What do Pro. Trainers look for..... - Page 1

Question. If you are a "professional" trainer (35 yr) with the working dogs (ie police dept) and you come out to test a dog (ie for patrol) what test would you do?

Barbara, there is a poster on this messageboard who goes by the handle EDD in Afgan who seems to have much experience with the training and evaluation of dogs of this type. He would probably be your best source for this type of information. Bob-O

http://www.k9services.com/SelectionTesting.htm

EK -- that is a question that requires a subjective answer --- even professionals ..look for different traits and characteristics amoung their working dogs -- as with people there are a multitude of traits/ charactersistics .. stress levels and personalities that make one an great or exceptional worker -- for example whether a canine or a human .. even as a pup one can generally see the potential and the " bent" of an individual --- for examples -- can one work indpenedtly from another ... can one take direction from another [ a good police dog can have both these and should to be a good worker/partner] , can one problem solve with effeciency [ GSD can deductive reason and some better than others depending on the breeding] , can one handle a greater degree of stress , is one motivated to perform or motivated to do what it needs to do in order to obtain it's resources [ puppies that make good scent dogs generally will go right to the source and and with good motivation don't generally get sidetracked] , can one communicate better than another [ good scent pups can have a great natural tendency to indicate to the handler] , does on have courage [ not all canines/ humans have courage] , for search and rescue .. does the pup have a strong affinity to it's handler and to find other people [ bloodhounds have a very very high genetic propensity to seek out people] - you need to know if the dog has found someone lost , therefore a good dog can rfeturn and tell you about it's find...now like humans -- there is no perfect canine nor one that has every trait under the sun -- again -- different tasks require some better skills than others ..even in police work it depends on what purpose you want the dog for !!