About Svalinn

Protection dogs from Livingston

Svalinn is a Livingston company that breeds, raises and trains family and personal protection dogs, crossing German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois lines selected for capability, stability and sociability. Its motto is "Bred to love. Trained to protect." Founder and CEO Kim Greene founded Svalinn in 2005, and Svalinn reports that it has bred and trained over 350 dogs in service worldwide.

Training approach

Svalinn's methodology draws on firsthand experience in non-permissive environments with real-world threats and follows a defined set of performance criteria. Its focus is loving companion dogs that deter threats and protect in imminent danger, with sports and games set aside. Training is built on obedience, stability, socialization and agility, with emphasis on the "on / off switch": protecting in one instant, then calm, stable obedience in the next. Dogs train from a young age to work in a variety of situations and lifestyles, from a downtown high-rise to a ranch with many acres.

The team

A team of trainers and puppy raisers works with each dog from birth through training, including protection work, tracking and puppy development.

What to ask

Ask about the selection process, available dogs, pricing and how a dog is matched to a family.