/r/workingdogs

Photograph via snooOG

A place for owners of dogs that are in the working class of breeds. Discuss anything from training to kicking bad habits as well as showing off pictures of your pooch.

Please also check out /r/advanceddogtraining.

/r/workingdogs

2,742 Subscribers

11

Flying with SAR dogs

I am a SAR K9 handler and work through an agency. When conferring with coworkers many of them have talked to the airlines and they fly using the DOT service dog form. When I called the airline recommend I do the same. The problem is that I don’t feel great going through that channel because it’s a legal form and she’s not legally a dog that helps someone with a disability as the form implies. Any airlines people know of that have a specific SAR designation? Thanks in advance.

5 Comments
2024/10/24
00:49 UTC

4

How do you “work” a golden retriever?

I own a working line golden and I've seen people on TikTok say (not to me specifically) you're supposed to work your working line dogs and I'm just wondering what that means exactly.

3 Comments
2024/10/22
04:16 UTC

1

Re-baking Dog Food

0 Comments
2024/10/21
06:42 UTC

5

Messenger dog sport

I remember seeing a video about a dog sport where the dog has to cover and ever widening gas between two handlers with a message in a canister in the collar. I believe it was based on dogs being used transport messages during wars. However for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the sport, however it is one that I am very interested in I do remember that the video itself was of an event not in the US so I don't know if the sport is recognized in the United States. Any help would be appreciated thank you.

3 Comments
2024/10/19
21:45 UTC

1

Bite command

Looking for creative, 1 syllable bite commands - what do y’all use or have heard?

4 Comments
2024/10/10
01:36 UTC

3

SAR/article recovery/cadaver

Hey all! I recently got my dog certified to track wounded deer. I have a pup I’d like to train for SAR, cadaver, etc. -something with people.

With my first dog I used deer parts.. how the heck do I train for human??

5 Comments
2024/10/09
18:53 UTC

3

Working line or showline GSD?

I am looking into a GSD as a service dog and sport dog. I want a dog that can do service work, but also sports like dock diving, obedience and Bikejoring. I also want a dog I can do junior conformation with but breed or line doesn't matter since it is junior. I would love a working line, but I'm not sure I can handle the energy and drive.

Anyways, my question is, does anyone have a showline German shepherd that does sports or other forms of work? Would you recommend a working line instead?

Those who own working lines, would you say the energy and drive could be more manageable than it is made out to be? I want a dog with a good amount of both, just not too much to handle.

9 Comments
2024/10/08
00:09 UTC

2

Need Advice on K9 Handler job

Throwaway account because I don’t want to risk my job.

I’m currently working as an EDCH K9 Handler, using a dog to sniff for explosives and firearms. My company has some strict policies that are causing issues:

  • We aren’t allowed to take the K9s home.
  • We’re limited to 40 hours a week with no overtime (five 8-hour shifts).
  • We’re still required to feed the dogs on our days off.
  • We’re required to have 36 hours of training a month and an hour of obedience training daily, but we’re deployed for most of our shifts, leaving little time for training.

This is a new program, and all handlers and K9s are new to this. My concern is that the lack of training and bonding time will cause the program to fail.

Additional info:

  • We’re a civilian company, not affiliated with any police or military branch.
  • Our initial training was a 2-week course with a certificate, but no K9 certification.
  • We work 8-hour shifts and don’t see the dogs for at least 16 hours, sometimes longer due to rotating shifts. This leaves the dogs in their kennels for extended periods, often in unsanitary conditions with pee and poop.
  • Our pay is low for K9 handlers, and we don’t get any extra funds for dog-related expenses.
  • The dogs are kept in 10 x 10 kennels.

Concerns about the dogs’ well-being:

  • The extended time in kennels without human interaction or exercise is detrimental to the dogs’ physical health and mental stimulation.
  • The lack of consistent training and bonding time can lead to behavioral issues and reduce the effectiveness of the K9s in their roles.
  • The unsanitary conditions in the kennels can lead to health problems for the dogs.

I’m looking for advice on how to convince my employer to let us take the dogs home or switch to a salary so we can spend more time training and bonding with them.

If anyone has a sample contract outlining the responsibilities and legalities of taking home a company-owned work dog, that would be incredibly helpful.

2 Comments
2024/09/28
07:11 UTC

2

Any tips for recall around game?

I have two working cockers - one 2 and one 3, both female. I planed to train with guidance of a guy that does a lot of field trials and indeed started that for 6 months with the first dog. Unfortunately, I then developed a serious illness and the specific training did not continue, although both dogs always got at least an hour of exercise a day. I am finally healthy and wish to continue to train them.

They are both good with recall in isolation, but they lose their way massively around game. All the fields have recently been stocked and the younger dog is causing me some real headaches. I want to learn the best ways of training them not to be so reactive to birds and would also like to put the skills they have to use (maybe beating or field trials).

If I have left it too late for field trial development, I would just like any advice you have on working on recall around game. I am lucky to have time to work with them daily for 2 + hours if needed.

Also going to post in working dogs reddit.

Thanks.

3 Comments
2024/09/26
15:40 UTC

0

Welcome to our paddock-to-plate lamb experience, where quality meets sustainability #australianlamb

0 Comments
2024/09/24
20:19 UTC

2

Tracking collar (without cell signal)

Looking for advice for a tracking collar that doesn't rely on cell signal and only tracks (don't need the training features). We live in dense woods with very little/no cell signal and the dogs are almost always outside, they usually stay close but I want a tracking collar for that occasional time when they go wandering - so I can make sure they're not too close to the busy road or somewhere unsafe.

It needs to be comfortable for everyday use, have a long range, be waterproof and very durable. Are SpotOn or Halo the only options? And are they reliable in remote wooded areas? I know Garmin and Dogtra work for hunting but they don't seem right for wearing all the time.

I've also heard mixed opinions on Air tags, we have WiFi at the house and could check it from there, could someone confirm that that's all you need for them to work or do they have to connect to a cell tower to update locations?

Any advice greatly appreciated. It would make a big difference for my peace of mind. Thanks in advance.

7 Comments
2024/09/22
19:37 UTC

3

working bully breeds

I currently own a working line german shepherd. He's training in personal protection, then we plan to do PSA. My childhood dog was some pit mix and I miss the qualities of a bully breed. If I were to get a bully breed as my next dog we would do GRC sports. However I don't know which breed, or how to find a sporting mix breeder with what I'm looking for. My dad got my childhood dog from craigslist and I'm not doing that. I'm thinking an American staffordshire terrier or an American bully. My other choices would be a boxer or cane corso, however I would do protection with those breeds, and I want to do GRC. I also really like rhe American akita, but I don't know what kind of work or sports I could do with one.

20 Comments
2024/09/21
22:22 UTC

2

Kennel recommendations

Hi There! I’m looking for recommendations for an Insulated kennel with a run attached suitable for a Labrador. I live in the highlands of Scotland so need something suitable for our harsh weather! anything of a decent quality for a reasonable price! Thanks in Advance!

1 Comment
2024/09/21
16:54 UTC

4

Good breeds for equestrians

Hello! I'm looking for some working dog breeds that would work well with being around horses, I'm not new to the training aspect at all, but I've only had rescue mutts all my life. I ride on trails training horses so any breeds that can handle long distance but are also on the L to XL size would be my preference! If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it!

10 Comments
2024/09/15
15:43 UTC

1

Tracking/trailing book recommendations

I want to expand my knowledge on tracking. I feel as though I'm stuck in a rut and am looking for new training techniques or strategies.

Any books or resource recommendations would be awesome. Even some training techniques anyone personally knows??

The tracking I struggle with is urban. We do very well on rural and forest tracks.

On training days we set decoys on tracks. On normal days I try to set water tracks on hard surface or I watch someone walk and I go track them for a while.

0 Comments
2024/09/12
14:34 UTC

2

Dual purpose or single purpose

I’m about to attend a certificate training program that teaches you how to train and handle a k9 for detection work and keep the k9 for contract work. They offer dual purpose and single purpose like narcotics and explosives. I decided to do dual purpose but the they asked if I already had a job lined up as dual purpose is less likely to get me hired. I assumed having a k9 trained in bite work and explosive detection would help me get more job opportunities. Now I’m not sure if I should switch to just explosive detection or not. Am I missing an opportunity to have my k9 certified in bite work or is it for the best?

6 Comments
2024/09/05
00:54 UTC

3

I’m having difficulty getting my working retriever to drop live kills after hunt . Any advise ????

2 Comments
2024/09/04
11:40 UTC

3

dog is scared of toys (help)

So, while playing tug of war, I accidentally hit him in the face with the rope. He didn't cry or anything, it didn't even hurt him, he went back to normal fairly quickly. Then once he let go of the tug, I normally shake it in the air a little to get him to grab it, but he quickly backed up and got all scared. I tried to initiate the playtime again but he wasn't interested.

This was yesterday. We haven't touched a toy since. Until now, I picked up a toy and he ran upstairs. Now, he is scared of playtime, not the toys themselves, but toys in general. He will happily chew on them but doesn't wanna play. I pick up a rope, any toy, a ball, I try to initiate playtime and he literally runs away and hides. I don't know why he's so sensitive like this but I've tried to reintroduce it slowly, by holding it but the second I touch it he gets scared. Why is he like this? A similar thing happened once, when me and my neighbour went on a walk with our dogs and my neighbour kicked a toy ball and accidentally hit my dog in the face with it, now my dog is TERRIFIED of when I kick anything, especially balls, he hides. And this was literal months ago.

And another time is when I was training him and accidentally stepped on him during a heel. He didn't heel for days until he finally did again. But sometimes he just randomly gets scared of heel when I ask him to, like it's engraved into him now. And by the way, we got him at 3 months from a shelter, he has had no history of abuse or anything like that. He's always been like this. 😭😭

Any advice is appreciated :)

2 Comments
2024/08/06
20:52 UTC

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