A puppy that meets all these requirements starts it training at 2 months of age. The dogs are trained at the canine center. The training course is divided into 5 stages.
The first stage: a general obedience course, then the dog is trained as a companion dog, Schutzhund, protection dog, and personal guard dog.
The general obedience course teaches the following commands:
sit, down, stand, come, stay in position, heel, and fetch.
The commands can be given either by voice or by a hand signal from a 20-m distance, no leash. The “heel” command is taught by changing the pace and direction of motion abruptly. The “stay in position” command teaches the dog to lay still near an object until another command is given.
2nd stage. Companion dog course.
This course encompasses teaching a dog to follow the commands given under more difficult conditions. The commands can be given in whisper, by a shorter gesture, or while the handler lies down or sits. A trained dog can also follow the commands given from behind it, from a hidden location, in the dark, and so on. This also includes the commands given from a vehicle, a bike, a boat, and so forth.
3rd stage. Schutzhund.
A dog is taught to guard his owner. The training is play based. The dog is trained to pursue a perpetrator, to deter him psychologically, and to escort him. After this course, we can proceed to more rigorous training.
4th stage. Protection dog.
The following skills are taught: active defense reaction, safeguarding an object, protecting the owner, apprehending a criminal, identifying objects by smell, escorting a perpetrator, and preventing escape attempts.
5th stage. Personal guard dog.
The dog is taught to defend against three persons, to detain up to three persons, to catch a perpetrator jumping a fence, to defend against a knife or firearms, to escort a group of people and prevent escape attempts, to guard a house or an open area, to protect a child, and to guard a vehicle.
