Protection
Corsos are natural protectors. They do not need special training to protect their home and owners.
Protection as a sport can take different forms. In this section, we review the IPO.
IPO (Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung, formally known as Schutzhund) training is considered to be highly structured and high-level obedience is a major part of the dogs' training, along with tracking and protection. A dog must pass all three in the trial. The trails test the working ability, mental stability, courage, trainability, and stamina of the. Both the dog and his handler's performance are strictly evaluated is a judge who scores each aspect of each phase on trial day.
To succeed in the protection aspect of the sport, the successful IPO candidate must possess a basic level of instinctual drives, solid nerves, desire, and willingness to perform the work with their handler. But, please note that at the end of the day this is a SPORT! Not a mean to create a personal protection dog.
You and your dog can earn the following titles:
BH (Begleithund)
The companion dog title is a pre-requirement for IPO titles. Tests basic obedience and temperament. All breeds and sizes are eligible with the minimum age requirements of 15 months. The BH test has four components – the written test, the temperament test, the obedience test, and the traffic test. Read more here -
http://thrumylens.org/featured/my-first-ipo-trial-testing-for-the-bh/
IPO1 (Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung 1)
For IPO 1 the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament test by the judge and get at least 70 points at the BH trail. This test includes Tracking, Obedience, and Protection. In tracking, it must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20 minutes earlier. In obedience, the dog must heel off leash, demonstrate the walking sit, the walking down, and the long down under distraction, as well as the send-out. It must retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle, and over the scaling wall. In the protection phase, the dog must search 2 blinds, perform escape and courage test exercises, and demonstrate a side transport.
IPO2 (Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung 2)
For IPO 2 the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned its IPO 1 degree. In tracking, the IPO 2 candidate must be able to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.
It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests required for the IPO 1 degree, but those tests, for IPO 2, are made more difficult and require greater endurance, agility, and, above all, control. There is an additional walking stand exercise required in obedience. In protection, the dog must search 4 blinds and demonstrate a back transport of the decoy in addition to the IPO exercises.
IPO3 (Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung 3)
For IPO 3, the dog must be at least 20 months old and must have earned both the IPO 1 and the IPO 2 titles. Again, the tests now are made far more difficult. The track has four turns, compared with two turns for IPO 1 and 2, and there are three objects, rather than two, that must be found by the dog. The track must be laid by a stranger and be at least 60 minutes old. All exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated off leash. The walking stand is replaced by the running stand. The picture of obedience, strength, eagerness, and confidence presented by an excellent IPO 3 team is a beautiful illustration of the partnership of human and dog.
http://www.schutzhund-training.net/protection/bitesuit.html
