Questions about Bite-work???? - Page 2

 1: Can bite work give ......... if so, how ?       
      The bite training start with simple play with tug/rag.   It's more of playing game for the dog at this stage.  As the dog get mature, your decoy will put pressure on the dog.  In that case, your dog always win the fight with decoy.  Good decoy will know how much your dog can take. he Will let your dog win.    Winning build the confidence.

2: My answer to you is "No".   The biting is just a  part of protection training.    Other big part of training is control.  The protection training has to be integrated with obedience; your dog has to follow your command in stressed situation. In schutzhund training, your trainer won't let your dog gets protection train without obedience. they go together.   You will have a control aggression when you need them.

      This is base on your answer that Schutzhund club trainer recommend you for the training your dog.   Good luck with your dog.  Schutzhund is wonderful sport.                       - Chip -
  
     

My 3 year old is not socially agrressive, but she does have a few nerve issues. She is not agrressive, but often shy around people. She definitely lacked confidence. We have been doing sch for awhile now, and is basically ready for her sch1. I feel that the bitework, and the "winning" against the helper has helped her confidence around people. She walks around with her head a little higher now. She now has the capabilty to 'work through' things instead of just freaking out and being afraid.

Amanda

      cycburke,  
                      
                  When the trainer and breeder mentioned bite-work....I think I misunderstood what they meant. From your post it sounds like more of a game....rather than a sleeve with the pressure. This makes sense to me. Maybe I jumped the gun a bit in my assumption of their meaning of bite-work. Starting out this way will help them evaluate his temperament to see if he is sound enough to take real bite-work with the pressure. Is this what you meant?
                   
                                                       Thanks for your post....Ruger1

    

                                   afwark, 

                                    Thanks for the post... I think the confidence building is what the trainer and breeder had in mind when they mentioned doing the bite-work. I am glad to hear that bite-work has had a positive affect on your girls confidence. 

                                                                                      Ruger1

I am guessing that you have a west German show line GSD.  (if the picture in the box is your dog)
GSD at 5 months is just a puppy. Not a young dog.   between 7weeks to maturity, you will see his personality changes few times.  Every dogs mature at their own pace.   This is normal.
   In general, Euro show-line  GSD will be good enough for Schutzhund sport.   Very few will make as service dogs.
At  age five month, your trainer will play tug with your pup,  and focus on developing prey drive.   which is main drive for Schutzhund training.  If you like, I have youtube account with same name ' cycburke'.    Check the video clip "Intro to bite work"   it's not like what you think.   Best regards     - Chip - 

I have personally seen nervy fear aggressive dogs greatly increase confidence through bite work. Some times they have gained enough confidence to take pressure but usually were not able to take much pressure.  Every time without exception confidence goes up.  The dog has confronted people and has learned they are not so scary after all.  Dogs that were dangerous to others were less dangerous.  The owners gained control over their dogs through ob that is introduced along the way in the bite work.  Owners also better understand the limitations of their dog.  In short the dog will gain confidence making him less of a liability and the owners are more educated.  Surely I am not the only one who has seen this type of transformation.  Some people think that this training makes a fearful more dangerous I think it has the opposite effect.

Some folks who have these dogs mistake fear for toughness.  Alot of people show fear to these dogs which results in more aggression.  The owner is unsure in situations around people.  The dog picks up on this and in turn is ever more unsure and this deepens the cycle.

The people and trainers who work dogs are not fearful of skittish dogs and the dog can not feed on fear from these people. 
Robert

Sounds like to you may want socialize your dog more. I. E. Take him places & expose him to people
and new environments. "Fear biting" can be very harmful to the dog. Exposing him to new situations
will help over time.

                    Everyone ........thanks so much for your posts....I have another thread called " Pics of Ruger aka Prince" 
         I would love to get your thoughts and opinions.

                                                                     Thanks Ruger1

cycburke,        I really enjoyed those videos, I'm going to watch more of them later. Great music too..

                                                                                                      Ruger1