why does my dog not like being cradled when on the sleeve? - Page 3

Esther !   Cradling is more of a calming effect it has on the dog ..... after the bite ...... as for my situation as listed above it does not matter and IS NOT mandatory ....................... as long as the dog is calm on the bite.    Greg

"IS NOT mandatory ....................... as long as the dog is calm on the bite."

I appreciate what you're saying Greg, thanks.  So, in that situation, would you let the dog continue to trash the slipped-sleeve or would you just out the sleeve immediately?

OK !   with my situation my dog begins to thrash the sleeve after about the first circle of carrying ........ the most important thing here is BEFORE the dog loses his INITIAL GRIP he MUST be outed ........ thus removing him from the sleeve.   Greg

Hey Greg,

Good to see you on here!  One opinion is that this type of thrashing behavior *can* be learned during early prey development if the dog is in a program where the prey is kicked back to the helper immediately after the out.

The dog chased it, caught it, killed it and felt it dead in its mouth.  As soon as it outs, the prey magically comes back to life and escapes so the next time the dog will ensure it is dead before dropping it.

Scott B

Scott ................... I sent you a PM .............

Some dogs trash and some don't....depends on the dog. My dog doesn't thrash...never has...he grips full, carries and spits that sleeve out as soon as the helper moves. He is always focused on the helper no matter what the sleeve is doing. While I can cradle him, he ain't happy because I'm getting in the way of his focus...so I don't cradle him.
Greg's comment about outing before the intial grip is lost is on point:-)

for every question .. the dog has the answer ..  [ just one possibility - and it relates to temperament ] , oerhaos the  resulting reaction is, , the dog's  focus / mind becomes preoccupied / diesrtacted :  in order to avoid being dominated or dominant  rank more so than the possession of the sleeve.  , ....OR  the resulting reaction could be sleeve dropped becasue the dog is saying , ok , ok , i give in - i give up .. !! that is to say ...it's reaction to being cradled  may have nothing to do with prey drive , this or that .... many times in training , the handler him[her]self is the distraction or the outside influence !! e.g .. this reaction would go hand in hand for example in a dog that perhaps is overly touch sensitive !! my major point : a thousand times i have posted : if you look for this technique or that technique, how to do this and what  that -- you are going to create problems .. always always always ..look to the dog .. we need tyo understand and know the dog foremost !!  i totally lack the understanding why people that train dogs do not yet after year and years don't simply ask : what is the dog thinking , feeling , motivated .. common sense .. if you held something and someone craddeled your head .. what would you feel and what would you think , how would you intepret that manuever , what woould it mean / or not mean to you ? is what you were holding more value to you than being confined ??  when someone cradles  you ..is it annoying or comforting , reassuring ??