would like to know what you would like and would like to do with you're dog

Greetings

Johan
 

lasalsa

Member
Apr 9, 2008
55
6
8
Johan,

Great topic!

One of the barriers that you might encounter with your "hobby" in the D.R. is that most Dominicans think a dog is an "object" of the family versus an actual "part" of the family. It's going be slightly difficult to re-program some of us to accept a Dog as such. For Expats, it will be a lot easier.

All the while growing up my parents had dogs, solely to bark and look intimidating (Dobermans, GSD's) and to alert when someone approached the front of our cul-de-sac. Never were dogs allowed to be inside the house as part of our "Pack", they had minimal training and were really antisocial. For the longest I've been telling my Dad that he needs to reprogram his mind to accept an animal, that will be with him 24hrs, and be allowed to form that bond necessary in order to protect his Pack.

We have about 20-30 Acres in the San Luis/Villa Mella/La Victoria zone in the Capital of D.R. and my wife an I have been thinking to use that area to build a full service Dog boarding / training facility that will complement our love for Dogs. This venture is really far away, ala 6-10 years away, but it's will remain in our minds as we think of the possibilities.

Let's see what fellow members chime in about the breeds, etc.

For me, I would like a short-haired, Mastiff-type dog, fully social, with a side job like hunting, swimming, etc. (Dogo Argentino).

Good luck and let me know how things work out for you. I might need some help in the future.

Richie
 

Thandie

Bronze
Nov 27, 2007
694
80
0
Great Idea

Lasalsa,

Great idea!

I know of people who have a business similar to your idea in Jamaica and it is very, very profitable! Expats and rich JA business owners are the #1 customers.

You might want to start it sooner LOL!
 

queffgwada

New member
Apr 7, 2008
16
0
0
Personal protection dog

Considering your question, I could make two answers...

As a family dog, I'd like a very social but protective dog, short haired. Could be labrador or boxer type. His job would mostly be to be there, alert when someone approach the house, and most of all be very close to my children, in order to protect them at all price... This kind of dog can be trained by owner with little help from dog specialist.

Concerning personal protection, the way I hear it can only be a Belgien Shepperd, short haired, very well trained. I used to have one years ago... It was very close to me, always stuck to my left leg. You just couldn't touch me before I let the dog know you can do so... As far as this kind of dog can be dangerous, it has to be constantly watched at, and never be left alone with children others than yours, if they have been part of the dog's training. Should be easy to handle, but only handled by you while "working"... I had mine as a 2 months old puppy, trained it myself in specialized training center, and I believe it's the safer way to proceed. I wouldn't be confident in buying a 2 year old trained dog, mostly because trouble in his past could shortly become troubles for you !!!

I heard of two guys in Cabrera who train Belgian Shepperds, maybe they would share their experiment with you ...
 
Last edited:

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
8,215
37
48
www.
Servican (Dr. Nova) in Santo Domingo offers this service. You could check out what they offer. They have a vet shop in Santo Domingo, and then a large farm where the owner-family lives and keeps dogs that need long stay hotel service. At the farm they also train the dogs.

I had a Belgian Shephard when growing up that was my shadow.

Now have boxers. I think boxers are excellent watch dogs because they are nervous, look like pit bulls, but are safe with all the family and friends.

Less people have dogs these days, as more are living in apartments, at least in the city. Note that many gated communities do not allow dogs, and offer their own security instead. But I would think there would be a market for a service such as yours.
 

Lambada

Gold
Mar 4, 2004
9,478
410
0
80
www.ginniebedggood.com
Maybe Johan you could also offer the service of assessing the skills of expats' current dogs? i.e. developing programmes not as detailed as what you did professionally but for 'improving' the skills of the dogs people already have.

Our newest arrival (Heinz57 a we say in UK but she is like a little terrier, soft coated Jack Russell with a very long pointy nose) is only 8 months but shows remarkable jumping skills and a lot of perseverance when hanging on to a rope between her teeth, so I would think she would positively blossom with some proper training i.e. beyond what we do with her. Very small, very fast, a regular little dynamo - would love to have you meet her and give us your opinion. :)
 

heldengebroed

Bronze
Mar 9, 2005
560
7
0
Maybe Johan you could also offer the service of assessing the skills of expats' current dogs? i.e. developing programmes not as detailed as what you did professionally but for 'improving' the skills of the dogs people already have.

Our newest arrival (Heinz57 a we say in UK but she is like a little terrier, soft coated Jack Russell with a very long pointy nose) is only 8 months but shows remarkable jumping skills and a lot of perseverance when hanging on to a rope between her teeth, so I would think she would positively blossom with some proper training i.e. beyond what we do with her. Very small, very fast, a regular little dynamo - would love to have you meet her and give us your opinion. :)


No problem

I always enjoy working with dogs

It's always different and always a means to learn and this for the dog, the handler and also me.

And for terriers. People tend to forget that they were created to kill vermin, foxes, badgers etc. They truly are big dogs in a small package

Greetings

Johan
 

Chip

Platinum
Jul 25, 2007
16,772
429
0
Santiago
Just remember the size of the dog doesn't always matter here in the DR, as the often employed modus operandi is to throw them a peice of steak with a good dose of tres pasitos(poison). I have a good example of my friend Charles hewre in Santiago who had a large Rottweiler that they left in the yard to be attended to daily by some family members while they went away on vacation. Anyway, the thieves threw the dog the poisoned steak and he passed out and they thieves robbed the house blind. The family members found the dog the next day and took him to the vet and he recovered only because he ate the steak whole without chewing it. Also, I think most Dominicans that would want to have a dog as some type of warning would want them to be somewhat social, as Dominicans typically are, but just enough "spooky" to be alert and bark when people approach the yard. If people are determined on having a dog as protection, one almost has to leave him in the house, or he will be easy prey for the theives.
 

SKing

Silver
Nov 22, 2007
3,750
183
63
For those who have one or want one

What are you're desires

Breed
Training
Sociability
maintenance
Time needed with the dog
etc

Greetings

Johan

This comes up just in time for me! Where will you be moving to in the DR.
I am moving in August and am looking for a family-friendly but also good watchdog. At first I was thinking of a Labrador Retriever but someone told me the most that they would probably do to an intruder is lick them to death since they are supposedly very friendly...
Now I am thinking of a German Shepherd....I have reading up on them and my only concern would be if they became OVERLY aggressive although I think that training would help this. I have children and do not want an OVERLY aggressive dog.
I would like to socialize it to myself, my children, and close friends that would be visiting me on a regular basis.
Moderate maintenance but he/she would be provided with lots of exercise as I will have a moderate size yard and walk alot when I am in DR (I am moving to Sajoma, considered a campo to most) and the river is close by to run and swim.
What breed would you suggest?
I have also heard that GSD bark at every little thing...I would need a dog that is easily trained not bark in the house unless there is something unusual or if the dog needs something.
Advice greatly appreciated...if you are moving to Santiago, I would be VERY interested in your services!Thanks, SKing

P.S.
Of course, on the watchdog side of things...if someone enters my house uninvited I want a brave dog pa' que le de una leccion!
 

Chip

Platinum
Jul 25, 2007
16,772
429
0
Santiago
If you choose to get a German Shepherd, no matter how he is trained, please lock him up if you have visitors, especially kids. Remember too to keep him in the house or he will just be an easy target for the thieves.
 

SKing

Silver
Nov 22, 2007
3,750
183
63
If you choose to get a German Shepherd, no matter how he is trained, please lock him up if you have visitors, especially kids. Remember too to keep him in the house or he will just be an easy target for the thieves.

Thanks! I plan to keep him in the house but here is another question...how do you socialize the dog to friends if you lock him up whenever people come over?
Or do you just lock him up when people come over that he doesn't know?
If I get a GSD...I will NEVER let it around other children except my own!
 

queffgwada

New member
Apr 7, 2008
16
0
0
I would not advise socializing a protection dog with anybody else than close family... Better learn him not to be confident to anyone except you and yours, nor be aggressive to anyone except particular situations. I believe that no dog should be asked to decide by himself whom to bite or not...
As I said previously, when my belgian sheppard was in "protection mode", no one could reach me. Else, he was just carefully looking and hearing at me, waiting for a signal...
SKing, it's quite easy to learn a dog to bark "on demand", and very impressive, and then also easy to learn him not to bark.
 

SKing

Silver
Nov 22, 2007
3,750
183
63
Also, in regards to the story that Chip wrote re the ladrones poisoning a dog... someone told me that you can a dog only to eat what YOU give it...is that possible???
I would be inclined to think that a dog could not turn down a steak!

Anyone know any dog trainers in Santiago???
 

Thandie

Bronze
Nov 27, 2007
694
80
0
Yes it is possible, I have seen it...hard to believe but if a dog is well trained, as tempting as a steak is, the dog will ONLY eat from the owner(s) and sometimes only a particular feeding bowl.
 

trabajadora

New member
Aug 29, 2007
301
8
0
This is quite an interesting topic to me too, as I am a new dog owner. I got my dog for two reasons (1) companionship for me, and (2) protection for me and my home. Although he is part Pit and is approx. 2 years old (I've only had him for just under 2 months now), he won me over the very first day I saw him. Whoever had him in the past trained him very well in terms of being an inside-the-house dog and he has settled in quite nicely. He comes whenever I call him, he stays when I say stay, he lays down (almost) every time I say lay down, and if he goes to jump on me to play, I tell him NO, and he stops immediately. I have been drilling into him that I am the "dominant dog" as I was advised to do by a friend of mine who has had dogs all her life.

He is at my side almost everywhere I am in the house (sleeps on my side of the bed on the floor; not my husband's side). He knows I am the one who feeds, waters, walks, hugs, kisses, grooms and loves him to death as my husband works extremely long hours and seldom has time to do any of these things.

At first he didn't even bark and I thought there was something wrong with him. But one night he must have heard someone coming a bit too close to our door and he surprised us both by barking. The next time he barked (a lot) was one day after taking him out in the morning, I was approaching my house and the garbage truck was in front of the house and a man was emptying the garbage cans of the downstairs tenant. He let that guy know he didn't know him and that he was there to protect our house. Good dog. Now that he's comfortable in his surroundings and knows who is supposed to be in my house (my husband and me only), I always put him in another area when someone new comes to the house (like the cable guy). Not really knowing a lot about dog training, my thinking is that this is the best way to not let him be social with other people, unless I personally bring them into the house, or I personally allow them inside.

The only other time he barks like crazy is when we encounter another dog (usually an aggressive one) while out walking around the neighborhood (that is a BIG problem as anyone living here knows). Twice we (my dog and I) have been confronted by a huge husky-looking dog in the area whose owners allow him to roam around on his own. That was extremely frightening for me as the dogs were growling and barking angrily at each other (mine was on his leash). The second time this happened, I had my umbrella with me as it was about to rain. I ended up hitting the husky-type dog in the face with it while trying to lead my dog away from him. I was scared out of my mind not knowing if that dog would attack me for that, but I kept my cool and continued leading my dog away from the situation while continuing to swing my umbrella at the other dog and trying to scare him away. After a few minutes, the other dog stopped approaching and following us and turned around and left. I know this is not the end of my encounters with this other dog and I now try to walk with my Louisville Slugger at all times.

Other than those situations when I encounter other dogs, my doggie is very loving and enjoys all the affection I shower on him. To a great degree he has been spoiled into thinking he's a small lap dog and likes to climb into my lap (which means I'm practically smothered) and move my hands to the part of his head or chest where he wants to be rubbed.

So with that, I would be most interested in some type of training for both my dog and myself (as his handler) so that I know the proper way to fend off other aggressive dogs in the future. Being able to walk my dog around the neighborhood at least twice a day has become a stressful ordeal for me as I'm always looking out for other dogs and I'm always somewhat on edge during our walks.
 

lasalsa

Member
Apr 9, 2008
55
6
8
Me again.. Dogs can be trained to do things on command. Our first step in training our dogs we have had has been the "Go potty" command. We had a dog that we'd let outside to do it's business and as soon as we said "Go potty", he knew it was for that and that's it. Lifted it's leg even though he didn't have to go. Came right back in. Right now we have (2) a Beagle and a Chihuahua Mix, that have taught us a lot about the Dog world.

A dog needs to know he has a Job. When he's at home and the door bell rings, he should be the first one to alert you and go and see who's there. The owner should be able to say ONE WORD and the dog should know to either stand-by and be vigilant, or just ignore whatever happened. He's doing his job by barking and alerting, albeit sometimes it's annoying, put them at ease. Dogs need that positive re-inforcement when they do what you want them to do. Whether it be "Sit" "Come" "Stay" "leave-it",, etc..

As far as socializing. Here in Argentina is the Mecca of socialized dogs. You see 5-8 Dogs all over the city and burbs getting walked by the local walkers. Dogs are off leash everywhere, Owners walk with dogs throughout town with ZERO worries that their dog will "attack" of even sniff anyone. That "one word" goes a long way. When you see your dog fixating on something, just say it and re-focus him to you, "THE ALFA". We have a long way to go in D.R. as far as Dogs. Training starts from the time they open their eyes.

TIP: When walking your dog outside, and you see him/her fixating on another dog. Use a squirt-bottle with water and zap him, make up a word and refocud him on what's at hand, the walk. Eventually the bottle will go away and he'll remember the word. "Leave-it" is good.

I grew up hearing the "Tres-pasitos" problem and crooks feeding tainted steaks to dogs. I have also heard of dogs that their owner leaves them with the Caretaker over the weekend and they don't eat unless the owner comes back 3 days later. Remember, dogs have over a million scent glands in their noses, and if they eat a burger from McD's, they can smell what the person that made the burger ate for breakfast and dinner the night before. There's a way to teach to eat only from it's "PACK" Members.

Ideally, for me, a dog will be accompanying me in my truck/car EVERYWHERE, off lead. He will be both word trained and hand-signal trained to know when I want him to "work" of just be at my side. I'd have another one, female, stay at home with the Family while I'm out and about. At night, sleep in our rooms and when we say the word, investigate the situation.


As far as our future goals. They would have to wait for at least 5 years for when I get my retirement from my "Company". Meanwhile, we will be absorbing as much from the Dog World to allow for some ventures.

My Future dog will be a Dogo Argentino, short haired, white, great family dog, Pack oriented, rare, hunter (pal campo) and 40-50 Kilo's of muscle.

Bottom line, if a dog, ANY dog, feels like he's part of your Pack, he'll give it's life for it.

Richie..
 

heldengebroed

Bronze
Mar 9, 2005
560
7
0
Short awnser Tonight, when i've got the time, i'll awnser every post correctly

-dogs can be tought to leave food asside. In fact it is remarcably easy

-As for socializing. As a protection dog you need a confident dog that is under controle. Doesn't need to be over socialized as in meeting people. He should ,however, be socialized enough not to be afraid/impressed of strange situations.

-As for the GSD (Here i'm going to get a loadfull over my head) this is a breed that is overbred and overrated to the max. The numbre of good GSD's is limited. If you've got a gsd from an american showline you're sure to have a pet and not a PPD. If you deside to get a GSD go for a workingline dog.

Greetings

Johan
 

CFA123

Silver
May 29, 2004
3,512
413
83
I haven't seen other posters mention it above & perhaps it is part of basic training, but a characteristic that I would want is lack of aggression toward other dogs unless I was threatened. One of the pleasures of living in DR currently is the ability to take your dog with you many places... restaurants, walks on the beach, etc.

Not having to worry about aggressiveness toward other animals would be a major plus in my opinion. Nothing worse than owning an overly aggressive dog as it only adds to my, the owner's, daily stress. Been there, done that, don't want to deal with it again.

And that doesn't even include the fact he'd otherwise be barking every 5 minutes when stray dogs went by your house ;)
 

lasalsa

Member
Apr 9, 2008
55
6
8
- I second Johan's comments. Good GSD's have been overbread and over-rated beyond extinction. People have payed hundred's of dollars to have that "beautiful" specimen of a GSD without regard to the temperment and the history of the line.

- Lack of aggression towards other dogs comes from curiosity. From day one, dogs need to know that not all dogs are a threat to their pack. A confident Owner can go a long way in that arena. I've seen 80lb ladies dominate a pair of 100lb Rotts with one pull of a lead.

- Socialization with other animals is Key. Cows, Horses, Chickens, Cats etc.. can cause un-needed problems, especially in a farm-type setting. I'd hate for my dog to kill my valuable "gallo" and maim my "paso-fino" due to lack of socialization.
Having an unsocialized dog, is like having a loaded weapon.

All being said, confidence is the key to a good dog!
 

heldengebroed

Bronze
Mar 9, 2005
560
7
0
lasalsa;633072I'd hate for my dog to kill my valuable "gallo" ... All being said said:
To the first line:... or doing a retrieve with a chicken :ermm: Happend last night at my place. Chicken is unhurt but will probably refuse to lay eggs for a couple of days

And the second line:

A mature stable dog is what is needed. my oldest dog isn't socialized but is, due to his comfidence, a very social dog. This being said. i will never let a stranger pet my dog. That's out of the question. except for this PPD

IMAG0011.jpg


She actually scared a burglar last year.

Was funny
Last summer she made havoc in the mids of the night.
I woke up and heard someone at the door
Me, wearing only a t-shirt and a colin went downstairs to check without turning on the lights.
When i had to turned on the lights and opened the door the burglar ran for it with a fully 3.2 kg dog behind him.

Greetings


Johan
 
Last edited: