Is there ever a time where you find out about a dog's short comings when this work takes place? I mean genetically will some dogs that looked solid the whole time show fear or have a tendency to get injured with this work when originally it looked like it had the ability before hand?

I say this because it seems to be that this is very mentally and physically demanding. Does this work really seperate many sport dogs from the PPD or PSD?

Hi Brad, I'm not sure I follow the question in the way you are asking it. I think many don't quite do muzzle work so it's a proofing or a test of a dog willingness to engae a person without equipment. Is this were your question was directed?

Hey Josh, how you doing brother? I was about to ask the same question as you.

If I might jump in here perhaps Brad might want to re-think his question.

This much I will say about muzzle work. If a dog can do it (real muzzle work) and still be a dog that can be controled. I want him in my program.

JC

Hey Jerry,
Just to jump in real quick again on this, I think to save time in the discussion, I'll describe what I (we) do here for muzzle work. First, the dog must be TOTALLY desensitized to the muzzle. They must do just about anything you would normally do with the dog, but the dog wears the muzzle. Why some would ask?? If you only put the dog in a muzzle and do "muzzle" work, the dog KNOWS that putting the muzzle on means bitework. In doing this the dog is pre-loaded to work. It is not a test of the dogs willingness to engage if they know they are supposed to.

By having the dog be so comfortable that the muzzle is no different than a collar they wear every day, you can set up a situation where the dog does not KNOW there is going to be bitework. Many time the handlers(while in training) drive the dog around in muzzle so once the dog is desensitized to the muzzle you can do just about any scenario you'd like to test. As the decoy can be in street clothes, and the dog has no idea that the muzzle is a upload, you can see the dog's real willingness to engage...with no upload. If the dog engages, test passed. Hope that all made sense
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Josh, best darn explanation of the true art of Muzzle Work that I have had told in a long time.

You are always and again welcome in this neck of the woods.

JC

Thanks guys.