Teaching Protection Skills without a Decoy

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 Michael’s 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.

Outline

1. Training the Bark and Hold
2. Guarding Positions
3. Contact Heeling
4. Teaching the Back Transport
5. Teaching the Side Transport
6. Defense of Handler
7. Foot Targets
8. Biting Techniques
9. Targeting Skills
10. Training Escort Positions and Cues
11. Training Recalls from a Bites
12. Environmental Conditioning
13. Search Behavior
14. Directed Search
15. Free Search
16. Training the Out (Problem Solving)
17. Pre-Object Guard Skills