moved here from ob video thread at
http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33827&page=4#385919

 Quote: Brianah Maloney

That dog has moves!
What made you get a dutch shep?
How would you define life with a dutch?

I am a first time "real dog" owner. His blood lines are from imported parents in the Netherlands. He has great genetics and his father is a titles KNPV police dog.

What does this mean? A very very hyper never tired never just chills puppy, lol.

Do I love it? Well I ask my self sometimes if I would do it again and I am only 34 years old. Morning 20-30 min walks with some light training along the path. He goes into his dog run area while I am at work from 8-5 then we do a 2-3 mile evening walk. After he rests a little then I do more training for about 30 mins. He gets dinner then rests 1-2 hrs. I have dinner then instead of watching TV I take him in the yard for some fun tug or fetch games. A little more training about 30 minutes then into his crate for some rest and sleeps the night.

I think the Dutchies look awesome and unique. I am asked all the time "what is that?". I love having unique things and the Dutch is right up my alley. I license him and they had to create the breed in the system since nobody else has one in my city. Again, unique and I love that. Super smart and very trainable even for me being a newbie.

I hope that gives you a picture of what it will be like. The facility I go to that trains military and police dogs recognizes the Dutchies as the most hyper and strongest when trained. My guy is just a puppy but I will see how he lives up to the reputation.

I wouldnt ever suggest a working blood line dog for a pet or he will just drive you nuts. I cant imagine just going out bored some weekend and picking up a Dutch. I spent months watching all the Michael Ellis vids and studying before he came to me. Even the training I have been able to do makes him manageable and my wife not freaked out, lol. Crate trained and sleeps through the nite. Gets in the car in his crate and goes to work with me on Fridays. Will go back outside when told or his dog pen when told. All these things didnt come with out work and training but it sure makes life easier.

Dutchies are awesome. Mine turns 8 yrs old in a month and a total hellraiser still. He is totally awesome most of the time and sometimes a total pain in the ass.

Wait yours RESTS???? Mine lies and waits sometimes.

 Quote: Brian Drake

I am a first time "real dog" owner. His blood lines are from imported parents in the Netherlands. He has great genetics and his father is a titles KNPV police dog.

What does this mean? A very very hyper never tired never just chills puppy, lol.

Do I love it? Well I ask my self sometimes if I would do it again and I am only 34 years old. Morning 20-30 min walks with some light training along the path. He goes into his dog run area while I am at work from 8-5 then we do a 2-3 mile evening walk. After he rests a little then I do more training for about 30 mins. He gets dinner then rests 1-2 hrs. I have dinner then instead of watching TV I take him in the yard for some fun tug or fetch games. A little more training about 30 minutes then into his crate for some rest and sleeps the night.

I think the Dutchies look awesome and unique. I am asked all the time "what is that?". I love having unique things and the Dutch is right up my alley. I license him and they had to create the breed in the system since nobody else has one in my city. Again, unique and I love that. Super smart and very trainable even for me being a newbie.

I hope that gives you a picture of what it will be like. The facility I go to that trains military and police dogs recognizes the Dutchies as the most hyper and strongest when trained. My guy is just a puppy but I will see how he lives up to the reputation.

I wouldnt ever suggest a working blood line dog for a pet or he will just drive you nuts. I cant imagine just going out bored some weekend and picking up a Dutch. I spent months watching all the Michael Ellis vids and studying before he came to me. Even the training I have been able to do makes him manageable and my wife not freaked out, lol. Crate trained and sleeps through the nite. Gets in the car in his crate and goes to work with me on Fridays. Will go back outside when told or his dog pen when told. All these things didnt come with out work and training but it sure makes life easier.

Honestly i was expecting "worse"! XD
My weim gave us our RUN4THEMUN growing up.
And honestly i have yet to meet a MAL that could and does "reek havoc" like she did when we first got her.

Then again, every individual dog is different. Every single one.
I have yet to meet a dutch in "real life"!
Mals mals mals is all i ever get to see.
Do you happen to be up north?

I am in So Cal. Near Los Angeles area.

Dont get me wrong I think from what I have been told that my Dutch is pretty calm. I think he is hyper but I guess you dont know what you dont know,

Everybody knows what a Mal is to my surprise. Ordinary people ask me if he is a Mal which tells me even they have heard of that breed. Have yet to meet a person on a walk or not involved with dog training that knows what a Dutch is. I love when people roll down their car windows and ask what kind of dog is that, lol. Or when on a walk I have him down/stay between my legs as they pas by with their dog going nuts pullin on the leash. They look at his giant ears and I know are confused as to what he is.

I've found that homes/people that can really handle the serious high energy working breeds also make them look easy to an extent. They live a very dog centered lifestyle that suits the breed they chose. Brian makes it sound quite doable. He also spent tons of time researching what he needed to do to make it work and currently spends most of his free time working with his dog.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

I've found that homes/people that can really handle the serious high energy working breeds also make them look easy to an extent. They live a very dog centered lifestyle that suits the breed they chose. Brian makes it sound quite doable. He also spent tons of time researching what he needed to do to make it work and currently spends most of his free time working with his dog.

I wont lie. I have a obsessive behavior when I get into new hobbies. I dont sort of learn it I go nuts making it perfect all the way until I am done. My wife would never have gone for this sort of dog but because of the time I put in she doesnt even realize how it would have been had I not. When I can have my wife or 7yr old daughter put the dog in his crate or outside dog run with just 1 command they dont realize what went into that, lol. If the dog makes a run for the door and comes inside uninvited 1 command to go out and he listens.

My point is that the breed is far from a PET dog because he looks cool. My pug is like a bird and you dont even realize you have a dog. The Dutch commands attention and now my next hurdle is showing the wife we can still take mini vacations. Next year we plan to buy a camper so the dog can come with us.

When someone tells me I cant raise a dog to be trained as a first time trainer I take the challenge on. Most people dont realize that my personality allows me to invest the time necessary to make it happen. On the plus side the dog keeps us active as well so thats a side benefit for our health as well.

"Obsessive" is very good when you get Dutch Shepherd! I have Border Collies (but am actually considering a Mali or DS in the nex few years). I've had people describe my dogs as "calm". yes, they are calm (and I do find the breed pretty easy to live with) but it's because they get lots of exercise and lots of training - in the summer, it the winter, in the rain and snow, well you get the picture!

My dutchie is oversized...27-1/2" and I've been asked if he was a great Dane before, people tell me his ears look cropped...but many times I have been asked if he was a malinios. I'm suprized how many people know what a mal is.

Tell me about it!

My dutch is 21-22 weeks old and I am right now on the Leerburg web site trying to decide what size harness to buy. He is already 56lbs and his girth is 28 inches. I called my buddy who has a full grown Mal and his girth is 30 inches. I think my Dutch will be on the large size as well.

When people ask how old he is and I tell them he is just 5 months they look puzzled as to why he is so well trained already. I think they just assume he is near full grown because he is so big and well trained. In class yesterday a 3 year old German Shepherd wasnt much larger then my Dutchie so I think people expect more from him thinking he is older based on his size.