Repeating the progression

As training progresses, the sleeve bites become progressively longer in duration and more challenging. However, we proceed very cautiously. Because the sleeve seems at first to be part of the helper’s body (while the rag is obviously not), biting the sleeve is much more demanding of the puppy’s nerve. For example, we do not assume that just because the young dog does a good, fast runaway bite on the sack that it will automatically do the same on the sleeve. Instead, we repeat the same careful progression we employed on the sack:

• obtain a good, hard bite on the sleeve

• introduce short pursuits on leash

• progress to long pursuits on leash

• introduce short runaways off leash

• progress to long runaways off leash

GOAL 3: The dog will perform committed runaway bites.

By the time that the dog is one year of age it should be biting hard with a crushing, full‑mouth grip on the sleeve. If it does not shift its grip while biting, show any sensitivity to the agitator or growl on the sleeve (growling is profoundly defensive, and thus the product of unsureness), then we can begin letting it run free to the bite. The quality of the bite (and of the dog) is seen not only in what the dog does while on the sleeve, but also in how it gets to it. The bite is not just a grip, it is also a strike. When the dog is powerful, when its desire is so overwhelming that it leaves no room in its heart for fear or hesitation, then the dog hurls itself at the agitator.

We first look for commitment in the young or novice dog during the runaway bites. This will be the first time we will have the chance to see the dog bite without the support of a tight leash connecting it closely to its handler.

Important Concept for Meeting the Goal