Two things that come to mind, on the subject at hand, and a little off the subject.
1) You mentioned releasing when the dog has a good grip. By quickly swinging the tug in a circle around myself and "jinking" the tug (making it jerk and jump) I can get them in solid prey. The rub is making the tug a difficult target where they can get a sense of accomplishment at the take while also giving them a chance to get a decent grip. Most often when I swing the tug really fast, they get what they can, and then re-grip.
2) As a correction, the head shake gets my attention, in a good way, more than any other correction. This is arguable but I think a head shake is fight drive, based on the origins of the head shake, i.e., back when the grey wolf and dire wolf used the head shake to snap the necks of prey items such as rabbits. I've heard a 20+ year trainer say, "Yikes, look at that head shake, so frantic. The bite needs to be more calm." Fooey.
I've moved away from using a tug on a line with my GSD.
I will use a line on the tug, but only to make reclaiming it from the dog easier.
I don't use the line to swing the tug around. I prefer the dog to have to come in close and become comfortable with coming up my body, feeling me stroke her body, rising up to get the prey, etc.
I have more control that way, and can decide when the dog will miss, and when the dog will get a grip.
I don't concern myself over the head shake, provided the there is no change in grip or pressure, and it isn't accompanied by growling.
Alyssa,
I know this is an old post but I have a question as far as the head shaking and growling part of your reply. I'm new to the sport and protection dogs so this may be a really elementary question but I must ask. I'm guessing some people don't like the head shaking for sport reasons(point deductions)but it's ok for Protection dogs?
What about the growling? Is that a sign of the dog being stressed (low thresholds or something) or is it a sign of defensive and/or fight drive?
I'm guessing also that it would depend on what the helper is doing whether he/she is using lots of defensive postures, eyeballing and whip work, but provided that the grip is full and solid it would be ok?
Thanks,
Ray
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Re: Use of Prey Drive Toys and PPDs
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#211428 - 10/03/2008 09:20 AM 
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