May 18, 2011
I live in Greece and have been doing helper work for 2 years. I am having a problem moving a female into some form of defense. Any ideas?
Full Question:
Dear Mr. FrawleyMy name is George and I e-mail you from Greece. I work as a decoy for more than two years and I met a problem with a soft temperament GSD I started to train her on tugs, sleeve, jan biere, and body bite suit (only a few bites). I have to admit that I even pushed her a little inside her home yard in order to give me a more defensive bark but the things became worse than before. This dog is over socialized handler addicted. Now I work her in spooky mode with me covered with a sheet and holding a whip but she still gives me a bark more prey orientated that defensive. She has a good grip and she fights for her prey. I tried her in different locations and at the end of the session I allowed her to take the sheet off me. Do you have any other ideas of working her?
Best regards,
George
Ed's Answer:
It sounds like the dog is "locked in prey." Always a problem because these dogs need to be hurt a little to make them realize that the protection work is no longer a game of prey.
If she is ready for this (mentally and training wise) work her in muzzle and also with a whip. I have an excellent Muzzle fighting video - you can read about it on my website.
The bottom line is that a helper must learn to stress a dog according to its temperament. It's your responsibility to know where the "avoidance edge" is on each dog and work it close to the border when the time comes that the dog is ready. It sounds like this dog must learn that the helper is not a prey item but a fighting partner. I seldom take females in this direction and am not sure that you should.
As far as I am concerned females can be sport dogs and not service dogs. They can be worked in prey but the risk here is that the handler loses control in obedience when the prey is so high.
If she is ready for this (mentally and training wise) work her in muzzle and also with a whip. I have an excellent Muzzle fighting video - you can read about it on my website.
The bottom line is that a helper must learn to stress a dog according to its temperament. It's your responsibility to know where the "avoidance edge" is on each dog and work it close to the border when the time comes that the dog is ready. It sounds like this dog must learn that the helper is not a prey item but a fighting partner. I seldom take females in this direction and am not sure that you should.
As far as I am concerned females can be sport dogs and not service dogs. They can be worked in prey but the risk here is that the handler loses control in obedience when the prey is so high.
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