Do I need to train my protection dog daily?

No, daily training by the owner is not necessary for a protection dog. The effectiveness of dog training lies more in instinct management and manipulation rather than the acquisition of learned skills, such as we see with human education in subjects like algebra and science. Our dogs’ abilities stem from a blend of their natural instincts and the conditioning training they receive, which ensures the skills they learn are long-lasting.

For example, we had a client who hadn’t conducted any training with their dog for five years due to heart surgery. When the dog stayed with us for a month, we were able to successfully refresh its training on handling multiple assailants—a complex skill—despite the long hiatus. This durability of training is attributed to tapping into the dog’s DNA predispositions and carefully honed instincts, ensuring the training remains effective over time.

While it’s essential for the dog to maintain its training, we strongly advise against owners attempting advanced training exercises on their own. This is to prevent any potential issues that could arise from training methods that might exceed the owner’s expertise. Instead, we can connect you with one of our professional trainers for any refresher sessions or assist through our regular training services at Vanguard. This ensures your dog’s skills are maintained safely and effectively.