I am hoping to get some opinions on handling a dog that you don’t own nor one that you don’t live with. Here’s some background info: My brother has a 9 month old female malinois. He hasn’t done much training with her other than basic obedience. Originally he was going to try to re-home her due to lack of time for her but he is trying to find more time for her. I suggested that he get involved with a schutzhund club but his work schedule conflicts with the schutzhund club meeting dates/times. I have told my brother I wouldn’t mind working her and he is fine with me taking her to a club to see how she does and then go from there. From the limited time that I have been around her I can tell that she is food and ball driven but I don’t know if she has the potential for schutzhund. I think it would be a win/win situation for me and the dog if I could work with her.

If anybody has opinions as to whether it’s a good or bad idea for me to work with her even though I won’t be living with her, please respond as I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

Elliot,

Can you just give her a good home with you?
I am of the opinion that if someone is going to own a breed such as a Malinois, they need to absolutley make the time for the dog.

By you taking this dog and working with her, you are going to create a stronger bond than what your brother has with her. Therefore, I think that he should either give the dog up to someone who has the time or he should arrange his schedule to where he has the time.

I would take her if I could but I have a 6 week old son and a GSD of my own. Bringing another dog into our home is just not an option at this point. I do agree that building a bond with her is esential and I was unsure how to go about bonding with a dog you don't live with.

Congrats! I hope you are getting a bit of sleep at night

If the day-to-day handling of the dog doesn't conflict with your training, there shouldn't be a problem. Obviously, it is less than ideal for training, but sounds like the best possible for the dog at this time.

IMO, bonding is over-rated. Train the dog, the bonding will take care of itself.

Wow, I have to totally disagree about your bond (i.e. relationship) with your dog being overrated. ESPECIALLY with a Malinois,( a breed I have a lot of personal experience with.)

sure you can train a dog you don't have a bond with, but just like any other interaction between 2 living beings, a bond will make your job not only easier but less stressful for all involved.

I guess I am fortunate to have had some incredibly strong bonds with dogs in my lifetime and I can't imagine even wanting to train a dog that I don't have a close personal relationship with. It is true that training builds the bond, but there is more to a meaningful relationship and bond than just training.

Anne - your comment on bonding is one of the most foolish statements I have heard in a long time.

Hopefully what Anne meant was that through training, bonds develop whether on purpose or not...don't think she could really mean "overrated" in the sense it was taken.

I think the bond is by far the MOST important factor in any relationship, be it with man or beast. I can get my dog to things that less bonded "teams" would be amazed at, and it's all because we trust each other, for lack of a better way to put it.

While it would be ideal for the owner to work the dog, it'd be better than nothing for SOMEONE to work the dog. He doesn't have to something as organized as Sch. either; there are lots of things he could do with the dog, but if he won't, it's great that the OP is willing to do it. Too bad if he forms a tighter bond with the OP; maybe the owner will see it and realize that he could have the same thing with a few hours a week dedicated to the dog. I don't think it'll do any harm at this point, IMO, and I'm glad someone is stepping in on the dog's behalf.

I agree with Jenni. I'm really glad the OP wants to help his brother with his dog. I would definitely make the same offer for my brother and his dog.

I think Anne's statement may have came accross wrong as well. The little I have been on this board and communicated with Anne, I know she has a good understanding of a solid relationship with her dogs. She may have been telling the OP, not to stress over the bond. Just start the training and the bond will fall in place. JMO

BTW Jenni, your dog is beautiful. I love PB's.

Edited by Alex Corral (06/19/2007 04:37 PM)
Edit reason: Added comment

Thanks, Alex. I think she's gorgeous, but some would dare call me biased .

 Quote:

She may have been telling the OP, not to stress over the bond. Just start the training and the bond will fall in place. JMO

 Quote:

Hopefully what Anne meant was that through training, bonds develop whether on purpose or not...don't think she could really mean "overrated" in the sense it was taken.

Yes, that is what I meant. I'm sorry for the confusion. Bonding happens during good training. Good training creates a bond. Bonding is not a prerequisite for good training.

Lots of pet dog owners believe they first must bond, then train and in doing so, they might create a belief for themselves and the dog that training is not a positive interaction. It separates affection, play, training. In this way, bonding is over-rated and the most beneficial interaction with the dog is given less value. Observe talented and effective dogs trainers ( and I am not referring to myself, but the people I observe and learn from) and you will see them mix affection, play and training together.

For example, if you follow Ed's groundwork instructions to the "t," you will be doing good training and will develop a nice bond of mutual respect and most likely, mutual affection.

Sorry for any misunderstandings. I get into trouble on how I word things because I do not draw a line between play and train with my dogs and I do not think of play and train as separate activies or separate interactions.

I intended to encourage the OP to train the dog, without putting initial worry into bonding, because the bond will grow as he trains the dog and spends time with it.