A Swat K-9 handler and acquaintance of mine told me his K-9 is trained to release the bite and fight naturally if a perp refuses to surrender and continues to fight.

My ppd dog too will bite and hold but will naturally release if the decoy continues to fight. So I didn't have to train it, which was a good thing because I wouldn't have known where to start anyway.

I have one of Ed's videos where the decoy is wearing two sleeves and while the dog is biting one, the decoy takes the second sleeve and simply puts it across the dogs face (gently) and then dog would switch. Is this basically how the release/retarget method is taught?

Thanks.

You have to consider the foundation and genetics of the dog. If you have a dog who has had intense grip foundation work for the first 2+ years of his life. . .the grip is going to be solid under pressure. The only time the dog will usually regrip is if he is slipping or is at a bad angle, etc.

I honestly like to see a dog counter deeper into the decoy, or start thrashing and fighting into the decoy, rather than releasing and looking for another grip. (of course he has to get a good one to begin with)


A single deep, full, and hard grip is best in nearly any situation IMO.

I mean Holy Mary Mother of God, I was just recently bit in the cheeks and the pain was BIG. It was really only a deep nip too, I'd hate to think of what it would be like to be caught in a full grip with a strong dog that keeps countering into you and fighting into you (twisting and grinding).


I'd pass out. . .I hope. LOL

The control factor the dog has over you while he's got that grip outweighs the snapper "boxing" with the bad guy IMO.

For the goals of a PPD as well, the hard solid grip is better. To stop the bad guy, or to control him, or to slow him down so you can escape and get to a weapon, etc. All of those things are better done with a mean vise grip, not snapping and boxing with the bad guy.

Patrick – It does not sound like you have anything to worry about with your service dog. It's a lot harder to get a dog to be comfortable biting a human without equipment on than it is to teach him to transfer his grip.

It's more important that a police dog learns to fight than to grip. Yes gripping is important but the dog must also learn to try and avoid injury. I like the explanation that a service dog needs to learn to box.

Like Van Camp says - even a small bite hurts. The full deep grip is more of an issue for breeding and Schutzhund than it is for police work.

The two sleeve issue is not a huge step in training. Some dogs will release their grip and the helper should then offer a different grip - other dogs with sport training will hold the grip.

Teaching the BOXING end of training is better done with an experienced helper who knows what he is doing. Explaining how this is done is beyond this post. Kevin Sheldahl is one of the best in the business. If you have an opportunity to attend one of his seminars dont miss it - or talk to the departments around you and host one of his seminars. You will not regret it.

Excellent information. Thanks Ed and Robert!

Ed there are so many different opinions on this.If the dog transfers he transfers if he's faught.And if he already has a full hard bite then he will have it when he transfers.Thats the same as holding an attackers arm w/both youre hands so he can hit you in return.Ed I'm with youre theory for personal protection.I dont think a dog being used for personal protection or PSD should be dysfunctional in a fight.

The transfer is a pretty useless exercise for most situations and the time spent training on it could be used for more useful training in almost all situations.

The Ring Sport folks love it, and as long as you don't confuse a desired sport technique with a needed PP technique, you can make the decision if you want to train it.

Not by any quality SWAT dog I've EVER seen. Someone is really mistaking how the work needs to be done!!!!!
The only time a police dog should have to regrip is because the perpetrator hurt the dog enough to make him let go, or the perpetrator was able to pull out of the dogs grasp.
Rebiting in a police environment is not a training goal.
This should not be trained.

 Quote:

A Swat K-9 handler and acquaintance of mine told me his K-9 is trained to release the bite and fight naturally if a perp refuses to surrender and continues to fight.