Chris Rogers wrote 06/27/2006 03:07 PM New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves #108814 - 06/27/2006 03:07 PM
Chris Rogers Webboard User Reg: 04-17-2006 Posts: 6 Loc: Sacramento, CA Offline	Just replaced my 11 year old black lab with an 18 month old from Texas. The dog looked phenominal in training and very environmentally sound. Worked him around semi trucks, schools, cars, halfway houses, packages, and open areas. He shined on all of them. Got him back to CA and found a major problem. This dog totally freaks out when going into searches where there are a number of people present. The good searches I have done have been when I have emptied the house out. If this dog goes up to someone new his belly goes to the ground and tail between the legs. All indications are that someone mistreated this dog. We have done a lot of positive reinforcement through the use of strangers and I have seen a slight improvement. Any thoughts on if he will snap out of this or should I cut my losses and send him back? In all other areas he's one of the best I've seen.
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Molly Graf wrote 06/27/2006 03:24 PM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Chris Rogers ] #108815 - 06/27/2006 03:24 PM
Molly Graf Webboard User Reg: 06-11-2004 Posts: 301 Loc: PA, USA Offline	sounds like a problem to me - but if you like everything else about the dog, maybe it's worth it to take a few weeks just to socialize the heck out of him, give people treats to give him - anything to make him comfortable around people - then take him back to narc work with people around and see if it made a difference. If he's still freaky around people and can't work around them, then bye-bye doggie. I know I would have trouble working my narc dog if she were at all concerned with people around her - which she isn't. Being a GSD, she ignores anyone and has a great work ethic. If she were worried about people around, that would be a huge problem! Good luck! molly
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Chris Rogers wrote 06/27/2006 04:08 PM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Molly Graf ] #108816 - 06/27/2006 04:08 PM
Chris Rogers Webboard User Reg: 04-17-2006 Posts: 6 Loc: Sacramento, CA Offline	Thanks, that's exactly what we're doing. Everyone has treats and takes him out of his crate and throws his toy. Waiting for the vendor to call me back now. The vacating the search site works for now but it won't cut it in a winter rain storm or at the airport.
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Howard Knauf wrote 06/27/2006 09:43 PM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Chris Rogers ] #108817 - 06/27/2006 09:43 PM
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003 Posts: 1555 Loc: Melbourne, Florida Offline	Chris, What amount of people present causes the dog to do this behaviour? If you can determine that then you can start him working with visitors present that he is comfortable with and slowly add another person into the mix. Keep socializing and have others give him treats to help him get over this. The only problem that might arise is that later on he may become distracted with his newfound popularity and only want to socialize but that can be fixed. Take care of the biggest problem first. Howard http://www.spacecoasttactical.com
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Chris Rogers wrote 06/27/2006 11:05 PM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Howard Knauf ] #108818 - 06/27/2006 11:05 PM
Chris Rogers Webboard User Reg: 04-17-2006 Posts: 6 Loc: Sacramento, CA Offline	Howard, Thanks for the input. It really varries. I can see him cower if he comes up to someone new but then a minute later he'll be in that person's lap. If I walk by a person on my left and the dog is on the same side he will cross behind me to get as far away from the person as he can. I would say more than three is a problem. Definately long hair and males are not his favorites. Sudden movement is a big distraction right now. Chris
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Alan Carlson wrote 06/28/2006 12:43 AM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Chris Rogers ] #108819 - 06/28/2006 12:43 AM
Alan Carlson Webboard User Reg: 11-04-2001 Posts: 156 Loc: Springfield, Oregon Offline	Chris, With your experience and knowledge you know the answer. If you bought the dog from a reputable vendor with a good guarantee then the dog should go back. There will be enough other training problems without trying to fix environmental and genetic ones; if that's even possible or worth the time. This problem will haunt you forever, cut your losses early, it will pay off in the long run. Alan McKenzie River Schutzhund
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Chris Rogers wrote 06/28/2006 10:30 AM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Alan Carlson ] #108820 - 06/28/2006 10:30 AM
Chris Rogers Webboard User Reg: 04-17-2006 Posts: 6 Loc: Sacramento, CA Offline	Alan, You're right, sadly I do know the answer. He's just so strong in all the right areas. This one problem area kind of cancels out his strengths though and I've never had any luck training guts into a dog. Thanks I needed that! Chris P.S. Great website
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Alan Carlson wrote 06/28/2006 04:06 PM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Chris Rogers ] #108821 - 06/28/2006 04:06 PM
Alan Carlson Webboard User Reg: 11-04-2001 Posts: 156 Loc: Springfield, Oregon Offline	Chris, I've been there too, I know how you feel. Kept one dog over a year thinking we could train a problem out of him; NEVER happens. Training only enhances good genetics when it comes to PSD. Alan McKenzie River Schutzhund
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Howard Knauf wrote 07/01/2006 12:05 AM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Alan Carlson ] #108822 - 07/01/2006 12:05 AM
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003 Posts: 1555 Loc: Melbourne, Florida Offline	Alan, You , of course are right. We currently have TWO PSD's with slick floor issues that cant/havent been fixed. My advise to the supv was to get rid of the dog but he insists it can be fixed. Not my call. Being as Chris' dog is an EDD, I find that it may be possible to salvage this animal for work as no-one should be in the search area during a real deployment thus negating the issue with other persons in the area distracting the dog. If the dog is that good then I imagine the handler, who is in charge of the scene, can dictate who is in the area with him. Its one way to make this team work without starting over. Howard http://www.spacecoasttactical.com
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Howard Knauf wrote 07/01/2006 12:07 AM Re: New narcotics dog has a case of the nerves [Re: Howard Knauf ] #108823 - 07/01/2006 12:07 AM
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003 Posts: 1555 Loc: Melbourne, Florida Offline	Disregard my last post. He is a narc dog. I need some rest <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> http://www.spacecoasttactical.com
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