May 17, 2011
We have 2 dogs in our Sch. club that are 15 & 17 months old with no prior training. Neither shows much prey or defense. Can they be trained in protection work?
Full Question:
Last night at our Schutzhund Club practice here a member brought by a 15 month old bull mastiff. I have a rottweiler of the same age, and because neither were trained or worked with earlier, neither have much prey or any defensive drive. Do you have any videos or books or advice that deal directly with this problem? Some people do not have the ability or desire to purchase another dog/puppy, but desire to work with the dog they have. Is there anything that they can do?Mike
Ed's Answer:
At 17 months it's kind of late to start a dog. The emphasis needs to be in developing prey. I go into this in my video The First Steps of Bite Training.
The work on older dogs may mean that the dogs are stressed a little in defense (this must be by an experienced helper.) The dogs will bite and then he must be worked on the carry. In the beginning the dog will not want to do it. When he hits the sleeve the helper must instantly come back in a give pressure. The dog will learn that to keep the helper from stressing out he must hold the sleeve. When the helper has slipped the sleeve the helper should stop - move back and face to the side and not directly at the dog there should be no eye contact during this time. The instant the dog drops the sleeve he turns and comes back in to stress the dog.
The risk is to stress too much and push the dog into avoidance.
But what you need to find is if the dog really does have prey. Many have prey, but because they did not go through bite development during the early months the dogs do not look at the sleeve as a prey item.
Some dogs have absolutely no prey these dogs should not be trained in bite work. They can be trained to bite but it will have to be strictly in defense and because the dog has no prey it will have no conduit to release the stress that is used in defense.
The work on older dogs may mean that the dogs are stressed a little in defense (this must be by an experienced helper.) The dogs will bite and then he must be worked on the carry. In the beginning the dog will not want to do it. When he hits the sleeve the helper must instantly come back in a give pressure. The dog will learn that to keep the helper from stressing out he must hold the sleeve. When the helper has slipped the sleeve the helper should stop - move back and face to the side and not directly at the dog there should be no eye contact during this time. The instant the dog drops the sleeve he turns and comes back in to stress the dog.
The risk is to stress too much and push the dog into avoidance.
But what you need to find is if the dog really does have prey. Many have prey, but because they did not go through bite development during the early months the dogs do not look at the sleeve as a prey item.
Some dogs have absolutely no prey these dogs should not be trained in bite work. They can be trained to bite but it will have to be strictly in defense and because the dog has no prey it will have no conduit to release the stress that is used in defense.
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