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Topic: SHARPNESS |
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Dave Lilley
Member Member # 357
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posted December 20, 2001 11:47 AM
I doubt
thay many informed people would argure that "slight sharpness"
is undesirable in a street dog.
But as far as "watching your 6" (watching your back for
civilians) this is primarily a training issue. Every dog needs
slightly different training to achieve the deisred results.
Without training... most really sharp dogs seem to spend
most of their time "watching their own 6".
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Dave Lilley Michigan State University School of
Criminal Justice
Posts:
93 | From: East Lansing, MI | Registered: Aug
2001 | IP: Logged
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Dave Lilley
Member Member # 357
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posted December 20, 2001 12:42 PM
Here we go
again! Nerves and sharpness are NOT the same thing. (reference
Kevin Sheldahl's previous postings for more)
Here is part of the problem:
(For discussion we can classify both nerves as low, medium,
or high)
In my experience no more than 10 to 15% of all working
sport / protection dogs have STRONG nerves.
Problem: Sharpness (which originates from defense) puts
pressure on nerves because the dog percieves / responds to
even weak stimuli... that paper sack blowing accross the lawn
for example.
Solution: Many sport people and show people prefer a dog
with no defense or sharpness... that way, the nerves don't
look as bad as they often are... the dog doesn't respond to
everything or percieve much threat so nerves aren't can be
moderat or weak but the dog can still function.
It is POSSIBLE but rare to have a dog with sharpness AND
strong nerves.
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Dave Lilley Michigan State University School of
Criminal Justice
Posts:
93 | From: East Lansing, MI | Registered: Aug
2001 | IP: Logged
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Dave Lilley
Member Member # 357
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posted December 20, 2001 04:23 PM
Hi Ellen,
your definition sounds the same as reflexes to me. When az
trooper refers to his dog as sharp, I'll bet he means more
than just awareness and reflexes.
I've never seen or read your definition before. Most books,
websites etc. I've seen define sharpness as the tendency to
"fire up" or react aggressively to without much stimulus.
A dog that "fires up" (barks aggressively)when a a paper
sack blows accross the yard is exhibiting sharpness.
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Dave Lilley Michigan State University School of
Criminal Justice
Posts:
93 | From: East Lansing, MI | Registered: Aug
2001 | IP: Logged
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Dave Lilley
Member Member # 357
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posted December 20, 2001 04:56 PM
Here are
some links that discuss the definition of sharpness:
[/URL]
[URL=http://www.leerburg.com/terms.htm] There
seems to be some level of agreement regarding aggression and
its relationship to sharpness.
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Dave Lilley Michigan State University School of
Criminal Justice
Posts:
93 | From: East Lansing, MI | Registered: Aug
2001 | IP: Logged
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Vince P.
Moderator Member # 97
Member
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posted December 21, 2001 09:37 AM
Kevin:
Jason said that not me. He can be emailed at …
I on the other hand know that sharpness has nothing to do
with nerves. Sorry Jason but I’m finally in Kevin’s good
graces again. LOL.
Dave:
Thank you for the translation I had no idea what AZ Trooper
was saying. I have learned from experience that you have to
read Ellen’s posts carefully before responding. I think what
she means by speed is the amount of stimuli needed. A sharp
dog needs less stimuli to react. Thus they react faster
(speed).
AZ Trooper:
Any dog used for protection work should have a slight
sharpness to them.
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547 | From: NJ | Registered: Jul 2001
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Dave Lilley
Member Member # 357
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posted December 21, 2001 10:28 AM
Vince
wrote: I have learned from experience that you have to read
Ellen’s posts carefully before responding. I think what she
means by speed is the amount of stimuli needed. A sharp dog
needs less stimuli to react. Thus they react faster
(speed). ------------------------------------------ Sure
Vince but "sharpness" means more than just responding
quickly... its how the dog responds. If a dog hears a noise
and starts to SALIVATE immediately... is that sharpness?
When used in the protection context, I have never seen any
book, journal, or website define it as simply a "quick
reaction" without reference to the manner of the response
(aggression) as Ellen indicated.
Perhaps if someone could give me any legitimate written
reference or citation that defined sharpness differently when
used in the protection context--- I could accept that there is
a legitimate alternate definition.
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Dave Lilley Michigan State University School of
Criminal Justice
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93 | From: East Lansing, MI | Registered: Aug
2001 | IP: Logged
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Ellen
Member Member # 96
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posted December 21, 2001 03:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Vince P.: Good points. I
will let Ellen respond for herself.
Gee, thanks Vince. Couldn't you tell I was using the old
"avoidance" technique
Let's see -- where to begin. From the top.
I wrote: "IMO sharpness is just the speed at which a dog
reacts to a stimulus, not the manner in which it responds."
Dave wrote:
quote:
When used in the protection context, I have never seen any
book, journal, or website define it as simply a "quick
reaction" without reference to the manner of the response
(aggression) as Ellen indicated.
I can't disagree with you -- when used in the protection
context. Problem is -- I was talking generalities. Sorry! I
can't even tell you how I got there except that I seemed to
have zeroed in on only one part of az's (who has disappeared
into the sunset) question "IS THERE SOMETHING INNATE IN A DOG
THAT IS CONTINUALLY ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE?" rather than the
total protection part.
Could have been that I was still under the "influence" of
pain-killers after foot surgery the day before. In any case --
Sorry Dave. Sorry Vince. Sorry all other clear-headed folks.
Now ..... may I resume "avoidance"?
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Ellen Nickelsberg http://www.german-shepherdherding.com
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