One CPI Standard

Why CPI Has One Protection Dog Training Standard

Every CPI dog is expected to meet the same complete standard for family temperament, health, real-world control, and handler-directed protection.

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Two CPI family protection dogs sitting beside a pool

Different dogs. One complete standard.

Family FirstTemperament & Household Fit

Real WorldObedience & Control

Handler DirectedProtection & Disengagement

Health EvaluationOrthopedic Imaging & Laboratory Screening

Why One Standard

Safety, control, and health should not be optional upgrades.

Multiple training packages can imply that one family should accept less control, less preparation, or a lower standard of protection. CPI does not believe the essentials should be divided into levels.

Every CPI dog must meet the same requirements before placement. The dog should live calmly with the family, respond clearly in real-world environments, protect only under handler direction, disengage immediately, and complete CPI's health evaluation.

What changes is the individual dog: personality, affection, energy, size, experience, and the household the dog is best suited to join. Alex recommends the fit. The standard remains the same.

The Principle

The individual dog may differ. The complete CPI standard does not.

Overview of Protective Benefits

The following is a basic overview of the protective benefits within the 3 training programs:

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EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS

ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS

Turn-on aggressively to an aggressive or
passive threat

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Protection from multiple violent attackers

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Advanced Handler Protection exercises

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Advanced fighting skills useful in a home invasion or against a violent attacker

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Foundation Training in Protection

The following are foundation skills taught prior to our basic and advanced handler protection skills:

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ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS

Bite Development
Full and hard bite

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Drive Development
Defense imprinting, development of active prey,
active aggression

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Advanced Biting Skills
Bite comfortably front and back of legs, abdomen, outside and inside of upper arm/ shoulder

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Basic Fighting Skills
Includes countering physical assaults through strategically
transferring bite, strategic targeting, etc.

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Advanced Fighting Skills
Skills to overcome an adversary who fights through evasion, the use of static and dynamic obstacles, static and dynamic use of weapons, environmental stresses, etc.

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Muzzle Attacks
Muzzle attack technique is taught in order to do
protection training without the use of bite suits,
bite sleeves including undercover sleeves.

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Integrating Skills
Integrating skills includes the types of threats, locations and circumstances; emphasis is placed on integrating advanced fighting skills including the use of sparring within muzzle attacks; also enables protection scenarios to be set up in everyday types of situations without equipment alerting the dog in advance to it being a training session

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Basic Handler Protection Skills

Once foundational training (imprinting and development of drives; biting skills, etc.) within the protection program has been completed handler protection skills are taught. These handler protection skills determine how the dog protects you.

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EXECUTIVE PROTECTION DOGS

ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS

Aggressive Alert
Go from 0 to 10 instantly with intense aggression;
remain at level 10 until told otherwise against an
aggressive or obvious threat

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Aggressive Alert
Go from 0 to 10 instantly with intense aggression;
remain at level 10 until told otherwise regardless of
the threat (passive threats and passive threats who
the dog has a relationship with such as a neighbor
is the most difficult)

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Turn Off
Turn completely off instantly with a single command

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Attack

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Secure Home and Property
There are two options:
On-command or Automatically. Which option usually
depends on both lifestyle and personal preference. In
either case once in the “Secure” mode no one is allowed to enter until instructed otherwise.

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Release Bite
Release bite even in the midst of a fight

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Advanced Handler Protection Skills

Advanced Handler Protection Skills are taught in our Executive Protection program as well as in our Elite programs. These advanced skills provide a variety of useful options as to “how” the dog protects you. Naturally, if faced with a serious threat the more options available to you the better.

As the advanced skills provide a more resourceful and secure way of responding to a threat, they are the preferred choice in such situations. In situations where someone only suspects a potential threat, advanced exercises like the Covert Secure are extremely useful.

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Directed Alert
The ability to specify who specifically to direct aggression towards; also re-direct the dog’s aggression as needed.

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Directed Attack
The ability to specify who specifically to attack. Also re-direct the dog to attack another threat. (This is done without the need for your dog to return to your side or receive a command to release their bite.)

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Aggressive Secure
Your dog will immediately come to your side; cling to it; position them self between you and anyone approaching regardless from which direction; do so while showing aggression; automatically attack if you are assaulted otherwise will wait for a command. The dog will actually walk backwards while beside you, if necessary, in order to position themselves between you and someone approaching from behind!

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Covert Secure
The same as the Aggressive Secure but in covert or stealth mode (no outward sign of aggression).

(optional)

Rest Assured
On-command the dog goes to a specific place that strategically provides the greatest view of bedrooms and/ or entrances. The dog will then remain there until someone tries to approach. Should someone begin approaching the dog alerts you by barking. If the person proceeds to cross into the secured area the dog will automatically stop them by attacking.

(optional)

Protective Escape
Similar to the Aggressive Alert but without tension on
the leash or collar; also taught how to walk backwards
while showing aggression (enabling you to backwards
out of a situation)

(optional)

The following formal and informal commands are given one time, said in a normal tone. Your dog will obey instantly, regardless of the situation, and completely off-leash.

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Heel

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Sit

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Stay

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Sit Stay

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Sit in Motion

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Down

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Down Stay

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Down in Motion

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Stand

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Come

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Finish
Return to heel

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Break
(Release from any command)

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Informal Obedience

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With Me
(Off leash heel)

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Easy
(Walk with slack leash when not heeling)

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Lay Down

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Bedtime
(Go to specific place and lay down on command)

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Jump
(Used for getting into vehicles, etc.)

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Wait
(Stay behind natural boundary such as doorway when leaving house, remain in car, etc)

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Automatic Wait
(Automatically not cross specific boundaries without a command like property lines, end of driveway, doorways open to the outside; customized as desired)

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Manners

We ask that every client fill out a comprehensive questionnaire in order to understand their specific needs. Among these are whether or not children are present in the home. As most of our clients do have children the exercises below are designed to protect their hands from accidentally being hurt when playing with the dog (ie the dog taking a toy out of their hand, etc.). There are numerous ways in which we customize each dog’s training based on each clients specific lifestyle and personal preferences.

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ELITE FAMILY & ESTATE PROTECTION DOGS

Retrieve toys or objects only on command

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Release object on command
Dropping toy or object on floor or ground

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If no command is given release toy or object as soon as hand touches it.

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Pricing

The following are the price ranges for each level. The prices are based on a combination of level of ability, level of training, structure, working titles and show titles.

The ability of a dog to protect is directly related to their level of ability combined with their level of skill (through training). The greater the investment in ability and training the higher the level of protection.

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Purchase of a Fully Trained Dog

$100,000+

$125,000+

Private Consultation

The right dog begins with the right household.

Tell Alex about the people, animals, routines, property, travel, and expectations that matter most. CPI will recommend the dog believed to be the best fit for that life.

Request a Private Consultation