Protection Dogs

Personal Protection Dogs

A personal protection dog should first and foremost be an exceptional dog to live with.

At RF Dogs, we believe the qualities that make a great protection dog begin long before protection training: a stable temperament, confidence, intelligence, excellent obedience, and the ability to move comfortably through everyday life.

We work privately with individuals and families looking for a personal protection dog, helping them find the right dog for their home, lifestyle, and individual needs. Every placement is approached differently. The goal is not simply to find a capable dog, but to find a dog who genuinely fits into your life.

Sourcing & Selection

We source and evaluate prospective dogs individually, considering temperament, genetics, environmental stability, sociability, trainability, and working ability. Just as importantly, we consider the person or family the dog will eventually live with.

Your lifestyle, household, experience with dogs, children or other animals, travel, living environment, and expectations all inform the type of dog we look for. We are not interested in placing the most intimidating dog. We are interested in placing the right dog.

Training

Our protection dogs are developed with an emphasis on control, confidence, and stability.

Before anything else, the dog must have excellent foundations: obedience, leash manners, neutrality around people and other dogs, appropriate behavior in the home, and the ability to accompany their owner comfortably in everyday environments.

Protection training is then developed according to the individual dog and the needs of the client, with experienced protection-dog professionals involved where appropriate.

A protection dog should never make your everyday life more difficult. The dog should be a trusted companion you can comfortably live with, travel with, and bring into the world.

Family Integration

Placing the dog is only part of the process.

We spend time helping each client build a relationship with their dog and learn how to communicate with and handle them confidently. We work with the family on the dog’s routines, commands, boundaries, maintenance training, and transition into the home.

Our relationship with our clients continues beyond placement. We remain available for ongoing training and support as the dog settles into the family and throughout their life.

Private Consultation

Every protection-dog placement begins with a conversation.

Tell us about your family, lifestyle, experience with dogs, and what you are looking for. From there, we can determine whether one of our programs is appropriate and begin the process of finding the right dog.

Protection dogs are sourced individually and placements are handled privately. Please inquire for pricing.

Book a Consultation

  • RF dogs has been with our precious beagle since she was 8 weeks old. She is turning 7 in a few months and we couldn’t have asked for a better second home for her when we are away on trips. Ricardo has loving her trained her and continues to be the best dog whisperer we’ve encountered. Highly recommend, he is an honest person, a gentleman and a true dog lover.

    Jorge C

  • Ricardo is incredible with every dog he meets! I trust him completely with my rescue dog, Mikko. She absolutely loved spending time at RF Dogs and I look forward to having her work with Ricardo on some more training soon. The facility is clean, lush, and a great environment for them to play. I was so impressed with Ricardo's ability to keep them all so calm and happy. He checked in with me while I was away and also sent videos which made me smile... Thanks so much Ricardo & Team!

    Lisa H

  • Ricardo was the perfect trainer and behaviorist for our rescue dog Lucky. We trusted his knowledge and expertise and we saw a transformation in our dog, from being scared and aggressive with other dogs, to being the friendliest with other dogs in Brickell. Ricardo bonded with Lucky and we felt so comfortable leaving him in boarding with him. I highly recommend Ricardo for training and boarding needs.

    Pao J

  • Ricardo is one of the most caring and loving people towards dogs and animals in general! His ability to patiently train and teach dogs is remarkable! He has helped me train my basset hound in the past and he’s had him over for play time & dog-sitting! He is overly knowledgeable in training dogs and has a keen eye and understands dog language! His communication with dogs is incredible. He is the most trusted dog lover, trainer, and dog enthusiast! I’m about to get a new boxer puppy soon and I will only put my trust in Ricardo. THANK YOU FOR LOVING DOGS AND FOR FOR WHAT YOU DO!

    Estrella P

  • The ONLY doggie daycare + boarding i trust with my pup. This is an incredible family run business and Ricardo and the team have been incredibly accommodating for us since day 1. They go above and beyond for their clients / pups and it makes all the difference. Thank you for always taking care of my girl 🩷 Nori loves you

    Adriana L.

  • We’ve been taking our dog Monty to RF Dogs for years, and we truly couldn’t imagine a better place for him. Ricardo and his team are incredibly loving, attentive, and genuinely care about every dog in their care. It’s clear they treat the dogs like their own, and that level of trust is priceless. From the moment we first brought Monty in, we felt welcomed and reassured. Over the years, that feeling has only grown stronger. The team consistently goes above and beyond to make sure the dogs are happy, safe, and well cared for. RF Dogs isn’t just a daycare—it feels like an extension of our family. Knowing Monty is in such good hands gives us complete peace of mind. We’re so grateful to Ricardo and the entire team for everything they do.

    Candice R

  • I’ve been bringing my dog here for both daycare and boarding for the past four years, and I truly couldn’t be happier with the experience. Ricardo and the entire team are incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely caring with the dogs. They consistently go above and beyond to make sure both the dogs and owners feel comfortable and supported. It’s clear they really understand dogs and take the time to get to know each one individually. My dog absolutely loves going - she gets excited every time we arrive. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and caring daycare or boarding option.

    Amy F

  • Ricardo and his team are the best of the best! My dog practically walks herself to the bus every morning because she is so excited to go to “school”. RF dogs is extremely accommodating to my busy lifestyle and it’s such a relief knowing that my dog Honey is so well taken care of by this team. Not to mention, she is SO well behaved and trained because of their daily practices. 10/10 recommend!

    Taylor B

  • My two dogs absolutely love coming here for both daycare and boarding! It has been the absolute best service I’ve experienced in the four years I have had my dogs. My dogs not only are being trained on how to behave, but also playing and having a blast. I look forward to continuing to take them here for as long as I am in Miami!

    Sean K

  • RF dogs has taken care of my eldest dog for about 9 years, and my other two dogs for the entirety of their lives. His service, dedication and most importantly love for them is something that is hard to put into words. His genuine care and the peace of mind that comes with that is priceless. He loves my dogs like they are his own. If you’re lookin for someone dependable and long term, look no further than RF dogs.

    Harvey P

  • Ricardo and his team are beyond amazing. I run a small nonprofit animal rescue and I trust them with all the animals I take in. I board them, they get training and most importantly love. And whenever I leave town, my personal pets also stay there. Couldn’t ask for a better place and trainer!

    Isabella P

  • Ricardo is a true dog whisperer, and master of his craft. I’ve been taking my dog to him for over 3 years now, since he was a tiny little puppy and I can’t say enough about great of an experience it’s been. My guy has so much fun, is safe and well cared for, and gets genuinely super excited whenever we get there. For a couple of hours, or for a week while I’m out of town, Ricardo and the team take the best care of him and the whole crew of dogs. I especially like that Ricardo is very thoughtful about only letting friendly dogs come stay over, they all get to know each other and run and play and be crazy without me having to worry about fighting or danger. So grateful for Ricardo and his team.

    Brian S

  • Ricardo and his staff are amazing. They pick up my overly excited rambunctious dog twice a week and keep him actively entertained and socialized at day care. He comes home a more manageable relaxed dog and he loves it!

    Sara E

  • RF dogs is truly an extension of my family. They love and care for my Howie and Alice as their own. As we all know each dog has their individual special quirks, personalities and needs that RF Dogs pays close, detailed attention to. They understand that my Howie and Alice are my joys and take care of them as such. I am grateful for RF Dogs!

    Kenichi K

  • RF Dogs has truly been such a blessing for us. I started working with Ricardo when my golden retriever puppy was very rambunctious, and from the very beginning, he was so patient, kind, and understanding. He really has a special way with dogs. Murphy has grown into such a well-behaved, happy dog, and he absolutely loves going to daycare/camp. The second he sees the van, he sprints to it. It makes me so happy knowing how excited he is to be there. After having a bad experience with another daycare, I was really nervous to trust anyone again, but Ricardo and his team completely changed that for me. They care so deeply about every dog and truly treat them like their own. It gives me so much peace of mind knowing Murphy is in such loving, capable hands. I’m incredibly grateful for everything they do.

    Meghan B

  • Ricardo and the team are so accommodating and go above and beyond to help! I’ve been taking my crazy husky to them for years and they never let me down, from last minute requirements, to help with giving medications. They also have been very considerate with my dogs ‘mood swings’ and ensure that the environment is safe for everyone. I never worry when I leave my dog there and, most importantly, he is always so excited and happy to go!

    Kaleisha L

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If you are interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your dog and your needs. We'll review your message and get back to you.