Drives defense vs. prey - Page 1

Hello Everyone, I have been reading the posts made here lately and WOW is all I can say and have no opinion on the personal issues being brought up in this forum other than I do see them as counter productive. That being said something I have picked up on is drive issues, Now in our club a defensive dog is worked in a very careful manner as to NOT promote that defense issue, If the dog is working out of defense then we are obviously pushing too hard... at least that's how it is perceived in our club. We try to work on Play/Prey drives seems to build a dog much faster and the results are NOT that we are creating unpredictable fear biters. All the dogs in our club are socially confident who approach strangers wantingly and are approached by strangers with confidence and couriosity. I personally want this behavior from my dogs, I do not ever want my dog to approach a stranger growling and snarling, or have my dog respond in a growling snarling manner when approached by a stranger. I don't need that LIABILITY !!! Finally to the question, Can anyone in detail explain to me the absolute differences in training ? If you train for defense... How is the dog made to go into defense mode ? If you train for prey... How is the dog made to go into prey mode ? Is it not true that Prey drive is the more natural route ? Is it not true that Defense drive is a forced emotionally stressful tactic ? And just so you have my defenition of Defense Drive, I have understood it when explained to me that a dog goes into defense mode when a decoy pushes him too hard causing the dog to stress, be fearful, cause a dog pain, can cause a dog to "come off" sleeve. speaking of comeing off sleeve I saw that mentioned in the posts in the last few days and that person was talking about how good defense drive was in that dog. My dog has never come off, takes full bites, and jumps up and down at the end of the line wanting to get that sleeve, he barks, jumps, lunges, and overall body language "FUN" he loves working bitework. Is a game he loves to play ! but is the best dog in the world temperament wise, He will greet you with wagging tail and crawl in your lap for attention, HE is NOT a Liability, he is a solid dog whom I can ask to have my back at any time. Is'nt that what I want ? Now I want to reinterate that I am not passing judgements here, I just want to get this clear so that I may be informed and make appropriate inquiry's into our training regimends. Thank you, and please I do not wish to be the start of some huge battle of personal issues I just would like to seek the diverse knowledge from the members of this forum. Thank You and appreciate any comments your willing to offer.

http://www.dfwworkingdogs.com/protection.asp This is an excellent article that will help explain some things written by Randall Hoadley.