A real street bite is the one thing that as police dog trainers, we cannot actually set up and practice as it would happen on the street. Because of this, we have numerous techniques that we use to simulate a real street bite. One of those techniques is the muzzle attack.

 

It goes without saying that before doing any muzzle fighting the dog should be conditioned to be calm and accepting of the muzzle. Techniques for this will be in the longer version of this article on my Blog at www.TarheelCanine.com in the coming weeks.

 

The problem with muzzle fighting is that it requires excellent decoy work to make it worthwhile to the dog. In many cases the dog will engage briefly, be unsatisfied with simply punching the decoy, and break off the attack to return to the handler or try to paw the muzzle off. This is especially true if the decoy is unskilled in doing a muzzle attack.

 

Many times I have witnessed training where the dogs are sent off leash, and if the dog breaks off the attack, there is no way to control the session. Intensity goes from 60 to zero quickly. So if the dog leaves the engagement, there is nothing to do but have the decoy attempt to attract the dog back into the fight. The problem with this is that we want the dog to bring the energy to the fight, not vice versa, and in fact, as with all our work, we want the dog to bring enough energy to the fight that we can do a passive muzzle attack and expect the dog to remain engaged until the handler removes the dog. For this reason we use skilled decoys and keep the dog on line during this training. But more than that, there must be technique to the encounter.

 

One thing which I teach at my decoy seminars is to have the decoy use the dog's natural opposition reflex to keep the dog engaged. Often during a muzzle fight, the decoy gets hit on initial contact, and falls to the ground, and then the dog will come in on him again on the ground. The decoy must both give ground when punched with the muzzle, but also the decoy should push the dog away, and then let the dog come in with another punch. This act of pushing the dog, keeping some tension in the forward press of the dog, acts like a tight back line in bitework training and causes the dog to want to continue forward in the fight. This is the nature of opposition reflex.

 

A good decoy can use this technique to keep the dog engaged. The handler should be attached to the dog with a 15 foot line on the dog's flat collar so that occasionally during the fight the handler can snatch the dog out of the fight when he is at his peak of aggression in order to further frustrate the dog, and then let him chase the decoy for a short stretch and release into another attack. The whole thing should be very fast and intense sequences of fighting and then frustration which can then be lengthened into longer, more intense sessions of engagement. Using this technique will help you develop a more focused and intense muzzle attack.

 

For an expanded version of this article, keep an eye on Bradshaw's K9 Blog on www.TarheelCanine.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Cookeville TN - The PSA National Championships will be held on the 25th and 26th of October, hosted by Thunderhawk K9, in cookeville TN. Morte information is available on the PSA website at www.psak9.org.

 

Come and visit Tarheel Canine at our booth in the Vendor's area and cheer on our employees who are representing Tarheel Canine at this prestegious event: Janet Dooley, TK9 Head Trainer, in the Level 2, Kyli Howe, Asst. Police Dog Trainer, in the level 1 and Jeff Riccio, Asst Police Dog Trainer, in the level 1 as well.

 

Our former TK9 club decoy, Scott Battle, and our recently graduated student, Chad Reynolds are both National Select Decoys for 2008, congratulations! Judge Darryl Richey will preside over the event.

 

If you want more info on the PSA Nationals, contact Jerry Bradshaw at malinois_jb@mindspring.com

 

 

 

 

 

Good in-service training is hard to come by for small agencies. In the fall of 2008 Tarheel Canine Training will address this problem and will host in-service training groups in your neighborhood (Baltimore-Washington Metro, Eastern Tennessee-Western North Carolina,  North Georgia, Southeastern Pennsylvania). The training will be scheduled in four Quarterly blocks of 2-3 days of training each quarter.

 

TK9 trainers will travel to these locations and conduct in service training in detection (both narcotics & explosives), patrol, trailing, and scenario based problems to challenge your K9 teams. Annual recertification will be held during one of the quarterly in-service sessions. 

 

Benefits: Your agency will save on travel expenses (gas, hotel, meals) for training and annual recert by joining or setting up an in service group near you!

 

The price for the in-service training will be only $750 per team per year! We will require a total of 8-10 teams per area from all participating agencies. So even if you are a one man K9 unit, call today to get involved, and keep your training at the highest level possible. You owe it to your dog, and your community to be the best you can be!

You do not need to have a Tarheel Canine trained dog to participate in the in-service program. We welcome any and all in-service teams to participate in this program. 

 

Contact Jerry Bradshaw at

 

malinois_jb@mindspring.com 

to discuss setting up an in-service program for your agency or in your area.  Call Today to be sure to get your slot!