By Jose Luis Nebot On

They’re the ultimate companions, padding at our sides through thick and thin, always ready with a gentle nuzzle or supportive lick when times are at their toughest. Dogs have long since been become the ultimate domestic pet (and we’re afraid to say that anybody who puts cats above them is simply wrong!) and there shows no sign of that trend slowing down anytime soon.

These four-legged friends also have a long history in a guarding context, however, k9 security goes back much further than you might have initially thought! The team here at Stok K9 Security Services, who provide fully vetted and experienced canine security services, wanted to look at the history of the guard dog in a little more detail!

Original canine security – The first guard dogs

When exactly were the first guard dogs used, then? Well, you have to go back to around the time of the Ancient Mesopotamians – that’s Iraq to you and me. During roughly the period between 2000 and 1400 BCE, there’s evidence that dogs were used to guard livestock against wolves as well as being depicted in art as protecting their owners’ homes.

If you want to look at when dogs were actually first domesticated in any way, then you have to go back even further. The first evidence of canine domestication is thought to possibly date back even as far as 40,000 years ago when dogs first evolved from wolves, originally loitering around the edge of hunter-gatherer camps for leftover food! 

You don’t have to look much further around the antiquity until you find another instance of dogs being used in a protective context; may we present to you – Cerberus, the three-headed demon dog protecting the gates of the underworld so that the dead wouldn’t escape. Morbid? Perhaps. Secure? Absolutely! We’re telling you, canine security works and it works well.

Modern canine security

Like a good deal of security dog handling companies, we use German Shepherds, Belgium Malinois, Rottweilers, Dobermans and Dutch Herders here at Stok K9 Security Services. Why, though, has this breed, in particular, become such a popular choice of guard dog, worldwide? Primarily, it’s down to their character traits as a breed. For one thing, these dogs are amongst the most protective dog breeds out there and easily trained, making them ideal for training quickly, effectively and to a very high standard. What’s more, they’ve got a heck of a bark to go with that intellect. When you finally pair that with their impressive physique (which features both strength and agility) you begin to see why they make such an attractive guard dog breed.

Why canine?

Canine security teams are known to provide a stronger deterrent than other conventional security alternatives. The additional presence of the dog, alone, offers an intimidating sight to would-be-criminals. If there are dog handlers about, they’re far less likely to chance their arm than they otherwise would be.

A bark louder than its bite…

Of course, canine security isn’t always about hulking great mastiffs or hyper-alert Alsatians, though we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t a lot of the time! Sometimes, though, it’s more about having a security presence that can be loud when it needs to be. Unlike guard dogs which are used as much for their physical presence as they are anything else, many watchdogs are actually smaller breeds, used for their highly vocal character. These breeds include:

  • Miniature Schnauzers
  • West Highland Terriers (Westies)
  • Scottish Terriers (Scotties)

What to look for in professional dog handlers

When you’re on the search for professional canine security services, there are a few key things you should be looking for – some tangible, and some less so. Firstly, you’ll want to make sure that all the dog handling teams operate completely in line with The Guard Dogs Act 1975 and The Dangerous Dog Act 1991. Moreover, all dogs should clearly be highly trained. Our training, for instance, conforms to British Standards 8517-1, the UK’s security dog handling standard.

It’s also worth getting in touch with the firm, themselves, to see how they are with the dogs – to get a feel for them. Unless you get the sense that the handlers care for their companions almost as much as life itself, then we’d advise steering clear. The way the animals are treated should always, categorically, be the number one priority for a canine security firm; it certainly is for ours. 

Contact us for canine security services

In our eyes, there’ll never be a better companion to have at our sides than the humble hound. Intelligent, brave and loyal to a fault, dogs truly are man’s best friend. So, if you’d like to find out more about our canine security services, then get in touch! Contact Stok K9 Security Services today on 0800 002 5761 or by emailing us at info@stokk9services.com.

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