New to group looking to learn more

[Dinobabe8412]

Hi, I'm Morgan, I'm located in Nevada, my husband is a k9 handler for a private security firm and his new partner is a 3 year old dutch shepherd. I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about our new member of our family. He is joining us with our 3 other dogs; 1 German shepherd ( 2yrs), 1 Australian cattle dog (8yrs) and 1 cattle dog border collie x (16 yrs). And our cat who is mostly a dog with weird eyes. So far he is total love bug and gets along great with our current rate pack. It absolutely blows my mind that a dog as sweet as him does bite work.

[centrop67]

Welcome.

You definitely have your hands full with all the working dogs in your family. I too am amazed at how fast my Radar can go from snuggle bunny to badass.

Please take a moment to add a signature to your profile, and we'd love to see some pictures.

[dawg]

In fact most dogs good at bite work are very friendly social dogs ime. Angry, aggressive or aloof dogs more often than not can't do the work.

Welcome.

[Owned-By-Hendrix]

That may be in your experience dawg but it's not true across the board. My own dog takes after his grandfather and is not social unless properly introduced and allowed to vet for his own if he likes the person, yet he's fire in bite work. I know plenty of other dogs who were not social but very very very good at bite work. Sociability is not a marker of success in bite work.

Welcome Dinobabe1824. Looking forward to pics of your new family member!!!!


Edited to add that aloof to strangers is in the DS temperment description, and look at how many excel in bite work.

[dawg]

I think its an interesting question. Social does not mean good at bite work as evidenced by thousands of social dogs that are not suitable for bite work.

My point was more of dogs suitable for bite work social ones ime tend to go way further because they have so much confidence that they don't front like the insecure guy huffing and puffing and mouthing off to make himself looker tougher than he is.

The antisocial dogs ime are a little bit too concerned with the world and will bail quicker. The elite dog can walk through a crowd, be molested by children and not have a concern or look to claim their space.

I have had both types and prefer the dog that gets around like they own the planet and everything in it.

I will select the open friendly dog for bite work every time.

Everyone is different.

[Dutchringgirl]

I have to second Kira, with the many dogs I have worked with and been around working, Its not always the case. Many dogs do not want to be just approached like a regular dog, they want to be approached their way. Many of the dogs were hard biters and did very well, but were never social.

[centrop67]

A couple of things...

The OP hasn't been back since the post was made - not sure why?

Before we get off topic into a long discussion of social behavior, I took the OP's statement of the dog being "sweet" to mean affectionate. Radar is very affectionate to me, somewhat to my wife, and occasionally to Leela. However, he is not "social" in any way, shape, or form outside of that.

[Dutchringgirl]

The post was yesterday, so maybe they have not had a chance to get back here. I agree that the sweet comment was about affectionate. They really are. Mine are, but dont cross them LOL. Social??? HA sadie is as far from social as they come.

[Dinobabe8412]

Such wonderful replys!! I do love a good debate. Finally got the storage unit empty and my poor Florida life is now completely in Nevada, unpacking is just as fun as packing it up in the fist place. When I say sam is sweet definitely mean affectionate. He is always looking for cuddles and has even taken to napping with my husband.

Sams original introduction to the pack did not go as planned. My husband was in a hit and run car accident, and he had another handler come check him out and then take him to our house while he was taken to the hospital (both hubby and k9 are fine). But Sam was brought to the house and I unkenneled our shepherd and put him in and went to the hospital to check on the hubby.

So his first introduction was him getting put in a kennel, in a house he's never been in with 3 other dogs he's never met being very interested in who he is. But we've had no issues, he doesn't seem to understand the concept of playing with the other dogs. But he is a working k9.

We are concerned about his interactions with our cattle dog, Katy she can be real pissy sometimes and is also deaf and epileptic. While he hasn't shown any indication that he will have an issue, with his size she is easily stepped on which she REALLY doesn't like. And I don't want him or her to start or finish a fight. Even if she is overreacting.

I've noticed while he is similarly matched to our shepherd in weight, he is sooo much bigger. His head is huge and he has really long legs. I asked him for a hug the other day and his paw easily touched my shoulder and I'm 5'7"!

[Dutchringgirl]

oooohhhhhhhh glad everyone is okay!!

I would keep him on a leash and with you for now, the whole situation is very new and these dogs like stability, take it veeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyy sloooooooooooooow.

Maybe keep the intro to the cattle dog until last if that is possible, let him get used to you guys the new digs and everything else, he needs to learn your and his routine to feel comfortable.

[Dinobabe8412]

Picture of the gang minus the cat.

[Dutchringgirl]

what a great looking gang

[centrop67]

Nice focus from all of them. Who's holding the treat?

[Dinobabe8412]

Nice focus from all of them. Who's holding the treat?

Brian did, it's amazing the attention you can get when someone is holding a cookie.

[racingiron1]

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like they're all focused on the treat, except Sam. He's looking right at the camera!