Rebecca Samoska

I have a 3 year old that is not 'warrior' material. Still he has a nice full grip, and knows to watch the helper, he's not toy/sleeve fixated. He also is one of those that dead prey is ignored. Once the sleeve is off the helpers arm, it's not very interesting to him anymore.

My question stems from his differing attitudes. With some helpers he's active, alert, and barking well. With others he'll lie down, go into avoidance, pretty much looks terrible. All of these helpers work him only in prey.

I do realize he and I have some issues when working. I distract him, possibly dominate him too much.

We try to always work him in prey, he likes action. He's not into pushing the helper, whether from poor training, or genetics I'm not sure. He does not do well if defense is put on him.

I've been told he's been pushed to hard, too young, and doesn't understand that his bark controls the helper.

When a dog works very good one day, and won't work at all the next, what are some possible reasons for this? I at first thought he just wasn't into protection. I've been told at seminars, he's a nice dog, that has potential. That at times what they see is avoidance as soon as he comes on the field. They get him out of it quickly at seminars though. At the seminars he ends up looking good. I bring him home, back to club work, and he looks terrible.

What am I doing wrong?