not for beginners... - Page 4

Brittany you need to look closely at sueinc and gsdfans posts.  Many times a dog that is "handler aggressive" has been made that way by a timid new handler that when challenged by the dog lets it get away with the challenge thereby winning and further encouraging such behavior and escalating it.  My last K9 was labeled a not for beginnner dog, the airport staff were terrified of him and had their faces pressed to the window of the office in hopes of seeing a show when I picked him up.  I slipped him a hotdog, put his leash on, and went throught some simple OB commands and off we went.  I was calm and not intimidated by him.  Now he was a dog that you had to watch as he was not touchy-feely but with an experienced and responsible handler not a big deal.  I find the not for beginner dogs are often more fun.

Colleen and K9 Barbie  (I'm not for beginners because my behavior changes are extremely subtle and hard to read sometimes but I ruin a lot of peoples day playing hide and seek)

Just curious if you'd associate a handler hard dog with a dog that would not be good with children??  Would you trust a dog like this kids?

Gard,

Integrity whats that?:)

Don Corleone, good way of putting it.

Agar those type of questions have to many variables to really answer as it depends on the dog.

mi gsd, to funny,

My Olex daughter did not take corrections lightly and you had better be sure you were right and she was wrong.   There were a few times she made me stop and rethink how I was asking her to do something.

They are so funny when you mess up, and they know it. 

IMO, there's such a variety of meanings to "not for beginners" that it's a really subjective term.  I've heard it used for everything from an untrained overly excitable pup to dogs with serious agression problems.   In my case, I considered my last foster dog (working line 2 yo male with no training) to be a "not for beginners" dog.  In his case it was because he had nice drives, no focus, very protective, extremely active, very little socialization and no training beyond house breaking.  With the right owner, he's a fantastic dog (competes in disc dog and agilty now).  But with the wrong owner, he could easily have been bounced from home to home and at some point bitten someone (had a very serious fear of any one in a ball cap).  So he really wasn't for someone with no experience.   The next dog that I foster that's not for beginners may have totally different issues.

Handler hard and handler gagressive - again, subjective terms.  You need to ask for a better explanation.  A friend used to call his female Mal handler hard because if you weren't really careful when you asked her to out she'd whip around and bite you right after she released.  The verbal command could be enough to get that reaction.  I felt that was more of a handler aggressive situation.  

A one man dog I think of as a bonding thing.  My female is a "one man dog".  She simply has no interest in working with anyone other than me.  She'll do it but you can see it on her face that she's not happy.  She's completely bonded to me.  My dh she likes, we have friends she sort of likes but I'm the one she clearly loves.  Her breeder told me that this was a trait in many of her dogs.  They pick one person that they love no matter what and basically tolerate the rest of the family.

Melissa

Chirs... what fun   I think those hairy rats are world leval...  Fat they may be now.. They are realy nice...  I have to many or would want one for my self.  As you and i meet in the middle.. Let me know when you are going to take my girl tracking... "SHE CAN'T HEAL AWAY FROM THE HELPER!   lol.. And i got a rude awakening that we only have 12 weeks to go ... DAMN.

I am absolutley the last choice on the earth for tracking.  12 weeks no worries.

Usually it's a marketing ploy in both cases, a disclaimer if you will, it leaves way too much room for excuses on the sellers part if the dog doesn't work out for you, which it probably wont.

Any adult dog is sold for incompatibility reasons of some sort, not saying all are garbage but many are.

Good lord, is the average IQ around here  2 digits ?? 

Dawgma

I know you used the word, "usually".   By using that word, it "leaves way too much room for excuses on the" author's part if someone disagrees.  I understand that many people hype their product to sell them faster.  I understand that some people are deceptive and will say and do anything to make money.    Some people may use it as a "marketing ploy", but I would have to believe that there is a good amount of people that use the term as a warning.  Some people out there are concerned where their dogs and puppies go.  Some people out there don't want to place a puppy/dog with someone that cannot handle that type of dog and have it returned down the road.  Not everyone is blowing smoke up everyone's asses.  Some people are genuine and and use the term wisely.

"Good lord, is the average IQ around here  2 digits ??"....................Mine is 27, but I would appreciate some slack. 

DC:  I'm SO glad you are posting again - well said.