I have a 4 year old GSD who is all around an excellent K9. I have conducted numerous training trials with everything in bitework ranging from hidden to full out ray allen trademarked red bite suits. I can back tie the dog and he will exhibit defense drive in a minimal amount enough to ward off the decoy, and go back to waiting to be pet by someone. The dog has phenominal prey drive which is always evident in bite work. My problem is that he just doesn't seem to "turn it on" with a lack of visible equipment. When I have the helper use a whip or other agitation device, the dog just wants to focus on that. If the helper drops the equipment he is using, the dog just wants to attack the whip, stick etc... Same thing goes if I have a toy present in my training area. The dog just locks on and stares it down. Oblivous to a helper with or without equipment. I have tried having the helper come up and flank the dog, at most though the dog will bite and release and go back to his toy. (sounds like general equipment orientatation I know) but does anyone have any experience on what they have done to increase the civil drive?

So I understand the question, the dog will stand there and bite a sleeve laying motionless on the ground while a decoy attacks you?

How and why did you select this dog for PPD work?
How long have you been training this dog?
How long have your decoy and training director been working with PPDs?

Hopefully Will R. will chime in with advice, as he really is the board expert on PPDs.

I have been with this dog for 2 years since he started working in the field. The Decoy and the training supervisor are pushing 10 and 15 years respectivley. When it comes down to it, the dog would be an excellent sport dog. He enjoys the prey aspect. If I had a sleeve on the ground and a decoy with no sleeve he will go after the object...He is an excellent police K9. Its just a matter of enhancing the civil aggression.

Im thinking he naturally just does not perfer the fight as much as the prey.

At the same time in a building search, when he alerts on a suspect and I send him in the room, he will go right for the decoy and bite and hold.

With little to no agitation in regards to the building search.


(I know its not easy to answer a question about a dog you can't see in person.)

What I think I am looking for is if anyone has any advice or techniques they have used in an equipment focused dog.

This is a Police Service Dog, not a Personal Protection Dog?
That certainly changes the dynamic. I think Will can still readily address questions about drives and some of the work, but with a PSD there are other, political considerations that might be better addressed by Kevin and some of the other mods with PSD backgrounds.

At a point, it may be necessary to consider whether this dog is right for this work. As you say, it sounds like he would be a great sport dog. He could possibly be a non-dual service dog, especially since you say he is balanced and toy-driven.

We have to be realistic, regardless in venue, about our dog's limitations. If the dog lacks civil drive, you can't create within a dog a drive that doesn't already exist- you can only enhance it.

Lacking civil drive doesn't necessarily mean that the dog can't be trained in the work, but it certainly does increase the challenge for everyone involved in the dog's training.

I am far from the person to answer your questions, but I didn't want your post to sit ignored until someone more suitable came along.

Most of us are not training or handling Police Service Dogs. If my dog is equipment focused, it's a non-issue, as she is a sport dog.