Hey guys looking for some opinions.....
I have a friend that I met recently that purchased two GSD and he wanted to do some protection training. After searching on the internet he found a place about 6 hours from home. After meeting with the trainer he was insured that the dogs could be taught basic to off leash obedience, how to bite, out, and watch a person who is a threat in 3-4 weeks for less than $3000 about $5800 for both. Part of the contract stated if the dog the dog was not able to all of the above he could bring the dog back for an additional 3-4 weeks without cost.

About the dog:
He purchased the dogs from a local breeder as a puppy and did no type of drive building with the dogs. He met with the trainer when the dogs were about 1 years old and according to my friend she mearly talked with him and he dropped the dogs off and left them with the trainer for 4 weeks. Once he picked the dogs up the trainer told him that the dogs will not play tug and that is the most important thing they should do therefore he needs to take them home and try to get them to play tug and when they mature he is to bring them back to her to complete the training.

I met my friend that I'm talking about shortly after he returned with the dogs and told me this story which struck me oddly. I played with the dogs and after several weeks I could not get either one of them to chase a ball or a veriety of other objects. The dogs would back away from any threat and only bark, stand their ground, ect if they had no other choice. So based on my observations I told my friend that I did not believe that would make good protections dog because they lacked any type of prey drive.

I helped him rehome one of the dogs because it was just too much for him to handle two dogs and no he has sent the dog back to the trainer for the last 3-4 weeks of training because he did not want to lose his money. The dog began showing some improvement in terms of prey drive but not enough in my opinion to do bite work. The dog that he kept I put a little pressure on and he would be hectic, and very nervey so I told him base on everything that I seen with the dog that I would not train the dog for any type of protection work.

Now the question...
Is it reasonable for a trainer to be able to take a dog and train them in 3-4 weeks from start to finsh, obedience thur protection training, and tell someone well if they don't get it this time bring them back when they mature after you've taught them to play tug?

Is your friend in Florida? If so, and if you are comfortable I would love it if you would pm me the name.

The first red flag to me would be the promising of protection training without any kind of testing of the dog.

Is it possible that this trainers idea of protection training is more of an alert thing? A bark on command?

What does his contract spell out on what exactly would be trained?

 Quote:

Now the question...
Is it reasonable for a trainer to be able to take a dog and train them in 3-4 weeks from start to finsh, obedience thur protection training, and tell someone well if they don't get it this time bring them back when they mature after you've taught them to play tug?

In my opinion, no. The dog should of been tested first.

I shudder when thinking of the kind of "protection" training a person COULD be putting on a dog in addition to ob on a totally green dog in a 3 week period.

 Quote: betty waldron

I shudder when thinking of the kind of "protection" training a person COULD be putting on a dog in addition to ob on a totally green dog in a 3 week period.

I agree. When you leave your dog with someone you never know how they are going to really train them. Protection training takes a lot and I feel three weeks for 2 dogs is not going to be enough time no matter if the owner is with the dogs or sending them away.

Is there anyone in the area he can work one on one with?

Hi Tiffany,
I actually train dogs here locally and I didn't believe what I was told and it didn't sound reasonable to me but I want to get advice from others with more experience than me. He's given a good amount of money to this trainer already and he trying to make the best of it because he can not get his money back. The dog is at the trainers now and she's saying the dog is doing well and is hitting the sleeve well which is odd considering the dog would rarely even chase a ball.

Expect to see a bag of nerves come back.

Be sure to let me know if I'm wrong.

There's a lot a good dog will learn in 3-4 weeks Reggie, but I kinda think your skepticism is well placed here.

Steve I agree with you completely. This is a green dog with no drive. The owner got the dog to the point where he would chase his favorite toy but the dog is very nervey with me around. The dog is nice and very social but the dog will bite only under pressure which concerns me. The dog literally hides behind the owner when approached, however that has gotten better.

Randy I think you are completely right. That is my experience with this dog. Will bark when the option to run has been taken away but the bark sounds very shakey.

Sent you a pm Reggie.