I just logged on and read all your posts. The protection part of this training is already a subject of debate, even in Germany. The main focus of Schutzhund is control of the dog, not training a guard dog. I have kids and a cat. The only way I would have such a large, smart, strong-willed working dog as a family pet is if he was totally reliable and friendly. Like I said, this is a sport. It`s fun! We go tracking on the weekends, and Gus just loves to romp through the woods.