Introduction and questions.
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:17 pm
Hello to all. I'm not sure if the entirety of this post should go here (in introductions) or elsewhere in the forum, so please redirect me if I'm in the wrong place. Also, apologies in advance for the wall of text. EDIT: Tried to break this up to make it more manageable.
Introduction:
My name is Jason. I am extremely interested in the Dutch Shepherd breed and have some questions. I suppose I should provide some relevant background first so that I can get the best-informed opinions possible:
Most of my adult life has been spent with performance-bred American Pit Bull Terriers (APBT). I know this breed is "controversial" to say the least so I hope I'm not judged prematurely. My dogs were all down from highly respected breeders within the community (i.e., not backyard breeders) and were lines known for very high drive. (Man... I could tell you some stories.)
I always loved the breed for it's temperament and abilities. Despite stereotypes, my attraction was not one driven by machismo, but rather driven by an admiration for an animal that could do nearly everything asked of it. I have always been a dog lover and a very active person, hence my attraction to working dogs. I am a "hobbyist" dog trainer, in that I read up on it extensively (some might argue compulsively), have put in many hours to training my own dogs, and I have a strong grasp on learning theory thanks to my doctorate in cognitive neuroscience. (I really hope that last bit doesn't appear pompous--hopefully it is interpreted as relevant background.) My own dogs (five over the course of over twenty years) have been nothing but sweet, stable, and extremely well-behaved, thanks to my spending many hours working with them. I'm proud to say this has won over more than a few people on the breed, having seen their potential for obedience, physicality, and most importantly, goofy, loving affection.
Anyway, I have been without a dog for a couple years now. It's been painful. My wife and I have a 7-year-old daughter who has caught the puppy bug. That's all it took to push me over the edge. It's time for a new dog. Unfortunately, breed-specific legislation and other issues of breed discrimination have made owning an APBT much more difficult. Finding a rental home, for example, can be nigh impossible once they learn what breed you have. Further, I feel inclined to try something "new". I've never owned a shepherd of any sort, for example. So I've been doing my homework (again, compulsively) for the last few months and a Dutch Shepherd is extremely appealing.
That was my background. Here are my plans. Please let me know if I'm barking up the wrong tree. (Dog pun, hyuck, hyuck.)
Question for this community, with (hopefully) relevant details:
Can I, and my family, provide the right home for a Dutch Shepherd?
I have a teaching position at a nearby university. On M/W/F, my dog will come with me to work, spending only a few hours (a little less than three, ideally with a food-filled kong) in a crate in my office. The rest of the day will be walking around campus being socialized to as many people as is comfortable for him, and then playing, exercising, etc. at home. On T/Th I may have the occasional grading to do, but generally I'll be spending all day with him, again exercising, training, socializing, etc. Weekends will be more of the same, but added hikes around a nearby lake. More importantly, I am hoping to get into Search and Rescue, so this pup will be my SAR prospect. In short, he will be exercised, trained, and formally worked (assuming we make the SAR cut), but he will also live in a family environment.
Some people online seem to convey the dog as a hyperactive lunatic of an animal, only a few steps removed from a rabid wolf. (Malinois owners really seem to convey this sentiment.) I do want a driven, capable working dog, but I don't want a nervy, reactive liability for my family. I'm trying to wade through the murky waters of dog culture and its associated mythologies, so any input that will clear the waters would be much appreciated. And thank you if you've read this far.
Introduction:
My name is Jason. I am extremely interested in the Dutch Shepherd breed and have some questions. I suppose I should provide some relevant background first so that I can get the best-informed opinions possible:
Most of my adult life has been spent with performance-bred American Pit Bull Terriers (APBT). I know this breed is "controversial" to say the least so I hope I'm not judged prematurely. My dogs were all down from highly respected breeders within the community (i.e., not backyard breeders) and were lines known for very high drive. (Man... I could tell you some stories.)
I always loved the breed for it's temperament and abilities. Despite stereotypes, my attraction was not one driven by machismo, but rather driven by an admiration for an animal that could do nearly everything asked of it. I have always been a dog lover and a very active person, hence my attraction to working dogs. I am a "hobbyist" dog trainer, in that I read up on it extensively (some might argue compulsively), have put in many hours to training my own dogs, and I have a strong grasp on learning theory thanks to my doctorate in cognitive neuroscience. (I really hope that last bit doesn't appear pompous--hopefully it is interpreted as relevant background.) My own dogs (five over the course of over twenty years) have been nothing but sweet, stable, and extremely well-behaved, thanks to my spending many hours working with them. I'm proud to say this has won over more than a few people on the breed, having seen their potential for obedience, physicality, and most importantly, goofy, loving affection.
Anyway, I have been without a dog for a couple years now. It's been painful. My wife and I have a 7-year-old daughter who has caught the puppy bug. That's all it took to push me over the edge. It's time for a new dog. Unfortunately, breed-specific legislation and other issues of breed discrimination have made owning an APBT much more difficult. Finding a rental home, for example, can be nigh impossible once they learn what breed you have. Further, I feel inclined to try something "new". I've never owned a shepherd of any sort, for example. So I've been doing my homework (again, compulsively) for the last few months and a Dutch Shepherd is extremely appealing.
That was my background. Here are my plans. Please let me know if I'm barking up the wrong tree. (Dog pun, hyuck, hyuck.)
Question for this community, with (hopefully) relevant details:
Can I, and my family, provide the right home for a Dutch Shepherd?
I have a teaching position at a nearby university. On M/W/F, my dog will come with me to work, spending only a few hours (a little less than three, ideally with a food-filled kong) in a crate in my office. The rest of the day will be walking around campus being socialized to as many people as is comfortable for him, and then playing, exercising, etc. at home. On T/Th I may have the occasional grading to do, but generally I'll be spending all day with him, again exercising, training, socializing, etc. Weekends will be more of the same, but added hikes around a nearby lake. More importantly, I am hoping to get into Search and Rescue, so this pup will be my SAR prospect. In short, he will be exercised, trained, and formally worked (assuming we make the SAR cut), but he will also live in a family environment.
Some people online seem to convey the dog as a hyperactive lunatic of an animal, only a few steps removed from a rabid wolf. (Malinois owners really seem to convey this sentiment.) I do want a driven, capable working dog, but I don't want a nervy, reactive liability for my family. I'm trying to wade through the murky waters of dog culture and its associated mythologies, so any input that will clear the waters would be much appreciated. And thank you if you've read this far.