hey to you all
i would like to hear from you about what i should to because i have this 2 year old shepherd who hasa very good bite but now i would llike to put him in defence and he does not see the helpers as a threat.he does not back away from anything or anyone and i am begginning to think that hes got a high defence threshold.please advise

Mike kay

Mike,

I would like to answer your question but with pending issues I am involved with, I don’t have the time at least this week.

I will say some trainers would advocate, "Table Training" to bring out defense drive. I however DO NOT advocate it and will attempt to make convincing arguments against this method by posting an alternative method that works based on my understanding of dog psychology and try nullify pro-table positions point to point.

Table training advocates have "wood chop" knowledge about drives that fits into their woodchopper heads.

Being able to work the dog in defense only, without thought to fight drives while forgetting or not understanding how to manipulate ALL drives to achieve the spooky but serious result is a narrow and dangerous position.

I plan to write a full explanation that will take on any and all table trainer advocates and thier convictions on this issue.

I understand this topic has been ummm..."on the table" before but it seemed not very constructive.

I hope to post. Bringing out defense to trigger fight drive without the use of table methods in the coming weeks…If only to be a fun distraction of conversation during this time of war.
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Prey guarding work is where I really begin to work with a dog's defensive drives.

But, you sound like you have a dog that has been through a lot of bitework so I would suggest simple civil agitation to get started.

Are you familiar with that kind of work?

mike,i think dennis and van camp are on the money(as usual)while training my ron pekohaus/ennazus bianca son(enzo v.dunhill-bh/wh)i had the good fortune to train with guys who knew what they were doing!these guys had dogs like"queck krotteck"on the sleeve(and others of that nature)on a regular basis!when my boy got 18 mo.old i asked...when do we start the "defense"?my training advisor said to me"i've been doing it from day one,blowing in his face,periods of HARD-EYE,and stepping on the feet from time to time"as a novice handler,i hadn't noticed any of this!and here in lies the value of training with excellent helpers and advisors!of course,i'd purchased the leerburg tape on "defense",a very good tape!but we also did the muzzle and bite-suit.what i learned from the experience was "BALANCE"!equal parts prey and defense gives you an acceptable level of fight drive to take to the "trial-field"!!

Dennis we will NOT be opening up a discussion about table training in this thread.

Roger, I'd like to hear about your Ron Peko Haus son. PM or e-mail me if you wanna BS a little.

Ron produced some likable dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />