My Dog Shadow is now 10 week old male. I have bought the Ed's puppy training Video 8 weeks to 8 months and I have followed it the best I can. I was wondering though. I want to train my GSD to be a protection dog for the family; however, I still want him to be able to play with kids when they come over and be a fun loving family dog. So I have two questions:

1. When do I start protection traning? Do I buy Ed's video when he is 8 months old or know?

2. Can I own a fun loving family dog that plays well with kids and it be a great protection dog as well?

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The basics for bite training amount to a fun game of tug of war for the puppy. The idea behind it is to teach the dog to make the proper bite and to hang on. In addition the puppy begins to learn to play these games with other people. It isn't that tough to teach the puppy what is the proper prey objects to play with.

I properly trained protection dog is going to be great with the family based on the socialization and experience with the family it recieves prior to advancing to the advanced protection work that involves putting stress on the dog. In protection training the dog is going to learn to go after someone based on direction and response to a threat.

I would get the video "Bite Training Puppies" and perhaps the Flinks tape on "Drive,Focus and Grip". I found both very helpful. The other thing is get some tugs and a towel or a burlap sack to get the puppy started on learning to follow and bite the prey item and make proper counters and maintain the bite. The rest of what you want will come as a result of the advanced traing the dog will recieve when it is time for the dog to advance.

Hi John,
Ref: Q2: I Have owned 3 protection dogs (G.S.D) all from puppys and I have a family of 4 kids and I can say that I have nerver had any problems but I must say that I never trust any dog 100% and all of my kids have respect of all dogs.

Paul Harkin
clockwork-k9@ntlworld.com