There’s a lot of misunderstanding around IGP and protection training — especially online. As someone who actively trains and competes in the sport, I want to be very clear about what this work actually is… and what it is not.

IGP is a three-phase sport comprising obedience, tracking, and protection. These phases are not separate ideas — they are deeply connected. At its core, IGP is about control, clarity, and relationship, not aggression or teaching dogs to make decisions on their own.

Protection Work Is Built on Control — Not Impulse

Protection training is not about teaching a dog to bite when they feel like it—quite the opposite.

With my young dogs, Amarah and Lachlan, we begin by using toys as rewards for fundamental behaviours. They come in, they sit, they get paid. That reward system later transfers into protection work, where the rules become even clearer.

Dogs learn:

  • How to activate on cue
  • How to bark on cue
  • How to bite on cue
  • how to out immediately
  • how to return to a calm, neutral sit

The “exciting” part of protection only exists because the dog has already learned impulse control and obedience. Without that foundation, there is no sport — only risk.

Why Obedience Comes First

One of my earliest mentors made this point very clear when I was training my dog Traya.

She would not allow me to do protection work until Traya had passed her BH (temperament and obedience test). At the time, Traya had some challenges with strangers. Her stance was firm and non-negotiable:

You do not teach a dog to bite strangers until stability, neutrality, and control are firmly in place.

Because of that foundation, Traya has only ever done protection work with a trusted friend, in a controlled environment. To her, protection has always been a structured game with rules, not real-world decision-making.

That distinction matters.

Helpers Matter More Than People Realize

Another piece that often gets overlooked is the importance of the helper.

Many places offer “bite nights.” I’ve attended one — without a dog. I wanted to observe how the helper handled different dogs, how pressure was applied, how timing was managed, and whether dogs were kept safe throughout the session.

When I attend trials, I also pay close attention to who is doing the helper work. Can they physically and mentally handle my dog? Do they understand how to read dogs properly? Will my dog leave the field confident and safe?

I often choose trials based solely on the helper.

The Question Everyone Should Be Asking: Insurance

There is one critical question people rarely ask about bite nights or informal protection work:

Are they insured to offer this?

Not just for what could happen to the helper — but for what could happen to your dog.

  • Is there liability coverage?
  • Are there waivers in place?
  • Is there insurance if a dog is injured?
  • Is the training legally and professionally protected?

I bring this up because it was complicated to find an insurance company that would allow this type of training when I set things up myself. For that reason, anyone training here is required to hold membership with either the German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Canada or the Canadian Working Belgian Shepherd Association. Those memberships exist for a reason — they provide structure, rules, and insurance coverage for everyone involved.

Why We Don’t Advertise Protection Training

Protection work is not something we advertise or offer casually.

Here, a small, consistent group of people take the sport seriously. If someone is genuinely interested, my first recommendation is always the same: find a club and go watch. Learn how it’s run. Observe different helpers. Understand the commitment required.

People are welcome to come out and observe here as well, but we are essentially full — and consistency is non-negotiable. Showing up once or twice every few months does not work in this sport. Dogs, helpers, and teams rely on one another.

We look for people who actually want to be in it, not just experience the exciting parts.

The Bottom Line

Good protection training reduces risk — it doesn’t create it.

Control always comes first.
Impulse control.
Obedience.
Clear communication.

Without those elements, protection work isn’t sport training — it’s a liability.

And that’s a distinction worth protecting.