Bloodlines, selection and balance between guard and defense

The family protection dog is neither an ordinary pet, nor a sporting dog, nor a military or police dog.

When talking about protection, it's essential to distinguish between two very distinct missions: territorial guarding and defense. Often, wanting both means having a less specialized dog.

Each position involves different requirements, both in terms of selection and education.

In this article, we discuss the choice of lineage, puppy, essential living conditions, and above all the adaptation of the path according to the expected role.

Guard, defense, or both: three different logics

* A defense dog acts on command or by analyzing the situation. It accompanies its owner outside the home, encounters people without reacting, but remains vigilant. It must be able to demonstrate great neutrality, but also be able to react with force, lucidity, and composure. It deters by its presence, but it must also know how to intervene if necessary.

It is a very socially exposed dog, therefore very supervised.

* The guard dog, on the other hand, protects a territory that it considers its own. It acts without orders, by instinct, through the fence or from a distance. It must not attack but above all deter: its bark, its posture, its gaze are its weapons. It must be stable but instinctive, self-confident but not sociable towards strangers.

Most dogs are very active as soon as they spot a fellow dog or a wild animal approaching their territory, but few do so these days when it comes to humans; this distinction is fundamental.

* The dog capable of performing both at a high level is rare and relies on a perfect compromise: instinct, nervous balance, good training, fine management of territory and the bond with humans.

This is possible with a rigorously selected German Shepherd, raised in good conditions and consistently monitored.

The defense dog: a balance between sociability and restraint

For defense, it is essential that the dog be exposed from a very early age to a wide variety of environments: markets, parks, city centers, train stations, narrow passages, crowds... He must meet all kinds of people without this arousing in him either fear or euphoria. He must be curious, solid, and capable of discernment.

Theo Real Fangs

But that doesn't mean you have to make him accessible to everyone. It's important to never let him be petted, fed, or solicited by strangers. He must remain neutral, suspicious, but not reactive. The bond of trust must be exclusively centered on his owner or family.

The guard dog must learn to alert on command, bark, analyze an attitude, and calm down as quickly as possible. These skills are developed with a trainer or assistant, in a rigorous environment.

Biting as such is not essential if the work is done well.

IGP type training (if you don't know what it is Click here) can however be used as a tool, provided that the mechanisms are understood: biting should never be the basis of learning, but come second as a reward for courage and commitment, not as a driving force for action. A dog that bites because it likes to bite an artifice (costume or cuff) = prey instinct.

This is not necessarily a guard dog. It reacts to movement, not intent.

It is therefore crucial not to confuse a sporting dog with a civil protection dog.

Furthermore, remember that in France, training a dog to attack (the active biting phase) is out of the question for an individual. In other countries, such as the United States, for example, this type of training is common.

Dogs from purely sporting breeding lines are often highly motivated by and for biting: fast, powerful, but sometimes lacking vigilance and/or too impulsive and dependent on humans.

If this aspect interests you, also read our articles and pages on this subject: Prey instinct in modern lineages  ,   Limits of a sports-centered selection  ,  Dog sports: a field of expression   And   Thinking about selection differently 

Needless to say, dogs from show lines, focused solely on appearance, are rarely able to perform a reliable protection mission.

In the absence of behavioral selection oriented in this direction, and for good reason, this type of dog must allow itself to be touched and handled by the judge and its handler at the exhibition (who is sometimes not the owner himself).

This does not mean that a protection dog cannot participate in dog sports.

On the contrary, a well-chosen activity (obedience, tracking, adapted IGP) can strengthen complicity and balance. But it must always remain in service of the ultimate goal, and not become an escape from instinct or a source of confusion.

Poorly targeted training can be counterproductive or even harmful to the main objective.

Both males and females can fulfill this role, each with their own unique qualities.

The guard dog: instinct, territory, stability

Guarding is based on territorial instinct, the desire to defend a clearly defined area, and a form of behavioral autonomy. The dog must feel at home, in close contact with its family, while maintaining a clear distrust of strangers.

The guard dog is primarily a deterrent. It protects a territory, detects anything out of the ordinary, and signals an approach or attempted intrusion.

Its role is primarily to scare people away: it makes its voice heard, makes its presence felt. It is not necessarily intended to make contact with the intruder.

This type of guard is especially suitable for isolated homes. In cities, deterrent barking can quickly cause problems with neighbors.

The ideal, simplest, and most effective approach is to form a male-female pair that lives together in freedom on the territory. They form a mini-pack. This creates a natural balance in reactions, reinforces stability and attachment to the territory, and promotes instincts and growth.

Otherwise, it is generally easier to find a male with this ability, especially if the territory to be protected is large.

But the dog is a pack animal, he likes company and he will be less happy and balanced in his work if he lives alone. Read also What the German Shepherd requires on a daily basis

The bond with the family must be strong and respectful: esteem, affection, structure. The guard dog must primarily be a dog that is completely harmless and gentle with its family.

Selection is even more important here than for defense: the guard instinct cannot be invented. Choosing the lineage is the number one point, then comes choosing the puppy within the litter.

It is likely that a breeder who does not offer character selection or who tells you " all my dogs guard", is either ignorant, or at best is lying to himself, which is like playing the lottery.

It is not an exact science, but we must at least try to detect within the litter the visible beginnings of this instinct: a puppy that is too sociable or too elusive, too dominant, should often be excluded.

You have to know how to observe the interaction within the litter, the reaction to the unknown, the ability to isolate yourself and monitor.

If you want to be sure, you should wait between 6 and 12 months, which is rarely possible.

This is only the beginning, it is then a matter of making it mature properly, not inhibiting but on the contrary strengthening the instincts.

This is especially important during the first two years: the dog must grow up in an environment that makes him happy, surrounded by kindness. A dog that feels respected and well-fed will, in turn, naturally seek to protect what he perceives as vital.

Education: respect for instinct, control of context

Even a guard dog needs outdoor experiences. He must be able to walk in the city and be around other humans or dogs without panic or aggression, but without seeking contact either. He must be harmless outside the territory, but reserved.

In the territory, the first experiences must be carefully supervised. During its first year, the puppy should be isolated from any direct contact with outsiders in the family circle: separate room, kennel, barrier, ideally a distance of about 10m should be left.

It is obvious that if the puppy shows signs of alert, often at nightfall, it is not a question of reprimanding him but on the contrary of congratulating him.

This strengthens his trust and exclusivity towards his family.

From the earliest age of 6 months, often closer to 10 to 12 months, depending on the dog's maturity, you can begin the first guard training exercises: in the absence of the owner, a stranger (assistant) comes to show himself through the fence, unannounced. At the first signs of alert from the dog (barking, posture, surveillance), the assistant moves away, feigning fear and flight. The owner then goes out and calmly congratulates his dog.

These exercises reinforce the instinct without forcing it. Here again, the goal is not to make the dog bite, but to strengthen deterrence and confidence in its ability to deter.

Later, control exercises can be introduced, asking the dog to tolerate a presence in the territory (for example the postman) without reacting, in order to refine its understanding of limits and roles.

Building a reliable and suitable pair

A defense dog, a guard dog, or a dog that combines both functions, require different selections, methods, and living environments.

It is not a matter of performance, but of adequacy between the individual, his environment, his missions and the nature of his link to the master.

The German Shepherd, provided it is chosen carefully, from a stable and lucid lineage, remains today one of the rare breeds capable of ensuring one or the other of these roles - or even both - while respecting the law, security and family balance.

In conclusion, it seems important to us to distinguish between guard and defense functions, to restore their nobility, because of all the tasks to be accomplished, especially in a country like France, it is perhaps one of the most subtle that is required of the dog.

It seems essential to us that everyone clarifies what they are looking for as a priority objective (company only or more sport, mission, guard or defense) and does not confuse them with each other or with the work required of professional dogs.

Questioning these subjects means, above all, choosing a vision of the human-dog relationship that we wish to build.

Is yours already conscious and assumed?

 

© 2025 Élevage des Crocs Véritables

Episode 1: understand the real differences between custody and defense, and what the law allows (or prohibits).

Home protection, on-demand response, deterrent role: between preconceived ideas and legal reality, we set the foundations straight in a series of concrete articles.

The German Shepherd is one of the few breeds capable of both autonomously guarding a territory and actively defending its owners. It's important to understand what these two functions entail, as they require very different skills and supervision.

Too often confused in the collective imagination, guarding and defense obey distinct behavioral, technical, and, above all, legal logics. This article aims to clarify these essential concepts, in order to allow each owner of a protection dog to act responsibly and effectively, particularly within the framework of French legislation.

Guard and defense: two very distinct missions

Guard: an autonomous deterrent

The guard dog acts without waiting for orders. It detects any strangers in the family circle and adopts a deterrent attitude: barking, excitement, repeated movements along fences, high posture. It does not seek physical contact, but imposes a strong presence, intended to force the intruder to abandon it without direct confrontation.

This behavior is based on territorial instinct. It is all the more effective when the area is fenced, clearly defined, and identified by the dog as its domain. The guard dog is not an aggressive dog, but a vigilant, self-confident dog, capable of reacting without spiraling into turmoil.

Defense: controlled neutrality, targeted action

The guard dog must be able to operate in a variety of human environments: on a walk, in a store, at the market, in a garden with guests. It must remain neutral as long as no real threat arises.

But in times of danger, he must be able to react on command or in a controlled manner to direct aggression. This requires rigorous selection, precise training, and unfailing emotional stability.

Why the German Shepherd is one of the few dogs that can do both roles

Few breeds combine the qualities necessary for both independent and deterrent guarding and controlled defense on command. The German Shepherd, when properly selected, is one of them. It has:

• a strong ability to concentrate and analyze,
• an ability to work in close contact with people,
• a nervous strength superior to that of many other breeds.

Conversely:

• Molossers are powerful but sometimes too reactive.
• Livestock protection dogs have a behavioral autonomy that is difficult to reconcile with a civilian framework.
• Sporty Malinois can be unstable, hyperactive, and lack neutrality in social settings or vigilance and suspicion when left to their own devices.

The German Shepherd offers a balance of intelligence, discernment, strength, docility, and the ability to channel its instincts. This makes it, particularly in France, an excellent working dog for mixed functions, provided it is well selected and supervised.

Let us point out, however, that guarding and defense require certain almost opposite qualities, so a dog that is excellent in one or other of the two aspects will often be of a lower level in its opposite; we will come back to this in a future chapter.

What French law says

Civil liability: the owner is fully liable

Article 1243 of the Civil Code states that “the owner of an animal […] is liable for the damage caused by the animal.” This liability is automatic.

Criminal liability: use of animals as weapons

Article 222-13 of the Criminal Code considers a bite to be aggravated violence if it is used deliberately. Article R.623-3 punishes allowing a dangerous animal to roam.

What to do if your dog bites someone or you have been bitten? here

Concrete examples and case law

• Bite by an intruder at night on enclosed land: civil liability incurred, no criminal sanctions (this is an example, but depending on the context a completely different judgment could have been rendered).
• Attack through low fence: conviction for negligence.
• Attack on a passer-by in the street: disproportionate use, criminal proceedings initiated
• The important thing to remember is that self-defense and proportionate use of force must be demonstrated in order to avoid criminal sanctions.

Internationally: models unsuited to the French context

In Italy, the defense of private property is reinforced, in the United States, some states apply very broad self-defense laws, overall on these subjects the legislation is more permissive, . But these practices are not transposable. In France, self-defense with a dog remains strictly regulated, and can never be improvised.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between guard and defense is essential. The German Shepherd can fulfill both functions, provided it is properly selected, trained, and used in compliance with the law. This not only ensures the dog's effectiveness, but also the legal security of its owner.

In the next article, we will discuss the importance of choosing the right breed and puppy, why a sporting dog, even one with experience in biting, is not what is sought for this type of task, and we will highlight the essential living conditions to offer these precious allies, to make them both more efficient and happy.

Guard or Defense Episode 2 here

If you are interested in these topics, also read our L pageskeeps a job? And  Property custody

Back to Articles and Reflections

© 2025 Élevage des Crocs Véritables

Prey instinct in modern lines: between performance and behavioral drifts

In recent decades, the selection of working dogs, particularly in the German Shepherd and the Malinois, has become strongly oriented towards and through sport.

This orientation placed the prey instinct or predation  at the heart of breeding criteria. While this has resulted in fast, energetic, and impressive dogs, it has also led to certain excesses, particularly in terms of behavior. This topic is also addressed here.

The prey instinct: a driving force that has become hegemonic

The prey instinct—the ability to pursue, capture, and interact with a moving object—is valuable in many disciplines: obedience, search, detection, and sport biting.

It allows for extreme motivation and great explosiveness and is part of the dog's ancestral instincts.

However, in modern lines, this instinct is sometimes taken to extremes. The dog becomes what some call a "Beutegeier"—a dog focused solely on prey, without discrimination.

He "plays the game," pursues, bites, retrieves, with impressive intensity... as long as the framework is mastered. Out of context, his commitment can become inappropriate, even problematic.

"The dog plays the game, but in a serious situation, there is nothing behind it."

This over-specialization often comes at the expense of other instincts, such as vigilance or defense—two pillars of canine behavior, once essential in working lines.

We will come back to this in a future article.

And social communication is impoverished.

This exclusive selection on the prey profoundly modifies the behavioral balance.

Many dogs from modern lines have lost some of their ability to interact with their peers and manage conflict situations.

Where some knew how to impose their place through posture, attitude, and gaze, others only know how to bite.

Their relationship to the world becomes one-dimensional: what moves continues, what resists bites.

This not only affects cohabitation with other animals, but also the dog's ability to exercise discernment in real-life situations, outside of the sports field.

An experienced trainer summed up this development as follows:
“Everyone has a good time no matter what the Sozial Verhalten – if they are left with the Zähnen. »
→ “Many dogs today no longer have any real social behavior – they regulate everything with their teeth.”

The vocabulary of Eastern breeders: "right" and "left"

In some breeding traditions from Eastern bloodlines, particularly those influenced by the old DDR standards, breeders distinguished two broad behavioral profiles: "right" dogs and "left" dogs.

So-called "straight" dogs are very prey-oriented. They are often lively, easy to motivate, and not very suspicious. Their behavior is straightforward, without excessive inhibition.

This makes them good candidates for sport, but their lack of natural alertness may limit their usefulness in real-life protection or guarding settings.

So-called "left-handed" dogs, on the other hand, are often more reserved, more attentive to their surroundings.

They observe before acting, exercise caution, and develop a keen sense of vigilance.

They do not systematically throw themselves on the prey: their commitment is more measured, but often deeper.

Their defensive instinct is also more pronounced.

One breeder described this distinction as follows:
“Die Linken schauen erst mal – die Rechten rennen gleich los. »
→ “The left looks first – the right charges straight away.”

This vocabulary, not scientific but derived from decades of empirical observations, helps to shed light on certain oppositions that we find today between ultra-sporty lines and more complete lines, more balanced on an instinctual level.

Towards a redefinition of the “good working dog”?

Far from rejecting the sport, this is about highlighting a trend: by focusing on demonstration, some dogs lose depth.

Prey instinct is a great motivator, but it shouldn't be the sole pillar of selection.

A complete working dog must be able to express both vigilance and defense, social reading and physical engagement.

Some ancient dogs, sometimes considered "dull" by modern standards, were actually very thorough and reliable.

As one former service dog trainer said:
“Ein echter Diensthund muss nicht schreien, er muss wirken. »
→ “A true service dog doesn’t need to overdo it, he needs to have an effect.”

In a future article, we will return in more detail to this crucial question: how the hyper-development of the prey instinct can erode the instincts of defense and vigilance, and what this implies for the selection of sustainable lines.

 

 

© 2025 Élevage des Crocs Véritables