Thread: New dog

[=Jason Euler;17403]I have a question on introducing a new dog to green guard to the industry for the first time.
How would an experienced handler explain to a new guard on how to bond with a new dog? Lenth of time and when you would introduce obedience.[/]

Hi Jason,

Ive never had to introduce a new handler to a dog before but i would make sure that the key focus for the dog is just bonding with it

this to me means spending time with the animal making the dog a part of your family haveing daily interaction and routines that incoperate the dog makeing it feel that it has purpose and that you acctually have a vested intrest in the animal

Now im not saying cuddle it and pat it all day personally i would introduce obedience with no compulshion pretty much stright away so the dog know rewards come from you , it allows you to spend time with the dog , while also teaching basic obedience ,

simply put i would tell the new guy NO corrections WHAT SO EVER If it shits on the floor harden up clean it and next time take the dog outside more often

I would prefferable like to have the animal inside with me so it is include and feels to be part of "the pack" but i can understand that some people like to kennel there dogs

generally as a rule if im home the dogs inside with me

Just my 2 cents

[=Andrew Boh;17405]

simply put i would tell the new guy NO corrections WHAT SO EVER If it shits on the floor harden up clean it and next time take the dog outside more often

[/]

Obviously if you are actually there and the dog is in the process of shitting you would correct him ie verbal. Learning the rules to your house are part of the bonding process with the guard being the alpha. You cant correct the dog if u find a shit after it has already dumped it as the dog would have no association with it. Thats just basic dog training.

Is the guard green to dog keeping or guard work with a dog and has had a pet dog before?
If he is green to keeping a dog then you have an opportunity to mentor him the right way of teaching and training a dog. If he has had pet dogs before there may be some undesirable behaviours that may be a little harder to modify.
This is always a challenge when I deal with clients with a new dog/puppy. Green ones can be taught the right time first time. Clients that have had a dog before will often have bad habits which are harder to modify. eg letting dogs sleep on their bed, tell them its ok when the dog tries to bite me as im taking its heart rate.

Important activities to promote bonding would be play time and feeding time. Grooming is also important.

My experience is from a veterinary point of veiw with owners getting new puppies or rescue dogs. Maybe some of the more experienced members in security will chime in soon.

Jonathon

If we are talking a green handler with a "trained" dog in my opinion is a bad combination and something I would never contemplate. If someone is interested in K9 handling, they need to begin green with a pup or young dog, own the dog as a pet first and be involved in the dog's training to learn the job together. A trained dog should only be placed with an experienced handler as a new dog, someone who knows what they are doing and knows how to bond with and mould a new dog.

A dog to me is not a machine or a tool of trade, it's a living breathing creature with feelings and to be a successful K9 team, the dog has to love his handler and be the centre of his/her world. It's a difficult process to take over someone elses dog even for the experienced and is generally the reason why regardless of how good the dog is as an operable K9, if you loose the handler in the job, you loose the dog too. I strongly oppose the situation where someone decides to be a K9 handler, does a theory course and is given a trained dog to work with on the street. I am aware of this happening and although some believe the scenario can be successful, I don't believe in the crunch that such a team provides more than a visual deterrent, and I certainly wouldn't feel confident of the handler's safety with a team that has only a partial bonding when a dog is required to work for real.

The bond between a handler and dog IMHO needs to be a situation where the most exciting thing they share together is fighting bad guys which can only be achieved from bonding and training together to create a successful and solid K9 team.

Cheers
Nev

Nothing of value to add, ....only i really liked your post Nev!

I agree with Amy,
great post Nev.