SPORTS DOG TRAINING

Our sports training program teaches qualified dogs to protect individuals, families, and property while remaining an affectionate and safe pet. Our program is designed to teach your own dog how to defend you on command as well as teach the art of controlled defense work. These classes are designed for both the handler and the dog. Not every dog will be a protection candidate. These classes start by teaching the dog to alert on command or by threat, and progress to protecting under any circumstance while being put into real life scenarios. We do not rush the dogs through this program as every dog learns and develops confidence to protect at a different pace. All dogs must be obedience trained on and off leash before beginning this program. We will finish up any training required to satisfy the On Command requirements for personal protection. On average, dogs can begin to participate in a protection training program as early as 9-12 months of age. This program is broken up into two progressive levels: Protection Dog Basics I and Protection Dog Basics II.

SPORTS DOG BASICS I

This program is designed for dogs with no experience in protection training. The program develops natural drives and instincts and provides bite development. The skills learned in Protection Dog Basics I are considered foundational, meaning they are the base upon which other skills are built. Think of it as a protection dog training kindergarten or a prerequisite to Protection Dog Basics II. During this phase of training, we look to develop specific drives that will be required of your dog should you ever be faced with a threat. For the puppy or beginner, this means developing the prey drive. For adult dogs, we would also focus on defense imprinting, the development of active aggression, and active prey and fighting drive. Following the development of drives, we look to develop the dog's bite. This training includes developing the strength and fullness of bite, as well as speed and targeting capabilities.

Protection Dog Basics I is a $600 course that runs 10 sessions. Some dogs are not suited to be a Protection Dog. Your dog has the option to drop out or switch to an alternate course, prior to the 4th week of the course for a partial refund. 

SPORTS DOG BASICS II

This program elaborates on skills learned in Protection Dog Basics I and teaches a dog to be willing to bite a person rather than just training equipment. The process used to accomplish this differs from dog to dog. For most dogs, it’s a combination of teaching a dog to be comfortable biting both the upper and lower body, as well as teaching the dog to ignore equipment despite the pleasure derived from biting it, and focus on the person. The challenge is to accomplish this in prey drive rather than self-defense (aggression). During this phase, we imprint the use of defense and then develop it into what is commonly referred to as Active Aggression. This simply means that if challenged, a dog knows how to use aggression to take a fight to the next level and is happy to do so. In other words, the dog finds it inwardly satisfying. The dog learns to control potential and real threats with the use of its active aggression when commanded to do so by its owner.

For exercises, we teach the aggressive alert for the dog when confronted with real-life altercations which may involve screaming, carrying-on, and/or arguing. We agitate the dog in order to bring out the protective instinct and teach them to react with barking and aggressive behaviors to scare the threat away. This is important so that a dog reacts as the threat approaches and continues to get closer. As the dog becomes proficient in protection and active aggression, we will develop the dog’s drive to actively charge, pursue, and attack a threat.

The time frame required for Protection Dog Basics II averages from 8-10 weeks with a cost dependent on the time frame. For younger dogs, the time frame may be longer.