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