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Hello,
I am looking for information on guard dogs here in Costa Rica. We are considering having a trained guard dog as part of our protection plan here in Manuel Antonio. We are about to move into our home which we have been building for the past year. We are right on the edge of the National Park, which has advantages and disadvantages as far as security and the need to be kind to our surrounding environment and the wildlife.
After getting in touch with a breeder and trainer of guard dogs here in Costa Rica, I realized that I might not need that much of a dog. They are pretty intense and very expensive. At the same time, after doing a good bit of reading on the subject, mostly from providers of guard dogs, I am realizing that unless you do have a very well trained and properly bred dog, that it may not really end up helping out as much as you like, or that it may become dangerous if not trained properly and is simply just aggressive.
So here is the question: If I do not go with the $10,000 intensely bred and trained German Shepard, then is there a way to have a “regular” dog trained here in Costa Rica to be a proper guard dog? Safe, reliable and not $10,000?
Thanks for any advice.[quote=”pranaspakeywest”] So here is the question: If I do not go with the $10,000 intensely bred and trained German Shepard, then is there a way to have a “regular” dog trained here in Costa Rica to be a proper guard dog? Safe, reliable and not $10,000?
Thanks for any advice.[/quote]We live in the Ciudad Colon area on an acre of land without fences, gates or bars on our home. We have six dogs that have been salvaged from the streets that provide a warning when strangers are near our property and they do confront them.
The dogs have a natural sense of territory and have been taught the limits of the property. We trained the dogs ourselves and they have been introduced to and know our neighbors.
It is not necessary to have a trained and aggressive animal for protection. It is only necessary to pay attention to their behavior.
Thanks for the response, I do agree with you that the right dogs treated the right way will be great protection dogs. However, my fear is that if I am depending on a dog, lets say I rescue a large breed dog and “expect” it to guard us, and he does, my fear is that the ladrones might go ahead and use poison to deal with him, and that is where the training comes in. Is there someone out there who can help me to train a dog to be a good guard dog, but also avoid things like poisoning?
I do have a dog, and he knows the difference between the good and bad people and will protect me by instinct, but I am looking to up the game and get something a bit more serious going. Are there good trainers out there???[quote=”pranaspakeywest”]Hello,
I am looking for information on guard dogs here in Costa Rica. We are considering having a trained guard dog as part of our protection plan here in Manuel Antonio. We are about to move into our home which we have been building for the past year. We are right on the edge of the National Park, which has advantages and disadvantages as far as security and the need to be kind to our surrounding environment and the wildlife.
After getting in touch with a breeder and trainer of guard dogs here in Costa Rica, I realized that I might not need that much of a dog. They are pretty intense and very expensive. At the same time, after doing a good bit of reading on the subject, mostly from providers of guard dogs, I am realizing that unless you do have a very well trained and properly bred dog, that it may not really end up helping out as much as you like, or that it may become dangerous if not trained properly and is simply just aggressive.
So here is the question: If I do not go with the $10,000 intensely bred and trained German Shepard, then is there a way to have a “regular” dog trained here in Costa Rica to be a proper guard dog? Safe, reliable and not $10,000?
Thanks for any advice.[/quote]I am not there but David makes a lot of sense. You could spend 10k for a dog and that first night someone might poison it. Although you will miss a mutt they are sure cheap and when you have a bunch then imo a lot of poisoners won’t try. Any dog will be a better dog and more enjoyable after a basic obedience course.
Our worker has 2 young female German shepherds and hopes to breed them later this year. He has taught them not to accept food from anyone, except him … but whether they would pick up a ‘tasty morsel’ from the ground, I don’t know. They do not even join the rest of the farm dogs at supper time.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Our worker has 2 young female German shepherds and hopes to breed them later this year. He has taught them not to accept food from anyone, except him … but whether they would pick up a ‘tasty morsel’ from the ground, I don’t know. They do not even join the rest of the farm dogs at supper time.[/quote]
What you describe, Shirley, is common practice when training highly disciplined dogs. The problem arises, however, when the person the dog has been trained to accept food from isn’t available. Then either the dog violates its training or goes hungry, possibly to the point of starvation.
read some more about Protective Dog’s and the differences in training
http://www.latigok9.com/Latigo_K9/Latigo_K9.html
from $40,000 to $400,00, look at the ZEROE’s in the price and they are raised and trained in CR
[quote=”aguirrewar”]read some more about Protective Dog’s and the differences in training
http://www.latigok9.com/Latigo_K9/Latigo_K9.html
from $40,000 to $400,00, look at the ZEROE’s in the price and they are raised and trained in CR[/quote]
Is that correct? From $40K to $400K for a “protective dog”?
Did you get that from their website because I can’t see prices ….
Scott
No, those prices are not correct. I did get prices form them, and they quoted between $4000 and $10,000, depending on the level of training.
I would provide two suggestions. One, consider a dog from the numerous breeds at rescue shelters, in Costa Rica. They are healthy and loyal. However, be prepared to conduct additional training. Second, prices for certified pure breed dogs, are insane. I was raised with, trained German Shepards with the U.S. Army Military Police, and currently have one. Whichever breed you choose, additional training is paramount. You should establish immediately that you are the Alpha Male, you provide training, feedings and discipline. Your dog should never take any food from anyone other than yourself, however, you can also appoint a Alpha Female or a Beta Male. Remember, dogs are pack animals, and always defer to the pack leading Alfa Male, and the established pack leadership. Also, you must stop thinking like a human, learn about the natural behavior of dogs, and behave like the pack leader; by providing affection, disciple and orders. Also, be very cautious of the poisionous frogs in Costa Rica, I believe there was a previous subject matter forum on this site.
Thanks everyone for the responses so far. I am still hoping to find the names of some professional dog trainers so that I can take a rescued dog and train him/her to not take food from strangers, to protect us, and to know who is good or bad. Anyone? Thanks
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