[laurlitt]

Originally Posted by Skip

Everybody likes the bitework, but there is a very good reason for the twice a week (max) training for bitework. It is the part that puts the most pressure on a dog. That can be good or bad in a heartbeat.

I would hardly say that twice a week (MAX) is a hard fast rule for bite work... Many a dog (including young green dogs) can handle 3-5 times per week... In fact, I believe the best learning comes from well thought out training and repetition (assuming it's the right training for that dog). On a good training day our dogs get two sessions in bite work to build on what they hopefully learned in the first session. That is not to say that a young dog can't sit back and have just 2 sessions per week while they are maturing...

And bitework isn't necessarily the phase that puts the most pressure on a dog... it varies for each dog. I wouldn't even say for a second that protection put the most pressure on my dog.. if anything it's the one where she could handle (and enjoy) the pressure the most.

Schutzhund training is a lot about finessing, (adjusting to what the dog needs and can do)... not just make general statements based on one dog or person's experience.