I am about to take possession of of a trained Dutch Shepherd for police work. He is trained in attack, tracking, drug. His father earned the highest award in the Irag war and this dog weighs 105 pounds (big male). I went to meet the dog and it immediately was about to strike me until the owner recognized his behavior and stopped him. This dog does not bark or growl....it is just pure lunge and then it is over. This dog took down the trainer (260 lb). He is extremely powerful. Well, playing the ball from a distance the owner was surprised at how he was about to bring it back to me twice. The next time I kneeled and lost my balance a little and the dog then lunged at me and stretched the lead just enough to draw blood on my knee. For the first time i was trying to bond a little and thought i made a little progress but actually if i had not been just out of reach it would not have been a pretty site. This male dog is big, powerful, very intelligent. Thursday I will go back to the dog and i asked if I could walk him and work him with his muzzle on....is this a good idea. I will have to take possession of this dog within the next week and i am trying to bond. Also, my brother lives with me and we both must be the alpha of this dog or bad things are going to happen. I need some help with this. Again, highly intelligent, very powerful, no warnings, attack training, tracking for drugs, people. I need to get control of this dog or me and or my brother will get seriously hurt. I noticed that the owner of the dog is very careful with this dog, i will be the fourth owner, this dog pulls a 260 pound man to the ground very swiftly, at full run leaps over car or truck and attacks in mid air. I need some advice to get and to maintain dominance of this dog and to ensure my brother is safe also. I hope I have given you enough information to give me some good advice before i take possession and before i go to this dog on Thursday for my second day with this dog and try to work it with muzzle on.

I got this from a friend regarding a friend of hers so I don't know any more details about why he's thinking of this dog. But my gut instinct is to advise not to take this dog but would like some more expert feedback to send my friend.

get a puppy

None of the post is about you, correct?

You are quoting someone? That's all a quote?

"I got this from a friend regarding a friend of hers so I don't know any more details about why he's thinking of this dog. But my gut instinct is to advise not to take this dog but would like some more expert feedback to send my friend."

And that friend is speaking for another person?

IMO, there is no possible advice I myself would give in this situation except "I am not qualified to give advice about this."

Even if this was first-hand info instead of third-, my response would remain the same.

That's an amazing message.

my advice stands

No, it's not about me. I would definitely not even be thinking about this particular dog. I received this from a friend of mine. I think Connie's advice is probably the way to go. Truthfully, I think this could be a disaster in the making.

Just based on that first paragraph you quoted, it seems like a huge potential liability, and I know I would never put myself, my family or members of the public at risk that way.

all i have to say i think since a dog like this is beyond my scope WAY WAY BEYOND, is o heck noo whoever is getting this dog better have had working dog experience and on top of that experience with police dogs and apparently on top of that has expereince with owner aggression if its taking down trainers as he goes. wow all i will say thats a liability esp if his brother is not a dog handler as well the owner better have a very very realistic view of his abilities and it seems the fact that he has to ask for advice tells me all i need to know

Ashley

Beyond agreeing that you/they should get a puppy, my first question would be about the "living" arrangements. Why would anyone want to get a PSD and for it to have two handlers. Makes no sense and, in my not so humble opinion, is a bad idea.

DFrost

David....do PDs rehome patrol K9s to the civilian public? I thought, at least here (I know a number of the local K9 officers), most dogs live out their days with their last handler when taken out of 'commission'.

I can see a dog that is still young enough, being reasigned to a new handler, if there is a change with the existing handler. But if they are retiring a dog, which it sounds like they are with this one. Or at least obviously taking it out of commission it seems.

I can't imagine a PD, in all good conscience, rehoming this type(at least as discribed) kind of dog to a civilian home.

Just curious. Maybe different departments do different things? Just doesn't sound like this makes any sense to me at all.

I have a friend that purchased a K9 (Mal) from a police department that could not handle the dog. This was about 10 years ago and he was more than able to handle and compete with him. However, he is an excellent, knowledgeable trainer and decoy with almost 30 years of experience. After knowing that dog, it is hard to believe that any responsible person would casually rehome a dog of this caliber.