Eight checks before buying a protection dog in Maryland

1. Read the injury statute summaryLearn the at-large rule and the presumption.
2. Confirm your county's license rulesBaltimore City and Baltimore County differ.
3. Call your insurerGet the coverage answer in writing.
4. Check lease and HOA termsLarge-dog limits turn up often.
5. Meet the dog twiceAt rest, then somewhere busy.
6. Test recall and releaseControl matters more than show.
7. Read the contractTraining claims, health terms and returns belong in writing.
8. Pay with careAvoid deposits for dogs you cannot inspect.

If you have no professional in mind, K9PN can forward your details to one. You choose whether to speak with them.

Pay-now pressure, refusal to meet in person, behavior guarantees and vague training history are all signals to step back.