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The PronouncedK9 Training Method

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The PronouncedK9 Training Method involves teaching the four different temperament types: Aggressive, Prey, Play, and Defensive dogs to do 10 basic fundamental behaviors that are essential to a strong, balanced dog.

Step 1: Watch The Bad Guy
Step 2: Make Energy
Step 3: Channel the Energy Into a Bite
Step 4: Hold onto the Bite
Step 5: Make Carry – Show Win
Step 6: Make a Bite Happen
Step 7: Chase the Bad Guy
Step 8: Be Clear – Understand
Step 9: Start Fight – Hold and Bark
Step 10: Be Confident

These ten things are not new—they have been around for years. They are the tried and true basic fundamental skills every bitework dog needs to know. The ten things on this list are very important to this program but they are not what makes it different. What separates this program from the rest is the understanding of what drives each of the four types of dogs. Once we understand what drives our dogs, then we know HOW to train it to do the ten basic things. For example: Club members will be taught the differences between the 4 types of dog and how those differences can be used to create a similar behavior from each type. This behavior we are looking for is a balanced one. Most good dogs have a close-to-even balance of the four drives that make up each type: Aggression, Prey, Play, and Defense.

Step 4

You may be wondering that if all good dogs have all four of these drives, then what makes him a drive type? It’s what we call the Lead Drive. Helpers/Decoys using this training method will be taught how to approach a dog for the first time and provide a stimulus or trigger for each of the four drives. The Lead Drive is the one that shows itself to be the strongest natural response. If all four drives are tested evenly it is easy to see what type a dog is. The drive he shows in the strongest way is the drive type we will call him.

Determining the drive type is critical because the natural lead drive will dictate how he reacts to future training.  A defensive type has a completely different set of motivating factors than a prey type does. A defensive type is concerned about protecting himself and his area. In the beginning, he does not care at all about catching anything. On the other hand, a Prey type is only concerned about catching something so being concerned about his safety is not an issue.

typesThese fundamental differences must be understood to be able to train both types to their full potential. One type is looking to create distance between himself and the helper, while the other is looking to get closer. Most helpers prefer prey type dogs because of their inherent drive to bite movement. This makes them easier to get started in bitework than their defensive counterparts. For this reason, they are often thought to be the better type. Helpers who prefer prey types are usually using prey methods of stimulation and reward. They will get good responses from prey types and poor responses from defensive types, bringing them to the conclusion that prey types are best. But, there are also stimulation and rewards that create good responses in defensive types, but poor responses with the prey types. Once you understand how to train each type you will see that there is no best type—just  the best way to train each type.

Aggressive and Play Types also have their own preferred stimulation and rewards. This program will teach our participants how to identify a dog’s type. Then use that particular type’s strengths to train him to do the ten steps. Each type will be taught the ten steps in a different way. The way that is most beneficial to them. Even though each type follows a different path to learn the ten steps, the fact that they all know and understand how to do the same ten things starts to make them all act alike. This is the point of this program! We can show new helpers/decoys how to make sure, strong, powerful dogs out of any type! By using their natural strengths to build up their natural deficiencies we can create a balance of all four drives in each type.

The end result is a dog that has aggressive barking and actions—Aggression.
It is fast to the full bite—Prey.
Will defend his position at all costs—Defense.
And sees all of the above as something he loves to do—Play.
This is what we call Fighting Drive.

A balanced dog in this program is a dog who enjoys biting full, fast and hard, and cannot be made to go away. There are other factors that must be considered as well—such as Character, Nerve and Threshold. Each type will include Low, Mid and High Level dogs due to the variations of these factors.

Learn more at PronouncedK9.com

2 thoughts on “The PronouncedK9 Training Method

  1. Very clear written information which emphasizes balance ,strength and success for dog , decoy and handler. A breath of fresh air which is sorely needed to combat the cookie cutter approach which is such a source of dissapointment to so many potentially great dogs and handlers

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