This kind of training is completely new to me and I have located a few trainers and... They (3 of them) all want me to come there asap so that they can lay the foundation into my dog as early as possible. Then come there at least once a week for training

(2 of them told me not to do anything because I don't know anything about bite work, only they could).

I guess where I am confused is that I thought by doing protection work I would have been doing a lot of work in the early stages without going to a helper until my dog was older 12+ months.

(I know the commmon respose will be to purchase several dvd's which is fine with me I just want to make sure I am doing it the right way) The more I read the more conflicting response I get!!

Do the groundwork yourself first. Follow the information in the DVDs. Read as many threads here on protection training to educate yourself. If you can't afford the DVDs right now, there is enough descriptive information here to get you started until you can make the purchase. These things you can do without paying someone, unless you don't feel comfortable and need some guidance right away. Take some things that they can teach you and do some extra work on your own if you go to the trainers right away.
You are the ultimate decision maker in how the dogs' foundation is laid. Personally, I would do a lot of research just in case the trainer wants to do something that may damage your dog. If you don't know what he is doing and why, then you cannot protest or decline a certain type of training because you wont know better.

Howard

Agreed, I consulted with three trainers before I ended up with the one I am with now. Each one has very different ideas on how to train a dog in PP. Even still, I am the one that chooses what I will and wont do with my dog. Another great reason to be dialed into Leerburg. If something doesn't sound right to me or if I question methods I will ask here and get many opinions then chose the one I think makes most sense to me. Trainers can be flakely and sometimes completely ignorant about how to properly train a dog. I was blessed and got an extremely good one.

However, I spent the first year playing with Levi with a rolled up towel and working on prey drive (balls, tugs, etc). Watching Leerburg videos and reading, reading, reading...then, asking questions, questions, questions.

After all was said and done I started Levi at 12 mo. with the trainer, I've only had 5 sessions and things are going along swimmingly. Shoot, the very first time that he was evaluated he went right after the sleeve on the trainers arm. Don't let them "God" complex you, that's what we have doctors for, lol

Research, reading, research, more reading, and so on a so forth! Read up as much as you can - you will see conflicting ideas, theories, and methods, but this is how you can develop your own ideas and a better understanding of the why, when, and what, not just the how, and who.

I would ask to sit in and see if these trainers will allow you to watch them work, or if they have seminars or classes. Locate Schutzhund clubs in your area and ask to attend classes/sessions etc to get an idea of how things work - SchH is a good foundation though I will say SchH dogs and PPD's are not the same thing.

I waited 2 years before I attempted it myself, and this website, the DVDs provided here on Protection, Working dogs, and Police K9, and this forum, are priceless resources.

I will give you a different perspective. If cost is not a big issue, as a beginner who has not done drive building and protection training with a dog and has not raised a dog for these purposes before, working with a good seasoned helper along the way helps greatly. Raising a SchH or PPD dog is greatly different than raising a simple pet. In addition, the genetic temperment and drive of a SchH or PPD prospect is going to be very different than that of a pet. Having a helper working with the pup to help you buld drive and evaluate if the pup is at all inhibited, if there is any conflict between dog and handler, and to even teach you how to play with the pup properly is invaluable and will help to avoid any pitfalls along the way. This is amplified if you are going to also have the dog be a family companion. Having a helper notice an issue early on, and adjusting your approach at that point can nip issues in the bud.

Once you know what you are doing, then you do not need to involve a helper until later with other dogs. Can you do it on your own? Sure, and you may not have any issues. I just spent the last year developing my first SchH prospect. I am thankful I have been working with a ridiculously skilled helper throughout that year, especially since I am a green handler.