property protection

[blas_t]

Hi Butch , my name is Todd from Vancouver, Canada. Nice to have you here at el Presa! My female Pharus, has obedience training, and I have done a little protection training with her ( mostly evaluation, and play ) with my friend Craig who raises French Beaucerons.
I was wondering how to set up the foundation for a property protection orientated dog , compared to the personal protection dog.
This is really important to me as i have a new 4 and a half month male pup coming soon, and other than companion, i really want a watch dog. I want to start correctly, and set the fundamentals at a young age.

Side question, do you have any affiliates here in western Canada, or know of any good trainers, with experience in this type of breed?

Thanks !

[ButchCappel]

Hey Todd,
Good question, I don't get many about "perimeter" or "area" guard dog questions on boards.

This can be a whole different book on training so I will stick to some fundamental basics I have used that will hopefully get you started.

First, since you have a Molosser we will start with a little suspicion.
Set up something a friend can hide behind (outside the fence) and have them pop out at you and your dog as you are both standing inside your fence line.
As they pop out, have them stop and stare even stalk slowly to the dog. Keep the moves stiff and threatening. Encourage your dog to respond with any aggressive action, growl, or bark, etc. when you get the reaction praise the dog like a gay guy judging a Mr. Universe show and have the friend run behind his/her cover.

Keep this up extending the time the friend "threatens" until the dog will automatically go to the fence and act aggressive. At this point the freind should begin moving forward when the dog barks or growls, avoid any eye contact whenever moveing forward. Move forward as long as the dogs' aggression stays high or even rises. Always retreat before the dog feels threatened or reduces its aggression.

When the dog is standing aggresively and with confidence, against the man a few feet from the fence, introduce a bite object.

As the man approaches, when the dog growls or barks confidently have the man suddenly bring out a sack , tug, or whatever bite object. This should be introduced with lot waving and energy in front of the dog so it gets the dogs attention. Again AVOID EYE CONTACT WHEN MOVING FORWARD!
As the dog becomes excited by the waving object some prey drive should begin to surface.

When the dog will stand at the fence and attack to get to the object you are teasing with, go to the next step. Tie a rope onto the bite object and as the dog gets frenzied throw the object over the fence and give a slight pull back to get the dog to fight harder for the object. You simply go from there until you can climb a ladder, reach over the fence and see what the dog will do (with a sleeve on of course) You will greatly raise your dogs defense, and aggression if you practice this at night several times along the way.

2cd quetion, no, at the moment we have no affiliates in western Canada,
sorry. One of the greates trainers I have ever known, Doug Deacon, is up there but I don't know if he does any work for the public. You might try and find him and ask.

[blas_t]

thank you so much!

[RuthyC3P]

Blast,
Will you keep us updated on how this property protection works out? My brother lives on 40 acres in Montana and has an old Rottie but is thinking about getting a Presa when his Rottie dies. His Rottie has done great with property protection.