Family Protection Dogs Trained for Real Life
Feel more confident at home and wherever life takes you, with a carefully selected dog trained for companionship, everyday obedience, and your protection needs.
Raised and trained around children and daily family life, our dogs are matched to the household they will become part of.
Mighty Oak Protection Dogs places a very limited number of fully trained family protection dogs each year.
Our Available Dogs
$15,000
An affectionate, social companion with advanced obedience and an imposing presence. Currently offered as a trained companion and visual deterrent.
$25,000
A compact, social protection dog with polished obedience and a relaxed side at home. A candidate for families and first-time protection dog owners.
$30,000
An imposing long-haired German Shepherd with advanced protection training, dependable obedience, and an affectionate connection to his people.
Placed
with Bella S. Kansas City
with Al S. in Oklahoma
Placed
Benelli| Giant
Schnauzer
$25,000
A strong, energetic companion with advanced obedience and a fantastic start in protection work. Currently offered as a protection dog in training.
$18,000 SOLD
A beautiful long-haired companion with trained protection capabilities, composure in busy environments, and the control to disengage and return to her handler.
$18,000 SOLD
A laid back, affectionate companion with trained protection capabilities and an easygoing temperament around children, other dogs, and the public.
Protection Without Compromise
Security shouldn’t feel like paranoia. It should feel like certainty.
For many families, especially those with visibility, assets, or responsibility, the world doesn’t always feel as safe as it once did. The question isn’t whether risk exists, it’s whether you’re prepared.
For Courtenay Van Doren, founder and Head Trainer of Mighty Oak Protection Dogs, preparation became personal.
After a neighbor fell victim to violent crime, the illusion of “it won’t happen here” disappeared. Then in 2020, that reality came to her own doorstep. A man under the influence of drugs appeared on her porch late at night. She was home alone and holding her baby.
Her protection dog stepped forward.
The situation never escalated. It never had the chance to. The presence of a trained, stable protection dog created immediate control until law enforcement arrived.
That night didn’t create fear.
It confirmed a decision: her family would never be vulnerable.
And neither should yours.
Protection Dog Yzma (SOLD)
A Different Standard
Mighty Oak Protection Dogs was built on one principle:
A true protection dog must be both formidable and safe.
A family protection dog needs to do more than perform during a demonstration. Your dog also needs to settle at home, respond around distractions, and fit your household’s routines.
I’m Courtenay Van Doren, founder and head trainer of Mighty Oak.
I raise and train dogs around my own children and everyday family life, with an emphasis on temperament, obedience, and control.
After facing an intruder at my own home while holding my baby, the value of a dependable protection dog became deeply personal.
Today, I help other families find a companion whose temperament and training suit their lives.
We specialize in elite German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Dobermans, Malinois, Cane Corsos and Giant Schnauzers selected for temperament, intelligence, and genetic stability. Every dog is trained to integrate seamlessly into family life while remaining fully capable of neutralizing real threats.
See Reaper defend his handler on a walk!
See Leroy protect his new owner at work!
How It Works
1. Let’s Talk
We start with a conversation about your household, daily routine, and what you want from a companion and protector. We’ll answer your questions and discuss your budget and timeline.
2. Find Your Match
We help you explore dogs whose personalities, energy levels, and training suit your life. Review their training, see them in action, and arrange a meeting to get to know your potential match.
3. Prepare for Home
Once you’ve chosen your dog, we finalize the placement details and plan the transition. You’ll receive hands-on guidance on commands, handling, and routines so you can build confidence together.
Optional delivery to your home is available for an additional fee covering our trainer’s travel expenses. We’ll discuss arrangements and costs before you commit.
4. Settle In With Support
Our relationship continues after your dog comes home. We’re here to answer questions and help you maintain their training as they become part of your family.
Ready to find your match? Talk to Courtenay.
Exceptional Protection. Without the Six-Figure Price Tag.
A truly exceptional family protection dog requires years of careful development, extensive training, real-world exposure, and, most importantly, the right temperament. That investment is substantial, and quality protection dogs will never be inexpensive.
But we believe there's a difference between paying for exceptional training and paying for exclusivity simply for the sake of exclusivity.
At Mighty Oak, our dogs are raised around children, exposed to everyday family life, and trained to remain composed in public while possessing the ability to protect when called upon. We invest in what actually matters: stable temperaments, reliable obedience, genuine protection capabilities, and dogs that are a pleasure to live with.
We price our dogs according to their individual capabilities, training, and development—not an arbitrary luxury price point.
We don't believe you should have to spend six figures to bring a truly capable, family-ready protection dog into your home.
You're investing in the dog, not the markup.
Choose the Right Kind of Protection
Companion and Deterrent (Level 1)
Companion & Deterrent | From $12,000
An enjoyable family companion with the obedience and presence to help you feel more confident. These dogs combine advanced on- and off-leash manners with training for everyday life at home and in public. Their imposing appearance and barking on command provide deterrence without trained bite protection.
Ideal for families seeking companionship, control, and a visible layer of security.
Oak Deterrent Dog Leroy (SOLD)
Personal Protection
(Level 2)
Personal Protection Dog Yzma (SOLD)
Personal Protection | From $22,000
A family companion with trained personal protection capabilities. Building on our Deterrent foundation, these dogs are trained to bark, physically engage, and release on command. Everyday obedience and composure around distractions remain central to their training, with each dog’s temperament carefully considered when matching them to a household.
Ideal for buyers who want a dog that fits daily family life while offering protection beyond appearance alone.
Customized Protection
(Level 3)
Customized Protection Dog Max
Customized Protection | From $30,000
Our most advanced protection option, combining family companionship with additional scenario training and preparation for your lifestyle. Training may include vehicle and parking-lot situations, multiple-threat scenarios, and conditioning around your property and routines. We discuss the individual dog’s demonstrated capabilities and your requirements to develop a placement plan suited to your household.
Ideal for buyers seeking advanced protection and a more personalized approach to their security needs.
Let's Find the Right Dog for Your Family.
Tell us a little about your household, what you’re looking for, and when you hope to bring a dog home. We’ll discuss suitable dogs, pricing, and what the transition into your home would involve.
You don’t need to choose a dog or training level before contacting us.
Prefer to talk?
Call or text Courtenay at 785-392-4401