Hey Will, i know a dog that fits all of Robbins criteria,

Robbin, it's probably a rare dog you're describing, with kids involved and all of that why not get a family friendly type dog like a golden or something like that? Just curious,

AL

 Quote: Al Curbow

why not get a family friendly type dog like a golden or something like that? Just curious, AL

Al, I believe Robin wants a dog that will scare off intruders. Not many goldens fit that bill...

Robin, I think Will's advice was very sound. I do Schutzhund for fun. My dog is very social. But he's big and intimidating looking. I want him to bark when appropriate, but that's all I need him to do off the field. Any more, and I would have more than I can handle. I'm one of those amateurs Will mentioned!

Anita,
If you're competing in SchH, you've gained valuable handler skills that Robbin at this times likely doesn't have.
I try to give advice tailored to the situation, needs, and general skill level of the handler - it's different for every person, needless to say.

And Al...yeah, yeah....you lucked out with the "Attack Muppet!

Will - you're right, I wouldn't have dreamed of doing Schutzhund "on my own", without some very good people to teach me, and without changing my life to accomodate the time required to learn it properly. And, I'll admit my limits, which is why I don't want a "serious" PPD. Heck, I'm old enough now that I can't even imagine my next dog being another high drive one. I should post a video for Robin of me trying to hold my dog during protection work. It's all I can do not to land on my butt and get dragged through the mud, and that's with the dog tied to a tree!

But Will, I'm curious as to your opinion - a nice, low-to-moderate drive dog from working lines - are they to be had, and is it something Robin could consider?

Incidentally, Robbin, I just realized I've been consistently misspelling your name. Sorry!

Anita,
Although I own a high-drive monster of near legendary statute ( the evil Fetz dog! ) I'm currently training his eventual replacement ( a young Mal bitch )...who I chose as a more "moderate" drive dog.
Of course what I consider high drive would be different from most people...

Could Robbin do ok with low ( sorry, not moderate ) drive working lines GSD? Sure.....but she'd still probably need to make some life style modifications even then.

A house full of children and other animals is a lot to ask of any new dog/puppy to fit into. Toss in an inexperienced owner and add the drive and protective instincts that working lines usually bring and you have a slow-simmer accident waiting to happen in that particular situation. Maybe not in a month or a year...but eventually, something to regret will happen. All it takes is the kids opening the door at the wrong time, or the dog to eventually feel the need to try and improve it's pack rank one day and.......

A whoooole lotta of obedience and socialization would help here, along with just getting the idea of the "PPD" out of the prospective owners head. Bury that idea deep or try it on for size after the kids have moved out and all the other pets are gone.

And I'm playing the broken record here, but literally everything that a prospective PPD owner would need to consider is somewhere in the old threads of the Personal Protection forum area here.
Why people do not avail themselves of that resource amazes me...

Well guys, In spite of it all. I have to agree. Like I have been saying all along. A high drive dog is too much for me at this time. Let me ask this question...is Schutzhund the best way to get experience? As I understand it, it is just a sport, that most dogs don't think of it as anything more. That the dogs have to be specially trained beyond sch in order to assert themselves. So, in order for me to acquire more experience, schutzhund would be a good thing????

 Quote: RobbinMann

Well guys, In spite of it all. I have to agree. Like I have been saying all along. A high drive dog is too much for me at this time. Let me ask this question...is Schutzhund the best way to get experience? As I understand it, it is just a sport, that most dogs don't think of it as anything more. That the dogs have to be specially trained beyond sch in order to assert themselves. So, in order for me to acquire more experience, schutzhund would be a good thing????

Robbin, I'm definitely going to defer to more experienced forum members on your questions, but I sure hope the answers are mostly yes, because if not then I have a problem on the other end of my leash! But kudos to you for being willing to listen and wade through all the advice. Now that's a good thing.

Happy Holidays,

Anita

Any sport will teach you alot about dog psychology and handling skills, IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TRAINER!

Sport is sport, but it doesn't make a strong dog weak... it's more about the dog than the venue you choose to train in. The best training styles in the world come from sport IMO, it lays a good foundation for your dog and will teach you alot. The more challenging your dog is to train the more you will learn

Also remember -- nobody is going to sell you "the best" puppy as an inexperienced handler. The good dogs from the reputable kennels go to the experienced handlers, the kennel owners want to see their name up in lights, so why waste their pick of the litter on someone who might not go anywhere in the sport? So regardless of what you think you want, if you buy the pup from the right place, ultimately it'll be the breeder that decides what dog is the right fit for you, n some breeders may tell you "My dogs are not for you". At least, the good ones will

As for the golden middle - too ugly to show too useless to work. Just my $0.02.

Try these links, they touch upon what to look for in different training sports and what to look for in a training club.
Hopefully, this will save you some time.

And I pulled all these links up in 5 sec. using the term "dog club" in the advanced portion of the Search" function. It's a great tool and well worth your time to learn!




http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/108269/page/0/fpart/1

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=102763&Searchpage=1&Main=11246&Words=Dog+club+Will+Rambeau&topic=0&Search=true#Post102763

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=97887&Searchpage=2&Main=10727&Words=Dog+club&topic=0&Search=true#Post97887

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/69293/page/0/fpart/1