Foundation

The foundation work is largely focussed on strengthening the dog’s mental state as far as is possible, rather than training certain technical behaviours or skills. The primary objectives are:

1. Enhanced situational awareness: A heightened sensitivity to potential threats, often referred to as "sharpness," "vigilance," and "watchfulness." We want to create a dog that is alert and ready to respond to any situation that may arise.

2. Improved courage and assertiveness: The ability to engage with and neutralize an advancing threat with confidence and self assurance.

3. Refined mental tenacity: The mental toughness and resilience that will allow the dog to handle defensive pressure, and an improved capacity to work through challenging situations with composure.

Once the foundation is in place the dog can then be advanced through any one of the following ways:
(in no particular order)

Fight

The primary objective of this is to condition the dog to withstand escalating levels of pressure, teaching it to persevere despite initial resistance from an opponent. An attacker may employ various tactics to deter the dog, including physical confrontations such as punches, slaps, kicks, and grabbing the skin. Furthermore, they may attempt to intimidate the dog by throwing it against objects like walls or doors.

To foster resilience and mental fortitude, we believe it's important to teach the dog to withstand counter-attacks. This training enables the dog to develop perseverance in the face of adversity, learning to push forward rather than retreat when confronted with challenges. Ultimately, this process empowers the dog to achieve victory, even in the most daunting situations.

Suitwork

The suit enables us to present a more realistic scenario to the dog, as it resembles an oversized, inflated jacket. The added protection it provides also allows us to take calculated risks with the decoy's safety, giving us greater freedom to test the dog in diverse situations. This includes off-leash scenarios, which can be particularly challenging for dogs that rely on the physical connection and sense of security provided by the leash. Without this "backup," many dogs may become apprehensive or lose their nerve. The suit offers us increased versatility and flexibility in testing and proofing the dog, allowing for a more comprehensive and well rounded training approach.

Civil Drills

The purpose of civil drills is to prevent equipment fixation. Dogs with high prey and hunting instincts often redirect frustration towards equipment, compromising focus on the opponent. Some dogs are simply not comfortable with confrontation and will attempt to "avoid" it by channelling onto equipment rather than face the adversary head on. Although our defensive training approach minimizes this issue, reinforcing the dog's understanding of its role is essential. The dog's primary objective should be to protect and defend its handler from attack, not to pursue equipment. To solidify a civil orientation, we employ drills such as:

1. Muzzle work: Ensuring the dog will engage with no equipment present
2. Hidden sleeve work: To simulate real-world scenarios
3. Civil agitation: Ensuring the dog will “fire up” with no equipment present
4. Equipment shedding: Ensuring the dog will spit out dead equipment & pursue the live target.

Passive Alert

This aspect of training focuses on teaching the dog how to handle a passive or non-threatening individual. Many dogs will readily react to an aggressive or menacing suspect, but will then fail to respond appropriately to someone who appears friendly or non-threatening. This can be problematic, as many suspects will act friendly and even apologetic once discovered and confronted. By doing so, they get you to drop your guard, which gives them the opportunity to surprise & overpower you. Therefore, it's essential for the dog to understand that just because a person has a non-threatening appearance or demeanour, does not mean they are not a threat. The dog must have a healthy suspicion of anyone who is unfamiliar.

Apprehension

Apprehension refers to the act of a dog chasing and catching a fleeing suspect. This behaviour is rooted in the dog's innate prey drive. However, my training approach prioritizes defense and protection of the handler, owner, and family. In this context, apprehension is not a primary focus, as it may compromise the dog's primary responsibility: staying with and protecting its owner. Pursuing a fleeing suspect can leave the owner vulnerable and undefended, which is an obvious risk. Nevertheless, we recognize that apprehension training may be valuable for certain clients, and we make this training available to those who require it.

Obstacles

This training module focuses on teaching the dog to overcome obstacles that may impede its ability to reach you in a crisis situation. The dog learns to navigate various barriers, such as windows, walls, fences, vehicles, stairs, furniture, and uneven or uncomfortable surfaces like slick floors, confined spaces, stairs or dark rooms. To succeed, the dog must demonstrate agility, determination, and problem-solving skills, including jumping, climbing, or crawling, to ultimately reach you and provide assistance.

Fended Attack

Fended attack training simulates a situation where an opponent attempts to block or deter the dog using an object. This could be a backpack, chair, or any other available item. In some cases, the opponent may even throw objects, such as rocks, to deflect the dog. This type of training is useful for K9s deployed in apprehension situations or those expected to guard properties. By teaching the dog to navigate these scenarios effectively, we enhance its ability to counter an opponent's attempts to fend it off, ultimately increasing the dog's overall effectiveness in protecting its handler or territory.

House/ Area Search

House or area searches leverage the dog's powerful sense of smell to detect potential intruders. Through this exercise, the dog learns to systematically search a designated area for an unfamiliar or suspicious scent. If found, the dog must pinpoint its source, and locate the intruder. Depending on the owner's preference, the dog can then be trained to either alert on the suspect, or apprehend the individual. This skill is extremely valuable. Many attacks take place this way, and it can easily be prevented by having your dog search your yard or house upon returning home, especially after an extended absence. This is a proactive measure that provides an added layer of security and peace of mind.

Control/ Guard

I personally have reservations about teaching dogs to release their grip on an opponent. In my experience, this skill can be unreliable and may create hesitation in the dog's mind, leading to confusion about whether to engage or release. Hesitation is a liability in high-pressure situations, where the dog needs unwavering resolve to confront the opponent. Moreover, it's challenging for a dog to "stand down" when in a defensive or vulnerable position. Instead of teaching a release command, I focus on the "lift off" technique, which allows the dog to be easily lifted off the bite. To provide owners with greater control, we also teach a down stay or active guard. This enables the dog to be lifted off and placed in a controlled position, allowing the owner to regain composure. This approach is particularly useful when combined with area or house searches, as the dog can be instructed to assume an active guard position upon locating an intruder, especially if the intruder is hiding and unreachable. In this way the dog is under control, yet ready to re-engage if need be.

Scenarios & Testing

Scenario training and testing essentially entails placing the dog in unexpected, real-world situations to assess its response. This phase is not about training, but rather about evaluating the dog's decision-making and reactions under pressure. By simulating various scenarios, we can identify potential weaknesses in the dog's training and pinpoint areas for improvement. The specific scenarios are tailored to the individual's circumstances, lifestyle, and needs. Examples include night-time simulations, which add an extra layer of complexity, as well as scenarios such as being ambushed while entering or exiting a vehicle, being attacked during a walk or hike, being boxed-in when pulling into your driveway, or mugged at the ATM or shopping centre parking lot. These simulations help prepare the dog to respond effectively in a variety of situations. The important element here is that the attack must be a surprise to the dog and he must not expect it in any way. This is the only way to get an accurate idea of how the dog will respond.