We did some prey drive bite work. The Male GSD hit the sleeve and after some to do won the prey, carried it around me (tail up) and I had to call him back to me then outted him, like I mean it. We would start again. Drop the sleeve he ignores it and I put him up.

The female Rotties almost the same intensity, but when she wins the prey, she brings it to me (tail wagging), I have to out her and we start again.

What am I seeing here? Does the Rottie just see this as a method to quickly restart the game or is she looking for verbal rewards and petting.

Now during the tug she is really hulkered down intensely trying to win the prey. But she does not want to keep it.

When I dropped the sleeve she bite it and shook it, dropped it and then followed me to be put up.

Is there a problem? If so whats the fix or is this just dogs with different personailties or a male female thang?
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
What do you think is going on with each dog?
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I'm a little puzzeled here can I get some ideas of where to go from here? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Thanks in advance

Perhaps the Rott is just acknowledging your position as Alpha by bringing you the prey item. I'm wouldn't be too worried about "after the bite". If you are seeing good drive and confidence in the dog while it's on the sleeve that's what counts and it sounds like the dog is doing fine there.

Mike, remember, with some, its not the win that they like, its the fight! My Male GSD does the same. Fights on the sleeve but when he wins it all he wants to do is take it back to the helper for more fight. He shows no agression to the helper at this time, He just wants more fight.
Same with a tug. He will rip your arm off pulling so hard, but the minute you release he brings it back for more. and if you dont take a hold he will drop it.
Ron

Thanks Guys, for your input, I was wondering why the responce was so different. Usually most dogs that I've seen, respond the same way as the Male GSD after winning the prey they carry it and once the prey movement has stopped or the sleeve is dropped theres no aggression toward it.

Usually its thought that a dog like that has good drive in his bite work but is not sleeve happy or targeting just the sleeve. And would probably target the decoy if worked civil, without the sleeve.

Whereas the Rotties reaction of growling and bitting the sleeve on the ground is a display of being sleeve happy if she was a GSD and defensive since she is a Rottie? Trying to kill the prey.

Now is this a tell tell signs that she can be tricked to go after a prey item (lets say a guy throws leather glove or shrit) rather then stay focus on the suspect?

Is civil training the only way to check this?

I agree with your anology of why she is brings it back to me instead of carrying it.

When she was younger she would shake it while in her mouth, force it into the ground and bite it until I stopped her.

I brought this subject up with a trainer and let him watch, he stated that until I start doing civil work with her to see if she will refocus on the decoy, we won't know.

After he worked with her she would refocus on the when prompted to do so. So we are half way there.

He brought out a dog, to show me where I am at, to compare. This GSD that was so focus on the prey item that she totally ignored the decoy, until he picked up the tug and threw it behind him. Then she gave him her attention, but her focus was on the prey item/tug.

Whats missing here? Defense drive? When/How does the play drive turn into serious prey drive or defense drive? How serious should I permit the threat level? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />