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by Rass on 09 December 2011 - 14:12
Of course there is more to Prepotent for Protection than just the depth of bite and hold.
A dog may have lovely deep bites and great holds playing with its handler, but completely avoid a helper or other person trying to engage that same behavior. Protection Phase includes a lot of things beyond bite and hold.. it needs to also include the dog having self confidence, nerve, courage and a willingness to engage and work.
A dog willing to work is not necessarily a dog willing to play. Some dogs love to work for the pleasure work gives them.. but are not so interested in play. I had a dog like that (she would herd until she dropped and was totally confident and able to make decisions on her own to get the job.. herding.. done). A dog that loves work for works sake is also a confident dog.. but not necessarily a playful dog.
A dog that views work as play will also need self confidence to engage. The biggest difference I see between the two is that if the play oriented dog is tired, hot etc. he may disengage while a dog that works because he loves to work will be less likely to disengage even when tired, hot etc.
That being said, either type of dog still needs to be self confident to engage a helper and show up for protection.
A dog may have lovely deep bites and great holds playing with its handler, but completely avoid a helper or other person trying to engage that same behavior. Protection Phase includes a lot of things beyond bite and hold.. it needs to also include the dog having self confidence, nerve, courage and a willingness to engage and work.
A dog willing to work is not necessarily a dog willing to play. Some dogs love to work for the pleasure work gives them.. but are not so interested in play. I had a dog like that (she would herd until she dropped and was totally confident and able to make decisions on her own to get the job.. herding.. done). A dog that loves work for works sake is also a confident dog.. but not necessarily a playful dog.
A dog that views work as play will also need self confidence to engage. The biggest difference I see between the two is that if the play oriented dog is tired, hot etc. he may disengage while a dog that works because he loves to work will be less likely to disengage even when tired, hot etc.
That being said, either type of dog still needs to be self confident to engage a helper and show up for protection.
by lonewulf on 09 December 2011 - 14:12
VERY well put indeed Rass
The points you bring out are important considerations in the adolescent dog where the love for work has to take precedence to the love for play..... At the puppy level the love of play is precedent over love for work....
But it is important that this distinction is brought out... as you very well did..., else a novice would think that play is all that is needed.
However even at puppy level you want to look for behaviors where the pup is pushing you and becomes demanding and insistent if he/she doesn't get its way.... that must be encouraged whenever it manifests.
Ravi Iyer
by djc on 09 December 2011 - 15:12
Excellent posts Ravi and Rass!!
Debby
Debby
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