Dog Training World › Forums › Specialized Dog Training › Personal Protection and Guard Dog Training › Vetra 3rd session › Reply To: Vetra 3rd session
-
I thought this session ended really well and showed the direction that you want to go.
You can see by watching the third rep that you want these reps to be quick and violent as soon as she hears her word.
I would see no problem with working her as often as every day if the sessions are efficient. I do not believe changes in scenery will harm anything either. Keep in mind that you have a brand new agitator in @roxy91 1 who needs to carefully feel things out, but I anticipate that the pace is going to move quickly if the sessions remain violent.
During the next session, if Roxy can read Vetra well and react quickly, she could start using a little win before a big win, directed completely at you.
The word is given, and then Roxy attacks you without hesitation, but she is ready to pause on a bark and act as if each bark is preventing her from moving forward for just the moment of the bark. Then, anything that sounds more aggressive from Vetra gives her the big win, or easier to practice is just pay attention to the number of barks or duration of barking that finally gets her to retreat. It is the skill of making the dog think that every guttural bark is what is causing the attack to stop (just barely) that increases the intensity, frustration, and aggression at this point. But you need to stay very believable in the fight and after. There should be a lot of reacting on both sides happening quickly and before Vetra thinks it is hopeless.
From there, it is mainly a matter of making judgment calls about forcing greater effort from Vetra before the retreat, using your judgement when Roxy should face Vetra more. If she stays intense when you are a victim and she confidently barks and lunges when challenged by Roxy, you are most likely to have good contact when you bring her closer.
I suggest doing lots of rehearsing with Roxy before the sessions about what may happen and how she should react. Let her replay what she will do in her head before the session. You want to limit talking to the agitator as much as possible during the session because dogs pick up on everything. It can make your troubleshooting harder if Vetra starts to take it less seriously because you cannot remain in the role of someone actively fighting for her life. It is always easier when we are on the sidelines coaching others.
Thinking ahead, if you plan on targeting her to a bite area, you may want to get ready to use a flat collar if you are not already using one. The harness will obviously cause problems in that area unless you go straight to muzzle hits wherever she wants. However, that will limit what you can safely do in the future. It is all a matter of personal choice.