Teaching Protection Skills Without a Decoy with Michael Ellis is a 2 hour and 55 minute video that has been in the works for about 2 years For the last 10 years, Michael has given seminars 45 weekends a year. Many of the training groups and clubs that Michael taught did not have access to a regular decoy. Over the years Michael developed this training program that allowed his training groups to practice biting skills while he was gone. Many of the members of these groups have gone on to get Schutzhund and Ring Sport titles. His system has been used on police service dogs, personal protection dogs and even Agility dogs. Many top Agility trainers are learning the value of teaching their dogs advanced tug skills. This DVD is an in depth, step by step study of Michaels system on establishing the foundation of biting skills without a helper or decoy. Trainers only need a friend or family member that will handle a bite wedge, a bite tug or a high value toy to assist them in rewarding correct behavior. The value of the training methods we show are that the dogs learn correct behavior and capping skills at a lower drive level. In the training steps, Michael explains how to start the training for each skill. He also explains when to add drive and stressors for these various protection skills. When these things are done correctly the work with decoys goes much faster and with fewer mistakes.

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."

This is a DVD done with Bernhard Flinks, Bernhard is a German police officer and Schutzhund competitor. This video shows how Bernhard teaches people to bring their dog up to its genetic potential of drive (every dog has its own potential for drive). It's through "drive training" that the relationship between the handler and dog is established.

In the 3rd DVD in our series with Mark Keating, you will learn how to take the targeting skills from the 2nd DVD and apply them into catching dogs. Catching dogs on a suit is the ultimate goal of anyone learning to do decoy work. The skills taught in this DVD will give you insight into how to properly absorb the impact of a dog being sent off leash from a distance. In the DVD, we will cover upper and lower body, as well as front and back catches. This DVD picks up right where the 2nd DVD left off. You should have a general understanding of how to present the bite and what picture to show the dog. Now you will learn how to bring it full circle and put all the skills you’ve learned into practical applications.

In this 2 hour and 10 minute video, Michael Ellis teaches dog handlers the fundamentals of training the object guard for the various ring sports. The goal of the video is to show dog handlers how to establish a good foundation for this exercises.

Training Defense is the most misunderstood area of protection dog training. This is evident by going to any Schutzhund trial or looking at half of the Police Service dogs in this country. This training video is intended to help new (and old) trainers. Many experienced trainers get caught up in traditional sport dog training, which is weak in the defensive areas of training. This video will help all trainers recognize and get a dog started in the training of its defensive drive. The goal of the training is to bring a young dog further along in its fight drive development.

Basic Suit Presentations and Targeting with Mark Keating is the 2nd DVD in our series on decoy work. This DVD picks up right where the first DVD, The Mechanics of working a Dog in a Bite Suit, left off. After watching the first DVD, you should have a basic understanding of what to do while the dog is biting you. Now that you understand the mechanics of working the dog, you need to know how to present the dog with the right picture so they will bite where you want them to. In this DVD you will learn several different ways to present leg bites, both front and back, along with upper body presentations.