Family Protector and Guardian ?

[eSPO]

We have many people who want a protective dog that can live with the family, they want a guardian breed for this reason. We have three serious problems and misconceptions in this area. Can you help us clear them up ?
1) People buy a Presa and they believe that it will automatically protect them and their family in a real altercation with no training. We know there are exceptions to rules ,but, a dog needs to be trained to be able to effectively protect, to out, not cause alot of damage, and to obey under this type of stress.

2) People realize that training is a must but they train a dog with methods that make the dog too defensive ,on edge , and not reliable with the family and kids. They are surprised when their "family protector" takes a "nip" at one of the kids. I hear of this more often now.

3) People that belive training a dog to protect is "attack" training. They believe an attack trained dog is a vicious unreliable dog and this training should never be done because it makes a dog mean.

What is your the best general approach to accomplishing this goal with a Presa. ? The goal being making sure that your family companion is a reliable protector.

[ButchCappel]

Dave, probably the 3 most needed questions for JQP to understand.
Let me give it a try and hope it will help.

The "natural protector" is a favorite of breeders. I guess it is a selling point, "You wont have to spend money on training later"! If all this could be so acurately mapped out ,on a chromosome, the training profession would have long ago gone away.

Lets' take a close look at "inherent" traits like "guardigng". But so as not to start too many arguments lets look at oh, say, herding instincts.

Now, no doubt the Border Collie is a "natural herder". The best bred lines for centuries produce pups that hit the ground looking for a leg to move and an "eye" to stare down. If ever a dog was able to do its' job "naturally" I think this centuries old herding breed would be it.

Now here's what happens eight and a half times out of ten when a young, very well bred dog, sees its first herd of sheep. It is instantly attracted to the herd by the slightest movement of a lambs leg, even from the center of the herd.

It begins a stalk and stare movement, which gets the flock to move. ( "So far so good"). As the flock moves away slowly, dog swings wide around the outside, in a position to move the leaders back toward the shepherd. ( "OOOoohh man, you just can't top good breeding")

As the flock picks up speed and begins to move to open spaces, and danger, the dog moves faster to the head of the flock, locking eye on the leader. (Damn, I'm so glad I got a "natural herder", I'll never pay a trainer again, hell I paid so much for the "natural" dog I can't afford a trainer anyway")

Now you whistle the dog to bring the sheep back to you and to your amazement he starts flying straight to the flock, heading in your direction. But now he doesn't slow down, in fact he's coming faster. The sheep are very nervous with this sudden rush. they begin to run, but not toward you, they run EVERYWHERE! The "natural" with the "strong eye"
has split the flock and gotten to the first one, whos' leg he saw moving, and there is a life and death foot race goin on! As they crest a hill in the distnace it appears the "natural herding dog" is gaining a little! But you don't have time to watch the race. You have to go to your neighbors' the trainer, and borrow one of his trained dogs to get all your other sheep back!!!!!

Babe Ruth may have been the greatest "natural home run hitter ever.
But at some early point a coach said Babe this is the end you hold and this is the end you swing! A lump of clay, though the finest clay of all time, is still a lump without a sculptor. No matter what your dogs' breeder may say, own a dog, not a lump, invest time in training.

Question 2 how do you assure that your dog is reliable and family friendly when it grows up? All the latest data I have found on the new DNA and Genome information indicates strongly that a pup is pretty well formed, mentally & emotionally, by 16-20 weeks. Take your pup home at 8 weeks old and you have 8 more to have them socialized, secure, and confidant.

Remember the first selective trait man bred into dogs was an inhibition against biting man. So it will have to be something pretty drastic to get the dog to break this very strong natural trait. The most common thing to cause this is? Fear! Simple inability to cope with a strange sound or sight or senstaion causing the dog to be starlted and strike out from a fear base. The way to avoid that? Socialise, expose and train, that young dog. A side effect I never hear anyone mention when they talk about the importance of socialization, is this also gives you a chance to learn a great deal about your individual dog.

The knowledge you gain at this point could mean a much closer relationship with your future family member. That will mean you are more able to stop would could be a bad situation before it happens.

As to the "attack" question I agree this is probably the greatest fear and misconception. As I said earlier, most bites are fear based. Proper protection training builds confidence, confidence quiets fears!

All proper training will do is take the "natural lump" and show it how to use its' physical abilities without splitting the herd, or picking up the wrong end of the bat. All dogs understand the importance of defending their pack or territory, proper training just gives them the skills to do it succesfully, while they still love nothing more than playing with the family and the pups in the pack.