[Bobibutu]

"We can only hope that our dogs will protect us when/if the time comes."

Eliminate hope - proper training is essential.

A good trainer can do a "test" for your dog - most will wimp out under pressure.

My GSD is cross trained - Service Dog and Protection. He will let kids maul him without protest. He will go nuts with a verbal command from me - scaring the s*it out of anyone nearby. And then back to passive with another verbal command. He will attack and bite on command only.

Yes - it requires a command from me. If I am unable to give the command he will not attack. I am the big dog - I do not want law suits and him put down for my lack of control.

This all takes training - professional training - way beyond "down" "sit" "stay" "come".

It is owning a lethal weapon - get proper training if you want to play at this level.

[hotpotato]

"We can only hope that our dogs will protect us when/if the time comes."

That's not my quote.