What breeds do you take into the program?

Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd & German Shepherd. Can other breeds do this job? (yes, probably, but I only use these).

How old does my dog need to be to start?

We can begin prey drive building as early as 8 weeks. We would meet on a monthly basis to continue to develop the dog until they are mature enough to handle intense training (usually around 10-12 months).

Will this change my dogs personality?

No. They will still be the lovable goofball you know them to be.

Will I be liable for this dog?

Yes & No. The State of Michigan (and others) are a ‘stand your ground’ state. Section 780.972 of the Michigan Penal Code titled SELF-DEFENSE ACT
Act 309 of 2006 specifically states that “an individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies:

(a) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual.

(b) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual.

(2) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses force other than deadly force may use force other than deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if he or she honestly and reasonably believes that the use of that force is necessary to defend himself or herself or another individual from the imminent unlawful use of force by another individual.”

Meaning, if you believe your self or others lives are in immediate danger, you have the legal right to defend yourself/others without repercussions from the government. Using a canine is a form of non-lethal force (no different from OC spray, a baton, or a taser).

That being said - if you use your canine in an unlawful way and an overzealous district attorney wants to put the screws to you, you could find yourself in hot water. For all legal questions, reach out to an licensed attorney.

What do you charge for evaluations?

I didnt use to - but too many people signed up for evals, and then no-call, no-showed. In 2024, we charge $100 per dog for evaluations.

What commands do you get with the training?

Three commands. 1 - Turn the dog on (instantly alerted and acting aggressive to the threat you point out (does not mean the dog goes and bites). 2 - Engage the threat and bite n’ hold the threat. This gives you time/opportunity to deal with the situation appropriately. 3 - Out. Let go of the suspect and return to the owner.

How much in-person training do I get with my newly trained protection dog?

Well - alot. We will work with you to get you comfortable with your dog. Protection dogs are like a muscle, if you never flex it, it becomes weak and slow. This is why I recommend a maintenance contract to ensure your dog is up to snuff.

Why only three breeds? Other companies train protection dogs, such as Doberman Pinchers, Rottweilers, and Pitbull’s. Why don’t you work with these breeds?

Simply put - it comes down to quality. Since 2015, We’ve trained nearly 1200 pet-dogs, and 26 working dogs. We have also evaluated ~225 prospective ‘working dogs’, and have found consistencies among certain breeds. Let’s break the breeds down and explain why.

Doberman Pinchers - Two words, soft-mouthed. Ask any working-dog (exclusive) trainer worth their salt, and they will tell you Dobermans are soft-mouthed, meaning, they might commit to trying to bite, but they genetically do not have the bite pressure to withhold ‘abuse’ from the potential suspect. Meaning - they let go from the bite with the slightest of pressure, making them not an ideal candidate.

Rottweiler - Honestly, don’t have much experience with this breed in regards to working dogs (but have plenty of experience with pet-dogs). Reason why - Rotty’s are not known for their work-ability. They are more of a social family dog with some-what laid-back personality traits. We love Rotts at GRK9, but as working dogs, we have yet to see a candidate capable of doing this job.

If your prospective trainer is telling you they can train these other breeds, honestly I would be skeptical. Ask them to provide video evidence of the dogs they have already trained. Ask for references from these owners who have had these breeds and done the training. If the videos show only using bite sleeves or bite wedges to represent their ‘quality’, you should run the other direction. Only the best protection dogs are trained on bite suits and hidden gear. If they limit their abilities to only bite sleeves, just know, they are garbage trainers and are stealing your money. There are no shortage of unethical dog trainers who will over-promise and under-deliver.