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Hindsight is 20/20
So you want to work your dog in protection or sport.
By Wendy Hutchison - For ICCF Working Committee
First and foremost, you need to decide whether or not you are willing to take on the liability, responsibility and risk of owning a dog trained in bite work, whether the dog be trained for Personal Protection or for Sport work. There is a social and economic responsibility that you should be aware of. If your dog bites someone and they can prove negligence on your part - no matter what they did to you or your dog - you could be sued! Check with your local city, state and township for laws and regulations. And consider this possibility, if your insurance company finds out that you have a protection dog, you may not be able to maintain insurance for your home. Think it through very carefully. If you decided you'd like to continue then please read on.
The second thing you want to do is come up with a game plan. Decide what you want to do with the dog. Do you just want a protection dog for home and family, or do you want to join the sport passionate and compete with your dog? You'll need to discuss your ideas with your family and obtain their support, as they will also need to be willing to accept the same responsibilities, and this endeavor will take some time on everyone's part! Sport and protection training and the commitment required, can make it very difficult to maintain a fair balance between training and family.
Here are some of the differences between sport and PP. I'm not going into any great detail and probably left out some things. But hey this is just a brief summary not a novel!
Sport: Requires a focused long `n short-term plan, with extensive obedience training. Specialized Equipment/props/training and location is generally needed for training and practice. Specialized, professional trainers in the sport of your choice, they are harder to find and you may have to put in some extra travel time and money. There is more time involved with at least 2-4 days per week training, not including home training time. Then with any sport come Clubs, Fees, and Rules! ($60.00-$80.00 a year or more on memberships, club dues and entry fees $15-$50.00 per entry average depending on event) and lets not forget to mention the human factor of competitiveness and the occasional disagreements that follow. Of course the perks are that you obtain titles and can win money!
PP: Good Obedience training is a must. Typical equipment required, biting and stimulation apparatus and a professional trainer experienced in PP work. Trainers are more abundant and fairly local and you would be required to consistently attend at least 2 days per week training with some home obedience. The clubs and other obligations that come with sport are not necessary with a personal protection dog. However many sports today are geared toward pp dogs and provide an opportunity to prove your dog and earn titles and prizes.
Once you have decided upon the work you'd like to pursue (and have your families blessing) you'll need to find a reputable trainer for obedience and the type of protection or sport work you have chosen. It is NOT recommend that you use some "back-ally tough guy" who thinks he can get a dog to bite and call that "training". You must use a professional trainer who employs experienced helpers, for ALL bite work training! It is helpful to have an obedience trainer who is involved with protection and sport work because the dog should be trained in a more military like fashion and a different language would be helpful. (For example: most Schutzhund sports prefer German commands, but accept others) A practiced trainer in personal protection and sport will be of more service to you and your dog than a run of the mill home obedience trainer. The average trainer may actually discourage you from doing things that protection/sport trainers would encourage you to do. Such as playing Tug-O-War and letting them win the toy (very important in prey drive development).
The best advice anyone could give you for finding a trainer at this point, would be: Reputation: What kind of reputation does this trainer have in the field? Have they ever been sued for negligence? Talk to their other clients, if they will provide references, if not, leave! Have they proven any of there own personal dogs? Have any of their clients proven their dogs? Does their training practice and style adhere to your own personal ethics? Are they flexible and willing to utilize multiple training methods depending on the dog's abilities? Make an appointment and see if you can go watch them train other dogs. A good trainer will talk you through what is going on with the dog, what they are doing and will explain what they hope to achieve. If you find a trainer that isn't willing to answer your questions, or wants to take your dog to train without you, think twice!! You should always try to train along with your dog. After all you are trying to develop a working team! Sometimes it isn't possible to train with your dog because of limited resources, so make sure the reputation and abilities of the trainer is worthy of your dog before sending him there.
Now that you have decided upon the type of training you would like to pursue and have committed to a trainer, it's time to look for that puppy! What you mean we haven't even gotten the dog yet? NO! Because it is important to know what you want to do in order to pick the dog you need. If you are unsure of picking the right pup yourself, many trainers (especially a good trainer) will go with you or help guide you in picking out that first pup. This is why it's important to have a trainer and a goal before you buy! The trainer should perform a basic temperament test on the pups to help determine their temperaments and suitability for the work.
Make sure that you socialize the pup from day one and don't stop exposing the dog to new situations and people. This will lead to a well-developed dog that will be a pleasure to own.
Do not buy into the concept that a dog is "naturally protective" and won't need training. Where you may have a nice dog that is alert and will bark at strangers, you will never know, how much pressure the dog will be able to handle in a real life situation, without testing him and training him for it. PP and Sport training test the dogs abilities and conditions them to stimuli to help them understand what a real threat is. You will also know that you have a dog that WILL protect you. One of the most important aspects of training a dog to bite is the ability to STOP the dog from biting or during the bite. Without the training, you never know if you'll have that control. Having Control over your dog, in all situations, is essential. When you have a dog, which has the potential to do harm to others, it is your responsibility to keep them under control at all times.
Remember, you have chosen an endeavor with risks. You have the obligation to protect your family, but now you are obligated to protect the public as well. Do it responsibly!
I do not claim to be an expert, trainer or writer for that matter. I am sharing a little bit of what I have learned as I continuously grow more and more fond (or as my husband says, obsessed) of this type of work. Working my dog in protection and sport has been spiritually fulfilling and has created a great bond between my dog and me. No matter what you decide to do with your dog. Socialization and obedience training is a must, what ever you choose to do, have fun and you'll have no regrets.
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The Chronicle Interview
Q & A with Wendy Hutchison, Owner/Handler of the ICCF Working Dog of the Year (2000), CastleGuard's Arkaine of Valor
Interview by ICCF Working Committee
Q (ICCF Working Cane Corso Committee): What got you interested in training for obedience competitions?
A (Wendy Hutchison): I have in the past obedience-trained my dogs on my own. But since this was my first Corso, I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. So, I set out to find a trainer and I was very fortunate that I was able to find a great trainer in my area, Tammy Waynick, of Advanced K9 Academy, in Jackson, Michigan. I had several talks with her, sat in on a few lessons and discovered that her philosophy mirrored my own: we expect our dogs to do what we ask. Tammy's `high level' training style allowed us to participate in competition obedience without much practice or additional training. We did need to learn the "stand for exam" and so we started 2 weeks before the trial. Of course, I also have to give my dog some of the credit. His loyalty, intelligence, and desire to please me allowed him to learn quickly and made his training fun and easy. But in the end it was my friends who encouraged me to enter our first obedience competition. I have never trained for obedience competition at the first level, however, I will be gearing up toward higher levels in obedience and in other areas of training as well.
Q (ICCF WCCC): What got you interested in training for protection?
A (WH): I have always loved dogs, and have always been interested in this type of work. I feel that a dog of this caliber, one capable of doing harm to people, should be well trained and be kept under control at all times. I liked the added benefit of knowing the dog would protect me and I appreciate having the ability to control the degree of protection needed. This was just another aspect of my personal philosophy in how I want my dog to behave. I'm not advocating that this is the right or wrong thing to do. And it's certainly not the right thing for everyone or every dog. I believe that this training has made Kaine a better dog and me a better handler.
Q (ICCF WCCC): What do you enjoy most about competing and/or training for these events?
A (WH): What I enjoy most is working with my dog above all. Whether we win or lose it's just the best thing in the world to be out there with him. I also like the camaraderie that I have been able to share with friends and other people who enjoy dogs and the competition too. I've met a ton of people who I have learned a great deal from and have really enjoyed their friendship.
Q (ICCF WCCC): Doesn't it scare you that your dog knows how to bite people?
A (WH): On the contrary, the fact that my dog knows how to bite is something I am not afraid of at all. Because the key words here are "knows how to bite". Yes, he knows how to bite, but even more important, he knows how NOT to bite. Some people have the conception that doing protection training is all about teaching a dog to bite. However, a great deal of time is invested in teaching the dog when it's not appropriate to bite. I know that I can call him off from an attempted bite or during a full bite at any time. I do know that I must be vigilant of people and events around me because I have the added responsibility to protect my dog and the public. I've commented before that I am not afraid of what my dog can do; it's what the people will do that scares me.
Q (ICCF WCCC): Did you select your dog(s) with competition or protection in mind?
A (WH): No, I originally got Kaine as a family dog. He has developed into quite a good working dog and has always been willing to do what ever I have asked of him.
Q (ICCF WCCC): If you were to get another dog would you select it specifically for competition and or protection?
A (WH): Yes, I have already begun my search for the next dog. I intend to train for work in Schutzhund or NAPD style competition. I will also continue to compete with these dogs in obedience competitions and other events as well.
Q (ICCF WCCC): Do you like obedience competition?
A (WH): Yes, and I would encourage anyone to give it a try. It can be fun; the judges have always been helpful and friendly. Don't be discouraged if you don't get it on the first try either. The judges will tell you what you need to work on and you go from there. It is well worth the try when you don't always win - you will have definitely earned it when you do.
Q (ICCF WCCC): What dog sport do you like best?
A (WH): That's a hard question. I like them all for their own merits. I enjoy the obedience but I have to admit I get a thrill out of the protection competitions. I like both the structure of the SchH trials and the unpredictability of the NAPD events. Each sport offers different challenges to the dog and handler. There is also tracking which we have taken an interest in and are doing well in.
Q (ICCF WCCC): What are your goals for future titles/work?
A (WH): I have several goals; one goal is to pursue a protection title. Another goal is to earn a title in tracking. I want to earn a higher CD title CDX or UD as well.
Q (ICCF WCCC): Do you have advice for others working their Corsos?
A (WH): Find a trainer who shares your philosophies and is willing to work with you to obtain your goals. Don't allow yourself to be swayed by people who don't know your dog or the breed to prevent you from trying things. Don't be afraid to get out there and try to compete. Do as much research on your goal as you can and visit events. Find out what the rules are and what the judges are looking for. Practice, practice, and then practice some more!! Be consistent and fair and your dog will go to the moon for you. Above all enjoy your dog!!
Additional comments from Wendy Hutchison:
I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to the people who have helped me to get this far. My husband Scott and daughter Jennifer who have tolerated my many absences while I was off with the dog! My best friend Laura, who's always been there and supported me all the way! Tammy and her partner Brenda at the Academy. The ICCF for being willing to support the Working Committee. Special thanks to the committee for the beautiful award!!! I have to stop and thank the guys who make Protection sport work happen; guys like Tony Omo. He is the Decoy for the Academy. Lord knows this guy has taken some abuse from my dog. But he keeps coming back and I appreciate his dedication. If not for the decoys, this work wouldn't be possible and I don't think the decoys get enough thanks for what they do. I have since met a wealth of new people like Max and Ron and Daryll who also decoy for me, Paul, Doc Fuller and Sweet Nick, Alex, Irina, Allen and the rest of the Red Star crew, Cheryl Carlson and to many others too many mention. Thanks to all these people for the patience and guidance you've provided to me!
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