Step one — vetting the kennel
We only work with programmes we have visited. We look at how dogs are housed, how puppies are raised, whether the breeder keeps back and works their own progeny, and whether they can produce honest footage of dogs that failed as well as dogs that succeeded.
Step two — evaluating the litter
From three weeks we track neurological development, startle recovery, surface and sound exposure, and early problem solving. Litters raised on enrichment protocols consistently produce more resilient adults, so we insist on documented early neurological stimulation and environmental variety.
Step three — individual testing
At seven to eight weeks each puppy is assessed independently of its littermates. We score prey drive and pursuit, possession and retrieve, sound and surface confidence, recovery after a startling event, social engagement with strangers, and willingness to follow a person.
Adult dogs undergo a longer protocol including environmental work in towns, traffic exposure, stair and lift work, crowd neutrality, and — for protection candidates — grip quality, out reliability and behaviour under escalating pressure.
- Nerve and recovery scoring under controlled startle
- Environmental neutrality in real public settings
- Drive profiling: prey, food, hunt, defence and social
- Handler focus and biddability under distraction
Step four — matching the home
We then match against your brief. A dog that is ideal for a security operator is often wrong for a family with young children, and vice versa. We describe both the strengths and the maintenance requirements of each candidate before you commit.
Step five — handover and follow-up
Handover is a training programme, not a car park exchange. You learn the dog's markers, its reinforcement history, its known triggers and its development plan, and we follow up at fixed intervals through the first year.