trainer to let dog bite?

[kimi]

I have a friend who has a 1 year old female GSD. She is a bit aggressive, and has lots of issues.. He went to a new trainer, and the trainer said that what they want to do, is to let him bring his dog to class this weekend, and will "allow" his dog to bite one of the trainers. The purpose of this is to show the dog that nothing happens when she bites someone. And is supposed to teach her that biting will get no reaction.
I am not very experienced in this kind of aggression class-however it seems to me that it will only teach the dog its ok to bite. Anyone ever heard of this? any thoughts on this???

[suzzyq01]

Never heard of that! I will be interested to see peoples comments.

[gagsd]

It makes sense in a way. Ever read Black Beauty?

[kimi]

No, I have never read Black Beauty... But, am curious as to what people will say on here. I just don't think its a good idea, but its not my dog.

[kimi]

anyone??????

[cshepherd9]

Originally Posted by kimi

will "allow" his dog to bite one of the trainers. The purpose of this is to show the dog that nothing happens when she bites someone. And is supposed to teach her that biting will get no reaction.

I have never heard of this, but if a dog bit me, even if I knew it was going to happen, I am pretty sure I would react. I don't know the whole story here, maybe they are wearing a bite suit/sleeve or something? If this is the case then I am still not seeing the purpose because the dog could be reacting/biting because the person looks "weird" and wouldn't be able to distinguish between the person in the bite suit and a normal person walking down the street.

[Lilie]

Interesting question. Does a dog bite to find a reaction from the bite-ee - or is a bite a reaction from the biter? Would the bite itself be a reward for the aggression behind the bite?

I would think the bite itself would be a release of the frustration and not the reaction of the person/thing being bitten.

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

I hesitate to answer this. My background and my experience withn GSD's makes me wonder why you would let a dog bite as part of training.. I realize that people do Schutzhund and there is bite work but its done on command is it not? Daisy loves firworks ,no fear of gunfire and has strong protective instincts but I would never have used having her bite someone to teach her not to but Im not a trainer. Daisy was once called to stop someone going through our gate at twilight she did it instinctively and held them off ,no training to do that and she did not bite just held then at the gate with growling and some lunging. Her issues with developing when it's ok to bite were never my focus. Now the part that many may disagree with but if an aggressive dog bites a human there is a reaction pain yelling and perhaps a lawsuit.Im not sure if even GSD's have the abstract concept of there nothing to be gained by biting.Im new and thus may be mistaken but Ive watched all kinds of trainers work and have worked with trainers in a prison dog program I've never seen the technique you asked about.

[kiya]

I would think letting the dog bite would teach him/her that it is acceptable, specially if there is no "reaction" from the bitee. I could be stuck on puppy bite inhabition, but I would believe the dog has to be taught bitting is NOT acceptable in this case.

[gagsd]

First- I am not condoning this trainer as I do not know the people or dog involved.

But, consider that a dog may bite out of fear and/or to drive away the threat.
If the dog bites and nothing comes from it, the "threat" stays there, no reaction, just ignoring; then perhaps the dog sees that biting gets them nothing.

I am assuming the bitee would be wearing a hidden sleeve or suit.