The terms “sport dog” and “personal protection dog” are often used interchangeably. However, there are some important differences between a dog that is bred and trained for sport and a dog that is bred and trained to provide protection.
If you are currently shopping for sport dogs or personal protection dogs for sale, you will want to know about these differences before making your purchase decision.
In this article, learn more about how to select the best canine for becoming a sport dog versus a personal protection dog.
When Choosing a Sport Dog Versus a Protection Dog, Energy Level Matters
If you have spent much time around dogs, you have likely noticed that even puppies born in the same litter often have different energy levels. For instance, one or two of the puppies may be highly energetic – always on the go. But then other puppies may be snooze hounds who love nothing more than another good nap.
In this example, the on-the-go puppies may grow up to be prize sport dogs. They will thrive in conditions where they need to be active for long periods of time, such as hunting, racing, tracking, herding, search and rescue missions, and similar “jobs.”
But what might surprise you is how well-suited the napping pups can be to serving in K-9 protective roles. Maintaining alertness is a requirement for a protection dog, while conserving energy for critical moments is essential. The dog is seen as mellow, chill, good-natured, and laid-back… until a threat to “her” family emerges!
Different Types of Drive Indicate a Canine’s Ideal Role
Innate genetics and selective breeding foster specific drives in dogs, like high activity for sport and calm alertness for protection.
But there is a third, often overlooked, a factor that can indicate a dog’s future potential, and this is drive.
Regardless of breed or even species, there are many common types of drive. There is the drive to mate, the drive to mother/father, the drive to hunt, the drive to sleep, the drive to lead, and so forth. But in terms of selecting the right dog for sport versus personal protection, the most relevant drives boil down to these two: prey and defense.
For a top-notch sports dog, prioritize one with a naturally high prey drive, as it fuels essential instincts like chasing, catching, fighting, and killing, crucial in various canine sports.
In contrast,
when you are choosing a dog to serve as a personal protector for you and your family. You need a dog with a different skill set. Fundamentally, you want to select a dog with a high defense drive. Defense drive triggers vigilance, awareness, memorization, and keen observation for potential threats.
Here, don’t think that the sport dog doesn’t have some degree of skill in defense, or that the personal protection dog doesn’t have innate prey instincts. These drives do overlap. But it is a matter of which drive is the dominant versus recessive drive.
A dog that naturally defaults to chase-catch-fight-kill won’t make a good defense dog, while one defaulting to watch-listen-stay-alert won’t excel in sports due to holding back.
Once you understand these differences in the natural drive, you will be able to pick the right canine for the right role.
A Strong Threshold is an Essential Quality in Both Sport and K-9 Dogs
There are many types of thresholds. The thresholds most relevant for selecting sport dogs and personal protection dogs are pain, stress, and adversity.
A “threshold” is that point at which a dog’s ability to deal with a certain set of circumstances becomes compromised. Dogs inherit some of their threshold set point and then this set point can be adjusted through training.
There are also pros and cons to having high versus low thresholds. For instance, a dog with higher thresholds can be less responsive to training methods that involve inflicting pain or inducing stress. But, once trained, these same high thresholds will serve both sport dogs and personal protection dogs well.
Where Genetics and Training Methods Intersect
Genetics will always form the foundation of a suitable sport or protection dog. Training refines innate drives, ensuring they’re tested and perfected. Commence training at the right age to avoid potential behavior issues.
Even the most genetically gifted sport or protection dog can’t fulfill potential without comprehensive, rigorous training involving both the canine and the handler.
Selecting Your Next Sport or Personal Protection Dog
As you are perusing sport dogs or personal protection dogs for sale. Keep in mind that all the glorious-sounding titles in the world are only as valid as the title holders’ next litter of puppies.
What matters more than even pedigree is training and demonstrable aptitude. Before you buy, you want to see the dog in action so you can assess predominant drives, and thresholds. From here, you will have the information you need to confidently make your choice.
