I've raised Rottweilers, German Shepherd and Great Danes. All different dogs in their right but I've never handled a Dutch before, granted he is a GSD cross but hoping for a little info on what to expect, I hear they can be difficult dogs if not handled properly. Any advice from the veterans? Also, what is a good Sport to get them involved in. I do have access to herding and agility and Sch.

Mostly what I am looking for is training advice, since it's previously been stated that they are hard dogs?
Will the GSD mix possibly balance out the handler aggression that has so frequently been spoken of in this breed? What are some resources for me in dealing with this, new to me, breed?

Hi, Robbin,

"Hard," meaning "recovers quickly from a correction"? (That's a big chunk of what most dog folks will mean when they say "hard," I think.)

Or "hard" as in "difficult to train" ?



Handler aggression isn't a breed trait.

I think one of Ed's articles addresses when and how handler aggression might appear. I'll see if I can find that.


I know these definitions aren't exactly what you're asking about, but it's easier to have a discussion if terminology is agreed upon first.



All JMO, and I know you will get far better answers.




ETA
I found that article ... http://leerburg.com/dominac2.htm

Scroll down to "When Does Dominance or Dog Aggression start?" (QUOTE: "The fact is when a puppy is raised correctly the issue of rank is established early and then it's over and the dog never challenges the handler's authority") and "15 to 36 months" and then the Q&A.



Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/05/2014 06:39 PM)
Edit reason: ETA added link

A board member sent me a PM that I think is completely correct, about "hard" also encompassing high pain tolerance, and probably high tolerance of stressful environmental stimuli.



Here's a brief working definition from Ed of "hard" .... http://leerburg.com/terms.htm

"Hard Dog

A hard dog recovers very quickly from stress. A hard dog can take a solid correction and without acting like his life has just ended."





Also, from http://leerburg.com/pupqa.htm#sharp ....

"Question:

Can you explain the terms, “sharp dog,” “hard dog” and “soft dog?”"

"A "HARD DOG" does not necessarily mean that a dog is a tough dog. A hard dog has a temperament that can take a correction and not act like you just killed him or hurt his feelings. A hard dog is often a good choice for a person who is big and gruff and not the best of dog trainers. A hard dog is a forgiving dog in terms of a bad trainer because a hard dog is not going to hold a grudge against a trainer that makes a mistake and gives inappropriate corrections. ... On the same hand a hard dog can be a difficult dog to train because as adults these dogs need a level of correction that most people are not willing to give to make them mind."




Here's a discussion about raising/training a hard pup:

http://leerburg.com/hardpuppy.htm


"Hard pups are those that get corrected for being snotty and turn right around, after the correction, and go back to being snotty again. An example would be chewing on the kids or biting too hard on the older geriatric house dog. Do not confuse this description with normal puppy behavior. All puppies like to play. All normal puppies are bouncy, mouthy and rambunctious.

These hard puppies seem driven. They have very high pain tolerances and recover very quickly from a correction. The vast majority of people have never seen a really hard puppy because they are rare. Hardness is not breed-specific, nor is it size-specific. .... "


There's much more information there than I posted, of course.

Will this be a puppy?

I will be picking him up at exactly 8 weeks. I have always been confident of my training methods. To this day, Levi has never been on my bed. I establish rank immediately and have always followed Eds advice of keeping a dog on a leash and with me until rank has been established. I'm a bit intimidated though because all I read about in this breed is handler agression. I've never had to deal with this issue, arrogantly, I say because I've always made sure I am respected as the pack leader. I did read the article you posted and totally agree with all of the information stated. Leerburg has been a part of my life for many years and Ed is a God in my eyes when it comes to training. This is the first time I've been intimidated about a breed. I dont want to portray this reservation to the puppy in any way so it is my intention to be as prepared to deal with him as possible. I want him to be an active, happy family dog. I'm thinking agility for him so I am prepared for an active dog but the agression posts have sparked some unease.

Have fun with your puppy. Don't treat him as a potential beast. Be fun, fair, firm, and consistent, and he'll be a dream. Remember, constructive outlets for non-constructive behavior.

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33893&page=1

Without knowing the lines on both sides of this dogs pedigree it would be impossible to give an answer as to what to expect.
It's hard enough with a pure bred dog. Seeing both parents could "possibly" give an indication of future behaviors.
A good breeder can select a pup for someone but that still doesn't take into consideration the new owners abilities or lack of to mold those behaviors through training.

nobody told me i have a hard dog.... o.o