I really want my own German Shepherds when I return back from Italy. I am going to also be retraining into K-9. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice if it would be a good idea for me to get a dog or would I be too busy with my dog at work to deal with a puppy also? I really want to have a good protection dog for around the house and my wife would be able to take care of the dog when I am not around. I just want an thoughts if I would actually have enough time for both? Thanks for any input.
I have found in my experience that I couldn't handle spending 12 to 14 hours at work with my MWD then heading home to spend another couple of hours training with my personal dog. Training can be very stressful and frustrating if it's not going well and I liked being able to just come home and relax after my MWD for some reason decided that listening to me was optional for the day.
Coming home to train another dog just wasn't very pleasurable and started to seem a lot like work. Now that I don't handle a dog at work any more, it really is a treat to come home and play with a dog and I put a ton of effort into it.
Something else to consider, if you pick up an EDD you'll be deployed/TDY a ton and your home dog will suffer from lack of training unless your spouse keeps up with it while you are gone.
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nashville, TN
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David,
I have 50 working handlers. All the dogs live at home with thier handlers. I have a few handlers that are active in sport dogs, personal protection and hunting dogs. They seem to do fine. I can't speak for thier sport dogs, but I know thier working dogs are maintained properly. I think it all depends on how much time you wish to spend and how dedicated you are to what you do. I spent 23 years in the military, almost all of it in the MWD Program. I owned several dogs during that time, bird dogs mostly, I didn't have a problem.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
Posts: 5983
Loc: Idaho
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Brian has a good point.
The military is radically different from what it was even five years ago - deployments are now the name of the game, no matter what your MOS is. The war on terror ensures that our oversea's commitments will continue to increase and for many people on active duty, they're going to see frequent deployments and transfers at a pace that only SpecOp guys were use to.
All of which is really hard on off duty dog ownership.
Glad I'm retired! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
My husband has recently rejoined the Reserves. (Yes, he is crazy) He has a pet quality show lines German Shepherd. In other words she's completely neurotic. He leaves for a month of training on Saturday and I'm very concerned about how Heidi is going to react. They are very closely bonded and she's going to be lost without him. I'm wondering if those people who have had to leave their personal dogs for long periods have any tips on how to get her through this.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
Posts: 5983
Loc: Idaho
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Pamela,
I left my Rottie bitch for two years during Gulf War I and the following Kurdish relief set-up. My poor dog was so affected by my leaving that one time soon after my return, I threw on my rucksack to go do a march one evening for exercise. Just while I was out for the march, the dog almost went crazy with fear and grief - my girlfriend was literally crying, she was so upset with how the dog reacted.
I was stunned that the dog was actually able to equate my leaving with a rucksack to my leaving on long-term deployments.
I feel guilty to this day for having hurt that dog so. I hope I made it up to her. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Will,
I'm not encouraged by your experience with your dog. However I am slightly reassured by the fact that apparently other people take a loaded rucksack and go march around with it for exercise. I thought my husband was being pretty strange <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
What makes the situation more difficult is that when he got his dog I purposely didn't spend much time with her. I already had a dog when he got Heidi and I didn't want to steal her from him. So in Heidi's mind its very clear that he is her person.
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Being retired military I know some of the feelings that one feels in such situations. As the trainer for the state police, I've had 4 of my handlers have to give up thier dogs for extended deployments when thier units were called up. It's never easy regardless of what decade you happen to serve.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
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