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Sorry about your dial-up Sharni, but I'm going to set the hook with one of the amazing and most difficult parts of the testing I was able to witness.

Remember, the objective and demand for these working animals is not merely to produce a vicious dog but to have command and control of the formidable power that the best of the species has. There are other canines that each have a greater single characteristic than this breed, but none possess the combination of mass, speed, tenacity, intelligence and most important, the ability to perform exactly at the command of it's bonded human partner.

As mentioned above, these still pics require some explanation to understand the tenseness and yet self control of the moment. First keep in mind that when these animals are 'on task', every molecule of it’s being is focused on the moment. We've all seen a cat at that second in the stalk just before the spring pounces. This is how it is for whatever command will follow and so different from my family pet when I ask for a 'trick' that has been learned to be performed. These dogs are poised for the 'trigger' rather than a request or instruction that I hope will be recalled. The "recall" or "call-back" has to be the epitome of control and response.

The handler places the dog in the heel position and down at his side. This is when the dog knows he is "on task". At this point the suspect (with bite arm in place) approaches the handler and talks to him for a few seconds, casually walks around both of them while the dogs eyes follows like the little girl's head in The Exorcist. When he is back in front, he speaks to the handler again, then leans down to swipe at the dog WITHOUT touching him, ………….. and the dog STAYS DOWN. Suspect turn and walks about 30 ft. (10 m) away, then begins to run. When he is about 50 ft (16 m) away the command is given. The dog is in full stride before it is fully up and launched as if from the barrel of a cannon.

As the streak is about half way to the running suspect the "halt, down" command is shouted in German and the dog must IMMEDIATELY stop and go down. Do not miss-conceive that the dog was moving with the possibility for this recall command, yet he skids to a stop and is down with the same attention on the suspect as from the start.