Originally Posted by RedFawnRising

I worry that some folks, not picking on any one person in particular, think they can buy a dog of a certain breed (Dobe, Rott, GSD, whatever) and just automatically count on the dog to "protect" judiciously and only as needed and called upon.

They just do not understand in the least all the honing of a dog's natural instinct that goes into this.

The countless hours of learning, for both dog and handler, the intense training, the time, the expense, the practice, the dedication.

Sadly, all too often, a "working" dog, or "family guard dog" ends up as an uncontrolled, ill-mannered, confused dog who aggresses only where and when the dog thinks appropriate.

That leads to humans and other animals being potentially hurt (or even killed) and usually with a one-way ticket to the euth room, for the dog, through no fault of its own.