Foundation in prey
Everything begins in prey with rags, tugs and puppy sleeves. The dog learns to chase, grip fully, counter into the bite and win. Confidence built here underwrites everything that follows, which is why we never rush this phase.
Grip development
A correct grip is full, deep, calm and committed. We shape it through decoy pressure, equipment choice and precise timing of the slip, rewarding calm depth rather than frantic chewing. Poor grips are almost always created by inconsistent decoy work.
- Full-mouth, calm and committed grips
- Targeting across sleeve, hidden sleeve and full suit
- Counter-work and re-grip discipline
- Out on first command from live engagement
- Muzzle work and civil transitions where appropriate
Equipment progression
Dogs progress from tug to puppy sleeve, hard sleeve, hidden sleeve and finally suit and muzzle work. Each transition is a fresh learning problem, and each is introduced with reduced pressure so the dog succeeds.
Control is the product
The measure of good bite work is not the bite; it is the out and the immediate return to obedience. Every session ends with control work so the dog never learns that arousal means the end of listening.