Dog Park meeting #2!!!

[Thorn]

There are limits to teaching your dog to be submissive. People who cannot handle big aggressive dogs should not have them. Dogs are not toys or children and there is often little respect for their nature in America.

Americans ruin any breed of dog that gets popular here, thus German Shepards are no longer the dog they were or the dogs that are in europe and Germany. The same is true of boxers, dobermans, collies, rottweilers, and basicaclly every popular breed of dog in America.

When I'm approached about my bouvier, which is like everyday, I'm quick to point out that these are not dogs for everybody and the last thing I want to see is bouvs getting popular in the US. It will ruin the breed here.

I recently bought a black russian terrier pup and I hesitate to even tell people about the dog .. that's how badly I think of Americans and dogs.

I sometimes take my dogs to one of the dog parks here, but at the first sign of aggressive behavior between my bouv and another dog, I simply move my dog and do not scold him for his instinct to protect himself or for him being a large male dog. Bouviers are herders and he will try to herd dogs that a running around. That's his instinct and I protect it.

He is a very social dog and even small children run up to and sometimes over him. They grab his beard and many children, often no taller than he is, have walked right up to his face and stared right at him. I have no concern for the safety of those children knowing that Tupac will never hurt them.

I've shown my bouv in AKC confirmation twice and he took a 1st and a 2nd in his breed and was once 3rd in the group. But I don't relly care that much about confirmation and don't want to dampen his aggressive spirit and nature as I see in many lifeless almost zombified confirmation dogs.

Very well said! A friend of mine has two Bouvs whom she has shown/will show in conformation, and she also does Agility, Obedience and Rally with them. She probably has a CDX on the older one but I'd have to check with her on that. I know someone else who bred them briefly, but he said that there were just too few people who really deserved those dogs, so he stopped. I appreciated that sentiment! Few people realize that they're actually herders, too.

I have herders, but smaller. Both have been through at least basic Obedience; the older one just finished his CGC (and passed!); both are currently in Agility classes and love it. I've found that those classes are a great way to bond with your dogs, and also are terrific for socialization for the dogs. They have a lot of fun, and we practice at home; for them it's play -- why else do it?

When people think of Australian Shepherds, guarding isn't the first thing that generally comes to mind, but they're very alert and very protective of their homes. Once someone has been greeted, he's their best friend. Away from home he loves absolutely everybody. Adults, kids, other dogs, everybody.

 

[blackascoal]

who should we contact? I think he is more interested in police dogs. He has always had a interest in police work and is looking for something that can transfer into non military life after his stent.

Then police work would seem to best serve his interests.

Take him for a visit to a police training facility where they work with dogs and you'll find the best guidance for your area there. Often the dog training is done near police firing ranges. It gets the dogs used to gunfire .. which is why I recommend doing obedience work near there.

Have him visit this site ..
http://www.ventosakennel.com/training?gclid=CNahzKabjZACFQ4bgQodVyHHqg

I've heard they're one of the best in the country with police work.

There are some breeds that are better suited to different types of protection work and there is no question that for police work nothing touches a shepard, followed closely by the malinois.

But there is a difference between police work and what is required in home protection where the ability to track is of little value.

There are also police dog training competitons that open to the public. Departments from all over the state send dog and handlers to compete against other agencies. It's kinda' cool.

 

[blackascoal]

Very well said! A friend of mine has two Bouvs whom she has shown/will show in conformation, and she also does Agility, Obedience and Rally with them. She probably has a CDX on the older one but I'd have to check with her on that. I know someone else who bred them briefly, but he said that there were just too few people who really deserved those dogs, so he stopped. I appreciated that sentiment! Few people realize that they're actually herders, too.

I have herders, but smaller. Both have been through at least basic Obedience; the older one just finished his CGC (and passed!); both are currently in Agility classes and love it. I've found that those classes are a great way to bond with your dogs, and also are terrific for socialization for the dogs. They have a lot of fun, and we practice at home; for them it's play -- why else do it?

When people think of Australian Shepherds, guarding isn't the first thing that generally comes to mind, but they're very alert and very protective of their homes. Once someone has been greeted, he's their best friend. Away from home he loves absolutely everybody. Adults, kids, other dogs, everybody.

Australians are great dogs, and like most herding dogs, they're always thinking. What you and your friend with the Bouvs are doing is giving the dogs purpose and meaning for their lives. They get to do all that stuff that's bottled up in them.

CDX is as far as I'll go with a Bouvier. UD dogs are damn near robots.

Those who don't know the relationship between a dog and a caring owner don't know what they're missing. It is the closest humans may ever come to telepathy. It is unlike any relationship with humans and any other creature on earth. A dog will die for you .. and in my case, keep me from dying.