I am having a hard time knowing what training I want to put into my pup... I like the idea of a PPD but am not for turning Zuki into a suspicious dog that won't except anyone to touch or come near her. I am always in a orphanage, village with tons of kids, or in a situation that requires a calm, confident, yet alert dog. I simply could not train her to be unexcepting of children however she is going to need to know how to protect the house when we are away(on a tie out). I am afraid that if she is completely comfortable with children she might be stolen because in MX and Guatemala a well trained dog is gold, female or male. Right now any person can walk up to her and pet her. She comes right up to them without hesitation and always has. She NEVER barks at anyone coming up to the house. She will wine from time to time but that is not the problem. I feel pressured because my family says we should have gotten a male because they are protective and females are not. I don't really believe that but I can't hind the fact that she don't have a mean bone in her. We need to have a dog with us for the purpose of protection to me and to the house when we are away, not just a dog for the fun of having a dog. We can't have an aggressive dog either. I need advice... there are some training videos I made on youtube that I will put here if you wish to see me working with her. These I made very quick and are not for the intension on teaching others because I know I have a long way to go. They are only to show how I have worked with her. and for those that don't know she is almost 11 months. Thanks in advance.Note: these were made before I found this site and I am now using marker training

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1p43MC6uA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6td7SOT7gBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOxppke6dso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJBnlOgNpQE


Edited by (08/02/2010 10:18 PM)
Edit reason: forgot urls

If she whines, you can teach her to bark using marker training.

You can then teach her to bark when people approach the house, using marker training.

but will that make her become an obsessive barker?

Not if you also teach her a command to stop barking.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

If she whines, you can teach her to bark using marker training.
You can then teach her to bark when people approach the house, using marker training.

That's a good idea Aaron.

Eliza,

I don't know your situation but from your post it doesn't sound like you need a PPD. I think a command to bark and a cue such as someone approaching your property to trigger barking would be a reasonable goal and enough of a deterrent to keep the bad guys away.

Could you consider having her stay in the house when you are not home? That would reduce the chance of her being stolen. Also on a tie out she has no way to protect herself or get away if if another animal or human comes into the yard.

I like to train PPD. I do see and understand where this can be an issue with what you are involved in.

I train all my dog PPD or not to only approach people when I say "make friends". I will say that to the dog when they meet new people. "Make friends (dogs name here) make friends." If I dont say this to her, them, they are trained to ignore the person.

It is a pretty long process that does not start showing its foundation until late into PPD training.

When I am training PPD's I also end every bite section with the handler and I shacking hands, and walking around the handler. This shows the dog that the handler and I are able to make contact even shortly after bite work, because the dog was told to.

With PPD solid OB is the key. To protect/bite is something the dog is only doing because it is told to. The dog must have a solid on and off switch. Around other dogs, cats, children, strangers, ect ect the dog needs to be a lap dog. Something that no one would even know has any bite work on it.
The dog is simply being a love dog because you told it to.

Everything starts and ends with OB.
You can train your dogs to protect your home or property with the same foundation.

As far as the male female thing does. In my observation I have noticed that males seem to be more protective of their stuff that they clam as theirs and females tend to me more protective of their leader. In this case you.
Just have to read the dog and work from what the dog is showing.

Just my opinions and some of my personal thoughts.

True PPDs that are social, are rare.

Almost as rare as to be non-existent for practical purposes.

There's absolutely no indication that this dog has the makings for a PPD. At all.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

True PPDs that are social, are rare.

Almost as rare as to be non-existent for practical purposes.

There's absolutely no indication that this dog has the makings for a PPD. At all.

Yeah, I guess everyone has their own personal experiences.

I have seen a very large number of PPDs that are very social dogs in families with old people, or young. That you would not even think had protection work done on them at all. That was otherwise treated like a normal dog. That I know for a fact would and has taken live bites in home protection, or on duty.
But, this is where I have spent most of my time in the bite world with dogs.

I have seen a lot less of this in dogs that are Schutzhund trained. I have seen a lot less of these dogs preform in a live situation. I have seen a lot less of these dogs be social. Also I see that there are a % of these dogs are neurotic fear biters that I would not trust as far as I could pick up and throw.
But, I have not spent mush time in the Schutzhund world.

I have seen good and bad in both.

Like Aaron said. Your dog has to show particular signs to be a good stable PPD, or any bite work/sport dog.

I can make/train any dog to bite someone. But at what sacrifice to the dogs mental health is the question.

I defer to Will at this juncture.

Eliza, I have no experience with PPD - at all. With that said, one of the forum moderators, Will Rambeau, would be hard to beat in this venue.