My Celeste has had protection training for over a year. She has been sensitized to gunfire, and been taught bitework. We are working on her climbing trees now. Our co-trainer, retired from 28 years training with police K9s, tells me she will never quit working to protect my family, friends, or me; not a broken leg nor a gunshot. He tells me she knows I will do the same for her. I will. She is not a cuddly lap dog as she is always attentive and moving. Her sense of hearing is (I’m told) about 700 times more capable of a human. She lets me know if there is a strange (Fedex, UPS, or work truck) parked across the street. We had to teach her how to bark. And she does it only for warning. It is a unique, and wonderful breed. She is currently free from a leash and one vocal and hand signals. She will always stop at every intersection and sit until receiving permission from me to move forward. She loves all people including my 4 year old granddaughter. She is not aggressive unless commanded. She is my “back up” firearm that is always loaded for action, if needed.
I was told that a Mal is characterized by three F words - Faithful, Fearless, and Ferocious. But all are under control of the handler.