Anyone here own a PPD? - Page 2

I looked up the Fila - a Brazilian Mastiff.   Says that they were good hunting dogs because it was good at tracking and would then hold the prey at bay until the hunter came.  It was used to hunt escaped slaves because it would returned them unharmed.

It is a big dog.  Life expectancy is a little short, 9-11 years which is a factor considering the cost of training it.

I would think this dog wouldn't be a good candidate for police work where you sometimes have to lift the dog.  I think size is one of the reasons the Mali or Dutchy make good police and army dogs.

Police and PPD are not the same thing, and often have little in common like size!

Hired, I agree with you not even a trained dog is guaranteed to protect but in most cases has a better chance of protecting because it was trained. And you're right most "working" dogs these days arent what they used to be. Schutzhund was developed to test a dogs working ability, but now all it is a sport. To many dogs are to prey driven, with only one focus, to get the sleeve. I have seen countless number of dogs get the sleeve and pridefully trot toward off to their owner to show off their prize and could care less what the helper was doing afterward, and I dont view this as protection. You often see these types of dogs being advertised as PPDs, but there are still some GSDs capable of real work and that's mainly why I asked in the original post what trainers are recommend. Also the Fila is nowhere near as popular or well known as the GSD. Once the AKC show breeders get their hands on this breed it will most likely become a shadow of the dog it once was. But in the meantime I will not argue which breed is a better protection dog but I'd rather have a dog that is stable and trained than some dog who would be more of a liability than anything.

I'll share with you the comment the trainer of the PPD I owned told me....  "Almost any dog can be taught to bite... only a sound and well trained dog will know when NOT to bite!"  In the years traveling with my  dog I had to call him on alert one time in NYC when a pedestrian went postal over my car being too far into the cross walk where I stopped to let him go past.  The sight of a large GSD head in the window and he changed his mind quickly.  There were two situations where the dog came on alert (not barking, or aggression, just alert and waiting to see if I wanted/needed his 2cents).  I was able to quietly tell him OUT... and he lay back down.  I never did need him to actually bite someone, but was secure in questionable situations that he had my back. 
   His general behavior and manor in public was that he adored everyone... Ran on a Dog sled team, did pet therapy, obedience, and could be handled by a 5 year old strange child in Junior handling.
   As to puppy or adult... if you need a PPD, and own an adult, obedience trained dog have him/her tested and go from there. If you are experienced with raising a schutzhund/IPO puppy then go with that... otherwise I would find a trained dog with a reliable trainer who will (and has in the past with others) provide support and retraining if issues arise down the road.  Talk to other individuals (both satisfied and not) who have purchased a dog from them in the past.
   Lastly, remember that owning a dog trained to bite, either PPD, IPO or Schutzhund is much on the par with owning a handgun.  It's not just having one, there's a liability involved as well.  If you have children and neighbors kids are over and roughhousing ensues there is a legal liability if the dog perceives this as a dangerous situation.

I have owned two Fila Brasileiro's and neither one were worth a crap. Do they bite? Yes they do, but dependable no. Insecure and sharp was my experience. This is not to say they are all that way but the two I have owned sure were.

"Police and PPD are not the same thing, and often have little in common like size!"

Correct - the Police Dog is actually certified.

I cannot believe so many German Shepherd owners have such little faith their dogs will protect them.
For some tho, I guess that would be hard to do from a kennel or crate.

KitKat, would you have faith in something that has never been trained or tested to protect you for REAL when you actually need it? I am surprised that so many people think their dogs running in circles and screaming is actually protecting.

i'm of the doubters and that's why i back up, and protect my dogs, with the fine, fine wares provided by the good folks at glock and mossberg. anyone who's ever seen one or more meth-heads wielding a knife and going at it, would, and is well served to, doubt a dog's efficacy. heck, a 12 gauge is pushing it in some circumstances. but yes, your dog(s) ought to buy you enough time to get locked 'n loaded.