A buyer's guide
How Much Does a Protection Dog Cost?
Price is one of the first things a family wants to know, and it is a fair question. A trained protection dog is a big decision, and a price only makes sense when you know what it includes.
A fully trained protection dog from TYR costs from $20,000. Each German Shepherd is priced individually, and the price includes the training, hand delivery to your home, a handover of at least 2 days and a health and training guarantee.
At TYR
What does a protection dog cost at TYR?
Our fully trained protection dogs start from $20,000. That is the starting price: each dog is priced individually, so two dogs can have different prices.
You receive the current price of each dog, with its videos and training level, in the private catalogue or in your consultation. We do not train clients’ own dogs: every dog we offer is a German Shepherd raised in our family home and trained by us.
Included in the price
What is included in the price?
When you compare prices, compare what comes with the dog. This is what comes with every TYR dog.
- 1
The dog and its training
A German Shepherd raised in our family home in Portugal and fully trained with the Real Defense Protocol: advanced obedience on and off leash, real protection work and an immediate off-switch on a verbal command.
- 2
A private consultation
You speak with Rui Navarro directly. He helps you choose the dog that fits your family and your level of risk.
- 3
Hand delivery
One of our trainers brings the dog to your home, in all 50 US states or anywhere in the world. If the dog is ready, it travels in about 15 days.
- 4
The handover
The trainer stays with you for at least 2 days and teaches you, and anyone else who will work with the dog, how to handle it.
- 5
A written guarantee
A health and training guarantee. The dog does what we agreed it would do, and that is backed by a contract.
Before you pay
How do you compare protection dog prices?
The price should say what you get: the dog, the training, transport, the handover and what happens if something goes wrong. Be careful with a low price that leaves these out.
- Ask what the dog is trained to do in real life, not only which sport titles it has.
- Ask to watch the exact dog you would receive at work, on video.
- Ask whether the dog stops when you say stop. A dog that cannot be called off is a risk to your family, however impressive it looks.
- Ask whether the guarantee is in writing.
- Ask who brings the dog, and how long they stay with you.
A puppy is a project that takes years and can go wrong. A trained adult already shows what it is. That is why we sell fully trained dogs, which you can watch work before you decide. Read the full list of questions to ask a protection dog breeder.
Watch
What you are paying for: real protection, not sport
Many of the "protection dogs" sold abroad are sport dogs dressed up as protection dogs. In this video Rui Navarro explains the difference, which is the difference you pay for.
Absolute discretion
What does confidentiality add to the price?
Many protection dog companies film their clients’ homes and handovers and publish testimonials. We do not. The families we work with value their privacy too much for that.
- We never film or photograph our clients, their homes or their handovers.
- We never publish client names, and you will not find our clients’ faces on YouTube or on this website.
- Your enquiry and your dog’s placement stay between you and us.
- You deal with Rui directly, from the first message to the day the dog is in your home.
When you buy a protection dog, privacy is part of the protection.
After you buy
Are there costs after you buy?
Follow-up visits are available once a year or every 6 months, and they are charged separately. You keep direct contact with Rui after the handover.
Check the rules where you live before your dog arrives. Laws vary by state, county and city, and your insurer, building or homeowners association may have rules too. Buying in the US? See protection dogs for sale in the USA.
Questions
Protection dog cost: common questions
How much is a protection dog?
At TYR, a fully trained protection dog costs from $20,000. Each German Shepherd is priced individually, and the price includes hand delivery to your home, a handover of at least 2 days and a health and training guarantee.
Why don’t you list the price of every dog?
Each dog is priced individually. You receive the current price of each dog, with its videos and training level, in the private catalogue or in your consultation with Rui.
Is delivery included in the price?
Yes. Hand delivery to your home is included, in all 50 US states and anywhere in the world. One of our trainers travels with the dog and stays with you for at least 2 days.
Do I have to travel to Portugal to buy a dog?
No. One of our trainers brings the dog to your home and stays with you for the handover.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes. Every dog comes with a health and training guarantee. The dog does what we agreed it would do, and that is backed by a contract.
Do follow-up visits cost extra?
Yes. Follow-up visits are available once a year or every 6 months, and they are charged separately.
Will anyone know I bought a protection dog?
No. We never film or photograph our clients, their homes or their handovers, and we never publish client names.
Get the current prices
Ask for the private catalogue or a private consultation. Rui reads every enquiry and replies in confidence.