Working a Dog in Defense

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Age

Defense of Self vs Defense of Pack - NOT the SAME

Why do we learn this now?

The goal with all training is to be able to prompt a behavior and keep it at the duration you need for.

An "aggression command" may be given at the start of each rep. NOT the same as a "bite command" used in play/prey.

Distance
Body Posture
- Anterior vs posterior presentation
- lean forward vs backward
Eye contact vs no eye contact - MUST turn your head when at a distance. Dogs do not see detail as well.
Add movement
- lateral - working duration of defense without adding more pressure. Great for training New agitators
- forward and backward
  - Speed - SLOW is better for forward, FAST is better for backward
    - experienced dogs can handle FASTER approach and SLOWER retreat
Use different combinations of movement, distance, posture, eye contact, and speed to "work the dog" to greater durations of defense with goal of bringing dog into duration of fight.
Keep track of the success of dog by counting "little wins" before "big win".
- Little win - dogs' aggression causes our body language to become less confident
  - head turn
  - backwards movement
  - turn sideways
- Big win - Total retreat or total disengagement (total retreat better for new dogs
Beginning dogs - (example)
- single big win
- (move only lateral) little win, big win
- (lateral) little win, little, win, big win
- (lateral) little win, little win, little win, big win
- (slightly forward movement) little win, big win
- (forward movement) little win, little win, big win
- (forward) little win, increase duration slightly before next "win", give a big win
SHORT SESSIONS!!! Goal is to make dog successful and a little better each time. It is better to accomplish a little each session than to try to accomplish too much and the dog shut down.
Threatening arm movements/kicks (no contact)
Contact should not be attempted unless dog is in fight drive when within bite distance (that is for another class)