Finding a guard dog and avoiding the traps

Where such dogs come from

• Independent breeders who raise working or guarding lines.
• Programs that raise and train dogs, sometimes with imported stock.
• Rescues and shelters, where a dog's history is usually limited.
• Private sellers, whose claims are the hardest to verify.

Law-enforcement buyers often work with vendors who import dogs, and a trade-journal article on how agencies buy police dogs notes that donated or casually offered dogs rarely have the temperament for demanding work. Private buyers can borrow that caution.

Scam signs

The Federal Trade Commission warns that a seller insisting on money transfer services is a leading sign of fraud, and that scammers may add fees such as shipping or crating after the first payment. Its pet scam alert also suggests searching the seller's name with the word "scam" and running a reverse image search on photos.

Checks before paying

1. Visit the dog and the place it lives. Video alone proves little.
2. Ask for health records and have your own veterinarian look at them.
3. Ask what the dog has actually been taught, and ask to see it.
4. Pay by a traceable method and get a written receipt.
5. Read the contract for returns, health terms and what happens if the dog proves unsuitable.

After sourcing comes responsibility. See law and insurance.

Quick answers