Hi all, I hope you have a great Holiday season.
I am waiting the arrival of my first Malinois puppy which I will be training for SAR work (airscent/article search and possibly cadaver) I currently run a 3 year old Bloodhound.
My question is, since I already have the "basic obedience" stuff down (and on dvd) would my next step be to order "Raising the Working Puppy/Dog"?
Thanks
Carol Boche

What was it that made you think of such a drastically different breed? I think it's cool that people still use bloodhounds. Just curious.

Carol - yes thi is your next step. Yoi will want to get your dog involved in tracking through drive but its a mistake to try and dothis too early. Pups are not mature enough to get past the level of concentration needed for this.

Start the dog on foot step tracking and gradually move him into TTD as he matures.

Hi Jeff,
I am not really changing breeds totally. I will run hounds as long as my physical condition will allow. The MAL intrigues me and I talked with Jonni Joyce and Bil Dotson quite a bit before deciding to obtain one. They are a unique breed and I wanted their opinions and advice before just jumping into the MAL pool. ( I have a few questions for Ed also but am afraid of the dumb and dumber list.....ha ha just kidding)
We live in rural (2000 people in my county) South Dakota and had 18 searches in the last two years (without SAR K-9's) and most of those were in the middle of winter and did not end well. My decision to get a SAR Hound was based on their ability and scent discrimination. He works wonderfully although there are areas where we would benefit having an airsecnt/area & article search K-9 (possibly cadaver, we will see) for some of the uphill/downhill rough country we have to search at times. That is why I chose the MAL. I will always have one of each. The bloodhound is just awesome although they have their own distinct personality and obedience is second to them. So for the person that wants a VERY obedient dog, I would not recommend a hound. I have heard some that are better at "minding" than others but my hound is not one of them. He knows his job and has a high drive to do it, but asking him to down stay for 5 minutes is pretty much a given that a correction will be made. ha ha......
Thanks for asking though, it does look like a drastic change.
Happy Holidays
Carol Boche

Thanks Ed. I will order that tonight from you. Jesea is just nine weeks so we will work on bonding for the first few weeks. I am wondering the best way to introduce her to MAX. He is a male (nuetered) that is very tolerant of puppies but I do not want her to bond to him, I do want them to know each other though. Suggestions are more than welcome. I have always had more than one dog but in a pet scenario. Never two working dogs together.
Thanks
Carol

carol--you're not too far from me, so when i do get apup, i'd love to work with you on the tracking part...you can teach me!

Sounds great Ann. We are always up for training, anytime, anyplace....rain or shine. You can contact me off list if you like at boche@gwtc.net and I can send you some info on our team and we can talk. Your more than welcome to join us for training even if you do not have a K-9 yet. Where are you at and what breed of canine are you looking at for SAR work?

carol, i'm about 30 mi west of sioux city, i'm looking at a GSD. i've been thinking more along the lines of ppd/ringsport than SAR (though i'd bet a SAR dog around here would be welcomed with open arms by law enforcement).

i'm at the stage of trying to make a decision as to which direction to take, so, i'll take advantage of your invite. i'll email you soon...and thanks!

Okay, Jesea is finally home and settling in nicely, she has not had an accident in the crate, or house. I am trying to follow Eds advice to a T.
My question is, I have outside cats that are not afraid of dogs ( that they realize are there to stay).
She fixates on them and chases after them. I have her on a ten foot cotton lead at all times when outside and a 4 foot one when she is allowed out of her crate while I am getting food ready.
When I tell her to "leave it" she will turn look away from the cats and take a few steps towards me, at this point I tell her "good" and start to walk away from her saying "lets go" she will then go back to staring at the cats and the process starts over. I let her approach all of them to sniff so that she could get used to them and the cats will not "smack" her with their claws out, just playful bapping at her.
I have not told her "here" (come), should I be? We do work on "here" at other times and she will come to me and leave the hound alone if asked.
I have been trying motivaion to leave them alone..ie toys, tugs, food and it seems the cats are more fun.
Thanks in advance and I hope I am doing this at least half right.
Carol Boche

This is when correction comes in.