My dog seems to lack confidence with biting the upper body, so we have just switched him to being a leg biter. He is much more confident with biting the leg.

Anyway, I understand how to the dog can take the leg bite when some is standing, sitting, or trying to kick the dog. How is the dog supposed to take the leg bite when someone is running fast? It seems like the targets (the legs) are moving very fast and it would be difficult to bite. I could see teaching the dog to bite someone in the ass if their back is turned and they are running since the butt is not moving as fast as the lower legs. But where would the dog bite if the person is running backwards?

I don't do bite work with my dog but seeing them snatch a ball out of the air, or watching my terriers catch a rat in mid jump, I don't think a bite dog would have any problem catching a human leg. JMHO.

Yes you will some how always have one dog that like’s legs, be it because of a lack of confidence or be it very smart –the dog, I guess it’s the same as with humans taste with chicken pieces, some like the legs some the chest some thighs etc, the point – biting legs is not necessarily a bad thing, and with some good scenario training the dog will find the way to take a suspect down very hard, a dog will not catch a leg while it is in full motion – in all my experience I have never seen it happen, it will tackle or trip – the words do not explain the action – it will push the leg so that the balance of the person running will be disturbed and he will fall, by implication the dog can jump on the back of the running assailant or hit one or both legs so that the assailant will fall, and then it will do the damage.

I have personally been taken down on the run, and the dog got hold of me by the ass <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> , yes I have a piece of flesh missing but it is not up for display –ha ha <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> , so yes the dogs will find the way to take you down, if not down to stop you by biting you in the ass and then on the leg. Both very saw, I had a fire arm in my had and not even for one second did I contemplate using it, I holstered and used my bare hands to get the dog off and held him in the air until the handle got there – he got a piece of mind.

We had one bitch here that was very good on the arm, until she got beaten over the head with a bottle and she instinctively switched to the leg and has stayed there ever since, she has bitten through the foot of many, they tend to loose the will to fight that very instant and rather resort to screaming as a means of defence, and some times in certain instances I think it is a better target judging from the pitch, for when she has the assailant on the ground she controls him by dragging him around until the handler get’s there.

Thanks for the info. My trainer said he will also teach my dog to bite the butt and crotch. So I guess if my dog can't get the lower legs, he'll be gettin' some nuts and ass! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Reiner, let's hypothetically say that the female, that only went for the legs are getting hit with a bottle, encountered an assailant. Let's say it was a situation in which the legs were not available for some reason. Would that dog go for the upper body or do you think the trauma of getting hit would cause her to hesitate?

Suggest you take a look at Frenchring training techniques...they are the 'masters of leg training'.

Michael - Lets be careful of the crouch it could be a lethal bite, and very hard to explain in court never say you are focusing on these parts –“tip” it just happend?– well if the dog cant find legs as with your scenario he will bark or jump up and go for forearms and face there is no rule only a lot of possible – this is not the rule but I would say in general, or rather in most cases, if he can get in behind the target he might even bite lats or the back of the neck, it all comes with live tackles or a lot of training. No two dogs target the same on the same live bite, the will work in groups, but when alone they go for the target area that they are comfortable with in my observation and opinion, good luck with the training.

Michael, are you going to continue to work on building confidence in your dog for upper body bites? What types of behavior are you seeing during the upper body bites? Is it limited to a specific location or all areas of the upper body? I would like to think that "the board" could help offer some sugestions to better your dog!

Yes, I eventually will work on my dog's confidence for upper body bites again in the future. We had been working on his confidence with the upper body for a while with slow progres, so I would like to first get him working as functional protection dog on legs since he seems to prefer to bite there.

We had worked on the arms for a while, but he is hesitant to go closer to the torso. We were making progress on the upper body, but when we saw that he preferred the legs, we changed our focus in traiing. I believe he likes the legs because he doesn't have to be close to the center of the body.

Just an observation: If you have trained the dog on the legs for to long and then decide to bring him up on to the upper body, they seem to go back to the first spot, the legs when going live – but I could be wrong? In many instances the dog just wont bite any thing els - but legs

I agree in believing that a dog will bite what is is most comfortable with and also what is has been trained most to do. I want my dog to eventually feel confident with biting the upper body just in the event that the legs are not available. But if the legs are available, I really don't care if the dog chooses that over the upper body.