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Civil Defense Test - preparation?

Discussion in 'Training & Behavior' started by DLouis, Jun 3, 2020.

  1. DLouis

    DLouis Pup

    I'm still skimming the surface of the working dog world, but I've been learning for the last seven or so years. I have made many friends in the sport and working community, so that's greatly helped, but I figured i would ask for some outside input.

    This might be a sort of strange question, but because I'm me (ball of anxiety), I need to ask.

    I'm setting up a civil defense test for my male. We've never really done any proper training for protection, and little stress training, so this would be something new to him. I believe his instincts are there, but worried he might lack confidence.
    Is there anything I can do to prepare him for this, beforehand?
     
  2. GK1

    GK1 Big Dog

    DLouis - This ain’t the ideal forum for such questions, which can be complicated. Try a search on leerburg, alpinek9forum…should be a ton of insights there. What breed, how old? You need a decoy and trainer who know their craft and will not overextend the dog before he is ready. Don’t be anxious. Dogs are sensitive to their handlers’ emotions.

    In the end no matter how competent the decoy, the genetics of the individual dog will determine his ability as a protection dog - training can cover only so much. JMO
     
  3. slim12

    slim12 Super Moderator Staff Member

    Hit up GK1 on this site. That is a question right in his wheelhouse.

    I had Fila Braileiros a number of years ago. Fear driven, defensively driven man getters. Although those type dogs are an incredible liability I left home for the night shifts knowing anyone who came thru the door would more than likely be there waiting for me the next morning. Brutal face biters. For awhile it was good trade off. Then as my son came of age and his friend were in and out the liability then outweighed the assets, coupled with their shorter life spans, I no longer owned one.

    My kennel partner and I bought a bite suit and mask. I 'broke" into his house and then he "broke" into mine. He had two dogs that were super impressive. I had two dogs that were super impressive and one dog that was bred to do the same but he was more akin to Scooby-Doo. Everyone was his friend, even an axe wielding, serial rapist/murderer. What we learned is with those dogs in our houses if some guy kicked in the door for a free TV the joke would be on him.

    For awhile we went with the motto, "It is better to be judged by 12 than carried by six"

    99% of dogs will choose flight over fight. I have been around and owned pit bulls for 35 years now. I have had one that tried to bite me and owned several that if they did not 'get their way when geeked up' would nip bite to make me let them go so they could go. But never owned a dog who I thought would bite someone else for any reason. All my dogs would load up and ride with you if you petted them on the head.

    I did a little bite work in the late 80's/early 90's. I learned quickly not all dogs have it and even the best bred dogs do not all have it. Back then we built prey drive first, then moved to defensive drive. Once the dog was pretty sound we introduced some fight drive situations in small increments with the dog always winning in the end. Over time the service/protection dog is built.

    The dog learns what works. If he wins all the time then that is all he knows. (basic explanation as it goes much deeper). But if he is pushed too hard to soon and chooses flight, it is hard to come back from that for the dog. 'Something bad was happening and I did this, and then I was OK' . If they always win the fight then they learn that I fight til things are OK again ( I get my tennis ball) or they learn if things get bag and I choose flight, then that is my knew method of making things OK again.

    So go slow. Talk to a professional. A great site is Leerburg.com. Tons of man dog information there.

    On this board, I would hit up GK1. Like I said, this is a question in his wheel house.

    S
     
  4. Where are you located ?
     

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