I would definitely go ahead, as long as I found someone who could work this dog to their potential - which means not forcing this dog into defense if she does not have the nerve for it. But turning it into a game based on prey, and working on a club level with titling in tracking and OB (if she can't do the protection) is fine IMO.

I agree with Ann the barking thing is not about protection. You are increasing suspicion where you don't need to and can have some bad results later.

Both my Shepherds are training in IPO (as well as 4 other sports) and one 2 occasions my UBER social female has protected me in real life situations, I did not have to encourage it, just make sure I had the control to stop it if she misinterpreted the situation (she didn't so I let her do her job). My male is young, but has an amazing sense for situations, and is a great "people/dog/situation" reader.

Neither of these dogs barks when someone comes to the door, nor when someone walks past my truck (touch it and they will go off, until you stop touching it, they they stop, righ away). They do not bark at passerbys, door bells, trucks, other dogs, NEVER. They bark only when necessary, and my male is more the "silent, but deadly" type and we are still teaching him to bark for the helper. He can pinch skin through an intermediate sleeve his bite is so hard, but apparently genetically, his lines just don't bark...LOL...both a blessing and a curse.

I wouldn't be in a hurry to increase suspicion in a dog in everyday situations, there is no reason for it, and like I said earlier, will most likely end badly. You do not want your dog assuming that everyone behind that door is someone to fear, or the person walking past the truck, or walking towards you, all a really bad idea IMO.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

IME there's never a lack of people who want to say, " Your dog won't ever be able to do.....whatever". "he's missing--natural drive,instinct,wrong breeding-" people will tell you. Especially people who have paid an absolute fortune for their dog.


What is really fun IMO is to take one absolutely as far as it can go. You learn, and ther is the built in excuse or fallback that the dog was never expected to be perfect.

So I say "Go for it". No one can truly predict ---

Yes, it's fun to see what you and your dog can do.

But the protection sports require certain innate qualities in the dog (like the prey drive Niomi mentioned).

All JMO!


I don't think anyone here is saying "your dog can't." I think they are saying that "people can't tell you on a webboard" and that you need experienced help.



"Nothing can replace the value of a seasoned trainer "

"Only a good trainer/helper is going to be able to give you an evaluation worth anything."

"You need to find good help."



Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/11/2013 06:01 PM)
Edit reason: add "as Niomi mentioned"

Ditto with all the people that tell you to find a good trainer. Inexperience in trying to do bite work on your own dog can VERY easily create mistrust, fear and a dangerous dog to you and everyone around you.
There is absolutely nothing wrong doing dog sport with all prey. That's pretty much what many clubs do anyway. It takes someone that really understands behavior to correctly bring out the defense in a dog without creating a loose cannon.
That's something you can and should discuss with any trainer you find but you DO need a trainer!

When I got her, the man who was caring for her and her sisters said 'oh she's not going to amount to much. Maybe agility and some AKC obedience. Bite sports no, cause the litter wasn't separated.'

I'm determined to put a BH on her. I'm also determined to do some tracking (she loves using her nose) and probably some herding, and agility. Basically I want to do everything I possibly can with her, including getting a SCH1 if she's up for it. It'd be great to go back and show the gigantic stream of letters after her name to the man who said she wouldn't amount to much. ESPECIALLY a protection title.

I wouldn't ever allow anyone to put my dog in defense. She has zero interest in it. Her prey drive is pretty decent and can be built up fairly easily but she's a sweet, soft dog and if we can't do it with her natural abilities then we won't do it at all.

I'm well aware of what can and will go wrong if I attempt to do bite work myself. I'm going to order the DVD to watch and learn from. I love her just the way she is - sweet, kind hearted, affectionate, strong willed, decently solid nerves. I don't want to screw that up and create a fear biter. I know how to do obedience and tracking. These are things that create and build the bond I want, in my opinion.

I repeat - PROTECTION WORK will be done when I have a club to be a member of! Never wanted to do it myself, I never will do it myself until I've titled a few dogs and possibly have had training as a helper.
Even if it takes me years to move to a city that has a local club (or have a vehicle to make it to one) I'm perfectly happy doing what we're doing right now. As it is, they probably wouldn't want her doing the bite work since her OB is sloppy and she's still got puppy ADD.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

My thought is if I can teach her that barking at people and displaying aggression on command is a good thing

Samantha, I've been following this thread and know absolutely nothing about protection work, but I don't think people are reacting to your having her evaluated but maybe training this behavior without an evaluation. At 9 months, she's really young so maybe she is just following a command but when she switches into the adolescent naturally suspicious stage, you may have given her a lesson in defense and I don't think you'll be able to turn her off quite so easily. I could be wrong and I'm sure you'll get clarification but that is how I was reading it.

Oh and old blowheart who you got her from; who cares about him, River and you, are above having to prove anything. He sounds like a buffoon.