I went to my first Schutzhund seminar in October 1974. I was instantly hooked on protection dog training. During the next 10 years I went to every seminar I could find in this country on training protection dogs, Schutzhund dogs, and police service dogs.

In 1983 I produced my first bite training video titled "Protection Training the Beginning with Bernhard Mannel." In the 13 years that followed I learned so much more about protection training that I was forced to update that old video and pass this new information on to my customers. This is being done through this new training tape "The First Steps of Bite Training."

Protection training is extremely complex if done properly. If the foundation for protection work is not 100% correct it is only a matter of time before a dog and handler run into problems. From the beginning, my goal for this video was to explain the protection training process in a way that even a person with very little dog training experience could understand. I have accomplished my goal with this tape.

In the video I explain the drives of protection training in detail. We see how these drives are effected by the dogs nerves. You will learn how to identify individual drive thresholds on your dog and then how to use that information to develop a step by step training program tailored for a young dog. Because each dog has different drive levels and every dog has different nerve levels, we cannot train any 2 dogs the same way. This tape helps the viewer identify the needs of his dog and then develop a program tailored to that dog.

In protection training it is always best to use a helper, unfortunately many people don't have access to good helpers. This tape details exactly what a handler can do with his own dog in protection training. It also defines the exact spot in training where the handler must quit the work and go to a helper. So the video answers the question "How much can I do to train my own dog in bite work?"

It's always best to train young dogs by using the old experienced helpers, although that's not always possible. This tape is designed to train a new helper on how to work young dogs.

1. Drives and Drive thresholds
2. How nerves effect drive thresholds
3. How to organize a training session
4. Equipment and German Commands for training
5. The role of the Handler in bite work
6. The role of the helper in protection training
7. Setting the Prey Drive in young dogs
8. The first bite on a sleeve
9. Developing a calm firm grip
10. Recognizing and training the COUNTER
11. Contesting the Prey
12. Training the carry
13. Taking PREY away from the dog with the OUT
14. Teach the dog to pursue and target his bite off leash
15. Set up a sample training session using the basic skills we have learned
16. What can be done with dogs that lack prey drive

This tape is 2 full hours of great information (not 50 minutes like our competitors videos). You get twice as much for your money. I wish I had a video like this 20 years ago when I first got involved with this work. I can think of a number of great dogs that I have owned over the years that would have benefited from this training.

For the past 8 or 9 years I have wanted to redo“Protection Training the Beginning”. When I look at my old outlines from 5 years ago, I shake my head. This video has a number of important training steps that were not on those 5 year old outlines. I honestly believe that this is the best training video on the market to teach people how to train a dog in "bite development.

If you want to get a feel for the quality of this tape, go to the article section on my web page. There are three training articles in the list that came directly from this video. These articles deal with drives and how they effect temperament. They don't deal with the training steps that are covered in the video.

This video is the beginning of bite development in protection work. Every dog that is going to be a police service dog, a sport dog (Schutzhund or Ring Sport ,etc.), or Personal Protection dog must go through bite development.

If your goal is to compete in the sport of Schutzhund, or if you would like to raise a police service dog or personal protection dog that works in high drive I would strongly recommend that you consider purchasing the videos I have done with Bernhard Flinks. The first in this series is Training Drive and Focus with Bernhard Flinks. Read the description of this tape on my web site. I cannot stress the value of the training information in this tape enough. Bernhard has been a police K9 handler for 25 years and a top competitor in the world of Schutzhund. He stresses building a bond (through training) with your dog and to work your dog in high drive at all times. This tape shows exactly how to do this.

It's only after bite development is finished and a dog is entering maturity that it can be introduced to "defensive training". The difference between "bite development" and "defensive training" is that the dog learns the technique of biting in bite development. This is all done through his prey drive. Prey bite work is not stressful on the dog.

Once the dog learns how to bite then it needs to learn to "FIGHT AND BE AGGRESSIVE." It learns this in "defensive work." My video titled The First Steps of Defense teaches people how to start the defensive training on their dogs. I often hear people say "I have trained my dog to bite and he does it really well but he will not bark at the door or at strangers." This is because the trainer has not taken his dog through any defensive training.

Dogs can not go through defensive training until they have gone through bite development. We teach them to relax in prey drive in bite development. Once they have learned this, we use the prey drive biting to relieve the stress that we will put on the dog in the defensive work. If a dog does not have prey drive bite work to fall back on in defensive work, he will become neurotic because he does not have a relief valve to get rid of stress.

So, if you are just getting into the bite training, do not make the mistake of thinking that you can skip bite development and jump right into defensive work. It can not be done if you want to maintain the mental health of your dog and if you want to have a social dog that people can be around without fear.

• Ed Frawley's Philosophy on Dog Training
• The Theory of Corrections in Dog Training
• Understanding the Drives of Protection Training & Can I Train My Own Dog in Protection Work?
• Understanding How Drive Thresholds, Nerves, and Drive Interaction Effect Protection Training
• Will My Family be Safe with my Protection Trained Puppy?
• Training Defense Before Prey is STUPID!!!!

5/5

September 9, 2003
I just received the video yesterday and watched it the same day. $130+ NZ dollars initially seems like a hell of a lot of money for a video however after watching this I would have happily paid twice as much. The video is very well laid out and each step is clear and concise and as for the big question of when a handler needs a helper, well that issue is dealt with and definitely clears the air on that question. The sleeve transition segment was vital for me as my dog has an very high prey drive but he was initially hesitant with the sleeve-but now I have a plan to overcome that problem. Thank`s again for another fantastic product. —Mike B., New Zealand

April 13, 2000
I just received your videos Bite Training for Puppies and The First Steps of Bite Training. Bravo. I watched them both several times already. I am not easily impressed, but I must say I am blown away by the amount of knowledge put into these tapes. I think it will be a lot easier to join a training club now that I have a bit more knowledge of what to look for. I don't like going into anything blindly especially when it comes to training my dogs. These tapes are an excellent tool to begin the education process on the proper procedures to bite training. I look forward to adding to my collection. —Amanda D.

June 21, 1999
Today the three video tapes I ordered had arrived. After watching video # 101-b I have to tell you that I am very enthusiastic about it! You've managed to bring all needed information about basic bite training in a straight-line easy-to-understand lesson. I can't wait to watch the two other tapes this evening.

At the end of the video you said that you hope that the video is worth the money the viewer has paid for it. Let me tell you that the knowledge you give to the viewer can not be paid anyhow. Learning,progressing and finally being able to give your dog a good training and education and with that more fun and meaning to your and your dogs life is something you can not pay with money. If someone takes action trying to make these things possible for you and your dog you only can pay him with appreciation and respect! I hope I could explain to you what I mean in my poor English

Thank you and all the best to you and your team! —Thomas C., German

December 1, 1998
I know you must hear this all the time, but I just got your First Steps of Bite Training video as a gift and it is great. I have other protection videos and this tops them. I am glad that I have not started any real bite work besides play with my puppy. Thanks for your great production. —D.K.

Got the First Steps of Bite Training tape and it is excellent. I'm a college professor with many years of successful teaching under my belt, and I'm truly impressed with your own teaching style. Not just clear illustrations and narration, but also the appropriate repeats of important points and pauses to list important points. You must have a natural gift for teaching (I'm sure hard work had something to do with it, too!). I'm thinking my Schutzhund-bred GSD bitch has not got enough prey drive for me now that I've been "turned on" to this training; I think you will be hearing from me again! Thank you. —Dana V.

I received the Bite Training Video (video 101-B) and viewed it and it is excellent. Your bite video is a work of art and the detail you go into in each step is great. This is a very good starting point for me.

I never thought that Schutzhund training was so scientific or that it deals with animal Psychology the way it does. My academic background is a B.S. in both Microbiology and Psychology with a Masters in Behavioral Science & Cardiovascular Physiology, Exercise Physiologist.

The more I read your training articles and the more times I watch the three videos that I have purchased, the more my interest and desire to work with my pup increases. I want to bring her to her genetic potential. I think I am going to enjoy taking her through all the stages or levels of her training. This is a science project on applied animal Psychology.

I am impressed with your work with these animals. Beyond a doubt you are an expert in this field. I am sure glad I surfed the net and found your web site. I wasted a lot of money and time with another breeder who sold me my other dog . The breeder was not 100% honest or did not know what in the heck they were doing are talking about.

I would like you to list the equipment I will need at the various stages of my training this Leerburg pup and let me know what you sell. I will purchase all of my training equipment directly from you as I know you have the best equipment for the job of training a Schutzhund dog.

I have been playing with Zitta every day with the ball on the string and she loves it. She sits and downs on command already. I do not push her. We go through it playfully and she wants to please. She is a mouthy little bitch, I will say that. I am not correcting her for being mouthy though. I do not want to destroy her drive. I want to move on to the bumper on a nylon cord attached to a stick at this time.

I greatly appreciate all of your professional help and assistance. Your facility, videos and business procedures are first class. I plan to write a letter on my letterhead addressing these feelings so that you may use in the future for individuals looking to purchase a dog from you for the first time.

Thanks for the individual assistance with Zitta. She is a real pleasure, loving, kind, and full of piss and vinegar with nerves of steel she tries to take on my 100 pound male. She is not scared of anything and has a lot of heart. —Rick *Rick purchased a puppy from my kennel (a Chucho female). He has several other videos besides The First Steps of Bite Training.