What age to handle PPD ???? - Page 1

At what age is it appropriate to allow your child to handle the family PPD.  For example I allow my 10 year old to handle our female PPD she is a civil girl with strong bitework under pressure.  My son knows the bite command the out and several others.  Is this too young??????

It may be.  It really depends on the individual and the maturity level.  Kids can do stupid things when not supervised.  Some like to show off.  Like a gun, a true PPD can be lethel.  If not treated in this manner, serious injury can happen.

I have young kids and any dog I train, even in SchH protection, live in the kennel and are only with my kids under supervision.  The dog that lives in the house is exactly that, a housedog.  I bought him with the intentions of being an outgoing, naturally protective family dog.  I don't know your situation or the neighborhood you live in, but for me all I need is a good warning from the dog and I'll grab a gun. 

The female is very clear in the head she does not look to bite first.  Her defense comes out of fight drive that comes out during bitework.  I also do not leave the dogs with the kids when they have friends over, ou are right on that.  My thing is this lets say you work nights and your wife is not able to handle the dog (injured, attacked so on).  Should your able body son be taught how to handle the dog?  Like I said my son knows the basics I do not have him handle her very much in PPD mode.  Mostly it is OB and play...I was curious to hear from others.........

Xeus-  I to have a 10 yr old daughter who's shown an interest in the dogs and often times wondered if this was too young of an age to begin with a dog that already has been trained for PP BUT I think I have to agree with Don as it would depend on the childs maturity level.  For example my daughter is very mature for her age and responsible when it comes to the dogs.  She's the first one to tell her friends not to horseplay around the dogs and is pretty good about not just barging in the house with friends behind without letting me know someone's coming in and to see if the dogs are out in their kennels.  She herself has told me that she wants to start handling one of our dogs but that she doesn't want to do any bitework (which IMO she is too young to put that much responsibility on her).  She is fascinated with the dogs ability to track and find things.  So I've thought of getting her involved in that soon but just haven't determined which dog will be better for her.  I'd have to say that the bitch I just got is probably ideal for her because she loves to track and is not so serious as Agar.  The pup I have is very drivey and probably a bit much more her to have the patience to learn on, although his disposition is very sweet and a big show off.  I think when he's matured he will be a real nice dog for her if she holds her interest that long. lol 

I probably would not try a 10 yr old out with a more serious civil dog just for fear that something might unexpectedly happen that a 10 yr old would not know how to react quickly enough to regain control over the situation.  Agar doesn't listen to the kids much anyways. lol   

I don't think it is so bad if your injured wife is present while your son handles the dog.   I only worry when parents are not around.  Believe it or not, but I was a kid once.  If my mother told me not to play with matches, that is the first thing I did.

I will always go back to the analogy of a loaded gun.  I think it is fine to take a child with you to hunt.  You can even take them to the range and teach them to shoot.  When they are old enough and mature, I would even let them carry their own gun and hunt beside me.  The thing that I would never let them do is be alone with that gun or leave guns around for an accident waiting to happen.

PEER pressure for Kids is to much, they will show off.  We all know and love our kids, and "they would never do THAAAAT". and  they did do it. Killing them later, is not going to stop them in the first place, they are to impulse motivated and think about it later. I do think young kids should be welcome to the sport. I am not saying every one of them should be exluded from bite work. BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN THIER HANDS. To me it sounds as thou you have reason that you need for him to be able to handle the dog, also you are asking the board so you might have some gut feelings about doing this. Trust your gut. If you have a good dog, he will take over and protect with out having to be told.

I appreciate the response and like Agar said in another post I am glad too see the members with good stuff to add.  My thing is this my son has been going to training with me since he was 3 and has always been interested. The first time my son saw mee working a police dog dog in muzzle he cried because hethaught the dog was hurting me he was only 3 then.  Every Sunday he gets up early and just him and I go off to training.  He is a good boy and mature when it comes to the dogs.  My wife is not sick or injured, my problem is that I see the worst that people do to eachother on a daily basis so, put it this way spend time with people or my dogs and guess who I choose....I feel like this if you dont throw new things at the dogs training, scenarios, helper, time of day, equipment etc... at them you dont know how they will respond when needed.  I would like my boy to have the knowledge so heaven for bit the day should ever come he knows what to do. 

Do not get me wrong I love seeing the younger generation in the sport. I just think you have to set alot of boundries and understand all of the issues, pro and con.

The funny thing is that my middle son is 4 and also loves to go to training he walks around the garage with the equipment on.  He always put the leash on the female and trains her. Sit, fuss plautz it is so cute.....I think part of the reason why I feel comfortable with it is because my kids are around it so much.  it is like a NFL player whos son at 3 is already throwing a footbal and undertstands plays.  My female is also very good she sleeps in bed with my son and is very good.  But yes I have taken precautions and am always aware.  My dogs do not play in the yard with the neighbor kids they are put away.  Thax everyone for a good post time for me to go to work and try and help the lost poor souls of this city.......

Xeus-  The only commands my kids know to give the dog are to sit, lay down, heel, stay, retrieve and out.  I've never even mumbled the command to "watch" and especially to bite.  There's no reason for them to know the command.  The kids know our dogs are trained to bite.  They don't broadcast it but they do tell their friends to be careful that our dogs are not just foofoo pets.  The "house dog" at this point is the pup and I'm ok with kids playing and loving on him.  My kids can play ball with Agar all day long in the yard and I would even trust him to play with other kids too but I just don't because I don't trust other people's kids and avoid putting myself and my dog in a situation that may not go over well if someone's kids does something STUPID!  As Don said it's like putting a loaded gun in one's hands and I have conditioned myself and family to understand that analogy so they understand the dogs are not a "toy".

That is awesome your boy's been exposed to the dog training from an early age.  And that's pretty cool to have something the 2 of you do together that you both enjoy.  That is what I'd like to eventually see happen with my daughter.  I'd love for it to be something we go do every week together, just the 2 of us or even as a family would be fine.  My husband enjoys working the dogs too but he's not as "into" it as I am.  It's great when everyone in the family has an interest in the dogs, then it becomes something you all appreciate rather than see as a "burden".