Dutch Shepherd Forum

I'm hoping to be considered for a future puppy from Vrijheid who may be suitable for me to compete and excel in some sports- namely flyball, dock diving, AKC tracking, and continue nose work, and potentially IPO- I'm mainly interested in the obedience aspect of IPO. I'd love a social and stable dog who can really turn on and work in new situations with potentially multiple handlers, but still be able to chill at home when needed. I know the term "drive" is subjective, but maybe would be considered medium drive? (Relative to what's considered high drive in Dutchies, which I suppose is just insanity haha). I would be ready to bring in a puppy in at least 4 months, but won't necessarily at that moment until one is suitable.

I'm wondering who on the forum has a dog from Vrijheid/Asheley, and if you can expand a little on your experiences with your dog, his/her temperament, and what you were originally planning for the dog?

MonochromePup wrote:I'm hoping to be considered for a future puppy from Vrijheid who may be suitable for me to compete and excel in some sports- namely flyball, dock diving, AKC tracking, and continue nose work, and potentially IPO- I'm mainly interested in the obedience aspect of IPO.

Yeah!!!!

MonochromePup wrote: I'd love a social and stable dog

subjective and can be acquired with work but its not 100% guaranteed

MonochromePup wrote:
who can really turn on and work in new situations with potentially multiple handlers,

DS's bond with one human, so multiple handlers is not optimal. why would the dog need multiple handlers?

MonochromePup wrote: but still be able to chill at home when needed. I know the term "drive" is subjective, but maybe would be considered medium drive? (Relative to what's considered high drive in Dutchies, which I suppose is just insanity haha). I would be ready to bring in a puppy in at least 4 months, but won't necessarily at that moment until one is suitable.

I'm wondering who on the forum has a dog from Vrijheid/Asheley, and if you can expand a little on your experiences with your dog, his/her temperament, and what you were originally planning for the dog?

you may be asking for things that may not be possible. The dog may chill at home but it wont always bee when needed, they may decide that its time to protect.

(deleted repeat post)

Yeah, I understand that puppies and dogs are always more or less of a crapshoot in terms of inherent temperament (in terms of aiming for social and stable). That's just a given when getting a breeder pup to some extent, no matter how excellent and reputable the breeder and her dogs are. But all things considered, it seems that Asheley's dogs and her skill in placing would be a much better chance.

No, not multiple handlers on a day to day basis, but just capable of working with someone else in a sport. For example, working with a trainer temporarily in flyball or IPO. And by temporarily, I mean within a training session.

I'm not exactly sure what it is that you are saying is not possible?

MonochromePup wrote:Yeah, I understand that puppies and dogs are always more or less of a crapshoot in terms of inherent temperament (in terms of aiming for social and stable). That's just a given when getting a breeder pup to some extent, no matter how excellent and reputable the breeder and her dogs are. But all things considered, it seems that Asheley's dogs and her skill in placing would be a much better chance.

No, not multiple handlers on a day to day basis, but just capable of working with someone else in a sport. For example, working with a trainer temporarily in flyball or IPO. And by temporarily, I mean within a training session.

I'm not exactly sure what it is that you are saying is not possible?

DS's are a one human dog. they can be with others in their herd but will only take commands from one. Now, that is not 100%. Your trainer will be able to since they know what they are doing, but all in all, they will not like it. So your trainer will be able to help train the dog.

My Thalie will not listen to anyone else. while training my Malinois years ago, it was difficult because he was my husbands dog and I did all of the training, it was not easy. Around the house, it was fine, but once we got on the field, it was hard to get him to always listen to me.

Dutchringgirl wrote: DS's are a one human dog. they can be with others in their herd but will only take commands from one. Now, that is not 100%. Your trainer will be able to since they know what they are doing, but all in all, they will not like it. So your trainer will be able to help train the dog.

My Thalie will not listen to anyone else. while training my Malinois years ago, it was difficult because he was my husbands dog and I did all of the training, it was not easy. Around the house, it was fine, but once we got on the field, it was hard to get him to always listen to me.

Yeah, I believe this is a trait that applies to quite a few working dogs.

If someone has experiences with their Vrijheid dogs, that would be great!

Just to comment on the one human dog comment ... that might be the norm but I doubt it is 100% sometimes Lexi will listen to me better, acts like she wants to hang out or play with me ... and other times she goes straight for my husband like I don't even exist, which point I qam quick to give him a hard time ... see, she is YOUR dog

Are you on facebook? Janet Smith has one of her dogs, Moon. She does everything with that dog and would be a great source of info. I met them at an Andrew Ramsey seminar and he's a nice dog. He seems to work well for both her and her partner. If you can't find her on facebook (I don't think she's on this forum), she owns Good Dog! Training. http://janetasmith.com/

k9lexi wrote:Just to comment on the one human dog comment ... that might be the norm but I doubt it is 100%

Yes, I did say it was not 100%


sometimes Lexi will listen to me better, acts like she wants to hang out or play with me ... and other times she goes straight for my husband like I don't even exist, which point I qam quick to give him a hard time ... see, she is YOUR dog [/quote]

My point. My dogs will give attention to other people but they will not take commands. There are many posts on here where people will say that the dog will not listen to them, only "X"

If two people will be working the dog, then both need to be in constant training with the dog, but there still will be the "preferred" human.

MonochromePup wrote:

Dutchringgirl wrote: \

Yeah, I believe this is a trait that applies to quite a few working dogs.

not just herding dogs, many breeds will bond with one human. they will hang out and play with the other humans in the house but one will be "their " human.

LyonsFamily wrote:Are you on facebook? Janet Smith has one of her dogs, Moon. She does everything with that dog and would be a great source of info. I met them at an Andrew Ramsey seminar and he's a nice dog. He seems to work well for both her and her partner. If you can't find her on facebook (I don't think she's on this forum), she owns Good Dog! Training. http://janetasmith.com/

I know her indirectly through friends, but never chatted with her before. I didn't realize she was a trainer. I've just seen her dock diving photos with Moon on facebook. I'll probably contact her there! Thanks!

From what I know of her stock, they're avid workers and fairly balanced. I don't know how many she has placed through Penn Vet Working Dog Group who are still working and loved by their handlers (I think they actually have an almost 1 year old too? So maybe 2-4?), and there's a few who are I want to say highly ranked in UKC sports/confirmation. She would be able to place a good dog for you as she knows her stock. I want to say her dogs are on the medium high to higher drive, however, this is dependent on the breeding as well. The chill factor is also dependent on the dog, though I will say with proper training, outlets, and activity you can have a high drive be "chill" at home, providing you are meeting their needs. I do know her dogs are well liked.

As for working with multiple handlers, if you mean through training like a trainer takes the dog in a class for a demo of something and you're standing there, or shows you something while they handle the leash, this depends on the dog and their temperament. When someone takes the leash from me, H is too busy looking at me to really pay attention. He will for certain people but that's because he knows the "rules" with them. My other friend's DS will sell their soul if you have a treat.

Are any of her dogs used in law enforcement?

I've got a 5 month old from her kennel and am having a hell of a time getting ANY decent drive out of him. He is a USAR prospect and has his first prelim test this Friday(he gets 2 chances). He's OK chasing a ball, he is NOT a tugger, and really has no interest in determined searching. I have been working with several people (one who used to work at Penn) and I will keep trying until they wash him out. I keep hoping he is a late bloomer. Other than that, he is a GREAT little guy. He's my first Dutchie and smart at a whip, very social to everyone and everything and is handsome to boot! I just really, REALLY wanted a working dog and will remain optimistic that something clicks in his wee brain and he suddenly finds hunting for things a LOT of fun.