"Even if you're not afraid of dogs, you might be a little intimidated by Butch Cassidy. His tail may be wagging, but the Belgian shepherd weighs 40kg and moves with awesome agility. Even a casual brush of his body could knock you off your feet if you weren't expecting it. I don't for a minute think he's going to bite anyone, said his owner Grahame Green earlier. Although he would, if I asked him to."
"He brings Cassidy to heel, and gets him to sit. Facing them is another man, Florin, already braced and wearing a protective arm sleeve. The dog is visibly quivering with excitement, so keen is his anticipation for what comes next. Green gives a one-word command, in German. Cassidy darts forward, an auburn arrow, and in that split-second clamps on to Florin's forearm. Florin is engaging every muscle to remain upright, but Cassidy does not let go until Green gives the word."
An imposing 40kg Belgian shepherd named Butch Cassidy demonstrates controlled protection training, reacting to a one-word German command to clamp and release on cue. The dog behaves under experienced handlers during a staged bite exercise, yet his size and excitement illustrate how a misfire could be dangerous. Purpose-bred protection dogs are bought, sold and trained in the UK, with high-end animals marketed as family pets that provide live-in security for tens of thousands of pounds. Demand appears to be rising due to celebrity endorsements, social media and crime anxieties. Regulation gaps raise public safety, animal welfare and responsibility concerns.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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