Aaron, to even start out, there'd have to be a good club nearby and there just isn't. Everything is in TX about 5 hours away or more, and I can't afford that kind of gas.

There's a guy (Top Gun K9, Walker La) about an hour away that breeds mals, and does training but his website doesn't offer much information at all. I have no idea if it's classes, 1x1, or board and train.

I take that back, I completely forgot that I contacted Greater New Orleans Schutzhund Club earlier this year for more info on their club. They have a meet this Wednesday, so I'll go out and visit if I can find out what time/place in time.

Nothing more un-nerving then a dog that quietly sits and stares at you......just waiting........

I'm finding Jethro doesn't have to "act mean". I just have to let his natural reactivity rise up one notch over acceptable (Leave It, This Way!). I have found this a few times, when I felt a little uncomfortable with someone out on the street. Instead of giving Jethro 100% Leave It, I gave him 90% and his fixed stare, alert posture, and low growl did the rest. All this entailed was delaying his instructions by a nanosecond, or rather, not giving pre-emptive commands. Then, I simply dialed him back down again, with our usual protocol for over-stimulating objects in the environment).

I think he was a little surprised I 'gave him permission' to come up a bit, instead of enforcing 100% (I might enforce for 100% but situations often have a way of impinging on our success rate). Once he had his instructions, he let it go, because he knew that was what he was going to have to do anyway. In the meantime, I gave him that eensy teensy bit of leeway, which was enough for his arousal to come up, without going over the top.

In my situation, I have a lot of trust with Jethro, and he is really starting to get the hang of what I need from him. I'm also big enough to step on his leash to stop an unwanted lunge (which are becoming rare) or make a quick turn and bring him with me and away at a quick march.

Most of the time Jethro is reacting to things that are really of no consequence, so I'm not projecting any inordinate attention at the thing that he is aroused by. When I actually become aroused about something, he is taking his cues from me, and I have noticed he sticks close and pays attention.

Our neighbourhood is a bit of a borderland, where the sex workers and drug trade encroach from time to time. Our corner has had waaaay less activity since I started going out on the porch with Jethro when something didn't look right out there.

I am curious to hear what people have to say about this idea of 'casual protection', as opposed to the professional variety.

Keep it simple...teach the dog to bark/speak on command.

Dog barks at something ..mark with a "yes" & reward with a treat. Or hold a toy that the dog wants...again dog barks, mark with "yes"..reward with the toy or food.

Gradually say the command speak or what ever...use the German word geblaut (how to pronounce)as someone would most likely not know what you are saying) when the dog barks for his toy...then mark & reward.

He will eventualy associate the word with the bark..& then you can just use the command & the dog will bark. simple. Your ill-intentioned everyday person that has crossed your path will not know that you are telling the dog to bark. Most people will not risk a dog bite (they HURT) especially with a large breed dog.

If the dog barking at them doesn't detur them...then you need a gun & or the police. If they are on drugs..it wouldn't matter to them if the dog really would attack & bite them or not...they are too hight to think straight anyway.

 Quote: Jenny Arntzen

I am curious to hear what people have to say about this idea of 'casual protection', as opposed to the professional variety.

I think that's the reason a huge number of people have dogs, and what a lot of them are bred for - to protect one thing or another without getting on the offensive right away.

running away is sometimes a good option, or scream like a banshee and run at them, then past them. crazy has worked for me before. I'm an expert... I work for the Post Office

 Quote: Dennis Jones

running away is sometimes a good option, or scream like a banshee and run at them, then past them. crazy has worked for me before. I'm an expert... I work for the Post Office

And you like dogs? I call shenanigans.

:-)

i kinda sorta like dogs, on good days my puppy pictured below will let me pet her.