Adopting a military police dog

[My GSD]

Does anyone know more on this? Is there certain requirements? Like can just anyone apply to get, as I saw a story but one who adopted a dog was a marine seg.

I thought I would ask in this section, and if no replies I'll post it in the general section.

[R3C0NWARR10R]

Well depending on where the dog is coming from and what they are trained in there will likley be a few requirements. As the military views the dogs as property and not companions some dogs have had multiple handlers and may be a little bit of a handful.

[Mary Beth]

Here's a link http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/ - since a new law was passed civilians can adopt these dogs - this site explains the process step by step. Your dog will love this link - it has "sound effects".

[My GSD]

Originally Posted by Mary Beth

Here's a link http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/ - since a new law was passed civilians can adopt these dogs - this site explains the process step by step. Your dog will love this link - it has "sound effects".

Thank you!

And this is exactly the site I was looking at, but I was quite confused. I would love one but as they might be retiree's I won't be able to do schutzhund. As I am guessing they might be old. I read some might suffer from illnesses down the road as they were worked hard... What do you guys think? And thanks again

[My GSD]

Man is this such a good looking GSD police dog over in Germany.

[R3C0NWARR10R]

Do your research on where the dog has been if you can get it. The dogs are worked VERY hard depending on where they are coming from. If they are coming from overseas they will likley be trained as bomb dogs and they are puprosly trained docile, but will be relativly high drive. Most will be retired as I said before the military looks as them as property. I just read a story the other day from some soldiers who when leaving wanted to keep the dogs but were not allowed and they had to pass their dogs to the next one coming in. I felt sorry for the dogs because of all the flipping and working they are doing.

[AbbyK9]

You're actually posting in the wrong category - this should be in the Military Working Dog section, which is the forum right below this one in the main forum view.

The Military Working Dog Adoptions website linked above has a lot of information and is written by a civilian who has adopted one of these dogs, so it should have all the information you need to get started pursuing MWD adoption yourself.

Dogs that are available for adoption usually fall into one of two categories - the first, and more common category are dogs that are being retired due to the fact that their age or health no longer allows them to continue working. This is the majority of dogs. The second, smaller category, consists of dogs that are young but were either found unsuitable during initial training or found to be unhealthy - like the 2 year old female listed on Lackland's adoption page right now, due to Degenerative Lumbo-Sacral Stenosis.

And you're quite right - it is highly unlikely that the dogs that are adopted out are suitable to pursue a performance sport such as Schutzhund. If the dogs could work, they would be sold to Law Enforcement before they would consider adopting them out into retirement homes.

[My GSD]

Sorry about the wrong section

And yeah, I am in general a very active person but this is going to be my first GSD so I am imagining this will be too much of a dog for me. I suppose I have nothing to lose by applying.

[AbbyK9]

And yeah, I am in general a very active person but this is going to be my first GSD so I am imagining this will be too much of a dog for me. I suppose I have nothing to lose by applying.

I don't think a retired MWD would be "too much dog" for you, as most of them are old and ready to live out their remaining months or years in comfort and in a good home. Most will have a fair amount of prey drive for those balls and other toys, some more than others.

I would definitely go ahead and apply. Do be aware that they give priority for adoption to former handlers, and about 90% of dogs are adopted by their handlers. The ones that are left usually have fairly long waiting lists for them (Lackland AFB says to expect about 6 months or more from the time you submit an application).

Lackland AFB's website is Lackland Air Force Base - 341st MWD

[doggiedad]

if you think a Military Dog is going
to be to much for you to handle
why apply for one???

Originally Posted by My GSD

Sorry about the wrong section

And yeah, I am in general a very active person but this is going to be my first GSD so I am imagining this will be too much of a dog for me. I suppose I have nothing to lose by applying.