There may by a successful trainer somewhere who trains dogs with just a bite suit. Still, the bite suit is not a tool to cure all training challenges. Correctly used, the bite suit will assist in developing a dog’s intensity and fighting drives to a quality level difficult to achieve using a sleeve alone.

The bite suit can be used in conjunction with muzzle and sleeve training to develop both competition and service dogs. The results achieved are often quite impressive. The results achieved in Europe by trainers using a bite suit led to the import of a great many dogs to the U.S. Some of these dogs which were properly trained on a bite suit were allowed or even encouraged to make random, uncontrolled bites on a suit in a free undisciplined "bite-fest" here in the U.S. The dogs were like third grade students with a substitute teacher; discipline was almost forgotten. This is the scenario which led to legends of the savage Dutch police dogs.

It is important to recognize that the bite suit cannot develop drives and instincts which are not already inherent in the dog. The bite suit can be used to enhance what is there and to produce greater performance in all working dogs. Fortunately, in most cases, the trainer who invests in a bite suit is also likely to invest in a quality dog.

The ideal way to begin using a bite suit is, of course, to work with an expert, experienced trainer. There are several qualified trainers available to guide the proper introduction to bite suit training. The potential benefits are unquestionably worth the effort. Training incorrectly with a bite suit can develop undesirable behavior tendencies in a dog. A failure to maintain positive control could result in that unwanted sharpness in a dog’s behavior.

Following is a brief description of the processes commonly used in training with a bite suit. While you may observe differences in each trainer’s techniques, the same steps or a combination of the same steps are generally followed. Subtle changes and adjustments are made as each particular dog and circumstance may require. For convenience these processes will be described in three phases.

 

Phase I. Transition from the Sleeve

During this phase the dog is always on a leash and the handler maintains continuous positive control of the dog. The leash limits the dog’s range and allows the dog to reach only the targeted area, the bite zone, which the decoy presents. Some trainers stake the dogs out to limit precisely the dog’s range. Working with this type of control teaches a dog where to bite, always under positive handler control. During this training the handler should encourage the dog and use positive reinforcement, avoiding negative corrections as much as possible.

By repetition the dog learns to bite each targeted area which may include but is not limited to the inside and outside thigh, hamstrings, front and back arm, front and back shoulder, center and upper back, upper chest, armpits, etc. The dog learns to go to the bite zones which may be presented in any position the decoy might assume. The dog naturally returns to these bite zones throughout the training program.

Each training session will consistently build on the previous session’s work and will usually include some additional work to maintain the dog’s intensity. Very simply, consistency and repetition are essential to obtain and maintain superior performance. Slowing down or backing up may be necessary at times. There should be no haste in progressing, although progress is often surprisingly fast. This phase is never really concluded. As a continuity exercise for a trained dog, these steps are used to reinforce the dog’s natural drives throughout the dog’s competitive or service life.

Phase II. Introduction of the Lunge Line

As the dog progresses, the handler will begin to give the dog more range with a lunge line while still maintaining positive handler control. The longer line allows the dog to become more athletic, more intense and more confident. The timing of the dog’s moves and bites improves. Again, the dog goes to the bite zones taught previously in Phase I no matter how the decoy is positioned.

The length of the line is gradually increased as the dog continues to zone-in to the targeted areas during this phase. Of course, the trainer insures that the dog maintains intensity, confidence and drive.

In this phase the bite suit in a blind may be introduced. The whole man concept tends to develop the dog’s focus and intensity. This training counters any tendency of the dog to make a sleeve the primary target. With a bite suit the man is the focus which will reflect in the dog’s behavior. Also the dog will center on the man in the blind if he does not know which target may be presented — left or right.

After the dog is working well on the lunge line against a decoy in a bite suit, use of a muzzle can also be beneficial. Use of a muzzle on a dog working with a bite suit seems to facilitate the transition from the training program to working against a man in civilian attire in realistic circumstances. Again, the bite suit enhances the intensity and fighting drives of the dog.

Very importantly, control with the lunge line is vital to the safety of the decoy, the dog and the handler. Without a lunge line, the trainer cannot immediately correct bad habits or undesired behavior which might occur. Some of the top trainers in the world never take their championship dogs off the lunge line when training in order to insure absolute control, safety and not to allow the dog to develop bad habits.

Phase III. Off-Leash Training

After the dog begins to work extremely well on the lunge line, many trainers begin to work one session off-leash for about every five to ten sessions on leash or lunge lines. The on-leash training is continued to insure that the dog does not develop bad habits and continues to work under positive control. This is a conservative approach which can be recommended with confidence.

There are many exercises which cannot be conducted realistically on lunge lines. Thus, this off-leash training is conducted to develop a somewhat more proficient and a fully trained dog. The off-leash training is the final "polish".

It should be remembered that off-leash training can be dangerous and must be conducted with extreme caution. Safety cannot be overemphasized! When the decoy presents the dog with a target bite zone, the dog should go directly to the zone and bite with full power and intensity. Failure to perform properly requires backing up the training steps and proceeding again slowly.

These three training phases are closely related and are based on the same philosophy: positive handler control must be maintained at all times to utilize fully the canine drives and to obtain the optimum canine performance.

Using these training processes, a full-body bite suit can provide many benefits. First, the dog can become effective in confronting a "whole man" rather than confronting a sleeve or other object. The training becomes more realistic while maintaining a high level of safety. When the dog bites a decoy and not a sleeve, the dog’s instincts and drives seem to be more quickly intensified. When "man" is the primary target, the training seems to benefit particularly the younger dog by increasing the dog’s confidence and stability.

Most importantly, when training a dog possessing a good working temperament, use of a bite suit — along with correct sleeve and muzzle training — can help produce a dog with a full and confident, gripping bite. A dog without an essentially good temperament will not benefit greatly from use of the bite suit.

The bite suit can be used with subtle adjustments of "pressure" to strengthen the nerves of the working dog. The suit can be used to develop increased stability and intensity in a dog’s performance. Training with a bite suit can prepare the service dog to go on the street earlier and with greater confidence, better prepared for that first encounter.

Using a bite suit, a dog’s capabilities to work off-leash can be improved. The dog learns to "zone-in" bites to target areas which are presented in training and later may occur in real situations.

 

With the mobility and protection of a bite suit, more realistic training may be accomplished with less risk to the decoy. It can be argued that a modern bite suit is required in order to provide "prudent and reasonable" protection for the decoy. Overall, the bite suit provides additional protection in various and unplanned training situations. Sometimes a bite suit provides essential protection for the less experienced decoy. The suit pays for itself if it prevents one trip to a hospital emergency room for treatment of a serious bite. The benefits and liability implications are obvious.

The modern bite suit can be cost effective since the suit service life can be from one to two years or more depending on the intensity and character of the training. At least one manufacturer offers services which can add substantially to the suit’s service life and cost effectiveness. When the manufacturer replaces components such as sleeves, etc. and repairs or remanufactures the suit, the suit service life can actually become almost indefinite.

Several important considerations should be remembered when purchasing a bite suit. Overall production quality is paramount. Inspect the seams, stitches, fasteners and finishing detail. Also remember that many European and some U.S. trainers have found that natural fibers minimize injuries to the dog’s mouth and do not wear the dog’s teeth. Bite surfaces of man-made fibers can sometimes wear a dog’s teeth. Tooth wear can become a problem after periods of sustained training when the dog continually bites hard artificial fiber designed for years of wear on a sofa or a rug. Rubber protection layer inhibits drying of the suit between sessions and will accelerate deterioration of the biting surface. Also, rubber does not give as gratifying a bite as pressed felt.

Some differences of opinion exist concerning the use of self-gripping ("Velcro") or leather straps and metal buckle fasteners. Manufacturers usually offer either self-gripping or leather straps and buckles. The leather straps and buckles provide more suit mobility and suit flexibility along with almost absolute safety of the suit closure. Buckles become unimportant to the training when a dog is properly taught to zone-in to bite a target area on a man, avoiding hardware, belts, buckles, etc. Hidden buckles could become a problem because the dog may begin to anticipate a hidden fastener on every bite and could consequently become tentative. Most trainers in Europe prefer exposed leather straps and buckles.

Self-gripping fasteners are acceptable for competition suits and when a suit is not used in a sustained training program. When self-gripping fasteners are exposed continually to bite stress, saliva and dirt, the closure becomes less secure and the fasteners could become a problem. For training purposes leather straps and buckles are probably somewhat more desirable.

The suit cost, warranty and manufacturer services offered should be carefully considered. The suit service life and overall cost effectiveness are greatly increased in a top quality suit, especially when the manufacturer offers to install replacement components such as sleeves, vests, trousers, etc. Re-manufacture and trade-in options are also attractive.

While this brief article cannot address comprehensively all aspects of training with a full body suit, training phases described here have proven to be effective both in Europe and the United States. Expert trainers each have their own particular techniques and personal touches. Overall, there is no doubt that properly guided training with a modern full body bite suit can substantially improve the performance of the competition and service dog. This training provides an extra edge in competition. For the officer canine team "on the street" this type training increases the team effectiveness in difficult situations. The alternative is really not acceptable. The modern full body bite suit is well established in the world’s dog training community. The full body bite suit has definitely arrived!

Good luck in your training program!