Questions about "dominance" in the field. - Page 1

A dog doing bite work should feel very dominant over the helper, am I correct? You cannot expect a subordinate to bite the alpha. So how can you expect a dog to attack the helper if the helper is dominant over him/her?

These are my views. This man had his dog doing bitework, and the helper slapped the dog HARD across the face because the dog looked back at his master. The master was glad this happened! He said the dog needs to know the helper is in charge. But how can a submissive dog bite the dominant master?! I just don't get it. I know it probably happens all the time. But the dog can't put in a good bite if he's been continuously trained to expect a swift slap across the face if he does anything wrong. The dog used to be nice, not over the top but a good sch dog all in all. Now it's terrified of it's owner, can't put in a good bite, and is too scared to even look him in the face during his fuss.

I'm scared the dog will be put in a bad home if he can't compete. Next training day i'm going to casually tell him if he ever sells the dog, i'm there. But how can we get this guy to lighten up on his dog? Believe me, we've tried just telling him, being extremely nice. But he's stubborn.

thanks for any advice! I hate to see this happen to any dog.

Did the helper slap the dog to teach him to obey him (utterly stupid) or to teach him that when he looks away, it gets rough, so he should keep focused and kill that SOB?  That is, was this a form of agitation -- or as stupid as it sounds?

First of all the handler is always in charge.  Secondly i would have to see the dog performance to say what is wrong with the dog.. The helper in my opinion did the right thing but you were given the wrong reason for what the helper did. This is common to keep the dogs attention in the hold and bark. maybe the dog simlpy cant take the pressure of the bitework in general and is looking for the owners help. Hard to say just on here with knowing all that has been done to the dog. Not looking in the owners face is simply not being taught the heeling properly.

You are giving anyone who trains on a regular basis enough information to really dianose the problem.

ceddy

I understand it could have been a good thing to "provoke" the dog. But, because of the way this dog was trained, his spirit is broken. He used to be a very good prospect, but was wrought down to nothing. I don't think he should be pushed, but encouraged slowly. I don't know. I know the HANDLER is in charge. But what about the helper? Shouldn't the dog feel dominant over the person he is biting? This dog only does the complete minimum to get by. Nothing else.

Forgot to say. Thanks for the advice! :D

-Emily.

Dominance isnt the word i woud use. I should feel like its can push him around a little but at the same time it must be taught to do that within the confines of the game.. remember nothing about sch is real life situation.. Its all a game nothing more.

ceddy