8 Important Questions to Ask When Buying Patrol Dogs for a Business

Have you been considering getting patrol dogs for your business? Are you just unsure of what that entails or how to go about it?

Whatever your hesitation about getting protection dogs for your business is, this article will go over everything you need to know before making the decision. It will also go through questions you must ask when buying patrol dogs!

1. What Is Your Need for a Security Dog?

There are many types of security dogs out there. Whether they are for a small business, a large business, or for personal protection, each protection dog is trained for a specific purpose.

First knowing the purpose behind your need for a protection dog is crucial.

Low-Risk Protection Dog

These protection dogs can alert you of any threats or danger to you or it. They mostly bark and protect as their way of alerting.

Medium-Risk Protection Dog

A medium-risk protection dog is for those individuals or businesses that may have a need for a little more protection (like if you are well-known and think break-ins are possible). These security dogs can alert and attack with or without biting while on leash, out and about, or in the home.

High-Risk Protection Dog

High-profile businesses or individuals that have stalkers or have been victims of crimes should be protected with high-risk protection dogs.

These dogs are trained to listen to commands, alert, protect, attack, and patrol areas before entry of an individual.

Drug Sniffing Dogs

Some dogs are specifically trained to sniff out drugs. If you are in a business that needs patrol dogs for this, you will want to specifically select a dog trained to sniff out drugs.

These dogs are typically used in airports, schools, homes, event venues, and prisons.

Explosive Detection Dogs

Just like drug-sniffing dogs, if you are in a business that needs explosive detection, you will need to find K9 patrol dogs that are specifically trained with explosive detection.

Music venues, shopping centers, schools, and airports are typical businesses that utilize explosive detection dogs.

2. Are the Patrols Dogs for Personal Protection or Perimeter Protection?

Some security dogs are trained specifically to guard their owners. On the other hand, other dogs only patrol a specific area based on their training.

Perimeter dogs are meant to only protect an area, not a human, and usually remain outside to protect. They are usually less social than personal protection dogs as well.

3. How Much Is the Patrol Dog?

Knowing how much you are about to spend on patrol dogs is crucial. Whether you are buying for personal reasons or for business protection, you need to have the funds and budget to purchase.

Depending on the type of K9 patrol dog, the prices can vary greatly. In addition to the initial price of the protection dog, you will also need to budget for food, vet costs, and continued dog training.

4. Do You or the Business Owners Have Time for a Dog?

It's one thing to know that you and your business may benefit from a patrol dog. But it's a completely different thing to have enough time to care for the dog the way it needs to be cared for.

Although they are protectors, it doesn't mean they are able to take care of themselves. They need to have human interaction, be socialized, walked to exert energy, taken to the vet, and fed on a daily basis.

They cannot simply be bought as a patrol dogs and left at that. They are still living creatures that need care.

5. Which Breed Do You Prefer?

There are multiple types of dog breeds that are bred as natural protectors and security dogs. These tend to be German Shepards, Boxers, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Bouvier, and others.

When selecting a breed, you may have a personal preference of the type of dog, type of coat, grooming needs, and some other preferences. Depending on those, that can narrow down the breed you select from.

It's also important to note that not every single dog within the same breed is created equal. Choosing a dog based on personality and its own demeanor is also important. Knowing all about the breeds before you purchase one is also an important part of the buying process.

6. Before Purchasing, Understand the Extent of Training

Before buying a patrol dog, it's important to know the type of training that the dog had to go through. Were there real scenarios that the dog had to go through? Can they show you the training they know on the spot?

You want to understand what it is capable of, what the dog knows to do, and how to work with the dog on its training every week to make sure that it stays up-to-date with training.

You should also consider additional training when getting a security dog. This is a great question to ask the facility where you purchase the dog because they may offer additional training or know places that do.

Time to Choose Your Very Own Patrol Dogs

If you ask yourself all of these questions and still settle on the idea that you are ready for patrol dogs, then it may be time to get one to protect yourself and your business.

If you're ready, schedule a consultation to talk to us about their very own service dog. We'll help walk you through how they will protect, defend, and deter you and your business to keep you safe!