I have seen dogs being agitated on both tie outs and whilst on a leash held by a handler. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of controlling the dog. I thought perhaps the dog on a tie out might have to demonstrate better nerves in so far as it is 'out there' on its own without the physical proximity of its owner/handler to provide a psychological bolster. I guess some dogs are like some humans, their bravery increases in direct proportion to the amount of supporters/aiders and abbetters they have. (Im just thinking out loud here fellas so dont rip me a new one if what Im saying is rubbish).

Lou as well as others always start there evaluation of a PSD while tied out away from sight and smell of there owner. You would be surprised how some tough dogs fold as soon as the handler has left its sight.

Ed has a great video describing this. The First Steps In Defense. Check it out.

I have seen dogs worked both ways. There are 2 seperate issues in your question. How the dog is restrained, and where the handler is in relation to the dog.

For the handler close to the dog I don't think it matters if the dog is staked or hand held. I many cases the handler isn't capable of holding the dog and so the dog has to be staked. You lose some flexability with this technique. If the handler is holding the dog you have some options for adjusting the distance the dog can go out. This can have advantages with some dogs. My Giant has a tendancy to draw back in to get the aggitator close enough to bite. Since I am hand holding the leash I can shorten it up to control him (He has a bad habit of going around the equipment to get flesh). With a staked dog you don't have that option.

A staked dog may get hung up in the tie-out. As they go after the aggitator they can get their legs wrapped up in the tie-out. This can be reduced by using a cable tarher than a chain or leash. Usually the attachment for a tied dog is below the dog on the ground, this increases the likelihood that the dog will get tangled. Handheld the attachment is usually above the dog so that the dog is less likely to get tangled in the line. Hand held is less likely to flip the dog over if it is very aggressively after the aggitator.

Without some sort of shock absorber on the tie-out the dog may "self" correct when it hits the end of the tie out. Hand held this is less likely since there is some give in most people.

Some dogs need the support of the handler to work, particularly at the begining. This is common in older, dominant dogs. These dogs have been told all their lives not to bark at or bite people and now they are trying to figure out what you want. They need constant reassurance that this is OK now. The other thing that may require the presec=nce of the handler is a weaker dog. The support in numbers you alluded to.

With some dominant dogs it may be better to start the dog on a tie-out without the handler. These dogs are now functioning in total self preservation. This is not a long term start, it is just done long enough to get the dog to start so that it can be moved in to a prey, rather than defensive, mode. This is only done with older (>2 years) dogs. With a puppy it would create a fear biter. They can not handle the stress. This type of training may also be done at the end of training to get defense up, and to teach the dog to work on it's own.

Isn't that what I said Richard? LOL.

One more thing Richard. How in the hell do you have 94 posts giving such descriptive answers. I want your job? LOL.

No Vince.......

It is completely different......I am much longer winded!!!!