In addition to obedience, all of my dogs compete in the sport of IPO – formerly known as Schutzhund. IPO stands for Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung.
IPO is a three part sport which includes Tracking, Obedience and Protection phases – the dog must pass all three phases in the trial. To succeed in the protection aspect of the sport, the successful IPO candidate must possess a basic level of instinctual drives, solid nerves, desire, and willingness to perform the work with their handler.
The specific drives which must be present are prey (desire to chase an object based on visual cues) and fight (desire to defeat the prey object). While it’s helpful if the dog possesses other drives, they are not nearly as essential as strong prey and fight drives.
When we talk about “nerves” we are referring to the dog’s core confidence. A “nervy” dog is one who gets stressed and worried easily – often flipping into forward aggression or fear inappropriately or very easily. A dog with “solid nerves” does not see a threat easily, and is much easier to train in the sport. Personally, I would think twice about training a dog with weak nerves in the sport of IPO.
Ok; that’s your introduction to the sport – boiled down to the absolute basics.
Now for my personal philosophy.
I believe that IPO is a SPORT – I have absolutely no interest in creating a personal protection dog. I do not want my dogs to feel angry or defensive when working in the sport of protection – I want them to percieve the helper (person doing the rag or sleeve work) as a friend – a worthy foe who takes all of their attention for a difficult but rewarding game. I want my dogs to believe that if they fight their hardest – giving everything they have, then they will win the fight. I want them to believe that any pressure moves shown to them (yelling, hard frontal pressure, waving stick, etc.) are all threat but no substance – nothing they cannot overcome with the correct countering moves. Trained this way, IPO is no more than a very hard game of tug of war – between friends.
Understanding this philosophy is critical to understanding the videos I will share here of protection training. Trained well, all of the principles of good motivational training apply to the sport of IPO. The dog should remain happy, clear headed, forward and social. At it’s most refined, a dog working in IPO has no conflict with either the handler or the helper; we are a team of three. The dogs bite, release and perform obedience with confidence, acceptance, and a great love of the sport. Indeed, it is watching my dog’s reactions to the sport that causes me to keep coming back – my dogs are bred for this work and it is obvious that it is their sport of choice. They do the game of obedience for me and I offer the game of protection in return.
I owe the protection sports and several top notch helpers a great debt, since that is where I learned about drives and how to play with a dog using toys. Since that time I have played with hundreds of dogs and I have learned from all of them. I still believe that the root of all good play is based in the drives which are expressed in the protection sports, and therefore I continue to study protection work carefully to refine my own techniques and play skills.
If you decide to pursue protection sports with your own dog, it is important to understand that there is more bad training going on than good training – so pick your club and helper with great care. Watch several sessions before bringing your dog out. Check to see how the dogs are being trained and how they are reacting to that training. Note the interactions between dog, helper and handler; do you see teamwork or conflict? Think about ten times before working your dog in a seminar with someone you are not familiar with – the damage a helper can do in five minutes can takes months to repair.
To introduce you to the sport, this first video is of my eight year old dog Raika – she’s currently preparing for her IPO 3 title. Here you can see very good protection work; the helper knows exactly what he wants to see, and he knows how to communicate that information. He is kind with Raika, and in return, she adores him. Before the session began, the helper and I discussed what we would work on in this session, how we would accomplish those interests, and which “faults” we would ignore for the time being.
This video is two minutes, clipped from an eighteen minute session. That is a long training session for protection work, but because Raika knows how to switch from a driven state to a calm one, she is able to work for a very long time with a clear head and a calm mind. Indeed, she was asking for more work within thirty minutes of being returned to the car.
Raika is working on several skills. First, I insist that Raika heel with attention onto the field with a clear head. She tries to “sort of” heel – that is not acceptable, because it suggests her drives and control are not in balance – left unchecked that will become hysterical or out of control behavior. By holding the line, I can communicate to her that she must remain in control of herself, even in this sport where all she really wants to do is go to the helper. She is corrected several times for failing to heel with attention – note how I drive her backwards with my body. Compulsion is not required when a dog respects pressure – in the end I always win, regardless of the sport I am teaching. Raika knows that and “gives” to me within thirty seconds or so. That thirty seconds of “do it my way or don’t do it all” paid off – for the rest of the working session she was obedient to me and completely without conflict. We are a team.
Second, we are teaching her to bark in the blind but to be silent on the open field – a “silent guard”. This is a change from what she learned originally; in the past she was allowed to bark on the open field, so now she’s unsure of what is expected of her. To teach this, she receives a bite when she barks in the blind but when she barks on the open field the helper turns away from her – she knows that ends her opportunity for a bite. I reset her and we start over. This is her sixth or seventh session working on this skill and she performs flawlessly, so you cannot see a correction for barking at the wrong time – by now you probably know that my corrections never involve pain compliance or physical coercion. The third skill we are working on is maintaining quiet confidence when I walk up to her side; I do not want Raika to look at me when she is guarding the helper, so she must be taught that my presence in heel position signals a bite is coming. That is motivation enough for her to ignore me and she performs very well. Fourth, we are working on the stick transfer in preparation for the “side transport”. Raika must maintain a vigilant and quiet guard as I remove the stick from the helpers hand. Finally, Raika is expected to maintain heel position next to me but with her eyes on the helper when we move around the field together – this is preparation for the “back transport”. To accomplish this goal, the helper is walking in a small circle with Raika and I in the center; if she maintains “contact” heeling with me but visual contact with the helper, she receives a bite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM_utzn1cFM
Thanks for this! I love the protection sports. There’s so much value in them, especially for positive trainers. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of training in this field that doesn’t really honor the dog. Seeing it done like this is refreshing.
That was pretty cool
Thanx Kaptain
Thank you for explaining your training methodology for IPO. I am very interested in trying IPO with my young Belgian but am wary of the usual training methods. There are a number of IPO/Schutzhund clubs in my area and I am hoping to check them out over the next couple months. Are there any Facebook/Yahoo/etc. groups for pain-free, motivational IPO trainers?
there is a yahoo group called click bite, or something like that. There is a facebook group called positively ferocious – but both positive and traditional approaches are discussed. It might be time for a new facebook group which insists on positive discussions only – I will consider that.
I would love that.
Please do let us know……when you decide! Dillon, my doberman…loves the “search and bark” exercise….thinks it’s great fun!
Eve aka Dillonsmom
Please do!
Thanks Denise. I’ll check those groups out, although I would be very very interested in a positive-only group 🙂
That would be awesome if you’d create something like that. It’s so frustrating trying to find other like minded people that aren’t anti-IPO or any kind of ring sport for that matter. It’s so frustrating wanting to do some kind of bite work, but finding a helper that will get with the program is next to impossible it seems like.
As always, very articulate, informative…and refreshing! So glad you and Bart have teamed up. Looking forward to this latest wrinkle to your blog. Thanks for sharing.
As always, very articulate, informative…and refreshing! So glad you and Bart have teamed up. Looking forward to following this latest wrinkle to your blog. Thanks for sharing.
i look forward to seeing and reading about your journey. yes, Bart is amazing. i truely didnt think you could do IPO (Schutzhund) without compulsion… but you CAN!
I’ve been thinking about this blog a lot since I read it. IPO is a sport in my house also, but it seems to me that to a lot of people it is more than that, rather a serious business that will prove the breed suitability of the dog-and something necessary to them in order to supply their dogs to the police or military. I think more of the old school and physically punishing training still stems from that side of the sport now, at least what I’ve seen and heard in the whole 3 years I’ve been in the sport. Rewarding my dog with a bite is the only way to go on the protection field. He will do just about anything to get that bite/fight. 🙂 Your advice to check out clubs and helpers before taking your dog can’t be emphasized enough. I am very careful about who works my dog and how. I look forward to reading more of your posts about IPO, and am glad you have taken up this subject here. It seems to me, in this country, that the general public perceives the sport of Schutzhund as a way to “make the dog mean”. Your blogs and videos will go a long ways in educating people. Thank-you.
And now, how come the silent guard? I see the new rule says watch attentively, the old says guard him intently. Is that how it is being interpreted now where you are training or did you switch for another reason?
Keep the posts coming-looking forward to seeing more IPO video on Lyra too. 🙂
I think there are several legitimate ways to look at IPO training – one is to select for military or police dogs. That is not my perspective, so I stated it up front to be clear. Same with obedience; for me it is a sport of beauty and teamwork. For others it is the process of making a dog obedient to handler. Simply different perspectives.
I prefer the silent guard for Raika because barking makes her frantic. For some dogs it gives drive, but she has plenty of drive. The trick with her is keeping a clear head and a balance of drive with control. At this point it is not clear what will be the best choice for Lyra.
I believe the new rules are designed to emphasize the sport aspect of IPO over the breed suitability aspect.
It seems to me, in this country, that the general public perceives the sport of Schutzhund as a way to “make the dog mean”. This is Soooo true, it’s unfortunate. And i n this area of the NE, seems alot of ex cops are teaching “bite work”…..with not alot of control………scary!!! I’m using videos from very positive trainers..and just having fun…….my guy thinks training…no matter what venue…is a blast……and I want him to continue thinking this v b g
Eve Dillonsmom
What a super post! I have watched IPO on the internet many times before but never really understood what I was actually looking at and the real purpose behind it. and what it actually is all about. This was a great start for me. Hope you will continue to post.
Well written, Denise. Kudos!
~suzanne
I will never forget the difference you showed me in how to get loki to bite with confidence and a clear mind and not out of defense. He was sooooo happy that day when you showed how a helper should paint a pretty prey picture versus a handler who pushes the dog into defense drive for the bite. To me its a almost a laazy way to get the dog to bite. I never seen him bite for anyone else so strong, confident and clear headed. I will not pursue protection work with him at this point. He’s too nervey. And even if i wanted to, finding a prey drinven handler can be difficult., but it was still so valuable lesson to me in what to look for if i pusue it some day in the future. Plus i still love giving him a bite for reward when we train at home.
Reblogged this on Scott's K9 Working Dog Blog and commented:
Interesting read on Schutzhund/IPO training.
Are you still competing in IPO?
Nope. No dog for it.
Is it possible for an IPO dog to still be a fun loving and at ease dog when around family, friends and other dogs?
IPO should not change the temperament or behavior of the dog – trained properly.
Most IPO dogs are how old ?
I’m currently getting into the sport for the first time although I am familiar with quite a lot of the needs etc i have a young Mali 11 months old unfortunately I got him from a home that had purchased the dog not realising the needs of a Mali he became too much to handle after being kept locked in house and yard for first 8 months of his life his nerves were shot but I’ve worked hard on environmental training and obedience recall etc I can switch him to
Prey drive with ease and he loves to show his abilities and please me however bringing him back to calm after triggering the prey drive is a lot harder and he tends to then find it hard to decide friend and foe I’m starting ipo club training in my local area on Sunday as I’ve been awaiting my gsdl reg etc in your opinion can a dog that’s had nerve problems but purely by not seeing and understanding the outside world can that be overcome? As I feel he’s now growing into a confident strong minded puppy with a will to please and a strong bond to myself any advice or criticism will be taken on board and appreciated
Just curious, where are you located? Awesome job giving your new mal a job. There are lots of us positive bitesports people now to bounce ideas off of. Good luck!!
would you expect your trained IPO dog to protect you in a real life threat situation? Even if he/she got actually hit by the real bad guy/girl?
depends on the dog’s temperament. My personal belief is that if a dog has that much strength then it’s there regardless of training, and if the dog does not have it, and the situation is real and intense, then they won’t come through in that regard.
And of course – it’s always a matter of degree.
A dogs basic character, socialization and training affects whether he will be aggressive towards people. A dogs genetics will define whether he has the protective instincts and courage to protect his family. Schutzhund training will not change this basic nature but will give the owner some idea of how their dog might react, and also enable the dog to remain under the control of his handler. As far as home and family protection; in general, just the presence of a German Shepherd will deter any would-be attackers or thieves.