Working Dogs Q&As

We are at the end of our rope, I am hoping you can help with your extensive knowledge of German Shepherds. We had a beautiful GSD 3 years ago and was not able to keep her because of a move and we were heartbroken. (We had her for a year). Well, about 4 weeks ago we decided to go and get another one and I will admit to you right off the bat we did everything wrong. We found someone in the paper and went and fell in love with the last puppy of a litter of 14. I think our minds were made up ...

I have learned so much viewing your web site and that is why I am seeking advise about kenneling my dog while I am on vacation. I am a police K-9 handler and I have been a team with my partner for a year now. I am taking my first vacation with my family for six days and I am leaving my dog in the care of another police K-9 handler whom I work with and my dog as a lot of positive interaction with. He will be caring for my dog at his house because he will be able to monitor him frequentl...

Hello Ed, I have a 3 year old police dog that has been operational now for over a year. In his initial course his bite work was excellent. He hit the sleeve hard and never hesitated on any bites. Two months into the course an instructor was conducting a formal retrieve exercise with the dog and accidentally smashed him in the mouth with a wooden dumbbell. This broke a canine. The tooth could not be operated on immediately hence it died and the dog had a full root canal. After the ...

Hello Mr. Frawley, My name is Michael. I am currently on active duty in the united states marine corps. I can all ways be found going threw your web site reading as much information as I can take in on dog training. With all the so called " trainers" out there you are by far the only one I would consider to let train my dog. To make this email short and sweet I came across an article entitled "Real men don't lynch" http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/08/174957.php I have plans on ...

Hello Ed, I work in the Israeli swat in puppy program for special forces. We have few malinois puppies in different ages, and we have some disagreement between us about the best age to put real pressure from a decoy on the puppy/dog. I'll be glad if you can answer from your experience with puppies and young dogs, what are you expect from a good (working) puppy to show you before you treat him as a mature dog and not as a puppy. What are the cues we need to see ...

Hey my name is Frank. I am a k9 police officer in New York State. I have a german shepard who is almost 3 years old. We have been on the road for about 1 year. I have been searching for a remedy with my k9 on a problem I have and have tried asking my k9 trainer but have had negative results. My only problem with my k9 is in my personal car and patrol car. I can not get him to be quiet during the ride. He constantly whines and cries in the car while we are driving. Once the car stop...

First let me thank you for responding as I am sure you are very busy. I am fan of your videos, I've ordered several and plan on ordering several more along w/ the books. I have a 3 y/o Mali who is sensitive to the E-collar. He doesn't even like just a slight shock. For example when it's put on him for a building search he will enter the building go about 10 yards, turn and detain me (the handler). His previous handler has only had to 'roll' him once and it was when he had the shoc...

Our department is forming a K9 unit and I am being seriously considered as the first handler. I am interested in your opinion on my "situation." My main concern regarding the safety of my family unit as we have two very small children and two adult dogs. I understand each dog is unique but without any further information do you think I would be a suitable departmental K9 handler or am I setting myself up for disaster? Thanks in advance, Kathy

Ed, I'm a Police Dog Handler in Yorkshire, England, I e-mailed you recently about Police Dog Training. Another enquiry I have for you is this. My wife Tracy is also a Police Dog handler and has been working her first dog which is a Slyvakion Shepherd for the past eight months on the streets. He has a huge amount of prey drive however we have yet progressed his defensive and fight drive. He is two years of age and very confident and after watching your 1st stages of bite work...

Mr. Frawley, My name is Justin, and I am a K9 security Officer at a hospital in Scottsdale AZ. I have a question about outs, recalls, and a rear guard and bark. My partner is a 3 year old Malinois that was trained in IPO. His bites are very solid, but he does not want to out. When he does out, he will go into a rear guard and bark (for the escort, like he was trained before in Europe.) We had an incident last training night where Robbie got "Dirty" when he was in the guard and bark...

Hello, I have a male GSD that has just turned 3 years old last month. He has been worked by me as a Police Dog for the last 1.5 years and has proved himself in all areas of Police work other than actually biting anyone. He has had a number of opportunities to bite both on and off the lead but on each occasion has not taken the bite. He has jumped up and investigated the arm of a feeing criminal and has barked aggressively at an approaching criminal but failed to move forward and bi...

Sir, I have three questions that came from one of our newer police K-9 handlers reference his service dog. I know you don't have all the info needed to make an exact opinion, just let me know in general if you have any advise on these problems. 1) On building searches, the dog will leave the handler, go in the building part way and come back to the handler without completing the search. He repeats this several times and his concentration is more on the handler than the search. ...

Dear Mr. Frawley, I was wondering if you "believe in" the z PS line of a dogs as one of the better line of police service dogs to select in choosing a patrol dog. Additionally, though I understand that all dogs mature differently, is it unrealistic to receive a police prospect at 6 months and expect him to be operational at 11 to 13 months??? I ask this specifically because I was just informed that a local (Georgia) agency currently utilizes a 10 month old dog for patrol wor...

Hi Mr. Frawley, Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I think your web site is wonderful and have purchased several of your DVDs. I have a question and it's probably located somewhere in your web site but I cannot find anything so I was wondering if you would help. My husband is a police officer with the Ardmore PD and they have been without a canine for several years. The state has awarded a grant for this and he has been selected to be the canine handler. He will be att...

I am a novice canine handler from a mid-sized police service in Ontario, Canada. I was interested in introducing my dog to muzzle fighting to help increase his fight drive as this was somewhat lacking. I purchased a muzzle, read several training articles, and purchased your training video on muzzle fighting. The introduction period to the muzzle went fine and I began the work in a circle with other canine unit from the area. His initial hits were fairly good, high and more or less in the righ...

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 ...

Hi, I have a question will the black pup make a good detection dog/ patrol. Do you have any male pups from the other litters? Thanks, Bob

Just wondering about your thoughts on a dual purpose police service dog having a handler change after being in service for approximately 2 years. 4 year old shepard. What steps would you recommend to make it a successful transition? Thanks, Peter (I enjoy your web site and the dedication required for sharing so much information.)

Ok, here is a question I have not found an answer from on your web site. I am a former K-9 handler that left Law Enforcement in '95 and have just picked up a great female. I don't miss Law Enforcement, but I miss working a dog, it was the best 3 years of Law Enforcement I ever had. So I purchased her from a good kennel, which has great blood lines, in-fact, the parents are from your program. I got her to have something to work with my children with and introduce them to working dogs now th...

Hello, My partner is a 1 year old Blood Hound used for tracking. My dept. is just getting started with the K-9. I am just trying to find out any info on if you have to mark your K-9 vehicle with police K-9 or any type of warnings? just wondering if you can help. Thanks, S. B