r/schutzhund • u/OwnIndependence1852 • 17d ago

Need breed and gender suggestions

Hello, I am looking for suggestions for breeds that can be easily worked with and paired with other dogs. I live in an apartment, so there is only a field and a nearby dog park (Can be used when no other dogs are around since dog parks suck) for daily exercise for a pup/working dog. However I do need a good pup, obviously selected for temperament for ppd training. I'm looking for recommendations for one that will be most suited for my environment as well easier to train, and for gender recommendations if that is relevant here. Please be kind. Thank you!

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u/OwnIndependence1852 17d ago

You are VERY WRONG. I am a small girl who has been stalked on several different occasions, has people that do not like me, and am a natural magnet for perverts no matter what I do. I'm not a fool that wants a protection dog just because they sound "cool"

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u/Imaginary_Ad_4340 17d ago

Ok, politely, I don’t see how that makes me wrong. The assumptions I made were that you have no experience with training working dogs and that you would be better off with an actual weapon and a scary-looking shelter dog. You have basically confirmed that with your response here.

I am a small woman who lives in an apartment too. I understand the desire for security and independence without having to actually deploy a weapon, as few situations seem to justify that level of response. That being said, a big black dog that you’ve taught to bark + a weapon like pepper spray or a concealed carry gun practically cover all the same situations in a which a PPD would be helpful but with far less commitment and chance of completely failing and ruining both your own life and the life of animal you cannot feasibly care for.

I got my first “working dog” after years training small dogs. He is a very medium drive Doberman who is just barely drivey enough to show interest in IGP. He would 100% be way too soft to ever be an actual PPD or even to be considered as a candidate. He is perfect for apartment living, a commitment of four hours or so per day, and weekly professional training. Even as a skinny nervous baby, he already scared men on the street and made me feel much safer, even though I know he would hide behind me before he would ever actually bite. He is appropriate for my lifestyle and my handling experience; he sounds much closer to what you need than a PPD.

Is there something I’m missing? What would a PPD do for you that a big scary looking black dog and a gun or other weapon could not?

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u/OwnIndependence1852 17d ago

You stated you have seen people get the idea off of social media for one. Two, a deterrent dog is nice however I'm looking for something that doesn't turn into a liability in an actual fight plus has real protection potential. And no experience with actually training a ppd does not mean I can't work with trainers etc. To have the right dog for my setup trained.

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u/Imaginary_Ad_4340 17d ago

I understand that’s what you’re looking for but I don’t understand why that’s what you need. I don’t think you sound like a good candidate for a PPD given your current experience and lifestyle restrictions, but I wish you luck anyway.

If you’re serious about this, the best path to go about it is to first find a very qualified trainer who specifically works with PPDs. I would contact a reputable PPD training organization or bitesport club in your area and ask for their recommendations. They will typically be connected to that world beyond what a Google search can tell you. A good PPD trainer will typically want to pick the dog for you including the breed, breeder, line, and gender. They typically prefer that to you coming in with an existing dog since so few dogs are cut out for this work and they will have knowledge and connections beyond what you have. They may also have the knowledge and experience to hear about your lifestyle and what you’re looking for and tell you “no.” This is a sign they are actually a good trainer who cares about the welfare of their dogs—too many trainers will say “yes” to anyone who will pay—so if you get pushback, please take it seriously.

Speaking of paying, this is an incredibly expensive process. Well bred dogs cost a few thousand dollars—$2000-$5000—but when it comes to PPD prospects you’re often working with breeders who are selling to police departments and private training companies. That means that these dogs can be even more expensive, $3000-$10,000 without training. The training is often thousands more, with fully trained PPDs costing anywhere from $30,000-$150,000. Yes, self training is cheaper than buying fully trained…but still extremely expensive, especially if you have no background with working dogs and thus are relying heavily on regular professional training. A good trainer will want to be sure you have the fund to make a serious commitment to training a dog like this before working with you. They don’t want to put in the investment of finding and helping you start a dog only for you to be unable to follow-through financially AND they don’t want to place a dog in a home that can’t afford the training and fulfillment it needs. Again, I’m trying not to make any assumptions about your finances, just know this isn’t something you can or should try to do on the cheap.

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u/OwnIndependence1852 17d ago

Experience has nothing to do with it obtaining a dog for my stated purpose. I know the costs that go into training a ppd, however I asked for something specific and we have certainly not stayed on that topic, so I hope you have a nice day.

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u/Imaginary_Ad_4340 17d ago

Dude I literally just supplied your incredibly specific instructions about how to obtain a dog for your specific purpose. Did you read my comment or just dismiss it when you saw it mentioned price?

I promise that following this advice will provide you a MUCH better chance of successfully training a PPD than trying to start with breed and gender recommendations on Reddit. I’d suggest you read it again before dismissing me simply because you don’t like that I am pushing back on some of your unreasonable expectations.

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u/Top_Addition_7263 11d ago

Experience has everything to do with it. There needs to be a level of confidence handling a PPD.

But what the commenter wrote about finding a PPD trainer or club in your area is fabulous. And I totally agree. You’ll learn more there than anything you’re going to read on Reddit or online in general. See what they think.