A common misconception is that protection work in IGP sports promotes aggression towards humans. The opposite is true – provided that the training is professional, well thought out, and follows modern, dog-friendly principles. Working with clear key stimuli is essential here: only when certain stimuli – such as the protective pants, the prey object, or the protective arm – are deliberately used can a specific area of motivation (e.g., the prey drive) be addressed.
In IGP protection service, the dog does not learn to act “against people,” but to react in a targeted and controlled manner to clearly defined stimuli. When this stimulus is removed, the dog returns to its neutral state – calm, obedient, without any need for aggression towards its environment. A properly trained IGP dog does not show any fundamental aggression towards humans, but is characterized by self-confidence, strong nerves, and clear selectivity in its behavior.
Video: Young dog training with Orvar
In this video, you can see Stefan's eight-month-old Orvar. He is undergoing typical training for young dogs. The goal is for him to confidently defend his prey (the bite pillow) against helper Peter – but also to learn to remain calm when biting. Orvar finds it particularly exciting when Peter, our experienced protection service helper, competes directly with him for his beloved prey.
The training also includes light physical contact and stress, as is common in martial arts, for example. Similar to children in martial arts, this not only promotes physical robustness in dogs, but also mental strength, self-confidence, and assertiveness. A certain degree of physical robustness needs to be trained—it is an essential prerequisite for dealing confidently and competently with the physical demands of protection work. This is a very important character trait of a good working dog.
The goal is a stable basic attitude despite high drive levels—self-confidence and enjoyment of work must always be maintained.
When the key stimulus – in this case the chase pants – is removed, Orvar can immediately switch back without showing stress or aggressive behavior. This is exactly what professional, athletically oriented IGP training is all about: clear stimuli, clearly recognizable changes in motivation – and a dog that remains absolutely reliable, calm, and controllable in everyday life.