Years ago when I first started schutzhund, one of the intriguing things I over heard in some conversation among the trainers is something about the “real” dog.  Being a newcomer at that time, I only listened and have no opinion of my own.  Later on, I found out that someone can beat up the owner of some “good” schutzhund dog and the dog would never bother.  It may even lick your hand as a friendly gesture.

Then some friend would boast about his “real” dog that scored poorly in schutzhund trials, but is capable of biting real people in real protection work.  In time, however, I noticed that not even the so-called “real” dog will bite the helper once he dropped the sleeve.  So, what’s all the fuss here about the real dog and not-so-real schutzhund dog.

There is another story which I would like to tell before getting into the “real” dog debate.  This occurred in Thailand a few years ago and left some friend of mine embarrassed over his schutzhund champion bitch.

The tale began in the middle of the night when some burglars slipped into my friend’s kennel to steal his dogs.  The bad guys were half-way through when some puppies began barking, alerting the caretakers. But fearing for personal safety, only at dawn did they come out to investigate.  They found out that the imported-schutzhund bitch, a protection champion of Thailand, was stolen.

The question is how the burglars got in and how they got out with the dog.  Upon investigation it was probable that they climbed over some barb wire fence and lift the dog over or through some opening.

Now, how on earth can they manhandle a hard-biting dog like that and apparently got away without a hitch.  No barking.  No biting.

We’ll leave the story right at this point, except to say that later on the culprits called up to demand ransom and were caught.

All these lead us to the issue of defense and fight drives in schutzhund training.  For practical reason, we’ll try to do this from the view point of the dog, too.  

I would begin by bringing up the oft-repeated German phrase “Wehrtrieb im Beuttrieb.”  In a literal translation it means “defense drive in prey drive.”  The Germans are systematic people.  And the application of their observation in training which culminated into a standing principle which their training system is developed and based is very clear--all stimulation of defense drive must be in the realm of prey drive.  I believe this also applies in training police dog.

The reason for this is because true defense stimulation produces stress in the dog and when stress exceeds the dog’s threshold, the dog would not go forward and even fell into the avoidance mode.  In schutzhund, the dog should not only stand its ground but go on the attacking  mode or the near-ready attacking mode as even  the guarding phrase shows—the dog must be ready to re-bite.  In any event, he must bring the fight to the helper.

Thus the difference between the real dog and not-so-real dog is probably this: the capability in reacting positively to true defense stimulation.  Of course, we like our dog to go forward even when the helper comes without the sleeve…and in any situation.  The dog should not only be sleeve-happy, but “serious” in his work.

A helper once told me he is scared of one of the dogs I’m training because its eyes would turn red with vein bulging on its forehead during the bark and hold.  He thinks the dog is getting angry and will bite for real.  And so, the term “serious dog.”   This observation probably has something to do with the dog’s attitude at work.

It is known that in training young dog, the defense stimulation is gradually increased through “channeling” the drives from prey to defense and vice versa.

In practice, once the dog reacted favorably to defense stimulation it is shown the sleeve,  thus rewarding it for showing defense drive and relieving the dog from stress at the same time.  It must be noted here that the desired defense behavior we all wanted to see is different from the one that the dog bears it teeth with it lips curl up and its hair on the back standing.

The kind of defense we all desire has to do with the feeling of superiority or dominance and the willingness to bring the fight to the aggressor.  Then, is the aggressor becoming a prey to the dog?  Then, is the dog in prey-drive mode after all.

To clarify this point I would like you to consider the following diagram. 

prey drive ------à    defense of prey------à 

defense drive -----à      fight drive 

That aside, the next question is will the dog show a better grip when it’s in prey or defense  mood?   Some say with a good mix of defense, the dog will show more intensity in the fight and of the grip.  But once, I have a very young Rotti which bite like he is possessed only with prey stimulation.  And I don’t think he gives a damn to any defense stimulation once he is on high prey drive.  It won’t make a difference to him. 

Personally, I believe that in training, defense stimulation is done through or in conjunction with the defense of prey (the dog preventing the sleeve from being taken)--and not stimulating the dog to fight in true defense.

This discussion of the “real” dog is far from complete.  The purpose of this article is to stimulate discussion than providing complete answer.

So, I shall leave you on that note.  Maybe, you can analyse your own dog and see whether it’s a real enough dog for yourself.

And by the way, the German word for real dog is “Echte Hund.”

(Mr. Poompitak can be reached at Poompitak@Hotmail.com)