At Baden we cut through the myths of protection work. For instance, a dog, regardless of how impressive he may appear on a sporting field, should never be counted on to save your life unless he has been worked off of the sporting field and in real life scenarios.
All to often people are mislead into buying high priced imports from Europe which are really useless as working dogs.
It is only common sense if a dog must face real live gun fire he must be trained in it; blanks just aren't enough. In the same way we as humans learn through socialization, so does a dog. It both saddens and angers me when I hear the term K9 behaviorist or physiologist. Most of the people should be ashamed of the charade they are involved in. The simplicity of the dog and human bond requires no such nonsense and should be kept honest and basic.
Remember we are talking about real work and real working dogs. You cannot change what is. If the dog has to deploy through fire and smoke on the field you can't jump up and change actual field conditions. Both dog and handler have to be fit and to work as a team. Too often people are led to believe that if they have a family pet or companion dog and are bonded well, that in a time of crisis the dog will naturally defend. This is not true. Nor is the belief that all German Shepherds Dogs are of working quality. Perhaps to make a clearer picture we just have to look at the show ring and what it has done to several good hunting breeds. The French Poodle, the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are just a few of the breeds that are ruined because of breeding for a type rather than an ability.
There are a few dedicated breeders trying to keep some of these breeds as working breeds but their work is getting more and more difficult.
Real life stress and trauma dictates real life training and genetic composition to handle and complete each given task.
It is with this purpose we breed and train at Baden K9.
Written by Mike McConnery
