K9 Police dog?

[Ron Short]

I was surprised today when walking my GSD past a "trained" Police K9...

My boy was well mannered and ignored the K9 pretty well but the K9 went ballistic!

Is this normal for a working dog??

[gagsd]

Is the dog certified?
Who trained/certified him?
Is he totally trained or in training?
Was he "in drive?"
How close were you?

[JackB.]

I have had the same thing happen to me and Jack when we were in the hardware store. Only difference was that it was a service dog in the store with a man in a wheelchair. It hunched down and began walking towards us with its head low, staring us down! Scared me, Jack barked, so we scurried away quickly. I was shocked that a service dog would act that way!

[e.rigby]

Heh, I remember going to the local big box petstore one day and there was an officer with his dog. He let him out of the car offleash to go potty and then the dog got back in and he drove off! He didn't even pick up after the dog :P That's really been my only experience with a police dog.

However, I've seen tons of ill behaved "Service dogs" ... perhaps they choose to act out while at pet stores, but I saw one wearing a vest accompanying a lady in a wheel chair pee on an aisle :/ I didn't have a dog with me so I offered to help her clean it up (since she wasn't going to be able to) but seriously? I've also seen service dogs growl at other dogs while working (even though the other dogs were not close to the SD).

[Germanshepherdlova]

There is a Police K9 that lives on the block over from me. I was walking my dog past his house and he was loose in the front yard and he came charging at my dog! He scared the crap out of me, and I began pulling my dog into the street in an effort to get away from him. At the last second the officers wife saw him running toward us and called him….he turned right back around and went home.

[ILGHAUS]

Only difference was that it was a service dog in the store with a man in a wheelchair.

However, I've seen tons of ill behaved "Service dogs" ... perhaps they choose to act out while at pet stores, but I saw one wearing a vest accompanying a lady in a wheel chair pee on an aisle :/

Just because a PWD has a dog with them does not mean that the dog is a SD. People with disabilities also have pet dogs and since these were locations that allowed pets chances are very good that is just what they were, pets with a lack of training.

And if they were wearing a vest or other ID that stated SD that doesn't mean anything. People with or without a disability purchase vests online to drag their pets around claiming they are Service Dogs.

[e.rigby]

Originally Posted by ILGHAUS

Just because a PWD has a dog with them does not mean that the dog is a SD. People with disabilities also have pet dogs and since these were locations that allowed pets chances are very good that is just what they were, pets with a lack of training.

And if they were wearing a vest or other ID that stated SD that doesn't mean anything. People with or without a disability purchase vests online to drag their pets around claiming they are Service Dogs.

Every dog I've referred to as a SD had a vest stating it was a SD. Also, you're right, not every dog wearing such a vest is a legitimate service dog; however, one must assume unless told otherwise.

[DFrost]

Originally Posted by Ron Short

I was surprised today when walking my GSD past a "trained" Police K9...

My boy was well mannered and ignored the K9 pretty well but the K9 went ballistic!

Is this normal for a working dog??

Where was the "trained" police K9? In his kennel, yard, police car? Not all police canine, are dog friendly. Was the handler there? It's not uncommon for a police dog (or many dogs for that matter) to be territorial. Just because a dog goes "ballistic" doesn't mean it isn't trained.

DFrost

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by DFrost

Where was the "trained" police K9? In his kennel, yard, police car? Not all police canine, are dog friendly. Was the handler there? It's not uncommon for a police dog (or many dogs for that matter) to be territorial. Just because a dog goes "ballistic" doesn't mean it isn't trained.

DFrost

Exactly. Especially GSD's are territorial

[GSDGunner]

My next door neighbors GSD police dog (now retired) is dog aggressive. Bosco loves people whether little or big. Nothing fazes him, except other dogs.
He came from Czechoslovakia at about 2 years old. He was a decorated officer and never acted on his aggression towards any other police dog.
He was trained enough and his handler/owner knew how to handle him.

He's an outside dog (he refused to live in the house) with a huge kennel and dog house. They have three kids and they wanted to get another dog. They adopted a 5 month old Jack Russell mix last year. With intense training, Bosco and Shamrock are best friends now. He absolutely loves Shamrock. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?