Scared Victorians buying guard dogs to beef-up security — but have no idea how to train them

Scared Victorians are seeking “aggressive” training for guard-dog breeds to beef-up their home security — but it’s causing an epidemic of uncontrollable animals on our streets.

Scared Victorians are buying protection dog breeds and asking for them to have “aggressive” training to try and prevent home invasions and keep their families safe amid the state’s worsening crime crisis.

But it’s leading to many guard dogs later being seized or surrendered because they can’t be controlled, in what is shaping as a secondary wave of aggression in some suburbs.

Three Sunbury dogs were recently seized by council officers and later put down after a series of incidents. Picture: 7 News

Dog trainers have told the Sunday Herald Sun they were receiving a growing number of calls from Victorian homeowners requesting their dogs undergo training for protection purposes.

It comes as data reveals more than 230 dogs which could be considered protective in nature — including American Staffordshire terriers and German shepherds — have been seized by or surrendered to the RSPCA in the state over the past financial year.

The data shows 114 American Staffordshire terriers, 55 Staffordshire terriers, 33 English Staffordshire bull terriers and 29 German Shepherds were seized by the RSPCA, or surrendered to its pounds, between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

The other most frequently surrendered dog type was the kelpie, a working dog that needs much more exercise than many people are able to provide.

At the Geelong Animal Welfare Society shelter rottweiler and Rhodesian ridgeback crosses, German shepherds, American Staffordshire terriers and regular Staffordshire terriers are all listed for adoption.

When not properly trained or socialised some protection type dogs can become problematic.

There is also a boerboel, which is known to be one of the strongest and most protective of all dogs. Originating from Africa to protect their owners against lions and other wild animals, Boerboel Australia says “the boerboel will growl like a lion when protecting from a real threat and fight ferociously without consideration for his own safety … these dogs were originally used for hunting, cattle work and guarding but more recently they have principally been used as guard dogs”.

In Victoria, it is only legal to own a guard dog that protects a non-residential premises.

They are considered as dangerous dogs, with hefty fines applying for those who flout the law.

Elite K-9 Work Dogs Australia owner and head trainer Dwight Higgins said he was receiving several calls a month from pet owners asking to have their dogs “aggressively” trained.

“I constantly tell them it’s illegal to do this in Victoria but most people don’t take this too seriously and ask you to do it without anyone knowing, but I continue to tell them it’s wrong,” Mr Higgins said.

“These requests are often involving people who want a dog in areas where there is more crime because they are looking for added security.”

Mr Higgins said dogs being surrendered could be due to their owners not being experienced enough to properly train or socialise them.

German shepherds are among the dog breeds which some owners fail to train properly.

“All dogs, not just protection dogs, need to be socialised properly or it will lead to problems down the road,” Mr Higgins said.

“Another huge issue in Victoria is line breeding because these dogs have mental challenges and physical challenges, which leads to them being surrendered.”

Former police dog handler, Mitch Watson, who owns The Paw Professor and specialises in dog obedience training, said he had also received inquiries from Victorians looking to beef-up their home security.

“They ask all the time about wanting to have their dogs trained for security purposes to protect their properties,” Mr Watson said.

“Anyone that buys a dog such as a staffy and thinks that it’s going to be aggressive is an idiot … most of them love people and the ones that are being surrendered are lacking in socialisation.”

He encouraged pet owners to do their research before buying a dog.

“It’s important to put a lot of time and effort into buying a dog,” he said.

“Unfortunately, there’s too many people that are buying the wrong dogs and this leads to them being surrendered.”

A rising number of Victorians are asking for their dogs to be trained “aggressively” to protect their families amid rising crime.

All Dogs Security and Training managing director Scott Donald, who has been a dog trainer for more than 30 years, encouraged Victorians to ensure their dogs were properly trained to avoid them from being surrendered.

“Not all dogs are for the average person, this is why a good trainer is so important,” he said.

“Most people come unstuck with breeds such as German shepherds, they might choose a working line over a show line.

“But working lines have an extra drive and may be too much for the average person, whereas a show line will still guard but they have less drive.”

The latest RSPCA data also showed the most frequent reasons for dogs being surrendered was due to their owners not being able to afford daily care, financial constraints and the health of the owner.

RSPCA Victoria Acting Chief Inspector Michelle Green said RSPCA inspectors worked with pet owners across the state to keep Victoria’s animals safe, which can include providing advice and support to pet owners in need where possible.

“We sometimes see people struggling to provide for the number of animals they have … they choose to surrender their animal to RSPCA Victoria so it can get the veterinary care and behavioural support that it needs,” Ms Green said.

“Preventive health measures such as getting your animal desexed, vaccinated, and wormed can make a big difference to your ability to care for them later on.”

A Sunbury woman walking her baby in a pram was late last month hospitalised with serious injuries after being attacked and mauled by three roaming dogs.

The young mother mauled by a pack of dogs while walking her baby in Sunbury. Picture: 7 News

The attack came just a day after a 71-year-old woman was reportedly attacked by the same dogs, which have now been put down.

The Sunday Herald Sun is not aware of whether the dogs were kept for protection purposes.

In November last year it was revealed Victorian hospitals were treating 10 people a day for dog bites, with attacks having increased for the fifth year in a row.

Victorian emergency departments treated more than 15,600 patients – including 2,348 children – for dog bites between July 2017 and June 2022, data from Monash University’s Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit shows.

Cases increased by more than 40 per cent over the five years, rising from 2,600 patients in the 2018 financial year to more than 3,730 in the 2022 financial year.

More than one-third of patients had injuries severe enough to require a stay in hospital, with admission rising by 53 per cent — higher than the rate of ED increases — over the five years.

An Animal Welfare Victoria spokesperson said only licensed security guards were legally able to own an attack trained dog.

“Victoria’s Domestic Animals Regulations 2015 set strict conditions for owning a dangerous dog - including mandatory council notification, regular inspections, clear warning signage, a prescribed collar, durable restraints, secure housing and perimeter fencing at least 1.8 metres high,” he said.

“Serious penalties apply for failing to comply with the conditions for dangerous dogs, including seizure of the dog and criminal charges. Owners of a dog who causes death can be jailed for up to ten years and for endangering someone’s life up to five years.”