Belgian Malinois often excel in personal protection.
In Texas, personal protection dogs are handled by registered guard dog trainers to protect private individuals or property. Personal protection dogs---also called PPDs--serve as patrol dogs, bodyguards, trackers, and even arson investigators. Guard dog trainers may also train law enforcement K-9s, which serve the public alongside their police partners. An ideal guard dog trainer candidate will have a clean criminal record, be physically fit and be willing to invest years in honing his craft. There is no license or certification requirement to be a dog trainer in Texas, but there are many avenues to gain training and experience.
Instructions
1. Enroll in a school for dog trainers. Texas is home to one of the nation's most respected schools for dog trainers: Triple Crown Dog Academy. Located in Hutto, Texas, Triple Crown offers a Canine Training Specialist Program, an eight-week course that teaches the building blocks of dog training and introduces trainers to police/PPD training. In addition, the University of North Texas in Denton's Department of Behavior Analysis trains students in modern methods of animal behavior modification. The Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals, a student organization sponsored by the department, conducts training and research projects and offers dog training classes. The American Kennel Club has training facilities nationwide, with several training facilities in Texas (see Resources). The Association of Pet Dog Trainers also has a list of trainers that can be searched by state and offers its members special seminars and training opportunities (see Resources). While no certification or licensing is required in Texas, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers offers a certification curriculum.
2. Participate in and train for one of the protection-oriented dog competitions collectively called "Ringsports." Texas is home to active French Ring and Mondio Ring clubs (see Resources). The skills required for a dog and handler to excel in any of these sports are very similar to those required in real-world protection.
3. Find employment with a licensed guard dog company. Under Texas Occupational Code 1702, any person who rents, sells, or trains a dog to protect an individual or property or uses a dog in an investigation, must be licensed with the state of Texas as an Investigation or security services company under the designation of "guard dog company". Obtaining this license requires two years' experience and special dog facilities, so you'll likely have to work for someone else before you strike out on your own. A list of all licensed guard dog companies is available online through the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board website (see Resources).
4. Register with the state as required under Texas Code 1702.221. Your employer will submit your application to the state under her sponsorship. As of August 2010, the registration costs $30 and remains valid for two years.
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