May 18, 2011
I have a 9 month old female that is in training for a police service dog. It recently hit a wall when it developed serious problems with slippery floors. What can we do?
Full Question:
Hi there,We have a 9 month old police German Shepherd bitch that is due to commence a 13 week course to get licensed, and have hit what appears to be a major hurdle. The bitch is from top stock and has amazing drive, nothing has fazed her until recently she has developed an aversion to walking on certain surfaces. Her reaction has varied from tentative movements on the surface and reluctance to walk on it to out and out refusal to go on it. The surfaces involved range from glossy floors to undergrowth in woodland areas. Her building searches and tracking have been impeccable up to this point. The only advice we have been given to date is to rest her for the fortnight prior to the course and then see how she gets on but with the view that she would be removed from the course and the handler (who is highly experienced) should she continue with this problem.
Any advise you can give would be gratefully received.
Kind regards,
Pauline
Ed's Answer:
Let me first comment on the issue of a 9 month old dog going into any formal police training – this is ridiculous.
No 9 month old dog is ready for service work. It is still a baby. Whoever is telling you that a 9 month old pup should be allowed into training as a police service dog needs to get more education about dog training.
Slippery floors is a genetic issue.
Some dogs go through phases but this is no phase. It goes along with training a 9 month old female to be a police service dog. I have been involved in protection training for 30 years, went to my first police service dog seminar in 1978 – I have only seen 2 or 3 females that were good enough for patrol work. So when you tell me that you have a 9 month old female that you think you are going to do police work with – WELL – what can I say? It is not going to happen. It almost makes me feel that this is a joke email.
Where are you from and who is the trainer that is saying to do this?
No 9 month old dog is ready for service work. It is still a baby. Whoever is telling you that a 9 month old pup should be allowed into training as a police service dog needs to get more education about dog training.
Slippery floors is a genetic issue.
Some dogs go through phases but this is no phase. It goes along with training a 9 month old female to be a police service dog. I have been involved in protection training for 30 years, went to my first police service dog seminar in 1978 – I have only seen 2 or 3 females that were good enough for patrol work. So when you tell me that you have a 9 month old female that you think you are going to do police work with – WELL – what can I say? It is not going to happen. It almost makes me feel that this is a joke email.
Where are you from and who is the trainer that is saying to do this?
75% (3 out of 4)
respondents found this answer helpful
Can't find what you're looking for?
75% (3 out of 4)
respondents found this answer helpful
