Hmmm.... 2

Terry,

I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my opinions and ask questions concerning the way I feel. A “Devils Advocate” is precisely what the dog world needs on a daily basis, someone to challenge ideas because through constructive criticism we can all learn to see things in a different light even if we do not come to an agreement. If my description below does not answer fully what you were looking for or leaves questions please ask or argue away. Time is a factor that plays into my writing, I have only so much of it to get my thoughts down on paper, I am sure there will be many things left out.

On another note before I get into this conversation further, my back is doing well, thank you for asking.

First, I think we should address my definition of what defense means in a dog. Just to be certain that everyone knows where I am coming from based on that description. Defense is different and unique to each and every dog out there, because it is manifested with many other traits and characteristics being displayed at the same time. As an example of these traits and characteristics, Courage, Nerve, Hardness, Clarity, Focus, etc. Each of these factors combine to show a different picture, yet do not change the actual defensive drive itself. Defense is exactly that, it is the very essence of fight or flight, the dog is going to be in a fight only if he can not immediately escape or only long enough to escape. It is a drive that has been developed to ensure survival for the dog itself.

I myself do not want a dog in any fight that may involve my family, friends, strangers, or myself that is fighting for survival. I want a dog that is out there fighting to capture and kill his prey, a dog that is willingly engaging the bad guy regardless of the circumstances. I do not believe that the location of the prey based dog matters at all, they are engaging the bad guy if he is at the end of the leash or 500 yards away, this is not the case with a defensive based dog.

As far as working dogs are concerned, I think the role of the dog varies from department to department on how the dog will be deployed. I have worked with departments who do off leash work and those who do on leash work, both of which have their merits and uses. I do not how ever know the actual statistics and would not be so bold as to try and guess. Although as I explained above I feel as though this is an irrelevant point because the prey based dog is still going to be better at the end of your leash or not because their reason for engaging is mentally superior.

I think you have probably missed the relationship between training and character traits in your observations on the field. Simply because a defensive based dog is able on occasion to beat prey based dogs does not mean it is a finer dog, it simply means it either has a better or more consistent trainer / handler. It is simple how ever when you compare like to like, take the world class level prey based dogs and match them into like defensive dogs and there is no comparison in this type of work.

I have been an active decoy for many years now, and I have no doubt in my mind what so ever that I can much easier run defensive dogs. Most defensive dogs (98%) I could run easily and repeatedly without much effort, I don’t because that is not my goal in training, versus (60%) of prey based dogs. This is where those other traits I described above come into play, to keep the dogs where they need to be. My goal is to build and develop all dogs, not to break them and expose their weaknesses.

Prey based dogs are superior for this type of work, hands down, no real open honest argument would reveal anything otherwise in my opinion. (the couch eating problem is a training problem, I‘ve seen it in defensive dogs also, the first couch I ever bought was eaten by a defensive dog two days after its purchase, my bad, not the dogs)

I never want to see the defensive breeds go by the way side, they are special and have qualities that far exceed the herder types in various situations. They have their nitch, and a strong loyal following across the world. Don’t feel as though I am bagging on the dogs themselves or the fine people who choose to handle them, I am only stating what to me is a simple fact.

I hope I answered your questions, I know I jumped about a bit yet I’m just typing as I go and not taking much into formatting my ideas because of the almighty clock, I would be happy to go into it further if you have further questions……..

Take Care,
Wayne Dodge

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you.
This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain