Hi everyone,
I have been working my 12 mo old lab in prey drive for almost 2 mos now. I am using the Bernard's methods taught on Ed's tape Building Drive Focus Grip. She has excellent prey drive. Her grip is very calm, she is not mouthy anymore when I am praising her and bringing her into my arms. I am new to schutzhund training, so please bear with me as my questions may be simple!
When we first started working in prey, she was more or less puppish about the prey. She outed easily and was not very intense when she had a bite. Now, she is serious about the prey, when she has a bite, her teeth show, her eyes kind of go in the back of her head and she is biting hard. Is this the natural progression of things? Is this still considered prey drive although it is very serious for lack of a better word? She can go from this very serious state of being in prey drive to being relaxed once the prey item is out of sight. She can also go from being in drive to being friendly towards other people in a matter of seconds. Are these behaviors normal? Do you think its time for us to join a club? Will we be laughed at because she is a soft tempered lab? She really is a soft dog, but she has nerves of steel and it was her prey drive that prompted me to train her in Bernard's methods. She is heeling in drive now, and she does all her commands in drive. I don't even need a leash if I have the tug in hand.
Lastly, she appears to have some defensive drive. When she plays with my other dog, her hair will go up, and she will show teeth, but with humans, she has shown ZERO fear and defensiveness. Can that be developed with proper training?
She is an agile dog, smart and I enjoy doing the training with her, I think prey building exercises has built our bond, so I'd like to try to take this as far as she's capable of, but I am not one to really tell for sure.
Thanks for any advice you can share.
Oh, and BTW, Lou if you are reading this, I got your PM about my other dog. I'll be in touch on the weekend - thank you very much..

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Maybe.
You are not describing defensive behavior, this is most likely a prey/play behavior with a dog she knows.

Defensive behaviors can be developed if there is a basis to work with, they are not necessarily need for SchH as I understand it. Lack of those chacteristics should yeild a lower score, but you should be able to get passable scores.

All joking asside, at this point you need to start moving to a sleeve and working with a helper or she may not figure out how to "play" with someone else. That can be a real problem.

Thank you for the information Richard.
I am willing to drive 2-3 hours for a good club. I am on LI now. Can you recommend any in the north east? What are the criteria you use when determining if the club is good? Is there a FAQ on this already I can read?
My hunch is that I should go, talk to the people, watch their dogs, the methods used, and go from there. I just don't want to get into it on the wrong foot for the pup...
Thanks,
Michelle

You got it exactly right. Leave the dog HOME the first and maybe the second time you go. Tell people what you have for a breed and see if they are willing, or already working, with "off" breeds.

As for finding a Club, check the DVG and USA web sites. Ask around here for people that train in those areas.