Can I Train My Own Dog in Bite Work? Understanding the Drives of Protection Training Written by Ed Frawley Protection training (when it is done properly) is the most demanding and difficult dog training there is. Most dogs can learn obedience, scent work or agility, but few dogs can be trained in handler protection. I often hear people say, "My dog has not been trained in protection but I know that if someone came after me he would protect me." In 99% of the cases this is wishful thinking. In actual fact, most dogs, when threatened, will show avoidance and run away, leaving their handler to dog boarding dog boarding fend for themselves. The reason for this is based in the temperament of the dogs. In its simplest sense, bite training is founded on the ability of a dog to deal with stress. A good protection dog is taught from a young age to act in an appropriate way when threatened. He is taught that to show avoidance and run away does not solve his problem. To be successful in this training, handlers need to have a thorough understanding of the drives that govern a dog's temperament in protection work. They are Prey drive Defensive Drive Fight Drive Avoidance If your goal is to learn how to train a dog in protection therapy dog training dog boarding work, your job begins by understanding these drives and how they relate to each other. If a trainer does not fully understand drive development he may as well not even start this work because he is never going to accomplish anything in protection training. If you are new to this sport, you need to listen to what I am about to say about drives and then either watch my video on the subject (The First Steps of Bite Work - Video 101-B) or go to an experienced trainer and learn from them. Every time you watch a dog doing bite work you should be thinking abused dog behavior dog boarding "What drive is this dog in and why?" If you can watch an experienced helper work a dog you need to be thinking "What drive does the helper have the dog in?" When he switches drives you need to try and recognize when that happens and why. In my tape I will define and demonstrate drives by showing you dogs that have good drives and dogs that lack drive. I want the viewer to recognize when a dog has the potential for protection work. Probably just as important, I want them to understand when a dog has not inherited the necessary drive and therefore cannot be dogs pics dog boarding trained in
