There is a MWD that has been at his kennel since he arrived in country, which has been over two years. They are wanting to switch him out and send him down south to another kennel due to the MWD that is coming up north is more acceptable to a female handler. I was wondering what others people's opinions are of how big a factor this plays in a MWD's behavior or work ethic.

Brian,
Any working dog MWD, PD, or sport dog that is sitting up in a kennel without even a handler is definatly a squeeky wheel that will need a greasin. I'v recently seen 2 MWD's that have been sitting up for 7mo and they tried giving one of them to a new soldier but had to give him another dog, because both had become handler aggressive when prior they weren't. That IMO comes from the dogs not having an alpha in their eyes, they have taken the roll of alpha and any new handler is conflict and a test as soon as he attempts to handle the dog. I would say at the very least these dogs need to be worked if they are not (training). The Kennel master is suppose to make sure that those dogs are all getting the required maintenace training anyways. That will cut down on some problems. MWD's are "SUPPOSE" to be selected on all necessary criteria but also, no one handler dogs. They are suppose to have personalities that allow for them to be switched off every couple years. Which no one likes but that is the nature of the beast. That more independant personality should *help* them to be ok as long as someone is working them preferably one person like the kennel master. Everyone else works their own dog and the Kennel master works the non-handler dogs. It atleast gives them some consistancy and structure, and thats what working dogs need. As for the female situation, speaking from an Army stand point, as I am infantry and don't experience these problems but anyways, that is BS, that handler is a soldier and needs to buck up and do her job or loose her SSI and hit the beat writting parking tickets or answering phones instead of letting dogs rott in kennels <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I'v seen women (outside of the military) work and handle some hard dogs, they are more than capbable. There is no excuse for excepting the job, making me pay tax dollars to send her through MWD training to be a certified and qualified handler and from what I gather your saying there is all this switching and shipping and a dog that needs to be worked will be left out because they need to accomadate her and her inability to handle certain dogs. ABSOLUTE BS <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

PS: SAME GOES FOR AN INCOMPETENT MALE HANDLER, THAT ISN'T A HOBBY IT'S THEIR JOB THAT AMERICA IS PAYING THEM TO DO AND WHATEVER KENNEL MASTER THAT LETS BUSINESS LIKE THAT PREVAIL INSTEAD OF TRAINING NEEDS TO BE FIRED. BOY THEY DON'T WANT SERGEANT DUHON DOWN THERE <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I'v recently seen 2 MWD's that have been sitting up for 7mo and they tried giving one of them to a new soldier but had to give him another dog, because both had become handler aggressive when prior they weren't.

This situation was slightly different these handlers could have handled the dogs, but had a very short timeline before shipping over to the sand box and felt they wouldn't have enough time to iron out all the kinks with these dogs, so went with more ready to work dogs.

If I'm reading the original post correctly it was not the female solid here that had the problem it was that this specific dog responds better to one or the other?

When I was handling MWD's both as the handler, then as the kennel master we ran into this several times (USMC). There were just certain dogs that we knew we couldn't put with certain people whether they were male or female. The temperament has to fit the handler’s style and vice versa. Could she have handled this dog who knows but why even chance it? It so much easier to put a good team together and get good results from the start. If this was back home I could see making the solider work with the dog but current situation I would rather get the winning combination. Better and Safer for all involved

My two cents,


Jason

Sorry for the spelling mistakes in the last post it was too late to edit (Solider)

Jason,
I to was in the Corps (0311 & MSG duty) just thought I'd throw you a semper fi!. I am in infantry but work extensively with post K9's. As a matter of fact I am the "unofficial" lead trainer and am prescribing, and helping with the training on our dogs and teams heading overseas. Your absolutely right if a team is about to go overseas put together the most compatible and ready. However, he didn't indicate that she was about to head to the sand box. With that said. The kennel master is suppose to have the most knowledge about MWD's and he should have taken that soldier and trained her how to handle a dog that is to much dog for her. As you know and I'm sure agree with we don't make it a practice of running from problems and especially when it is a lack of training involved. We Train, adapt, and overcome. What if she runs into a kennel where all the dogs are all like the dog she had to pass on? Then what? She and whoever else needs to be trained to deal with and handle any certified MWD. Granted some people and dogs click better, but when you have to start shipping and importing dogs to fit a handler when they have a certified MWD sitting in a kennel for 2yrs, if it were I I'd have to say, "soldier roll those sleeves up and grab that leash" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Competence is competence regardless of gender.
Some misguided idea that a she can't handle a dog because the handler is a female??????
I hope this isn't the deal here, aren't we past such crap??
Or is this just a way around a too difficult dog or a problem handler. If so it is still wrong.

 Quote:

There is a MWD that has been at his kennel since he arrived in country, which has been over two years. They are wanting to switch him out and send him down south to another kennel due to the MWD that is coming up north is more acceptable to a female handler. I was wondering what others people's opinions are of how big a factor this plays in a MWD's behavior or work ethic.

Semper Fi Chris,
6112 then 5811 (H&HS Co. MCAS New River) and off to recruiting duty what fun..

I agree the kenel master should have worked with the handler male or female if it was a training issue. If it was an issue with the dog thats another story. Sitting in a kennel for 2 years though is my first concern. I only wish we had extra dogs sitting around..

A question for all you current and former Marines:

Who types your posts for ya?


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My Duhonease speaking secretary. Hey she does the best she can <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Furthermore my spell check is for some reason not working. Hey I actually finished grade school in Louisiana so lay off <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />. Damn perfectionist <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />