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Date Posted: 15:52:37 08/17/07 Fri
Author: Lee
Subject: This is where reading the dog is important
In reply to: Norman Epstein 's message, "Re: Lee" on 08:06:18 08/17/07 Fri

Some trainers claim 100% defense and often start defense too early (even though many may use prey too but don't admit it). This is a mistake obviously.

Some trainers use all prey and don't start any defense until the dog is very mature and becomes fixated in prey...and this too is a mistake.

A trainer has a responsibility to be able to read a dog. Exposure to defense early is OK if the LEVEL of DEFENSE is age appropriate...or more importantly STAGE appropriate. One can expose a dog to a little bit here and there but then go back to prey....and the entire time develop a dog that is truly balanced. It is these dogs that IMO are the best. Civil aggitation combined with prey work is an excellent method to do this if you are working with a decoy that can read a dog and if your decoy also has good timing. This is also where breed TRENDS are important. Regardless though of "trends" within breeds we shouldn't make rules on age IMO...as each dog is different and for this reason the decoy must be able to read the dog to do what is necessary in order to pursue a balanced product.

Remember, dogs...be it pups or adults are all exposed to prey and defense regardless of if we train it to them or not. They are exposed to this within their litter mates and such. To make a "blanket rule" that defense shouldn't be done at all prior "X age" simply isn't reading the dog. And reading the dog is the most important. HOWEVER, too much defense too soon can be a serious mistake, and that is what I suspect you may fear happens when some people expose "defense training" into their program...and to a large degree (if you are concerned about this) I don't blame you as many decoys simply are not good at balancing drives during training.

We do train dogs, but we don't really "train" drives. We do however develop them. So, on the note of a drive being at its peak (zenith) before we work it...well...that doesn't really happen. I say this because working the drive develops and strengthens the drive. NOW...on the same note, if you are referring to "age" then...just because a dog is a certain age doesn't mean a drive is there. It still has to be developed.

All in all though, it is far better to go too slow than it is too fast and I suspect (in the end) this is what you are referring to. I am not saying we should go out and expose 3 month old pups to defensive pressure. And, on that note, I would tend to agree. If a trainer has a poor time balancing drives, starting with a more mature dog and also going slower defintely is the smart choice. If however you have a good dog, a good trainer, and a good handler...and you work the dog with BALANCED drives one can often make progress very quickly. Now, as far as age...again, it depends on the dog. Some can start at 8 months. Some need to be over a year old. Again, this is where reading the dog is important.

When I am referring to exposing the dog to defense to balance drives, I am not referring to exposing a 8 month old pup to a whip lashing. Some times a little direct eye contact is all that is needed to put a little "is this a challenge" thought into the dog's eyes for just a momment and then going back into prey.

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