I have never seen a decoy resort to pulling on a dogs ears to get it to engage. I have to wonder what else was going on before that too. I'm not familiar with a sleeve that a dog could dismantle as described, and wonder why the handler wasn't controlling the dog on a line. It sounds like the professional trainer was using some pretty unconventional methods.

I think this is a very good example of why it's so important to have quality trainers and decoys!

Sounds like the dog was just started on the sleeve, not tugs and wedge. I'm sure most dogs will go for whatever they can get ahold of if they aren't taught to go for the sleeve.

I don't mean to rain on anybody's parade but certain dogs are meant to do certain jobs and others aren't, having said that there are always exceptions to the rules.

For example most dogs are not meant to do protection work, just like most dogs are not meant to do high altitude mountain rescue.

Just because we like an activity for our dog doesn't mean it is capable of doing it or even has the interest to do it.
A St Bernard is never going to be a good hunter just like a ridgeback would never be able to rescue people in the Alps.

If a ridgeback has worked as an officer it doesn't mean it did any apprehension work. It could've been a bomb dog, narcotics dog, tracker, etc.
IMHO we should stick with what the dog does best. Some are lap dogs, some cattle dogs, herders, hunters, etc. and there's a reason why they were meant to be that way.

Just my 2 cents.

 Quote: enrique muniz

I don't mean to rain on anybody's parade but certain dogs are meant to do certain jobs and others aren't, having said that there are always exceptions to the rules.

For example most dogs are not meant to do protection work, just like most dogs are not meant to do high altitude mountain rescue.

Just because we like an activity for our dog doesn't mean it is capable of doing it or even has the interest to do it.
A St Bernard is never going to be a good hunter just like a ridgeback would never be able to rescue people in the Alps.

If a ridgeback has worked as an officer it doesn't mean it did any apprehension work. It could've been a bomb dog, narcotics dog, tracker, etc.
IMHO we should stick with what the dog does best. Some are lap dogs, some cattle dogs, herders, hunters, etc. and there's a reason why they were meant to be that way.

Just my 2 cents.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. RR's were bred to hunt independently. They needed to be able to think for themselves to stay alive and keep the prey at bay until the hunters caught up to them. They don't always think what we want them to do is in thier best interests. They think for themselves. This is that famous "hound stubborness" we all hear about. They are extremely smart, and learn fast what you want them to do, they just might not always want to do it....

I think if you are serious about schutzhund it would make sense to choose a breed that has been bred to do this kind of work.

 Quote: Shody Lytle

...I think if you are serious about schutzhund it would make sense to choose a breed that has been bred to do this kind of work.

I agree. It's hard enough finding a dog w/the nerves to do the work, let alone adding breeds that were never bred to do that type of work.

 Quote: enrique muniz

I don't mean to rain on anybody's parade but certain dogs are meant to do certain jobs and others aren't, having said that there are always exceptions to the rules.

...Just because we like an activity for our dog doesn't mean it is capable of doing it or even has the interest to do it.

...IMHO we should stick with what the dog does best. Some are lap dogs, some cattle dogs, herders, hunters, etc. and there's a reason why they were meant to be that way.

Just my 2 cents.

I'm in total agreement. As another RR owner, I know just how incredible the breed is - intelligent, wickedly athletic, driven and amazingly full of personality and emotion. I truly wish there were more "working" RRs out there strutting their stuff OUTSIDE show rings in activities they excel at (hunting, herding, tracking) because I know how capable they are - but they aren't built for everything.

It is my belief from the 3 short years I've had my boy that protection training would be a real mis-match for him for several reasons, ranging from his severe independent streak, to his very real fickle enthusiasm (despite a enormous prey drive, he'll just switch off in the middle of a game with me and look totally, utterly and completely disinterested). I've put countless hours of OB training into him, and he does quite well, but he is at his core a hound, and at the end of the day what makes him happiest isn't listening to me at all... not really a promising trait in a dog you want to train to bite or be aggressive...

Now that I have one, I can't imagine NOT having an RR in my house either - I think the OP should certainly get another one since she sounds equally in love with the breed. If she feels like serious training with him, I'd stick to competition obedience, tracking or agility - I personally wouldn't take the protection route with this breed. MAYBE with thorough research into working RR lines (there are some pockets of people, more in places like Australia and Africa, breeding RRs for real hunting work) and the luck of the draw, you'll end up with a pup that could handle it - and the only way to find out is to try! but my hunch is that it will prove quite frustrating for both of you... and if the goal is to have a rewarding experience training a dog for shutzhund, I'd just choose a more appropriate breed.

JMO
~Natalya

 Quote: enrique muniz

For example most dogs are not meant to do protection work, just like most dogs are not meant to do high altitude mountain rescue.

Just because we like an activity for our dog doesn't mean it is capable of doing it or even has the interest to do it.
A St Bernard is never going to be a good hunter just like a ridgeback would never be able to rescue people in the Alps.

Even St Bernards do not actually excel in mountain SAR. In the alps most mountain SAR dogs are actually GSD or other dogs from the herding or sporting group.

Common misconception. We get poeple who think they their Burmese Mountain Dogs will make great avalanche dogs. But they don't.

Anyhoo more on point, totally get your point about choosing a suitable breed for the sport/job you want to do. Totally agree.

Hi Kathleen,

I had a ridge and what a cool dog. They are wonderful. Now I have a Dobe schutzhund prospect and what a different dog!
You might want to concentrate on what sports suit a ridge. There are sighthound sports that ridges love. It might be very frustrating for you and your dog to try to do a sport so different from their breeding purpose.
And I can tell you, with my alternate breed, I get a lot of predudice attitudes. I can imagine with a ridge what kind of help you'd get might not be good for your dog. Just my 2cents.
Lynn

I guess you are right Jennifer! You definetely should know more than me about SAR . But you get my point right? >.

Anyway, imho breeds should do what they were intended to do. Unless of course we want chihuahuas doing mountain rescue, or neopolitan mastiffs doing agility, or...