Chimera Kennels

http://selfhelpdogtraining.com/wordpress/?p=262

I don't have a problem with some of the stuff he says, but then when you watch his videos in most of them you see him doing the same thing he is preaching against...such as sending a dog...loading the dog with aggitation. Seems like he has potential and knows some stuff, but is still doing the same thing most others are doing. Personally, I am not a fan of shepherds, dobermanns, or rottweilers being promoted as family guardian type protection dogs either...as both are known to work largely in rank type drives rather than fight drive, prey drive, and defense. Chow Chows also have a tendency to be that way.

That said, yes rank drive is a form of defense, but it isn't a loyal form in most cases and can actually cause the very dog that is supposed to be a protector to actually become a threat. IMO, that is an unacceptable risk for a family dog.  So, while I don't dislike these breeds for other guardian purposes I do dislike them being promoted as family protection dogs. A good family protection dog will be a Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde...submissive and playful with the family, but an awesome force of resisting power to a non-domestic challenge/threat.

Check out our dog articles page and look at the topic on what is a family companion guardian and also the one on animal behavior.

The aggitation work does not match his words on his website.  The deocy work was kind of funny to watch!  Some of his website comments seem true from what I have witnessed with sport trained dogs.  It is fairly easy to load shepherds, dobes and rotties in prey and it is a useful training tool to build confidence but many fail when put into defense mode by choosing flight vs fight.

I agree that rank is not a good drive for a companion guardian to posess and very dangerous if kids are involved.  While very few of the Mastiff breeds posess it the Mastino, Presa and some Danes generally seem to have more of it than Mastiifs, English or Bull. Also males seem to have it more frequently.

I did like the ability of the Rottie to switch bites to the weaponed hand though as each one seemed decisive and solid. The questions remains could it do the same in a strange environment without the suit and prey dance cues?