| I was recently in a social setting where I | | | | a fast moving object. Nothing vicious about |
| was asked about my dog, Rocco. Rocco is my | | | | it. A good protection dog trainer will |
| Rottweiler who has undergone extensive | | | | harness this drive to teach a puppy to chase |
| protection dog training. We were engrossed in | | | | a rag. As the puppy grows older he graduates |
| a discussion about his training and | | | | from a rag to a tug. From a tug the trainer |
| capabilities when we were overheard by | | | | teaches the dog to bite a sleeve or a dog |
| another person. | | | | training bite suit. All the while the |
| | | | training is approached as a game. As a fun |
| "Oh, you shouldn't train your dog to do that | | | | way to use energy and satisfy drive. |
| stuff. That makes them vicious," was her | | | | Basically, the decoy, or guy wearing the bite |
| statement injected into our conversation. I | | | | suit or sleeve, is not viewed as a 'bad guy' |
| was initially a bit taken-aback and annoyed; | | | | but as a partner in a fun game. As training |
| not only was her comment unsolicited but it | | | | progresses, a good trainer will train the dog |
| was based on a lack of knowledge. As I | | | | to discount the presence of equipment and |
| thought about it more, however, I came to | | | | view the person as the prey object. All of |
| realize that this is a common style of | | | | this training is done on command only. As |
| thinking. There are many misconceptions about | | | | training progresses the dog is taught to only |
| protection dogs and protection dog training. | | | | respond when he hears the dog training |
| Let me dispel some of the myths of protection | | | | command from his owner. This ensures for |
| dogs and talk about protection dog training | | | | safety and control. |
| at its root to combat some of the more | | | | |
| prevalent misinformation. | | | | Defense Drive |
| | | | |
| First, let me do a bit of defining. There are | | | | All creatures have some sort of defense |
| many terms thrown around that are often | | | | mechanism. Dogs have three ways of dealing |
| interchanged incorrectly. | | | | with an aggressor: fight, flight, or |
| | | | avoidance. In protection dog training a good |
| Attack Dog- A poorly trained, typically | | | | trainer will utilize a dog's defense drive to |
| anti-social, and fearful creature. | | | | build on what he has learned with prey drive. |
| Ineffective except for looking tough. | | | | The trainer will show the dog that in certain |
| | | | situations a person is a threat and can be |
| Guard Dog- A dog that is trained to guard an | | | | dealt with using the skills taught in prey |
| area. Guard dogs are often used on estates, | | | | drive. In this way, prey drive and defense |
| warehouses, or open areas that need guarding. | | | | drive work together. In essence, a dog is |
| Guard dogs may or may not be good with people | | | | taught that when given a command that the |
| and may or may not have obedience training. | | | | aggressor is a real threat and he should use |
| | | | his skills to fight the threat. As with prey |
| Police Patrol Dog- A dog that is trained to | | | | drive these skills are taught only under |
| work chasing down criminals. They are trained | | | | command and with high levels of control and |
| to be used on the offensive. | | | | safety. |
| | | | |
| Protection Dog- A dog that is trained to be | | | | There are not many dogs capable of this level |
| used first and foremost as a defensive | | | | of training. A dog that can accomplish this |
| deterrent. A protection dog is trained to | | | | is a strong and very confident dog. This |
| show aggression on command and turn off on | | | | level of confidence is what often makes |
| command. A protection dog is trained to | | | | protection dogs safe and good with people. |
| attack on command or if the aggressor is not | | | | They are so confident that they don't view |
| deterred by the show of aggression. A | | | | people as threats unless told to under |
| protection dog has high levels of obedience | | | | command by their owner. Protection dog |
| training. | | | | training often bolsters this confidence as |
| | | | these dogs learn the power that they have and |
| So now let me return to the original | | | | their innate abilities. |
| statement. Does training a protection dog | | | | |
| make him vicious? I understand why many | | | | So are these dogs vicious? Absolutely not. |
| people would assume this. After all, you are | | | | Their natural drives have merely been |
| training a dog to show aggression, bite a | | | | harnessed to teach them new skills. I like to |
| person, and do what is necessary to combat a | | | | compare a well trained protection dog with a |
| human. Protection dog training does not, | | | | well trained soldier. Is a soldier more of a |
| however, make a dog vicious. | | | | danger because of his training? Many would |
| | | | argue that he or she isn't. The advanced |
| There are several styles and methods for | | | | levels of training turn a soldier into a |
| protection dog training. At its root, | | | | person who is extremely confident. A soldier |
| however, there are two instincts, or drives, | | | | is capable of being a loving and caring |
| that protection dog trainers harness time and | | | | family member in one setting and tool of |
| time again to achieve results. Let's examine | | | | battle in another. Just because a soldier is |
| them. | | | | capable of using weapons under one setting |
| | | | does not make that person 'vicious'. |
| Prey Drive | | | | |
| | | | Confidence is the opposite of fear. Fear is |
| Prey drive is a drive that most dogs possess, | | | | what causes many problems both in dog and |
| not just protection dogs. A Labrador | | | | human alike. When you combine the confidence |
| retriever chases a tennis ball because of | | | | and high levels of control in a well trained |
| prey drive. The local mongrel chases a car | | | | protection dog, I contend that you have a dog |
| because of prey drive. Essentially, prey | | | | that is safe to be around and definitely not |
| drive is a dog's desire to chase and capture | | | | vicious. |