Too often I hear people talking about working dogs when they perform sports, which is a very inaccurate comparison.

A working dog must possess specific behavioral characteristics:

• emotional stability and the absence of dysfunctional fears
• ability to evaluate and discern
• appropriate temperament
• balance between reactivity and controllability
• ability to recover quickly after intense stimuli
• reliability when working under pressure
• problem-solving skills

These traits cannot be improvised: they are the result of generations of targeted selection, not a single training session.
The work of guarding, defense, and/or deterrence (or detection, or other security work) involving a working dog is never improvised: it is the result of a culture of responsibility, preparation, and awareness. Those who choose to train or handle a dog intended for protection assume a role that goes beyond technique: they become the guarantor of their own safety, that of the animal, and that of the community.

Does this mean that sporting dogs (IGP, Mondioring, etc.) aren’t valid dogs?
Absolutely not. Thanks to these sports, we breeders can choose future matings with which to improve our selection, thus producing dogs increasingly suited to performing delicate and demanding tasks.
There are dogs that can perform multiple tasks (Dobschroeder’s Azazel passed BH-ZTP-IGP3 and is a dog selected as a Security Dog), but they should always be chosen by those who pay attention and care to targeted selection.

We often have dogs that excel in sport but, when placed in escalating situations, don’t know how to behave. This happens when the training is extremely demanding or when the technique used exceeds the dog’s capabilities, which can make them adapt to what they’re doing, risking being unsuitable for the required task.

I believe it’s appropriate for all utility and defense sporting dogs to also be trained as security dogs, even if only to test their natural abilities.

From a motivational perspective, the journey to becoming a working dog requires maturity and discipline. A working dog is not a symbol of strength, but a companion that enhances the handler’s abilities. Its effectiveness depends on clear rules, consistent training, and the handler’s ability to maintain control even in the most critical situations.
Being prepared means preventing, not reacting; it means choosing the least invasive measure possible; it means knowing when to intervene and when to interrupt.

in the painting Dobschroeder’s Azazel in self-defense training with a soldier from the Aviano base