Personal protection/Service training for dogs.

I want to train my dog to be a protective dog, and also i know that he has a potential to be a service dog, he's extremely smart and social and loving. I would love to train him, but i feel like training hi at a dog training school would be little too expensive, so if anyone knows any other ways to train the dogs please share!

What sort of service dog do you want him to be?

He said protection training. Personal protection or perhaps home protection, I'd assume. Police style more or less. He has a Malinois, so that makes sense as it is what they are often used for.

Best to Google these things and have a look at YouTube. I'm personally training my dog to be a therapy dog by using guidelines set forth by TDI (Therapy Dogs International) because of the lack of kind and calm trainers in my area and we are going to test for the program this Saturday.

You'll have to look a while, but there are places that have good videos and proper guidelines so that you can train your dog properly so you can enter a program without the settings of professionals.

Costs money to take entry tests and whatnot, though. You'll also likely need to pay for advanced training once you're allowed to enter any programs. Sometimes it's best to volunteer with a program first, which is what we plan on doing.

For a protection dog, you're likely going to need a bit of help, as these dogs need "agitators" most of the time etc. to help with the bite work, same as my dog needs to travel and be around tons of people to get the training he needs.

Good luck!!

If it is protection training that is looked for, be aware that this is a specialised field and mistakes can be catastrophic so it is not a field of training that should be undertaken lightly and certainly not one without the guidance of an experienced trainer to hand

I would completely agree with Chris, Malinois can be difficult at the best of times, not in bad way but they are very intelligent dogs which is exactly why they are often used by military and police.

Protection training is precise, it's not like obedience where if your dogs sits crooked the worst that will happen is nothing, if you cock up on protection training you (or someone else) may lose a part of their anatomy.

if you want protection seek a professional to help....

The same with service training, unless you have help how will you know exactly what is expected and needed from your dog?

Good luck whatever you do

Perhaps I misunderstood and thought that the OP wanted the dog to be trained as a service, ie a helper dog and not just a protection dog, in which case I was incorrect and apologise.

Had you have been in the UK I could have pointed you in the right direction, as you are not you would need to get in touch with your BIPDT equivalent if you are interested, its not really a DIY exercise. Be aware that far from every dog will succeed here, most beginners will buy an older dog from proven lines that has already been tested.

You where correct Malka, he did ask about both

I took service in this instance to be along the lines of a 'military' service dog as opposed to your PAT dog or similar.

Not for the amatuer (or unassisted) as has already been said.

When i briefly dallied in schutzhund (before my boy made it blatantly clear that soft furnishings were more his thing) we were taught the commands in german so they could not be 'accidently' given by someone other than the handler who knew what they were doing/what the dog was capable of

Yeah I would say don't go into protection anything at all. Much better to pursue therapy training and help people. Besides if you have a breed that either by size or appearance or both gets people's attention, that's all the protection you probably need.
Callie is a modest 60lb, but I know he would guard me with his life. Perfect dog...terrifies some people...but the one's who do approach him get drowned in happy slobber. I've been thinking of volunteering him as a reading dog at the library.
Laying down in a comfy room, maybe on a bean chair, while children read him stories and he gets treats, yup I can see him lovin' that.