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A sport is what a dog DOES, not what a dog IS
One of the oldest and hardest fought debates among working dog people is the "sport dog vs real dog" debate. There seems to be a pretty common misconception that sport dogs will not bite "for real", or in a real life situation. We've all seen the comments, "IGP dogs are sleeve happy, they won't bite without the big bite sleeve", or, "KNPV/PSA/RING dogs are always in prey, they won't bite for real, dogs need to be in defense to bite for real".
The truth of the matter is, a dog's training venue has little to do with his willingness and ability to protect his handler (or himself) in a real life situation. So what makes a dog able and willing to bite for real and to stay in a fight outside of a sport context?
Intent, and Nerve.
What is intent? Webster’s defines Intent as “the resolve or determination to do something”. In the context of working dogs, intent refers to the dogs desire to bite, fight, and inflict harm on the MAN, not just the equipment. There are dogs that bite, and dogs that bite with INTENT!
What is nerve? Nerve is generally defined as one's steadiness, courage, and sense of purpose when facing a difficult situation. It is one of the most important traits tested in protection sports. Nerve determines the dog's ability to think clearly and remain steady under high levels of stress. The nervous system, or "nerves", controls the level of excitement, aggression, stress, fearfulness and nervousness the dog feels, and determines what behaviors the dog will display as a result. It is a key component of the dog's genetic temperament. Strong nerves allow the dog to react appropriately to his environment, and allow him to remain calm and composed while under pressure or threat. Dogs with strong nerves have a greater ability to "think" and make proper judgements. To read more about nerve, click HERE.
A dog who has had protection training in an established bite sport, who also has real intent, will bite for real outside of the context of bite sports. A dog with intent who also has strong nerves will stay in the fight under pressure. However, a dog who lacks intent, who may love his sport but does not desire any real conflict with the man, is unlikely to bite for real, and if he does, he is unlikely to stay engaged in a fight with a man.
In respectable working dog circles, people who use the phrase “real dog” garner images of shoddy backyard training with raggedy sleeves and trenchcoats, with dogs biting the decoys butt or hand area, hanging on by a tooth or repeatedly nipping and popping off to nip again elsewhere, ready to run at the first sign of eye contact from the decoy. Dogs typically classified in the category of “that’s a REAL DOG, not a sport dog!” lack the training and nerve to provide anything beyond a visual deterrent. When the pressure is on, the dog lacks the fortitude to stay in the fight. Without competent training, the dog doesn’t know the answer to the problem it has been presented with- a confident assailant who fights back. The dog hasn’t been shown that if he bites harder, pushes forward, stays in the fight, he will win. He may bite, but without competent training, he is unlikely to FIGHT. Whereas many well trained sport dogs have had the consistent quality training to show it how to deal with pressure, how to fight effectively to slow down, or stop, an assailant. The assailant does not know or care what drive the dog was in when it bit him. He does not know or care what sport the dog does for fun. All he knows and cares about in that moment is wether or not he can escape from, intimidate, or incapacitate the dog in front of him.
"But sport dogs only work in prey! Real protection dogs need defense to bite in real life!"
Well, no lol. What a dog needs to bite in real life, is intent, and strong nerves. What drive he is biting out of is irrelevant. See, defensive drive is based out of fear. The dog is feeling defensive because he has been made to feel like he is being threatened and must defend himself. His goal is to make the threat go away, and if he doesn't quickly feel like he is winning, a dog in defense is more likely to flee.
Prey drive is the desire to stalk, chase, pounce, catch, kill, dissect and eat an animal the dog views as prey. Domestic dogs dont always have the entire sequence (most lack the kill and eat portion when it comes to protection work), but prey drive is what is most often seen in protection sports. Some dogs view the equipment (bite sleeves or suits) as prey, and some dogs view the man as prey. A dog who views the man as prey is JUST as likely to bite and inflict damage as a dog who is working from defensive drive, as long as the dog has intent and strong nerves.
So which is better? Well, that is a matter of personal opinion. But some things to consider- a dog who is operating out of defense cannot be SENT to a bite at a distance. A dog who is truly in defense will not run 30 yards downfield and bite a man- that behavior is stemming from prey drive. A defensive dog who has good nerves and intent is a force to be reckoned with when he is being attacked directly or is on leash with his handler. But remember- defensive drive stems from the dogs desire to escape conflict. Willingly engaging a threat, and continuing to fight when he has easy escape routes, stems from either prey drive, or conditioning (having been shown that picture enough times successfully that the dog will perform the behavior upon stimulation, I.e, the dog sees his handler under threat and due to experience, believes that he will win if he comes to the defense of his handler).
So when we are looking at wether or not a sport dog will bite for real- it has little or nothing to do with what drive the dog is biting out of, or the fact that the dog competes in a bite sport, and everything to do with the dogs intent and nerve. At the end of the day, a good protection dog is simply one who provides protection to the handler.
Savannah Langdon, 09/2021
One of the oldest and hardest fought debates among working dog people is the "sport dog vs real dog" debate. There seems to be a pretty common misconception that sport dogs will not bite "for real", or in a real life situation. We've all seen the comments, "IGP dogs are sleeve happy, they won't bite without the big bite sleeve", or, "KNPV/PSA/RING dogs are always in prey, they won't bite for real, dogs need to be in defense to bite for real".
The truth of the matter is, a dog's training venue has little to do with his willingness and ability to protect his handler (or himself) in a real life situation. So what makes a dog able and willing to bite for real and to stay in a fight outside of a sport context?
Intent, and Nerve.
What is intent? Webster’s defines Intent as “the resolve or determination to do something”. In the context of working dogs, intent refers to the dogs desire to bite, fight, and inflict harm on the MAN, not just the equipment. There are dogs that bite, and dogs that bite with INTENT!
What is nerve? Nerve is generally defined as one's steadiness, courage, and sense of purpose when facing a difficult situation. It is one of the most important traits tested in protection sports. Nerve determines the dog's ability to think clearly and remain steady under high levels of stress. The nervous system, or "nerves", controls the level of excitement, aggression, stress, fearfulness and nervousness the dog feels, and determines what behaviors the dog will display as a result. It is a key component of the dog's genetic temperament. Strong nerves allow the dog to react appropriately to his environment, and allow him to remain calm and composed while under pressure or threat. Dogs with strong nerves have a greater ability to "think" and make proper judgements. To read more about nerve, click HERE.
A dog who has had protection training in an established bite sport, who also has real intent, will bite for real outside of the context of bite sports. A dog with intent who also has strong nerves will stay in the fight under pressure. However, a dog who lacks intent, who may love his sport but does not desire any real conflict with the man, is unlikely to bite for real, and if he does, he is unlikely to stay engaged in a fight with a man.
In respectable working dog circles, people who use the phrase “real dog” garner images of shoddy backyard training with raggedy sleeves and trenchcoats, with dogs biting the decoys butt or hand area, hanging on by a tooth or repeatedly nipping and popping off to nip again elsewhere, ready to run at the first sign of eye contact from the decoy. Dogs typically classified in the category of “that’s a REAL DOG, not a sport dog!” lack the training and nerve to provide anything beyond a visual deterrent. When the pressure is on, the dog lacks the fortitude to stay in the fight. Without competent training, the dog doesn’t know the answer to the problem it has been presented with- a confident assailant who fights back. The dog hasn’t been shown that if he bites harder, pushes forward, stays in the fight, he will win. He may bite, but without competent training, he is unlikely to FIGHT. Whereas many well trained sport dogs have had the consistent quality training to show it how to deal with pressure, how to fight effectively to slow down, or stop, an assailant. The assailant does not know or care what drive the dog was in when it bit him. He does not know or care what sport the dog does for fun. All he knows and cares about in that moment is wether or not he can escape from, intimidate, or incapacitate the dog in front of him.
"But sport dogs only work in prey! Real protection dogs need defense to bite in real life!"
Well, no lol. What a dog needs to bite in real life, is intent, and strong nerves. What drive he is biting out of is irrelevant. See, defensive drive is based out of fear. The dog is feeling defensive because he has been made to feel like he is being threatened and must defend himself. His goal is to make the threat go away, and if he doesn't quickly feel like he is winning, a dog in defense is more likely to flee.
Prey drive is the desire to stalk, chase, pounce, catch, kill, dissect and eat an animal the dog views as prey. Domestic dogs dont always have the entire sequence (most lack the kill and eat portion when it comes to protection work), but prey drive is what is most often seen in protection sports. Some dogs view the equipment (bite sleeves or suits) as prey, and some dogs view the man as prey. A dog who views the man as prey is JUST as likely to bite and inflict damage as a dog who is working from defensive drive, as long as the dog has intent and strong nerves.
So which is better? Well, that is a matter of personal opinion. But some things to consider- a dog who is operating out of defense cannot be SENT to a bite at a distance. A dog who is truly in defense will not run 30 yards downfield and bite a man- that behavior is stemming from prey drive. A defensive dog who has good nerves and intent is a force to be reckoned with when he is being attacked directly or is on leash with his handler. But remember- defensive drive stems from the dogs desire to escape conflict. Willingly engaging a threat, and continuing to fight when he has easy escape routes, stems from either prey drive, or conditioning (having been shown that picture enough times successfully that the dog will perform the behavior upon stimulation, I.e, the dog sees his handler under threat and due to experience, believes that he will win if he comes to the defense of his handler).
So when we are looking at wether or not a sport dog will bite for real- it has little or nothing to do with what drive the dog is biting out of, or the fact that the dog competes in a bite sport, and everything to do with the dogs intent and nerve. At the end of the day, a good protection dog is simply one who provides protection to the handler.
Savannah Langdon, 09/2021