Does good bitework = good protection work? - Page 1

Forgive my ignorance but interested to know views on this. My 6 month female just goes crazy for any bitework, and will just never let go. You can tell she loves it. I suppose this is a great advantage presumably for sch. training. But does this correspond in any way to whether she will be good for protection work? I have minimal experience in this field and wondered what the opinions are. On a side note, interestingly she's not at all interested in fetching a ball, but give her a stick or sleeve and she'll have no end to that. My older male on the other hand is the opposite, goes crazy for balls- and will not give it up, but not that interested in sticks or sleeves. I don't know but maybe all this is irrelevant to future training. Opinions welcomed. Alex

Well, I have a female who I started late at 3 yrs old, I admit she had much too much OB on her to start SchH properly, but SchH was more of an afterthought with her. She has prey drive through the roof, completely nuts about the ball and tug, won't let either go without compulsion, full mouth super firm grip on the tug. Super fast and what I call "a bull in a china shop". I thought with all this drive and gusto she'd do great in SchH. After I started I realized there are many other factors involved besides prey drive. She is insecure and stresses during bitework. While she'll bark at the helper, it is not bold and confident. She seemed more intimidated, but would reluctantly do what was asked. NO DEFENSE. When I'd run her in a circle she'd pull REALLY hard towards the truck, they I'd have to drag her around to complete the circle until she could run towards the truck again. Not to mention she's severely noise sensitive, when the helper would crack the whip she'd fall to pieces. Kyle feel free to comment on her and explain better than I am. I really learned alot from both my dogs, my male who is awesome in every way and my female who leaves much to be desired. While some things with her might be overcome with time and training, she's spayed and has HD so there's no point in pushing her. But I wouldn't give up what I've learned from her, she's my girl. Regards, Melanie

I think I have a video of her, I'll try to dig it up.

I suppose you are right, there are other things as well. Did she have any sort of trauma as a youngster or was she always twitchy? Do you think you can desensitise such a dog to do better and be less stressed out or do you think its something thats inate and cannot be trained into? What do the others say? Alex

No trauma, her noise sensitivity is genetic. I've been told her mother was the same. She's out of untitled parents (didn't know better back then). She's a mess during thunderstorms...she jumps on my lap and shakes like a leaf. I suppose I wasn't that surprised when she tore my arm off trying to get to the truck when she heard her first whip crack. Sure you can desensitise to a certain point. As far as confidcence with the helper she was making progress with the tug and the wedge, I think it was only a matter of time before she would have taken the sleeve more confidently, but I don't think it would ever be as BOLD as it should be. BUT this would have been alot of work and in the end futile because she was so noise sensitive (with her not something that can be overcome IMO), she would have never made it past the gun test in OB. In the end as far as sending her into a blind or towards a running man testing her courage, I think she'd always prefer to run towards the truck.

Noise sensitivity ie. gunshyness is inherited. I don't think she will ever make it in Sch. Maybe you can channel her love of biting into biting on command with a sleeve and see how she does. She loves it ,so let her be a star at it. Praise her big time as she progresses,build her confidence. Keep in mind though ,like I said and don't expect her to overcome something that is inherited. remember ,no serious bitework til teeth are good and set.

gsdlvr2, not sure who you're talking to...its mine who's noise sensitive not klekoni's pup.

oops

Klekoni, Hope this helps. There is no real correlation between biting a sleeve in Schutzhund and protection work. The issue is the DOG. For starters, if you are thinking of protection work, having a dog that is solid for protection,then 6 months is way too early for this type training. For protection training a dog needs to have far more maturity behind them. They need to have a different mind set. A 6 month old will not have this. If she is showing real aggression at this age then I would be suspicious of something else going on, such as fear. You left too many gaps for anyone to fill in. If you are going to do Schutzhund then go with that, if you are interrested in P.P. then go with that.I am not saying that with some dogs, at the right age, good working temp. etc.that both are not possible. However, you will want to look for different traits in each. I would be curious who is doing the bite work, how is it done,( puppy play vs. bad guy ) There are just too many variables without seeing. But to answer your question the best I can, again it depends on the dogs temperament, civil drive, courage, a degree of good healthy sharpness etc. which you will not see at 6 mo. You need to decide what you want most. Hope this helps, this is nearly impossible to answer in writing, hope I didn't confuse you more. Good luck

That's why if you have a good solid dog but might not be civil enough you have to do agitition.