i'm was the head k9 trainer for a state agency now retired. we would never give a dog to a civilian. the liability would be to great. there is a reason he's had more than one handler. my guess is he's handler aggressive. When i was younger that wouldn't have bothered me. he's a accident waiting to happen

The language itself screams "bad situation waiting to happen". I won't give any advice on handling a dog like this other than don't. He was most likely created due to old fashioned hard compulsion wielded by people who had no idea what they were doing. This creates the lunging with no warning thing in a lot of dogs. If they get corrected for giving warnings too much they skip it and go right to teeth.

I'd get an evaluation by a third party experienced in working with this kind of dog. They will probably just confirm that the dog is unsafe to handle and is better off put down.

Is this dog from a police department or a private individual? Washed out of training? Have a recorded bite that made it a liability? Aggresion during searches made it dangerous to keep?

Our dogs aren't expected to be friendly but they are expected to be stable and safe around other people. Most are quite happy to play with soldiers who ask to throw a toy for them. Some are strictly a one person dog but the only time they are excused for aggresion is "protecting" their kennel or car and a situation where they are asked to bark or bite. Otherwise they are still expected to behave.

http://leerburg.com/qaaggres1.htm

Read the second question down on how to handle a handler aggressive dog.

Only someone who really has no concept of what a tough dog can do would even consider bringing this animal into their home.

Thanks David for your answer.

I thought as much. The guys here keep their dogs when they retire,as they live with them 24/7 as working partners.

I really appreciate all the input and wise advice on this. I totally agree that it's a disaster waiting to happen if he takes the dog. It's a friend of a friend thinking about this. My friend is a dog trainer but is not involoved in personal protection or even schutzhund training so asked me to ask y'all what your opinions are. She's already told him she thinks it's a bad idea and I've passed your opinions on to her. Hopefully the guy will listen.

I don't think this particular dog would make even a good police canine. Years ago I babysat for a police officer's family where the officer's working canine partner lived with the family. That dog was very friendly with most people. And even those he wasn't friendly with, he definitely did not attack them without wartning they way this dog seems to be doing.

Good News!! He has decided to not get the dog. Thanks in part to all of you.

It's nice to hear good news.

Sounds like a VERY good decision. It is doubltful that it would have ended well for either of them.

That is EXCELLENT news to hear!