Demand for guard dogs is so high now that some services, such as Harrison K-9 in Aiken, South Carolina, are fetching anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000 per dog.
Harrison K-9 isn't the only successful company in this business niche either. Additional security dog providers, such as Command Control K-9 and Elite K-9 Security, are also earning top dollars for their top dogs.
You might, however, be wondering why anyone would buy a dog that costs more than the median price of a house during this down economy. One word comes to mind first: fear.
As Harrison K-9 spokesman Doug Holland admits, the skyrocketing cost of the dogs "says something about the degree of uncertainty out there today." Families, professional athletes, entertainers, law enforcement agencies, and more are all often willing to shell out big bucks for dogs that they feel will protect their treasured people and property.
"The company cannot get dogs fast enough to keep up with demand," says Holland.
Websites for elite guard dog services often mention frightening crime statistics, frequently pertaining to crimes against women and children. In addition to easing fears related to the scare tactics, the dogs can be status symbols too.
Breed selections differ among the various services, with the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, Rottweiler and Doberman Pinscher being among the most popular. Harrison K-9 exclusively sells the European German Shepherd, which the company claims "is the best breed, for working, security, family companionship and loyalty. The German Shepherd has a reputation of being the best of the best."
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Potential customers could just go for electronic security systems, but Harrison K-9 mentions the following reasons as to why dogs do a better job:
- Canine hearing abilities pick-up suspicious sounds earlier then alarm systems.
- Canine barking alerts homeowners and neighbors too quickly.
- Criminals fear being attacked by a dog.
- Criminals know confronting a dog is much more hazardous than dealing with an alarm system.
While the dogs receive extensive training in protection work, they are also usually meant to serve as trusted house pets that can play with kids while also being on duty. It's interesting to look at some of the dogs that are now for sale. They're usually captured looking quite friendly, all doggy smiles, but you can easily imagine those teeth in a growl too.
Pricey protection pets may not be for everyone, but they certainly seem to be selling well at a time when most of us are watching our wallets.
Tags: Animal Behavior, Animals, Current Events, Dogs, Humans
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