During my many years at Ft. Bragg, I watched the MP's of the 82nd Airborne Division ( Ed's son's unit ) jump K-9's maybe three times in demonstrations.
Jumping with a dog is *strictly* a publicity stunt and it's *STUPID* to stress a dog like that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Airborne insertions are used for a quick blow against the enemy. Airborne troops that actually jump into combat are typically relieved by ground forces within a three day period max ( this is standard Airborne protocol as per current doctrine ). Grenada and Panama were good examples of this.
K-9's have no function in very short term ops that are worth the added danger of jumping them ( rigging and jumping a dog is a Jump Master's nightmare )
Bad idea all around.

Tara, a puppy that has weak nerves, grows up to be a dog that will have weak nerves.

Also, at what maturity level should a dog be able to handle certain levels of stimuli i.e. the decoy pressuring a dog, to being able to travel in all enviroments? Is this breed specific or animal specific, the reason I ask is because not all breeds mature at the same rate.
Dog training is not breed specific, it is Temperament and Drive specific and you can have dogs that can mature at different rates within each breed. The maturity level of a dog, to be able to handle the Defensive stress of a decoy, depends on that INIDVIDUAL dog.

Will, I was not planning on doing any jumps with my dogs. I was just commenting on the act and what kind of nerves would a dog like that have... Im not overly excited about riding in planes, let alone jumping out them, so I cant imagine a dog, even one with steel nerves, being too keen on the idea. I wonder if that would have a negative impact on the dog.

John, thanks again for clearing up the breed specific vs dog specific when it comes to maturity level. I suppose the info that I have seen saying certain months to start certain training is basically just guidelines. I guess I may have misunderstood when I have read that certain molosser breeds do not mature as quickly as others. I thought that they meant mentally as well as phyiscially, and again the main indicator would be your dog to tell you if they are ready for a certain aspect of training or not.

John, thanks for the clarification. I see where it can be confusing the way I used soft to decsribe what is actually weak....I do sometimes( and probably not ideal to do...) use those terms interchangably to describe a weak nerve issue.
There is a definate distinction between a handler soft dog that has good strong nerves and a dog that just has issues of weak nerves, and/or fear based behaviours.

There is a definate distinction between a handler soft dog that has good strong nerves and a dog that just has issues of weak nerves, and/or fear based behaviours.
Yes, you are correct. It reminds me of this big American Bulldog I saw work a couple of weekends ago. It was very handler sensitive, but yet had no fear of the decoy, clatter stick, or the small building it was working in.

For instance, my shep x will roll over and cower if you so much as give him a dirty look. Last night I accidently dropped several cookie sheets next to him, one definitely landed on his back, and he didn't even look up from the bone he was chewing on.

That's soft to the handler and good nerves, right?

I think the outcome of nerves is often a combination of genetics and environment with genetics being the most dominant factor. As a scount dog instructor at Ft. Benning during Vietnam war, I have seen dogs in foxholes with m-16/m-60 machine gun firing going around them,tracers flying past their heads at night, and boarding and descending from choppers in a live zone. These things require good nerve for the dog to do and not be a liability. All dogs aren't proficient or effective at first but many dogs require some acclimation, THEN become very reliable in that type of environment. Other dogs will just key off their handler, while still others became so hyper they were a liability. So I feel there is a combination of factors involved in a dogs nerves to include the relationship with owner/handler. Having said that, still, if a dog has genetically weak nerves the prognosis for military/police work is slim. It is the sound dogs with lessor nerves that can be improved by environment IMO.---clifton anderson

Tara
My dog has no problem going on any surfaces now.
It took a few days of walking him on the floor before he quit struggling and I fed him in there a few times just to make it a positive experience for him. I've used very few corrections on him at this point so I don't know how he'll handle that. He doesn't jump at loud noises and for the most part just ignores them. The floor incident is the only time I've seen him freak out over anything so who knows???

Hello all!

My GSD of 9 weeks (Belle) goes with me everywhere I go. I work on the road and so she gets exposed to alot of the southeast, from rural farmlands to urban areas.

I think she is a hard dog, probably will be a very hard dog. When I (seldomly) correct her I usually have to yell, and she barks at me a few times to let me know she didn't have to obey. She shows no sign of going down in drive when I correct her.

I use a mini-tug at the end of a round pin horse whip to play with her in prey drive. Once she catches it, she will not let go. I will hit & poke her (not hard) with the handle end of the whip and she totally ignores it. I can drag her around & literally pick her up by the line when she's got a good bite.

At 6 weeks I had already trained her to sit, down & bark on command (if I had her attention of course). She has good working lines & I think she shows alot of potential for Schutzhund.

The only concern I have about Belle is that sometimes when I'm walking her on leash, she likes to keep her distance from strangers. By distance I mean 3 or 4 yards or so. She doesn't act crazy or anything, just keeps her distance & usually gets on the other side of me from them. Now once I come up to them and hold their hand (offered to her) she will come and sniff and lick (or eat the treat I gave them to give her). About 2-4 minutes after this introduction, the strangers shoes & pants legs are fare game for attack.

Now could this initial avoidance be a sign of weak nerves? Would you guys define this as avoidance? She does steps/heights with no problem, even over-estimates her abilities to jump (knocking into the side of the elevated bed on her attempt to get on it). She's never had her hair stand up on her back or anything like that. I've had her at the rifle range (mostly in the crate in the truck) and not a flinch when I let her out to "good outside". She's come nose to nose with our cat a few times and wants to play with him (he's the slow one to warm up). I am joining a Schutzhund club and intending to expose her to many other animals in the forthcoming weeks.

Any comments or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

http://members.aol.com/derekundrwd/Belle2
http://members.aol.com/derekundrwd/Belle8

Well, it's hard to say for sure, but it is possible that the dog is a little insecure and that is what is causing the avoidance, not necessarily weak nerves. When you go to the Sch club, I'm sure they can tell you more by seeing the pup. Good luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />