Hello everyone,

I am new to the board but not the website. I have been clicking on every link possible for the past month or so and i think that i have only scratched the surface! My question revolves around training a future police dog so that is why i am posting it here. I hope it is the right place if not direct me to where i shold post it.

I am looking to train my new 3 month old Dutch Shepard puppy for police work. I am a small town officer and as such my funds are limited. I am looking for some advise on the videos that are offered from Leerburg.com that could get me started in the right direction. I am not new to training dogs but with this being said i have never even come close to training a police dog! From studying the website it appears that the DVD's How to raise a Working puppy, Building drive and Focus are a good place to start but i am confused with the Puppy bite traing DVD and the first Steps of Bite work. Are these two the same or are they completey seperate and both needed for a good introduction to bite work?

Any help that you all can provide would be much appreciated!

Well it seems to me like you are on the right track. That being said i haven't seen either DVD so i cant say anything about them but it does seem that "How to raise a working puppy", "Building Drive and Focus" would be a good place to start.

I am only guessing here but i think "Puppy bite training" is kinda of how to show your dog the bite rag and that kind of stuff and "The First steps of Bite work" is more for when your dog is a bit older and you start to introduce him to the decoy.... i think i am sure there are more knowledgeable people out there that can explain it.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the help. After re-reading my original quote it seems that my question got boiled down to discussing the 2 bite dvd's. What i am more interrested in is what information is necessary to start my puppy in police training? As i mentioned earilier i am new to this and i dont want to take a promising puppy and mess her up past the point of any return.

Any advice would be very appreciated!

Out side of the videos.

Go to your local police department and ask there K9 guys. These are the guys that are eather going to be working with your dog or buying your dog (what ever you are planing on doing with him/her) These people are going to be the subject matter experts on what they want. Maybe not the subject matter expert on how to train the dogs but should be able to tell you what is important to them.

The number one thing is a STRONG basic obedience. So i would say that is your starting point.

You are the one planning to work the dog, correct? I would still go to your local large department or sheriff's ofc if they have dogs and talk to those guys. I am sure they would be more than happy to help. Also, ask around to find your closest working dog club or Dutch Shepherd club and talk to those folks. I was lucky enough to find there was a Belgian Malinois club near me that also breeds and trains and is thinking about donating a dog to me. I am kinda in the same boat as you, small department trying to become a handler and all the costs are my responsibility.

I am planning to be the one working the dog, that is if and when I get her trained my cheif will allow it. But i will cross that bridge when i come to it. I have been in touch with the local K9 unit in my area and they have no problem with me helping with their training but i did not want to take a completely green dog into those once a week training times. I was Hopeing to get her started myself then have the local K9 unit evaluate my progress and provide pointers. Plus i would like to have that satisfation of doing it myself. I was just wondering, at a bare minimum, which of the videos would help me in this endevor.

We can give you tons of advise about training dogs but this may not be the right advise in you're situation. You have found a group that is willing to work with you. Ask them what they expect from you befor turning up at thier training with your dog. It can well be that they want to start with a green dog and give you "homework" to do between traininseccions. All depends. But if possible attend as much trainingsessions as possible, even without a dog, and look at how they work. Every bit of information will be helpfull for you



greetings

Johan