How much does it cost to train an attack dog?

The time, effort, and expense required to raise a puppy into a fully-functional dog, as well as some very important protection dog training facts, are all discussed. Others will refer to it as an executive protection dog, while still others will refer to it as an “estate protection dog.” If you are an executive, you might believe that in order to get what you want, you must purchase one that has received certification and the Executive Protection Dog Society of America’s seal of approval. Well, that isn’t true and no such society exists. It’s a marketing gimmick used solely to increase the cost of a dog. The training will be the same if it’s done correctly. This article will examine the challenges associated with getting a trained dog, regardless of the labels attached to them.

As the first fact must be taken into consideration before anything else can even start, let’s start there. You can purchase a Belgian Malinois puppy from numerous kennels and home breeders all over the world. Where will you get the puppy from and while we’re at it, how much should he cost? Yes, you can import your puppy after paying a few hundred dollars to a man in another country, as well as airline, customs, and fuel surcharges. Please take this advice, don’t do it. Imported puppies aren’t necessarily better puppies, and you’ll typically be dissatisfied if you don’t establish a relationship of trust with a kennel abroad. If at all possible, it is best to purchase a dog within the nation in which you reside.

The next question is frequently about how long it will take to train an 8-week-old puppy to become a dependable protection dog. I have a friend who graduated from college at the age of 16, and it was possible for him to do so because he picks up some information quickly. When it comes to learning, dogs are exactly like people, with some being geniuses and others being average. Being a typical dog is nothing wrong, and during training it might even be beneficial. Therefore, the short answer is that most Belgian Malinois dogs will be around 20 months old when they are finished, but we prefer to see a full 2 years of training based on the time to mature while being properly trained in both obedience and bite work. Sure, a dog could finish everything quicker, but the dog would have to be like one of those kids who finished high school at 16 and most of them just aren’t.

There are numerous phases of training that must be completed over the course of the 20 to 24 months needed to produce a dog that behaves and guards. Basic obedience must be taught to a puppy before progressing to off-leash training. Although these abilities are honed for life, a dog must learn to obey every command immediately and never deviate from it during the main stages of training. Puppy rag biting starts as early as 8 weeks, but the good behavior begins at 12 weeks. When the puppy has adult teeth, we can really take things seriously. Over time, we’ll transition from tugs to soft sleeves, bite sleeves, bite suits, and finally hidden sleeves. Time is as important to dog training as techniques. Because learning and teaching take time, training sessions get longer as it goes on. Finally there is trial by fire. What I’m trying to say is that a dog has to pass every evaluation we have. They are taught how to act appropriately in public and at home, and how to get along with people of all ages. They must be capable of traveling well, vigilant at all times, and prepared to defend immediately. There are far too many skills to list here.

In the end, the client will spend an average of $22,000 to $25,000 to produce a dog that meets the standards we set in 20 to 24 months. Of course, on the other hand, you can purchase one of our fully trained personal protection dogs—which are almost always KNPV PH1 titled—for $25,000 to $35,000 without having to wait two years.

Tricks:

Protection Dogs Plus can train dogs to perform a variety of tricks. You can pay more to have specific tricks taught to your dog based on his or her natural abilities.

You can ask the person to: spin, roll over, beg, bow, stand, walk backwards, weave between your legs, fetch a beer, and more.

Protection dog training that’s best in class.

The physical capabilities of dogs vary just as much as their personalities do. When we import a dog, we determine their strengths and enroll them in a customized training regimen.

The chart below shows the various programs and exercises involved. While Protector dogs come with our comprehensive obedience package and fundamental protection, Import dogs are only trained for basic obedience. The most sophisticated protection training is provided by Guardian and Guardian Plus dogs, who can handle much more complex situations.

We can assess your dog to see if it meets our requirements for training if you already have a protection-capable dog that requires training.

Guardian $40,000+	Guardian Plus $65,000+
Basic Obedience
Sit	✔	✔
Down	✔	✔
Walk Off-Leash	✔	✔
Off Leash Obedience
Sit Stay	✔	✔
Down Stay	✔	✔
Heel (Left and Right)	✔	✔
Come (Recall)	✔	✔
Relaxed Heel	✔	✔
Retrieve Object	✔	✔
Release Object	✔	✔
Speak	✔	✔
Down In Motion	✔	✔
Additional Obedience
Stand	✔
Under	On Request
In Between	✔
Back Up	On Request
House Manners
Jump (Up) On Command	✔	✔
Pace Bed/Stay	✔	✔
Wait	✔	✔
Food Refusal	On Request	On Request
Car Manners
Wait	✔	✔
In/Out	✔	✔
Stay In Place/Seat	✔	✔
Basic Protection
Turn On Aggressively	✔	✔
Turn Off	✔	✔
Attack On Command	✔	✔
Release Bite	✔	✔
Target Different Parts of Body	✔	✔
Advanced Protection
Protect Home / Secure Perimeter from Intruder	✔	✔
Protect Car / Secure Car from Intruder	✔	✔
Search Home and Area (Find Intruder and Attack)	✔	✔
Target Different Parts of Body	✔	✔
Fighting Skills	✔
Turn On Passive Threat	✔	✔
360 Secure	✔
Guarded Escape	✔
Multiple Attackers	✔
Stealth Mode	✔
Focus	✔
Escort	On Request
Child Protection Command	On Request
Recall from Being Sent	✔
Guard Specific Area	✔

Cons

These dogs require continual training to keep their protective skills sharp.

The cost of a well-trained guard dog exceeds the budgetary limitations that many people have. It costs a lot to purchase them, to train them, and to keep them healthy and happy.

If you want to learn more about purchasing a protection dog, consider checking out The Pros, The Cons, The Everything-In-Between.

FAQ

How much does it cost to train a dog to be an attack dog?

A protection dog can cost anywhere between $45,000 and $65,000, but prices can vary. The ability of a protection dog’s trainer determines how effective the dog will be. Prices for protection dogs trained by well-known trainers will typically be higher than those trained by less well-known trainers.

How long is attack dog training?

Each team will be required to meet a minimum standard, similar to the requirements most states have for Police K9s, during the 12-week course’s 24-plus hours of training. A recall, call-off, handler protection, and fundamental obedience movements on and off leash at a slow, medium, and fast pace are the minimum requirements.

How are attacked dogs trained?

Attack dog training is a variation of sentry dog training, but rather than drawing attention to an intruder, the dog is taught to chase, hold, and potentially harm or kill a target that it perceives as hostile. Attack dogs are taught to read a situation and respond appropriately.

At what age should you train your dog to attack?

Puppies are expected to learn obedience training at 9-12 weeks. Provide your friend with protection training once they’ve mastered obedience. 16 weeks old is the ideal age to start teaching your dog to attack strangers. It is a challenging and tricky task, but you must complete it correctly.