Thoughts of A Personal Protection Dog Trainer
Training The Family Pet Protector
Training begins the day you bring your pup home from the breeder. I suggest keeping the pup's world small and limiting contact with the outside world for as long as it takes to establish a bond. Usually two to three days will suffice and socialization with the outside world can begin provided the pup is up to date with vaccinations. Discipline begins right away and takes precedent over affection. Establish limits,boundaries and alpha status immediately.
Rewarding with treats for desired behavior should be avoided or not used at all. I find that the pups I've chosen to train will perform for praise from a calm assertive leader and be just as gratified. I believe that treats can be a distraction and compromise the pups learning ability when used as a training aid. Performing for a treat does not equate to learning. I train family pet protectors for companionship, home and personal defense. I wouldn't stake my life or my family's security on a treat; perhaps I'd use treats if I were training dogs to perform circus acts or for sport competitions.
What I believe to be most important when developing a responsible dog that can be depended on for companionship and security without ever being considered a liability is a strong tight bond so I use training methods that are tried and true. Quality one on one time with your pup/dog on extended walks in the woods or in densely populated parks, parking lots and city streets is very beneficial. Petting, grooming and praise from you only for desired behavior and appropriate corrections for unacceptable behavior from you only will establish your alpha status and provide a strong bond. It's also a great way to begin building a proper foundation. Socialization is a good thing; but should not be confused with allowing others to command,feed,or share in raising your pup. Your pup should be exposed to as many people at as many locations and in as many situations as possible. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your pup safe and secured at all times. Remember that all good things and all corrections should only come from you. This affords you the strong bond you are looking for in a FPP and will not compromise your security in the years ahead. The strong bond combined with discipline affords you the respect an alpha needs to teach properly within an acceptable time frame. It isn't uncommon for FPP prospects as young as twelve months to be effectively and consistently providing companionship and security for his handler, family and domicile.
Teaching the commonly called basic commands should begin within days. Sit, stay, come, down, off, out, leave it, and no are all commands considered to be basic however, they will carry over and be used extensively throughout the advanced stages of FPP training for the life of the dog . I suggest they be taught properly from day one. No means no, sit means sit, and out means out the first time. Don't teach your dog to count and/or ignore you by repeating commands or by giving commands you are unable to enforce! The foundation methods FPP prospect pups are exposed to are as important as the bond. In fact they are the basis and the purpose for the bond. It's been said that a well-trained dog working on his own in the absence of his handler will revert to his foundation when confused or stressed. There will be times when a FPP will be required to make the right judgment call. Let's hope the foundation was appropriate for the application and that it's been taught under the guidance and supervision of a certified professional! Keeping an FPP in a family/community environment requires a stable responsible dog capable of providing security and companionship even when unsupervised. The genetics, foundation and training have everything to do with how a dog will perform in any and all situations. From behind a fence or from inside the family vehicle or home or on the streets I want my FPP to be alert and on point. I want him/her to be displaying a threat when he/she or the property is being threatened. I don't want the fence, the vehicle or home damaged by an unruly frustrated dog. Children passing by on bikes on foot or on roller blades are not a threat. The mailman is not a threat. The paperboy is not a threat. Even a fleeing bad guy is no longer a threat. The dog's aggression levels should decrease, not increase. A fleeing bad guy, a paperboy on a bike, a mailman or a passerby are however prey stimuli and will evoke the prey monster. There are methods that will enhance the prey drive and need to be avoided when developing a FPP.
When Developing a FPP bites are given in defense during civil agitation and praise when the bad guy is fleeing is the reward. I start a pup biting a burlap sack then advance them to a soft sleeve, then onto the suit to teach the dog how and when to engage a bad guy.
Muzzle work is introduced to pups over the age of twelve months and soon after becomes the primary method of training for FPP's. I have witnessed a recent surge in the popularity of the methods of the muzzle, and defense training.
I like what I'm seeing and salute those who find the value in the training.
SECURE YOUR DOG
PDT GR/TNU
Training begins the day you bring your pup home from the breeder. I suggest keeping the pup's world small and limiting contact with the outside world for as long as it takes to establish a bond. Usually two to three days will suffice and socialization with the outside world can begin provided the pup is up to date with vaccinations. Discipline begins right away and takes precedent over affection. Establish limits,boundaries and alpha status immediately.
Rewarding with treats for desired behavior should be avoided or not used at all. I find that the pups I've chosen to train will perform for praise from a calm assertive leader and be just as gratified. I believe that treats can be a distraction and compromise the pups learning ability when used as a training aid. Performing for a treat does not equate to learning. I train family pet protectors for companionship, home and personal defense. I wouldn't stake my life or my family's security on a treat; perhaps I'd use treats if I were training dogs to perform circus acts or for sport competitions.
What I believe to be most important when developing a responsible dog that can be depended on for companionship and security without ever being considered a liability is a strong tight bond so I use training methods that are tried and true. Quality one on one time with your pup/dog on extended walks in the woods or in densely populated parks, parking lots and city streets is very beneficial. Petting, grooming and praise from you only for desired behavior and appropriate corrections for unacceptable behavior from you only will establish your alpha status and provide a strong bond. It's also a great way to begin building a proper foundation. Socialization is a good thing; but should not be confused with allowing others to command,feed,or share in raising your pup. Your pup should be exposed to as many people at as many locations and in as many situations as possible. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your pup safe and secured at all times. Remember that all good things and all corrections should only come from you. This affords you the strong bond you are looking for in a FPP and will not compromise your security in the years ahead. The strong bond combined with discipline affords you the respect an alpha needs to teach properly within an acceptable time frame. It isn't uncommon for FPP prospects as young as twelve months to be effectively and consistently providing companionship and security for his handler, family and domicile.
Teaching the commonly called basic commands should begin within days. Sit, stay, come, down, off, out, leave it, and no are all commands considered to be basic however, they will carry over and be used extensively throughout the advanced stages of FPP training for the life of the dog . I suggest they be taught properly from day one. No means no, sit means sit, and out means out the first time. Don't teach your dog to count and/or ignore you by repeating commands or by giving commands you are unable to enforce! The foundation methods FPP prospect pups are exposed to are as important as the bond. In fact they are the basis and the purpose for the bond. It's been said that a well-trained dog working on his own in the absence of his handler will revert to his foundation when confused or stressed. There will be times when a FPP will be required to make the right judgment call. Let's hope the foundation was appropriate for the application and that it's been taught under the guidance and supervision of a certified professional! Keeping an FPP in a family/community environment requires a stable responsible dog capable of providing security and companionship even when unsupervised. The genetics, foundation and training have everything to do with how a dog will perform in any and all situations. From behind a fence or from inside the family vehicle or home or on the streets I want my FPP to be alert and on point. I want him/her to be displaying a threat when he/she or the property is being threatened. I don't want the fence, the vehicle or home damaged by an unruly frustrated dog. Children passing by on bikes on foot or on roller blades are not a threat. The mailman is not a threat. The paperboy is not a threat. Even a fleeing bad guy is no longer a threat. The dog's aggression levels should decrease, not increase. A fleeing bad guy, a paperboy on a bike, a mailman or a passerby are however prey stimuli and will evoke the prey monster. There are methods that will enhance the prey drive and need to be avoided when developing a FPP.
When Developing a FPP bites are given in defense during civil agitation and praise when the bad guy is fleeing is the reward. I start a pup biting a burlap sack then advance them to a soft sleeve, then onto the suit to teach the dog how and when to engage a bad guy.
Muzzle work is introduced to pups over the age of twelve months and soon after becomes the primary method of training for FPP's. I have witnessed a recent surge in the popularity of the methods of the muzzle, and defense training.
I like what I'm seeing and salute those who find the value in the training.
SECURE YOUR DOG
PDT GR/TNU