Working your dog in defense

[lhczth]

SchutZhund.

[x11]

have to admit that i have not sat thru all three phases for the duration of a complete trial. have only spectated to see specific dogs on different occasions at different stages and phases. did see a dobe break a long down stay to chase a cat. the handler cried, some spectators went after the dog as a major highway was nearby. dog and cat were fine, handler wasn't. would it make a difference if i hadn't? not tryingto be argumentative just askin questions.

[GSDElsa]

Originally Posted by x11

what about the accomplished bite-work dog that sees/smells its first camel approaching it (lol) and hits the end of the leash trying to get out of dodge and snarls at the suicidal handler who just wants to hang out with the nice friendly lama - is that dog a defensive nerve bag POS.

Sorry, this made me laugh! I train at a French Ring club sometimes that doubles as an alpaca farm right off a busy road. If I'm running late and training has already started it's QUITE the site to see dogs doing suit work and all the alpacas lined up watching

[onyx'girl]

There was an SDA trial with goats right along the side of the field...they were quite a distraction because they were climbing the fence and braying(or whatever goats do) for attention.

[hunterisgreat]

Originally Posted by lhczth

I am not sure if you are actually asking a question or just making a statement.

IMO nerves are genetic. You will never create courage (a human trait) in a weak nerved dog just like there are people who fall apart under pressure even with extensive amounts of training.

You contradict yourself. Courage is not a human trait. Courage is a word used to describe the genetic nerve of a human, nothing more. As you pointed out, certain people are destined to fall apart under pressure.

[hunterisgreat]

Originally Posted by x11

ok thanks, then if you consider schutshund a licence for breed worthiness as i understand the original intention and not a sport for something to do with yr dog should the trial field be so dam predictable - nerve is genetic, schutshund tests genetics primarily (+training) so should it not follow that the traditionaltest of gsd "breeding" worthiness should include some curve-balls like a rabbit running across the field in obed, or a female heat scent across a track or......

not bagging schuts - i admire it, just trying to make sense of things.

It should test nerve..

and a bitch pissed 3 feet off my track at my last trial. My male let me know. Disaster

[hunterisgreat]

Our old field was the grazing pasture for our presidents herd of goats and sheep... A) when they got loose it was quite interesting, and the dogs seem to favor goat turds over balls or treats

[x11]

eh!!???

Originally Posted by hunterisgreat

"...Courage is not a human trait. Courage is a word used to describe the genetic nerve of a human....

[onyx'girl]

I had a bull come out to see Karlo when I was tracking one day... I train for the unknown distractions whether I want to or not!

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by lhczth

All animals, man included, will come upon something that they will want to run from. A species would not survive if there was no fear at all. What brings about this reaction will depend on the individual, but it is there in us all.

Is it courage or something else that makes a dog challenge a full grown bull or sends a human charging into gunfire to save someone else?

Is courage "the lack of fear" or something that lets a dog or person overcome it?