A real protection dog isn’t chaotic. They don’t live on edge. They don’t bark at everything. They don’t create tension in your home. They live normal life. Until normal life isn’t normal anymore. Stability first. Power second. Always. https://youtube.com/shorts/0vKJ4vKVV4Y?si=tjNo0DA8OIGq2Wb4 #FortressK9 #FamilyProtectionDog #ProtectionDog #GermanShepherd #DutchShepherd #Malinois #DogTraining

Most problems people blame on dogs are really problems with handling. Timing. Consistency. Follow-through. A trained dog still needs a trained human. This is why we don’t just sell dogs. We train people to lead them. https://youtube.com/shorts/Dv6gf7ku5wQ?si=QpyiudXrnIFMT1cn

2rd? 😏

Most dogs look good on a field. Real dogs are built for movement— doors, vehicles, noise, pressure, unpredictability. This is where obedience either holds or falls apart. We don’t train for perfect conditions. We train for real ones. https://youtube.com/shorts/xXgW_hefBEs?si=m-GCfG9sg5BNmv1U

Real protection isn’t reacting to everything. It’s knowing when not to act. This is where most dogs fail—not because they lack drive, but because they lack judgment. Stability, clarity, and handler direction are what prevent mistakes. Calm decisions keep people safe. https://youtube.com/shorts/kxqD141XpeI?si=1ekemImCzFkH-zqI #FortressK9 #ProtectionDog #DogTraining #WorkingDogs #SituationalAwareness

Starting them young is important, but you also have to know what you’re doing today is going to create 6-12 months down the road. 23+ years experience has taught me a lot, but I’m still learning.

Sport training teaches performance. Real-world protection demands function. Predictable environments, known helpers, and rehearsed patterns create impressive-looking dogs—but they don’t always create prepared ones. The street doesn’t follow rules. And neither do real threats. This is why we train differently. https://youtube.com/shorts/tlmuGl5gHQY?si=4ue9Gr1iU5vUrLbv #FortressK9 #ProtectionDog #WorkingDogs #DogTraining #RealWorldTraining

Real protection dogs aren’t taught to react to everything. They’re taught to assess, hold position, and act only when necessary. This is where most training breaks down— when complexity replaces clarity. Control, judgment, and handler direction are what keep people safe. Anything less is noise. https://youtube.com/shorts/0vxDIacmnx4?si=P3mbCYBLVKU2GJsC

Hello Melody, I have a couple of recommendations: 1. For safety reasons, do not leave the dog alone with the baby unless and until you are 100% sure. Which may be never. 2. We have very highly trained protection dogs, it’s what we do, and I have never had or feared for the safety of my small children or babies. That being said, we maintain high level of obedience. My recommendation would be to use something like K9academy.us and teach your dog Place. There’s tons of other great training there as well. But the key to place is that you put your dog in a spot in the home you want him and he stays there. This is going to be very important if one person is home and needs to care for the baby. Dog stays in Place while I change a diaper, for instance. That way I don’t have to constantly monitor if the dog is getting close to the baby. I would keep a lead/leash on the dog for the first few months as well to make sure you can get a hold of him should he try anything. 3. During introductions, safety for the child is key. Make sure someone has the leash and controls the dog anytime introductions are being made. I do not start putting the baby anywhere within reach of the dog until he is completely comfortable with the baby being in the room. I hope that is helpful.

Anyone can train aggression. Control is the hard part. Real protection dogs must be able to turn intensity on—and off—without hesitation. A dog that can’t disengage on command isn’t protecting you. It’s creating risk. Power matters. Control matters more. https://youtube.com/shorts/kedxibOYR24?si=JYGClIZrFBETJF2r #FortressK9 #ProtectionDog #WorkingDogs #DogTraining #ControlledPower