I couldn't agree more Dennis.
It's also why I think the op should get her and her boyfriend to a professional trainer.
Not so much for the dog, but for themselves.

Heck why not just give a child a loaded gun to play with?
Randy

 Quote: randy allen

Yikes!
Alyssa, would a non bite, be called a bad bite? Just a question.

Bite refusals in service might lead a person to describe a dog as having had a "bad bite", bite being a noun, rather than a verb, get it?

It's A possibility, and not remotely the only one.

If this was me, I'd be keeping the dog tethered, crated or kenneled 24/7.

I'd start doing simple OB work, multiple times a day.
I would be giving this dog as much exercise as humanly possible. 3+ miles of running/walking on a leash a day, plus fetch and OB training.

I would also have a vet check the dog to make sure it is 100% healthy.

Then I would contact the PD the dog was from, and actually get the story on the dog, as well as ask to meet with a K9 Handler.

Above all, I would find myself a very experienced trainer (and when I say experienced, I mean with PSDs/PPDs, NOT a Petco trainer). Ask to see credentials. Don't take their word for it.

I'll be the first to admit I have alot to learn. Although I have two small mutts of my own, most of my training experience is in falconry, not canines. The bonding and pack association I had suspected. I figure he probably thinks he's a guest here still, not a member of "this" pack yet, and is trying to be a well behaved guest. Apparently the friend is still in contact with Jacks handler, and I've told my boyfriend that we need to NOT be left out of the loop, we need to have contact with these people as well if the dog is going to be with us. He also states he has acquaintances in county law enforcement that are handlers so I think I will press to contact them for opinions as well.
Jack is tethered in the fenced yard unless under direct supervision, and while the daughter was here we were being very strict on how she was to act around him. So far he's been very well behaved and passive. He rolls over to expose his belly without being told to(for the girl as well), and "heels" with us very well. We've had a couple guests come to the property since his arrival and he's shown no interest whatsoever. He was having some separation anxiety at first, but is relaxing now.
Personally, I wasn't too enthused about taking him...I was worried not only about the girl but about my own two dogs. I would have prefered that we'd taken a puppy that we can start from scratch, but we have him now so I want to make this work. I'm not a fan of passing dogs around like highschool lipstick.

Thankyou everyone for your comments! And, please keep them coming... I'm looking for all the constructive criticism I can get so that we can make this work.

Michelle

Oh, I almost forgot... from what was explained to me about the bad bite: Jack had ahold of a suspect in an enclosed area and the handler grabbed the suspect without giving him any subsequent commands and he ended up biting his handler. From what I'm told that makes it the handlers fault, but they decided to retire Jack because of it anyway. My impression is that he was an active duty K9 for at least 3 years.

Oh...

When I say tether I do NOT mean in the yard... that is really bad for a dog, psychologically. It also puts the dog in danger... should another dog decide to hop into your yard and start a royal rumble, your guy can't do much about it, since he cannot run away. He's just kinda stuck there... a bit like a bear in a bear trap.

No, when I say tether, I mean to YOU.
In other words, keep him on a leash 24/7, unless he is in his crate.

You can buy longer leashes, for outdoors in the yard, as well.

Ultimately though, until you know for SURE what his personality is, he needs to be safely on leash at all times.

This dog has probably lived in a kennel before and would probably adapt quite well to one if you were to build one in your yard for him. You could keep him there when you couldn't supervise him and the daughter is over. And it would be much safer than chaining him.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

This dog has probably lived in a kennel before and would probably adapt quite well to one if you were to build one in your yard for him. You could keep him there when you couldn't supervise him and the daughter is over. And it would be much safer than chaining him.

That has actually come up when we've talked about it and are starting to seriously look into it. Jack didn't come with a crate, and the boyfriend has decided that under no terms shall he come in the house. He is to be a strictly outdoor dog because that is what he always does and it's what his parents do. It took alot to get him comfortable with letting my two little ones sleep inside at night, but that was my rule...MY dogs must sleep inside at night. But they're too small to jump over the 4' fence... As a police dog, Jack can climb over a 10' fence! So, when we're not in the yard with him we have to do something and tying is our only choice at the moment.

 Quote: michelle scriptu

So, when we're not in the yard with him we have to do something and tying is our only choice at the moment.

I would not do this. If you have to crate him or close off a room, then so be it.

In fact, a crate is (should be) a given.

 Quote: michelle scriptu

Jack is tethered in the fenced yard unless under direct supervision, and while the daughter was here we were being very strict on how she was to act around him. So far he's been very well behaved and passive. He rolls over to expose his belly without being told to(for the girl as well),

No chaining outside alone, PLEASE!

 Quote: randy allen

Green handler. Seasoned K9. .... Get ye to a profession trainer, NOW!

I just bought a 42" long crate (good for up to 90lbs.) off of eBay for $70 shipped. My pup's sleeping comfortably right now, in no danger to himself or anything else in my house *hint-hint*.