TRAINING with TCA: Defense against dog attacks

Many talk about self-defense and all the things to prepare for because of "bad people." However, one of the most common problems is encountering a four-legged "best friend" of humans - who at that moment is determined not to be your best friend. At the TACTICAL COMBAT ACADEMY in Bratislava, Slovakia, there is now a new course module offering "Defense against Dogs" in two parts. We let ourselves be bitten for this... That's what it's all about. The beloved dog is trying to sink its teeth into you. When it happens, it's too late to prepare for the situation. Milo, the trainer, has 20 years of experience with service dogs. And explains exactly what you can expect, from small dogs to giant dogs, from untrained to trained four-legged creatures.

Somehow it's like with people: some conflicts can be prevented when you understand the psychology of the other party. But if that doesn't work at all, the "ultima ratio" in self-defense is violence. Dogs are relatively insensitive to pain when it comes to action. A fist to the snout and other techniques can lead to success. Using a knife in the right places quickly stops the (sometimes life-threatening) attack.

Here at TCA, participants can learn relatively stress-free what works, what doesn't. The illusion of safety with a gun quickly becomes apparent in testing: the self-defender would shoot themselves in the leg. And since dog attacks often happen in urban areas, using a firearm is generally prohibited because the projectile would ultimately endanger other people.

The special thing about this course is that everything can be learned directly on the object. The theory immediately transitions into practice. Special protective gear is worn, as is customary in dog training. In plain language: the dog can bite, but it can't get through. (Well, not completely...)

Ready for Action. In our game, there was a Malinois and two German Shepherds. And it was a sweaty experience.

In the first part of the TCA seminar, the dogs are kept on a leash to give the learners a "controlled" bite, so they can better handle the situation. In the second part, the dogs are launched from ten meters away, similar to a real conflict. With a 40-kilogram German Shepherd, the impact becomes an intense experience.

Trainer Milo explains that the dog accepts what you actively offer it. So moving an arm or leg, areas that you "sacrifice" to then successfully transition into the counterattack with hand or weapon. Looking at the pitch-black Shepherd on the right in the picture, the viewer can see that the four-legged trainer is highly motivated. Even if he's usually a sweetheart...

It starts on the thigh here. In all cases, it is important not to panic, not to let the dog knock you over, and to calmly and deliberately move towards counterattack. It's all easy to write here. The unique experience of enduring and practicing with four-legged friends exclusively is very special.

By the way, they had fun with the people who came to play with them. And even though it's about self-defense against dogs: none of the animals were harmed, none injured. In addition, all were rewarded for their work.

CONCLUSION: A fascinating half-day with an experienced dog trainer with a police background and great animals - almost "up close." An unusual opportunity to learn "hands on" and stress-free defense against dog attacks. Highly recommended, especially for people who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to train for this or who are scared of dogs. The TCA course is conducted in Slovak-German with an interpreter, which works great.

"Defense against Dog Attacks 1" is a half-day course at TCA in Bratislava, Slovakia, costing 100 Euros. Building on that, "Defense against Dog Attacks 2" is offered for 110 Euros. New dates coming soon online.

All dates for the TACTICAL COMBAT ACADEMY online: www.tcacademy.at