What would you want your dog to do? - Page 3

These "what ifs" are twofold; Yes..... it would be nice to know what your dog would do, and 99.9999% of knowing that comes from TRAINING. Second, it's a shame but it's reality: What some think of a situation, scenario and in reality it's something else. I agree totally with Jim and that is the way I train. One of my pictures on one of the threads shows Reiker in a "down" position while I am preparing to search the perp, (decoy) Yes, Reiker is raring to move but won't until either the command to, say to start escorting or the decoy puts hands on.

Not being mean but possibly look at it this way; it's not criminal to "harass" in the example described by the OP but an assault would be. Also, and I'm sure some can give examples of their dogs doing same, but the dog will sense, smell, sixth sense  intuition etc. Say, a person walking near you reading or didn't see you and abruptly crosses either in front of you or behind you and then say a person hiding in the weeds/tall grass with the intentions to accost you. Each person is giving off scents (can't think of the scientific jargon). The dog will be picking this all up.  

Dessert dog, My dogs are also police k9's and I took it as assault.  My dogs would not remain in a platz durring that situation, they would not take the bite without the command, unless the person was actually going to assault me. There is NO reason for a police k9 to be 35 paces from it's handler in a down stay.  They are trained to keep threats away from the handler, and yes I have seen dogs that took the bullet and continued to go in for the bite after the handler had been shot.  So maybe it is the difference in the dogs that are being trained, but a decent police k9 is trained in certain situations to think for itself it is required.  If the handler decides it is not a threat there is a recall, but on the street things aren't as cut and dry as in sch.

I believe that dogs are not TRAINED to think for itself. An exceptionally well trained and for the job well suited dog CAN be ALLOWED to take independent action based on previous training. Herding/tending dogs as a whole used to be selected/bred based on a well rounded set of skill sets that did included independent thinking and yet a good sized measure of biddability. Since I personally believe these two statements to be true, I would expect my guys to stay put but perk up and be ready. 3 different dogs and for 3 different reasons based on their individual tendencies (strengths and weaknesses). One being overly confident and totally convinced that she knows all the answers who would love any excuse for a good tangle. One because she is a bit nervy and would in her mind act first and then maybe, just maybe think later. And the third being right in between. Because I don't think at least two of them don't have the rock solid temperament to allow independent choices, I again would ask for them to refer to me for the final say. Or at least that is what I would train for.

A good example of a dog making his/her own decisions and what a hugh liability it could be:  I was on a dirt trail and stopped a walker/jogger about a specific trail ahead and he raised his arm to point in a direction for me and my dog was up on on him in a split second;  I have never seen him move so fast or any dog move that fast in my life.  THANK GOD he did not bite him, just stayed like in a bark and hold position only NO BARK,  just dared him to move.  Very quietly, extremely efficient.  He THOUGHT I was in trouble.  Thank you Tyler but had he bitten the guy;  I would be in so much trouble and yep, most definitely a probable law suit.  So I am a believer in a platz command;  not to move unless I command you to do so...  My guy did this on his own, no formal PP training just instinct alone.  PLATZ/BLYBE means just that.  That goes for Sch, working, showing, any type training;  it is a life saving command for the dog.  Great day everyone,  Nan