What do you think about trying to attend group classes first. You can probably ask to sit in on a session first to see if you like the training methods, then try a course. This would give you some direction, and then you can practice at home. It won't be as expensive as a personal trainer. If you don't like one class, you can always switch to another group class after 5-6 sessions until you eventually find what works best for you and your dog. That's what we did. It's basic and competition obedience, of course, a bit hard to do personal protection in a group setting. But I think you need to have your basics solidified before even attempting personal protection.
