Attack dogs are, as their name suggests, dogs trained to attack people. Although these dogs are currently associated with police work, this was not always their function. It is known that attack dogs were used in ancient times to break through the front ranks of enemy armies and to capture and kill escaped slaves.
In theory, an attack dog should be able to attack on command and stop the attack in the same way. In this way, that dog would be of use to help maintain security and, at the same time, would not represent a danger. Unfortunately, it is very common to find dogs that have been trained to attack, and that have not received any other type of additional training. Thus, dogs can be found that attack without reason and do not stop their attack unless they are physically forced. Dogs of this type can even be seen in police stations in some countries.
attack dogs that react in this way may even attack their owner or handler. On the other hand, there are really trained attack dogs. These dogs respond correctly to commands to start an attack and end it, and they also respond perfectly to canine obedience exercises. These dogs not only receive long and demanding training, but are also selected based on their physical and psychological characteristics. Find out more about them on our site:
Attack dogs and guard dogs
Attack dogs are not the same as guard dogs. Although an attack dog can also serve as a guard, guard dogs are not always suited to attack.
The function of a guard dog is to warn when it detects the presence of a stranger and drive that person away. These dogs do not need to attack the person. Therefore, many small breeds can be used for guard, although they are completely useless for attack.
In fact, a Miniature Schnauzer or Miniature Pinscher could make great guardians as well as great pets. Of course, none of these dogs would be of use if it were necessary to attack a thief.
Are attack dogs dangerous?
The question is very frequent: Will my dog be dangerous if I train him to attack? A poorly trained attack dog will always be dangerous. However, a well-trained dog may not be dangerous. I say "may not be" because that depends on your guide and your owner. A experienced person who knows the dog well will be able to control it at any time and, most importantly, will know how to predict your dog's reactions. In this way, you can avoid situations that pose a risk.
On the other hand, a perfectly trained attack dog will be dangerous if its owner or handler is not experienced enough or does not know the dog very well. So if you decide to train your dog to attack, you have to train yourself first. Perhaps the best way to do this is to join a kennel club where sports such as the Schutzhund, Mondio Ring, Belgian Ring, etc. are practiced. These sports have high and well-defined standards, so their practitioners are usually people experienced in training and knowledgeable about canine aggression.
Normally dogs trained for these sports are p very reliable and safe. Of course, this is because their owners and their handlers are knowledgeable about canine behavior and know their dogs inside out.
Are attack dogs necessary?
Putting aside the dog sports mentioned above, where attack plays only a part, the usefulness of attack dogs is questionableA dog will always be at a disadvantage against current weapons, so its usefulness as a defense mechanism has greatly diminished since attack dogs began to be used. A dog is completely useless against a gun.
On the other hand, a dog is not 100% reliable under high stress conditions (such as an assault), even when very well trained. However, attack dogs can be very useful as deterrent weapons.
Attack dogs are a disadvantage rather than an advantage to a civilian. Attack dogs may have their place in military troops, in police ranks, and of course in some dog sports, but not among common pets.
Consequences of poor training
Many dogs are waiting to be euthanized in kennels around the world due to the malpractice of some irresponsible owners. Most start to get aggressive with people and that's when their "best friend" decides to leave them.
A dog, even if it is not trained to do so, will always defend us in a situation of violence if it affects us, its relatives. For that reason it makes no sense to educate him for it. In addition, an excess of violence and aggressiveness in their day to day make the dog a stressed animal, which leads to the appearance of behavioral problems.
Tips
- Do not train your dog to attack if you do not have previous experience.
- Go to a trainer who has trained dogs for these purposes.
- Avoid physical punishment of the animal, it may turn against you.
