I heard a trainer the other day mention the difference between a working protection dog and a ring sport dog. I didn't have time to ask her more about this, so I put it to you. I'm particularly wondering about differences in temperament, drive, living with the dog, and what kind of pedigree and parents you look for when picking out a breeder for each. Also, which do you prefer?

Thanks!

This is an interesting questions and I look forward to everyone's input.

Enzo started with a trainer for PPD, I was not really happy with the way things were going so I changed trainers and am now working with two people who want to see him do ring sport (and who do not do PPD training - they are strictly sport dog trainers). The first time Enzo was introduced to the leg - he grabbed on but the first opportunity he saw to get skin/face/anything but the leg - he went for it! Good thing the trainer is fast and flexy! Enzo has always been a very protective dog, more aggression than sport, either way he loves to bite so I'm still wondering if ring sport will work out for him. I'm afraid he is more geared toward PPD than sport.

Eric, your question is way too vague. Most common PPD & sport dogs are mals, GSDs, dutch shepherds & some bully breeds.

Whatever breed, needs to be stable-temperamented, sound-nerved, driven dog.

99 % of people don't need a 'TRUE' PPD. Nor do they want to live the way that you need to with that kind of dog. With VERY VERY VERY rare exceptions, they are dogs that are NOT at all social with others than their 'pack'. They need proper handling & confinement. There are some sport dogs that can do true PPD work & there are some PPDs that can do sport work. These cross-over dogs are not the commonplace dogs.

Most sport dogs have high prey drive & some defense. PPDs generally have a higher defense drive then the typical sport dog. They have an overall more serious attitude toward life.

Certain breed lines lend themselves more toward certain types of dogs. There are good & bad breeders out there. Research carefully...starting with the breed of dog you are looking for & going from there.

These are the short answers.

ETA...there are a lot of legal liabilities with owning a dog trained to bite...sport or PP. Especially in this day & age of lawsuits being the new get-rich-quick scheme.

Tanya, I'd love to hear more about how Enzo does with sport training. Gotta love that "spirit" your Enzo seems to have.

Anne, maybe I can help clarify. What you said about high defense in PPD dogs helps a lot. Does it come down to fighting the decoy v. playing with the decoy in bite work? I'm still new to this, so if this is vague, that's why. In terms of breeding, I mean that if someone wanted a PPD would they look primarily to a line of actual working PPD dogs? And if you were looking for a sport dog would you look for Sch or some other titles on the parent dogs? I agree about most people not needing a true PPD, and maybe its the high aggression and defense that separates those dogs, though I work as a decoy for a working PPD Malinois (he works with his handler as a corrections officer and now some contract work through police depts.) who is very social. He may be an exception there though. I'm not looking for any hard and fast rules, but some guidelines for telling the difference between a ppd and a sport dog.

 Quote: Anne Jones

99 % of people don't need a 'TRUE' PPD. Nor do they want to live the way that you need to with that kind of dog. With VERY VERY VERY rare exceptions, they are dogs that are NOT at all social with others than their 'pack'. They need proper handling & confinement.

This describes Enzo to a T. I would never leave him alone in a room with a strange person or dog. Nor would I leave him out of my sight for a second. He is handled 24/7 when out; my eyes never leave him. If anyone stares at him or makes a physical move he doesn't like, he is quick to aggress towards and if he feels threatened has no qualms about biting. He has bitten three people to date. There is only 7 people and 4 dogs (two of which he lives with, one he tolerates (after he attacked him the first time he met and punctured and drew blood on him) and the other he was raised with) he is 'ok' with. During his stint with the PPD trainer I was told he had good defense. Keep in mind this is a labrador retriever.

OTOH, he is also the best sport and most versatile dog I've ever seen. He rocks at dock diving, agility, nosework and has a lot of ringsport commands already learned. He learns most anything within 10 minutes or 3 show me's. He has an extensive vocabulary, is bomb proof and very forgiving to the e-collar. How the hell I was lucky enough to end up with this crazy dog I'll never know.

What differentiates a "trained" PPD from just an aggressive dog?

I trained my 6 month old dog to attack on command after I was attacked; he is registered and has a measured bite force of 110 pounds O.o ...he's an amazing family dog as well as my best friend and secret protection; his floppy, innocent ears allow him to hide the lethal bite which can save lives. I respect people who use dogs for protection (responsibly) especailly GSD's! bred to work.

 Quote: Amber Osland

I trained my 6 month old dog to attack on command after I was attacked; he is registered and has a measured bite force of 110 pounds O.o ...he's an amazing family dog as well as my best friend and secret protection; his floppy, innocent ears allow him to hide the lethal bite which can save lives. I respect people who use dogs for protection (responsibly) especailly GSD's! bred to work.

Registered? With who? For What?

 Quote: Tanya Moyer

 Quote: Anne Jones

99 % of people don't need a 'TRUE' PPD. Nor do they want to live the way that you need to with that kind of dog. With VERY VERY VERY rare exceptions, they are dogs that are NOT at all social with others than their 'pack'. They need proper handling & confinement.

This describes Enzo to a T. I would never leave him alone in a room with a strange person or dog. Nor would I leave him out of my sight for a second. He is handled 24/7 when out; my eyes never leave him. If anyone stares at him or makes a physical move he doesn't like, he is quick to aggress towards and if he feels threatened has no qualms about biting. He has bitten three people to date. There is only 7 people and 4 dogs (two of which he lives with, one he tolerates (after he attacked him the first time he met and punctured and drew blood on him) and the other he was raised with) he is 'ok' with. During his stint with the PPD trainer I was told he had good defense. Keep in mind this is a labrador retriever.

OTOH, he is also the best sport and most versatile dog I've ever seen. He rocks at dock diving, agility, nosework and has a lot of ringsport commands already learned. He learns most anything within 10 minutes or 3 show me's. He has an extensive vocabulary, is bomb proof and very forgiving to the e-collar. How the hell I was lucky enough to end up with this crazy dog I'll never know.

Hey Tanya, how old is Enzo? When was he with the protection trainer?

 Quote: Amber Osland

I trained my 6 month old dog to attack on command after I was attacked; he is registered and has a measured bite force of 110 pounds O.o ...he's an amazing family dog as well as my best friend and secret protection; his floppy, innocent ears allow him to hide the lethal bite which can save lives. I respect people who use dogs for protection (responsibly) especailly GSD's! bred to work.

A 6-month-old puppy? What do you mean by "attack on command" ?

"his floppy, innocent ears allow him to hide the lethal bite which can save lives"

What?


"Registered"? As what?