Listen to Willie.

There's some good PPD info in this topic: http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/230338/page/1#Post230338

Thanks Willie. Yes, we are staying indefinitely. My husband works for an international org fighting human trafficking. There are very few resources here and I am certain there are no reputable PP trainers. Do you think my husband and I could do this training with the assistance of the videos or do we need an expert walking us through it. I am a wildlife grad and have done operant conditioning at the Nashville zoo with Toucans and primates where I worked for years. So we have had exposure to this type of training in general but not bite work/PP training at all. We do have four young daughters so we want to be careful though. What do you all think? Thanks for all the help.
Jenny

It's not something you're going to want to try yourself.

Also, I'd say that given your husband's occupation you'll want to look very seriously into security and doing what you can to find a trainer.

Good for you and your husband! And thank you.

To answer your question...I would never recommend that you try on your own........however these are really special circumstances.
First, did you read the thread that scott linked to?
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/number/230338/page/1#post230338 > http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/230338/page/1#Post230338

I don't think we as a board can answer that question. But I do think you can.
You have a great background to give it a try.
I would tell you that if you are going to try you will have to follow Ed's videos to a "T".
Even if you think you know some of the info...like the vid on marker training...get it any way when the time comes and follow it exactly. Just so there are no holes or clashes in technique or theory..ya know?

I would start by reading on his main site his Philosophy on Dog Training.
http://leerburg.com/pdf/Ed%20FrawleysPhilosophyonDogTraining.pdf

Then I would start ordering videos and doing the training on them, following them exactly. You have the board to help with any questions.
Start with the pack structure one, then the obedience one, then the marker training one. After that I would get the package that has the training with food one and the training with the tug one.
Then I would get the one on Personal protection one and just WATCH it. Then you will have enough experience with your dog and selves to see if you think you and the dog might be candidates for personal protection.


Just remember, a dog will deter random gangs from grabbing you, but if someone is stalking you specifically, all the dog is going to do is get you time to get your own weapon out. They will just shoot the dog.
If it is a retribution thing because of your husband's position, then I think you better get a back up plan to keep you and your daughters safe.
If you decide to not train the dog in bite work, you will have a reputation as having a hard bad dog among the guards, they will have seen the daily training...especially if you train with the tug..and that will help.
Even having her out with you on heel and engaged will help with a gang thinking of grabbing you for "bauk". They will look else where.
I would be really careful about letting the dog out of your site, and I would for sure poison proof it.


I want to make it clear that I'm not saying you should, or can, but that to even consider if you can or should....these are the steps to take....again..try looking for a trainer....is there an American military presence there?
Do they have MWD handlers?
that could be a resource..that's where I got my start learning.
Willie

Hello!
I just told my husband I was going to write you back and he said.."ok, tell him we like him!"

First, I want to thank you for taking the time to write all of that. I also know exactly what you mean about the protection training. I don't know if I want to try it or not because right now we have a great dog, and I don't want to screw her up.

We did read the stream from the previous message. We have ordered the Pack Structure video, and the first Bite Video (the exact name escapes me right now) and we just received the Basic Obedience video when a friend visited. We read some articles on marking, which is about the only think I feel 100% confident on. I used a clicker at the zoo with the toucans and monkeys, but we're following Ed's "yes" as our marker. We also have the Schutzhund Obedience Training in Drive book. We also worked with our dog for about 6 months with a great handler in Nashville. He then got very busy with some K9 work so he didn't really have time to work with us. We were in the process of finding a new trainer when we decided to make the move here. So my point in that is that she has a very solid foundation.

We are going to be home this summer for a month or so so I thought I would go out and watch some bite work training if I could find someone to let me.

Our biggest issue right now is that we feel like we're kind of starting in the middle and I'm afraid we missed some steps along the way. Her recall is great, even with distraction; her prey drive is great, she can "stay", she can "get it" meaning the tug, she will "Open" on command. But, she can't heel at all (Oh ya, we ordered the heeling video" She's great with a running platz. But if you throw a tennis ball without having a second one I can't get that ball out of her mouth unless I choke it out of her. Needless to say we've suspended all tennis ball throwing until further notice. I'm not anti-corporal on a dog, but it's not my preferred method either. She'll train with food, but prefers the tug.

I guess in all of the blabbering I realized that we really need to start with step one, and go through everything one step at a time. If it only takes 5 minutes to complete the first 10 steps then great, but at least we made sure we didn't miss anything along the way. Part of the reason we ordered the Bite Video is because it explained how far we could take the dog without having an experienced helper. Perhaps we just need to work her as much as we can, then bring her home with us one summer.

It's late here so I'm off to bed. Oh, if you want to read about what my husband does, go to ijm.org. They have a Cambodia link I believe.
Thanks again.
Jenny

My husband has been in contact with the head of security for the U.S embassy and they don't have any MWD. Do you want to move to Cambodia?

Jenny,
Sorry I've been MIA this weekend.
I still have some questions about this guard business.
With just three guards a week, I take it they only are there at night. Correct? Then what is changing in the middle of night?

Secondly, you are not going to be able to train your dog for what you want alone. You can carry on with SOME foundation work, but you are not ever going to be able to train the guard dog you feel you need without an experienced third or forth party. Period.

Next, I'd like you to consider the no win situation you've put yourself, your guards and your dog in.
On one hand you don't trust the guards, well maybe a little. But you want your dog to react to everybody in the compound....but only if they're a menace. You want the guard there, but how would you feel trying to keep a place secure if you also had to worry about being accosted by one you're trying to keep safe? Whew, it's no wonder you have a high turn over rate. I wouldn't want that job either.
Your dog. I take it you're happy he reacts to 'someone' within the walls. Well how is he to know it's friend or foe? He's learned that going barking mad at the window gets him something, shrug so he does it.

Now then, you probably have very good reason for your paranoia, however remember the vast majority of people are just like you and me....trying to get by, not step on any toes, and perhaps spread a little goodness along the way. You and yours are though working amongst the dregs of the earth when you start talking human trafficing, time to step up to the company man in charge and tell them not only are the guards not enough but that you want a fully trained guard dog.
Whether it comes out of your pocket or the company you work with, that is your best option. Purchase a fully trained dog.

I've rather been hoping to come back and find Will has tuned into this thread. Alas, no.
Jenny, I'm going to see if I can raise Will with a pm or other means. Please keep checking in.

Randy

I too would like to hear what Will has to say.
And thank you and your husband for the compliments...giggle...here is a link to a pix of me and my soon to be service dog..as well as some pix of a few of my kids...giggle.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrtslove/RecentlyUpdated#

I agree with Willie about the guards seeing the training and the tug work. I live in a fairly bad area with frequent gang violence and high levels of drug traffic. I do a lot of training in the front yard, including tug and alert bark training, with a very territorially aggressive dog. He doesn't tolerate intrusion on his territory and that, along with the training, definitely has an impact on the less desirable element. I, personally, don't give a flying zoink at a rolling doughnut if people don't like that my dog is aggressive on his own territory or when approached suspiciously because he's otherwise extremely well behaved in public.

And I also agree that Will's input would be invaluable.

Is there room to build a fence inside the razor wire fence so that the dog is always separated from the guards?

Hey everyone,
Thanks so much for all the replies...
In reference to turnover, there is not a turnover with our 3 guards. They stay the same, but they switch up in the middle of the night upon which our dog barks. Ok there. If I thought that she would only be exposed to our three guards I would just introduce them and be done with it, but there have been instances where people kill your guard, or dress like a guard...which poses the question...can she differentiate between people by smell alone. Even if someone dresses like a guard and gets in? I get what you're saying about the guards being frustrated about protecting us, but in all actuality they think it's a little funny. They won't come near her, but they laugh (maybe nervous laughter though as that is more the culture here)

You're also right about the "friend or foe" business when in the walls. That's kind of our whole point here. How is she to know, so I'm thinking I would like it better if she didn't like anyone unless I say they are ok. At that point she backs down. I guess I thought that was the basis of protection training...the don't maul them unless I tell you to idea. I just don't know how to train that, but from the sound of it I can't do that here.

The fence inside the compound would be great, and there is a very small area for her, but we exercise her out of the compound. I'll look into that though, it's a great idea. Maybe just a small area. Or maybe we just build a fenced area for our poor guards. They might like it better!

I'll also try and let more people see us training. I'm thinking just the sight of her doing that tug work will stop a lot of people.

Thanks everyone, you all are great...and who's Will?

jenny