May 19, 2011
A local fire department bought a young dog for S&R. It’s very fearful around strangers. Do you think they made a mistake?
Full Question:
The Metro fire dept. in Nash, TN has recently bought a high dollar pup for my neighbor, whom is a fireman, to perform search and rescue and I assume accelerant detection. I am no expert, but I have been burned by a "master military dog trainer." The pup came from a breeder someplace in TN, and it is a decent looking all black male named Smokey. I don't think the dog will be successful. At two months old, it doesn't like people. It barks at everything and will not approach a non-threatening passerby, or allow me to touch him during a one hour visit. It seems fearful of anyone outside of its family.I know you don't care, but I don't know what I can do to help them other than refer them to your web site for advise. Or maybe i'm wrong, and the pups confidence will grow as he matures. At this time, in my opinion, his best chance for success is as a watch dog. He is so jumpy that I think he would alert to any intruders. Whether he has the courage to face a man is another story.
No need to reply unless you think I am way off base. If I am wrong in my assessment, I would like to know.
Ed's Answer:
Unfortunately departments (whether it's police or fire) have little experience in selection testing dogs. They now what they want in terms of an end product but most have no idea how to go about picking an animal that can do the work.
If what you describe is accurate, this dog will never become a very effective service dog. He does not have good nerves (which is the reason for the dog barking at strangers and being fearful). This is a genetic issue and no amount of socializing is going to bring a puppy around enough to make it an effective service dog.
An S&R dog needs to be environmentally secure, with good drives and nerves. If one part is missing the equation does not work.
Now the department needs to figure out if they are more interested in making the program work or if the people who made the decision are more interested in covering their buts and not admitting that they made a mistake.
I have been collecting video footage for about a year to edit a tape on selection testing police service dogs. There is a very definite need for this tape, this situation is a perfect example. There will be a lot of importers who will not like what I have to say. They are going to have to step to the line and raise their standards.
If what you describe is accurate, this dog will never become a very effective service dog. He does not have good nerves (which is the reason for the dog barking at strangers and being fearful). This is a genetic issue and no amount of socializing is going to bring a puppy around enough to make it an effective service dog.
An S&R dog needs to be environmentally secure, with good drives and nerves. If one part is missing the equation does not work.
Now the department needs to figure out if they are more interested in making the program work or if the people who made the decision are more interested in covering their buts and not admitting that they made a mistake.
I have been collecting video footage for about a year to edit a tape on selection testing police service dogs. There is a very definite need for this tape, this situation is a perfect example. There will be a lot of importers who will not like what I have to say. They are going to have to step to the line and raise their standards.
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